Blog Archive
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2008
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May
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- Under Construction!
- Product Review: A Natural Alternative: Beeswax Cra...
- The Nativity Project: Many, Many Marys
- Shop Feature: Ben & Oliver's
- Blog Block!
- Wordless Wednesday: So Hard for Me to Do!
- Party Time, Excellent!
- Why Men Shouldn't Be in Charge of Anything!
- The Woodland Nursery
- Count 'em, Stack em', Love 'em!
- I am a Bad Mother!
- Dipping My Toe in the ACEO Pool
- The Wishing Pool
- I'm a Tree Hugger
- Life is Precious
- How Charming!
- A Little Treasury since I Can't Sleep!
- Total Magpie~ Shiny Pretty Things for *Me*
- Carrots in Your Hair...
- I Get By With a Little Help...
- Look What We Found in Our Yard!
- We Heart Small Town Life
- Spring!
- Feature: Tush Cloth Diapers
- Website Updated
- It's a Good Day!
- Fishsticks ~ Hands On Learning for Little Ones
- Hedgehog Cutie
- Frankenboobs Do Mardi Gras (A Whine)
- Decisions, Decisions!
- Feature: The Felted Sheep
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May
(31)


A staple in the Waldorf educational system, beeswax crayons are made with beeswax rather than paraffin and have the added bonus of blending more smoothly (like paints) than regular paraffin based crayons. They are completely non-toxic and made with natural pigments, too.
We just received our 5 colour (pictured) set and they are a hit with our 33 month old. The decorative tin was a nice touch, too (5 to choose from)! (Picture of a pair of bees and a turtle, courtesy of Rowan).

The colours are more muted than your usual Crayolas, and the texture is different (they do have a gentle beeswax scent, but not overpowering~ generally I am sensitive to beeswax smelly things and these are fine for me!)~ not soft, although they are softer by nature than regular crayons~ but with a bit of that beeswax 'stick' to them. Nonetheless, they flow smoothly and easily and are definitely a great alternative!
Having looked into making beeswax crayons ourselves and having chosen to run away from the complexity, we admire Carmela and her innovative new product and wanted to share it with

I also have to throw in a good word for the Busy Bee Bath Crayons (non toxic, natural pigments)~ gentle on skin, easy to clean up with the included sponge (kids will clean it themselves!) and lots of fun!
So take a peek at Clear Hills Honey Company~ I am sure you'll find something to love!
Thursday, 29 May 2008

I always say.
And then I do the math!
I have subscriptions for 12 needle felted Nativity sets + animals.
That is about 130 bajillion figures (give or take a bajillion) to make between now and November.
And my plan is to make a set for our family and a few more for sale, too.
What have I done?!
And so I have begun.
I have plotted out which figures I need to make each month.
Thankfully we live far from everywhere and I can felt in the car (can't read in the car, but I can felt if I don't look up!) and pretty much any where I plant my behind.
The figures are our 'fishstick' people (Andy's design)~ semi-soft needle

Each set consists of Mary + baby; Joseph; 3 Wise Men/Kings; Angel + Star; 2 shepherds. There is also an animal set of donkey; sheep; camel.
For the benefit of tracking my progress for myself and our subscribers, I will keep updated on the project here on my blog.

It seems like some sort of joke waiting for a punchline to have 7 Marys and Jesus... now is that Jesuses or Jesi? They don't teach you that in seminary!
Like the old Monty Python sketch about the painting of the Last Supper... "Wot? Only *one* Jesus?"

That is Ben & Oliver's!
Filled with adorable jewelry for hair and body, all adorned with vintage beads and baubles.
What's not to love?!


Wednesday, 28 May 2008

Today I have blog block.
Been so busy getting ready for the BTRT anniversary do-hicky thingy that I haven't had time to pursue some of the features etc. that I would like!
But like an ex-boyfriend who longed to be a writer used to say, sometimes to write you just have to start

OK, that isn't working so well.
Still staring at the screen.

I can show you my new horses I made ~ that got overwhelmed by my first attempts at working with locks~ Cotswald to be specific! My Little Pony Eat your heart out!
It's a cop out, I know.
Block remains, but look at the pretty horsies!
Gah.
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
I tried, I really did! I actually published this without words and then couldn't shut up. I got grounded as a child for not being able to be quiet for 10 minutes. Now my own daughter makes me crazy some days with the chatter and my father's comment? 'Payback is a...' well, you know.
All I really wanted to say was I was a day early on the WW challenge (and failed miserably anyway!). So here is some silk...

All I really wanted to say was I was a day early on the WW challenge (and failed miserably anyway!). So here is some silk...



Monday, 26 May 2008

It's almost time for our BTRT one year anniversary bash! We have so many cool guests and lots of great new items in our Hyena Cart shop.
It has been a lot of work getting our own stuff ready, as well as working on



We are stocking one colour a day for a week... ending in rainbows. Totally corny, but it has been a blast!
I have included a few teaser pics!
Friday, 23 May 2008


As we ran and rested and played about we discovered something incredible!
Lying in the midst of our dandelions and johnny-jump-ups was a teeny tiny baby! Left by the fairies? Who knows... but the Woodland Nursery was born.
The Nursery is the place where baby woodland creatures can come and find new and loving homes to raise them.





Thursday, 22 May 2008

Firmly needle felted to withstand lots and lots of toddler play! These little bugs are 100% wool and felted all the way through for durability. The cores are Corriedale and the outer is Merino, so soft and touchable! All colours are permanent and non-toxic. The ladybugs are roughly the same size, but being handmade there is naturally some variation. Each bug is approximately 3" long and .5" high.
These ladybugs are a multi-skill learning toy for toddlers and preschoolers:
~feel the wool, its warm and lively textures. Feel the difference between the dots/ numerals and the bodies. Feel the number of raised dots to help identify quantity.
~practice colour identification

~practice ordering numbers by numerals and quantities (dots)
~match numerals to their amounts (flip the bugs)
~identify numbers and amounts they represent
~do simple math
~play imaginatively with the provided leaf and pouch
~props for acting out songs and rhymes
~active play~ stack them, toss the ladybugs on to their leaf, catch them in a jar (with holes for air!)!
~... and of course, much more in the hands of your child!

(not pictured here)
Not recommended for children who still mouth their toys. Additional ladybugs can be added to customize your set (in groups of three).
OK~ are you sing 'The Ladybug's Picnic' from Sesame Street yet? One, two three, four five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, and they all played games...
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
...because this really makes me giggle!

Daughter pushing her Puppy in the swing.
Daughter getting hit in head with swing.

Let me make it perfectly clear~ the dog is stuffed (click to read about Puppy) and the kid was not hurt, she laughed~ me, I was shocked that the camera snapped just as it nailed her but we both had a good giggle about it!
I just can't *stop* giggling about it!
Feel free to share you bad parent moments in the comments, it will make me feel less wicked!

Daughter pushing her Puppy in the swing.
Daughter getting hit in head with swing.

Let me make it perfectly clear~ the dog is stuffed (click to read about Puppy) and the kid was not hurt, she laughed~ me, I was shocked that the camera snapped just as it nailed her but we both had a good giggle about it!
I just can't *stop* giggling about it!
Feel free to share you bad parent moments in the comments, it will make me feel less wicked!
Monday, 19 May 2008

I have decided to try my hand at producing some ACEOs.
What is an ACEO? Glad you asked! I was on Etsy forever before I knew that one! An ACEO = Art Card, Editions, Originals. Clear as mud, huh? Basically, they are art trading cards. The only rule is that they must measure 2.5 x 3.5". They can be originals or prints, any style, any material. They are great for collecting, trading sharing. they are an opportunity to hold some great art in your hands and even decorate, if only your fridge or desk!
I have been really working on seeing my work as art~ it is just tough when

At this time, it makes the most sense to produce prints of the photography of my work. Some of them are the work itself, and some the photography that reflects work in progress or action (silk is wonderful for this!). But the idea of felted ACEOs is appealing, too.
So I have a couple listed at Etsy and we'll see how it goes!
Sunday, 18 May 2008

Needle felted with corriedale and merino and YAK~ yes yak~ The brown is all yak fiber (cool, huh?!), this little sculpture was a fun experiment in making a person as well as trying out some ideas and different styles of felting.
Faces scare me. I mean, making them scares me (not scares me like freaky mascots scare me *shiver*)~ whether painted or felted or drawn, they i


Saturday, 17 May 2008
I rarely share my 'other' life in my blog. Simply because it is my other life and I try to separate my business from my vocation for numerous reasons.
But today I wanted to share my sense of awe and honour that I experience when I am in my professional role as an ordained minister (13 years in ministry).
Today I lead the funeral service for a simply lovely and gracious woman who lost a brief battle with cancer, much to the shock and sorrow of the community. In many ways, after 13 years, leading a funeral can become just another function (you know, put the 'fun' back in funeral~ bad! bad!). I work hard to stay engaged, and honestly feel that a funeral is the richest time for ministry that a minister can experience ~ to reach out and speak to the congregation and community a word of hope. And no matter how tired, distracted, or otherwise disengaged I may become, there is always a moment when I am fully present and fully cognizant of the deep honour I am given in my role.
At the end of most services there comes the time of escorting the coffin/urn from the sanctuary. By dint of my role, I am asked to lead. To take that last walk from public space and gathering with the deceased and to stand over as they are placed in the coach. Or to lead the procession to the grave and say the words. And today as I lead the way for Grace, I was overcome by the gift given to me, to be so close at this holy time, even as I am welcomed into homes and hospital rooms, to the side of the dying or to hold a new baby for baptism. It is a perspective, a place, few people experience and today I was reminded of the honour and the responsibility that go with it, once more as I stood roadside while the remains of this woman were placed gently out of sight and away.
It is a gift to see and touch and feel the preciousness of life, beginning and end and beginning again. And to know that it is holy.
But today I wanted to share my sense of awe and honour that I experience when I am in my professional role as an ordained minister (13 years in ministry).
Today I lead the funeral service for a simply lovely and gracious woman who lost a brief battle with cancer, much to the shock and sorrow of the community. In many ways, after 13 years, leading a funeral can become just another function (you know, put the 'fun' back in funeral~ bad! bad!). I work hard to stay engaged, and honestly feel that a funeral is the richest time for ministry that a minister can experience ~ to reach out and speak to the congregation and community a word of hope. And no matter how tired, distracted, or otherwise disengaged I may become, there is always a moment when I am fully present and fully cognizant of the deep honour I am given in my role.
At the end of most services there comes the time of escorting the coffin/urn from the sanctuary. By dint of my role, I am asked to lead. To take that last walk from public space and gathering with the deceased and to stand over as they are placed in the coach. Or to lead the procession to the grave and say the words. And today as I lead the way for Grace, I was overcome by the gift given to me, to be so close at this holy time, even as I am welcomed into homes and hospital rooms, to the side of the dying or to hold a new baby for baptism. It is a perspective, a place, few people experience and today I was reminded of the honour and the responsibility that go with it, once more as I stood roadside while the remains of this woman were placed gently out of sight and away.
It is a gift to see and touch and feel the preciousness of life, beginning and end and beginning again. And to know that it is holy.
Friday, 16 May 2008

I settled on a charm bracelet. The old fashioned Victorian kind~ a little digging revealed that Queen Victoria loved to wear and give charm bracelets and in 1889 at the Paris Exposition, Tiffany & Co. launched their first charm bracelet and a fashion staple was born. Throughout the 20th century charm bracelets remained popular, from the war era when soldiers brought home charms from far away places for their sweethearts, to the nostalgic bracelets my friends and I had in the early 80s.
What a great idea! However, I went looking for a traditional charm bracelet at the height of the modular Italian charm phase. Add that I wanted something to grow with a child from age 1 into adult hood. Ha! Easier said than done.
But I persisted and finally found a silver link bracelet to do the trick.

So the hunt begins. She is pretty keen on horses. But then she also has imaginary mice. Her Puppy has become her constant companion, but no charm could really capture his scruffy stuffed self. Her imagination is incredible, but how to capture that in a charm? Or her squeaky voice, or her sense of humour? Or the depth of her eyes? OK~ I probably can't, but I will start looking for that 'just right' charm to capture some small part of her magic in this 3rd year of her life.
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