waldorf mama

waldorfmama has moved...

2009-01-08T09:00:00.003-06:00

waldorfmama has moved to typepad! please come and join me there!

a new horizon...

2009-01-07T08:00:00.021-06:00

today is a very special day. my one year anniversary of blogging! that's right, one year ago today i made my first humble post here. and the rest, as they say, is history. but something equally significant is happening today...

waldorfmama is moving! that's right - goodbye blogger, hello typepad! i've been considering this move for quite a while now, and my blogging anniversary seemed like a perfectly opportune time. but have no worries, dear friends - this move should be essentially invisible. you will continue to access my blog using the same web address as always - waldorfmama.com. and this blogspot blog, and all of my 08 posts, will remain here forever in it's entirety.

so come on over to my new home. it's a bit roomier and organized over there, so i'm one happy mama! and look for a special giveaway tomorrow to commemorate the occasion!

yours in seeking new horizons,

shelley

looking ahead...

2009-01-06T15:00:00.000-06:00

i've got some big changes coming up for the blog on this, the eve of my one year anniversary here on blogger. wow, it's been a year already. what a pleasure and a joy it has been meeting and mingling with all of you here! thank you for this first year. for your presence here. your constant support. and your kind words. much more is in store for this waldorf mama! lots of things happening here, and a few surprises. be sure to stop by tomorrow to get the scoop!

yours in looking ahead,

shelley

snack time and nap time...

2009-01-05T18:00:00.005-06:00

today the weather was rainy and cold. a good time to curl up with a yummy snack and some good books.

and then a long nap with papi. i hope everyone is enjoying some nice, cozy winter days!

yours on a cozy rainy cold day here in texas,

shelley

for the love of gnomes...

2009-01-04T08:45:00.001-06:00

gnomes. we love them. in fact, my second post (almost a year ago) here on my brand new waldorfmama blog was about gnomes. wondrous little wintery creatures from folklore. that spark our imagination, from which we can weave magical tales as they help us with our crafts, mine for gems deep within the earth or stop to take shelter under a toadstool. yes, gnomes are little treasures. and you can see a few of ours here and here and here and here. don't they just make you smile?

knitted waldorf gnome by orit dotan

two evi gnome girls that maya received in her christmas stocking

yours from gnomeland,

shelley

around the house...

2009-01-03T08:15:00.000-06:00

felted mamas by haddy2dogs

ostheimer shepherd boy and hen house

small felted tapestry by orit dotan

to jack...

2009-01-03T08:00:00.003-06:00

happy birthday to my dear brother-in-law, jack ~ we love you!

winter gnomes...

2009-01-02T09:00:00.001-06:00

with clang and clash in caverns cold,

we gather glittering, gleaming gold.

with ding and dong in the dark and deep,

we search where silver secrets sleep.

with a hey and a ho in a hundred homes,

we mine the mountains' magic stones.

warm wishes...

2009-01-01T09:00:00.002-06:00

~ to all of my dear friends here ~

much love,

waldorfmama

on the eve of a new year...

2008-12-31T09:00:00.004-06:00

on this eve of a new year, i am reflecting back on the past twelve months. and i am thankful. thankful for so very many things. for my precious children and their health and happiness. for my sweet husband and best friend, and his continuous love and support. for my extended family and their giving spirits. for this amazing online community of friends. for our prosperity. for our freedom. for the kindness of strangers. for the perfect timing of the universe. for guardian angels. for boundless love. and for the hope and light of new leadership for our country in the coming year. may we all feel as one and visualize peace!

happy new year, one and all!

december 2006...

2008-12-30T10:00:00.001-06:00

2 year old maya ~ christmas 2006

baby love...

2008-12-29T10:00:00.000-06:00

there's a lot of baby love going on around here. and not just by our little mama. i absoultely adore waldorf dolls. what a treasure each one is. we have welcomed two new babies into our family this season, and i suspect you'll be seeing a lot of them in the days to come. here is sweet baby clara (handmade by annette at woolcreations), who has barely left maya's arms since she arrived...

yours in some special baby doll love,

shelley

felted artwork...

2008-12-28T10:00:00.004-06:00

i have always loved felted tapestries. there is something so magical and captivating about them to me. here are three of my favorite felted creations made by three amazing artists who are fellow etsians and good friends...

this one hangs on maya's bedroom door and was a custom piece made for me by crazymomma productions

this one hangs in our bedroom and was also a custom piece made for me by orit dotan

this one hangs in my hall and was made by haddy2dogs

yours in appreciation of some very talented fellow etsy artists,

shelley

nativity print...

2008-12-27T21:00:00.003-06:00

here is the nativity print that maya requested for the frame in her bedroom windowsill. she likes the rainbow of colors. i like the simple figures and lovely flowing lines...

yours in appreciation of beautiful artwork,

shelley

under the tree...

2008-12-26T10:00:00.006-06:00

happy christmas to all...

2008-12-25T08:00:00.012-06:00

...and warmest wishes this holiday season, from our family to yours!

much love,

shelley, wesley and maya

final day of advent...

2008-12-24T17:00:00.002-06:00

on the final day of advent, christmas eve, our celebration culminates in the lighting of our advent spiral. 24 days of advent, 24 candles lit. slowly and symbolically we light each candle, in turn, and remember each kingdom of nature we have celebrated and honored over the past weeks - minerals, plants, animals, and humankind. and as we light each candle, the room becomes ever brighter...reminding us of the days to come and the sun's ever brightening life force returning to the earth.

also on this day, we traditionally gather with our family and loved ones for a wonderful meal and to celebrate the opening of a few gifts. so we are off to fellowship with our family. happy christmas eve to all!

yours in light and love on this special day,

shelley

the christmas tree...

2008-12-24T11:00:00.006-06:00

fourth advent gift...

2008-12-23T20:00:00.014-06:00

for maya's fourth week of advent gift (in honor of humankind), she was given a very special 'baby' doll (lovingly handmade by my friend, annette, at woolcreations). this doll, being shaped more like a real baby than her other dolls, has really brought out the 'little mama' in maya. and it is with great care and attention each day that she is sweetly tending to her new little one, whom we have named clara...

yours in welcoming new baby doll clara into our family,

shelley

welcoming the light...

2008-12-23T18:00:00.000-06:00

during this darkest time of year and as the cold surrounds us, we celebrate the light within. we nestle warmly in our homes and light candles to remind us of the rebirth of the sun as we make way for a new year. we witness the magic of this season, in all it's glory, and hold each other close.

yours in celebration of the light,

shelley

felted ornaments...

2008-12-22T22:00:00.003-06:00

i realized today that i hadn't put any photos of my felted christmas ornaments from my waldorfmama shop here on my blog, so here are a couple of my favorites. i wanted to make a lot more this year, but because of an abundance of custom orders for my hats...i didn't get as many ornaments made as i would have liked. oh well, there is always next year. :)

yours in the joy of a handmade christmas,

shelley

fourth week of advent...

2008-12-22T06:02:00.005-06:00

and now we begin the fourth and final week of advent, when we celebrate and honor the strength and beauty of the human being. all of the kingdoms of nature contribute to our existence. we all have mineral, plant and animal aspects surrounding and supporting the flame of our individual human spirit. and it is this flame that is the essence of what it is to be human.

yours in celebrating this fourth week of advent,

shelley

happy solstice...

2008-12-21T21:00:00.005-06:00

happy winter solstice to you!

third advent gift...

2008-12-21T08:00:00.003-06:00

for maya's third week of advent gift (and in honor of the animal kingdom), we added a few animals to our ostheimer collection. the endless play of taking care of the animals, making sure they have been properly fed and cared for...has been our theme all week.

yours in celebration of this third week of advent,

shelley

custom knitting...

2008-12-20T07:00:00.002-06:00

here is a custom order i've recently completed. a light blue doll cardigan and pink dress in a dreamy wool/silk blend. this set goes out to my special friend, birdie. :)

yours in more happy custom order knitting,

shelley

handknitting stockings...

2008-12-19T20:00:00.003-06:00

i also wanted to showcase here a few of the handknitted christmas stockings i've made and sold in my waldorfmama shop...

yours in more knitting fun,

shelley

the stockings are hung...

2008-12-19T08:00:00.013-06:00

although not by the chimney (since we don't have a fireplace), they are hung with care. :) i love our family christmas stockings. these were a custom order and handmade by a fellow etsian last year (although she is no longer in business now), handknitted and felted in my very favorite color combinations!

yours as we draw closer to christmas day,

shelley

tis the season...

2008-12-18T08:00:00.009-06:00

mary with child

saint nicholas candle decoration

mary and joseph traveling

nativity poem...

2008-12-17T08:00:00.005-06:00

mary rocks her baby,

joseph holds a light,

ox and donkey standing

in the stable bright.

shepherds in the doorway

come to greet the child,

now they kneel before him

and his mother mild.

one holds out a lambkin

soft and white as snow,

all shall give their presents

ere they homeward go.

winter knits...

2008-12-16T08:00:00.006-06:00

a favorite knit hat and sweater

winter knits for all 0f the dolls, too, of course

third week of advent...

2008-12-15T08:00:00.004-06:00

during the third week of advent, we honor the animal kingdom. as we focus on our relationship with the birds and beasts, we are reminded of how they reflect our own most basic soul state. it is during this time of advent, as well as our own observation of nature, that we experience a settling down. a feeling of being blanketed for a long winter's nap. just as some our animal friends settle in for hibernation. the shorter daylight hours bring us inside much earlier than other times of the year, and advent balances this darkness and sleepiness with expectation and anticipation.

advent table decoration, third week

buntspechte donkey

osthiemer nativity animals

advent candles, third week

yours in celebrating this third week of advent,

shelley

second advent gift...

2008-12-14T22:00:00.003-06:00

for maya's second week of advent gift (and in celebration of the plant kingdom), she received several sets of beautifully handknitted food. a sandwich set, a taco set, a breakfast set, a salad set and some chocolate chip cookies. what fun she has had making us yummy things to eat all week!

yours in the joy of more handmade giving,

shelley

saint lucia...

2008-12-14T16:00:00.003-06:00

yesterday was saint lucia's day. this is a swedish tradition that is celebrated in most waldorf schools. the scandinavian legend is that of a white-clad maiden, wearing a crown of burning candles so she could be seen in the darkness, who brought food to the starving villagers on the shores of lake vanern. throughout sweden on this day...the eldest daughter in each household comes to her parents, dressed in a long white gown tied with a red sash and wearing a crown of lighted candles, and on her tray she carries coffee or tea and saffron 'lucia' buns - which are also shared with loved ones and neighbors.

saint lucia's day is another festival of light that we celebrate during this dark time of year as we usher in our christmas time festivities.

maya in her felted saint lucia crown, handmade by haddy2dogs

felted saint lucia doll, also handmade by haddy2dogs

yours in continuing the celebration of light,

shelley

happy birthday papi...

2008-12-13T08:00:00.011-06:00

if i had a single flower for every time i think about you, i could walk forever in my garden. ~ claudia ghandi

to the sweetest, most loving and giving husband and papa on the face of this earth...

happy birthday, papi!

we love you!

maya and mama

knitting, knitting and more knitting...

2008-12-12T08:00:00.005-06:00

yes, this is what i'm doing right now. knitting. and this is what i will be doing every day until christmas in an attempt to complete all of my custom hat orders. it's been a wonderful season, don't get me wrong. and i am thankful. but at times, it's been all i can do to keep up - which, more often than not, i haven't (i'm also thankful for very patient and understanding customers). sooo, here's to knitting the days away until the last hat is knit.

here are two of the latest ones i've completed. this first one, in sunset orange silk, is a new color i'll be offering - my absolute favorite color!

silk pilot cap, sunset orange

silk pilot cap, marine

yours in a bit of overtime knitting,

shelley

christmas decorations...

2008-12-11T10:15:00.009-06:00

ostheimer angel

ruth elsasser christmas print

ostheimer holy family

our advent verse...

2008-12-10T08:00:00.002-06:00

advent gifts...

2008-12-09T08:00:00.004-06:00

we have made it a tradition in our home this year to present maya with one small gift for each week of advent. each gift is handmade, either by myself or other craftspeople. and each is made using only natural, sustainable materials. this is our commitment to maya. and is a result of our pledge to purchase only handmade, one of a kind, eco-friendly toys and items for our home. i challenge you to make the same commitment. for your children, yourself and the environment. enjoy the creativity of handmaking the things you want yourself. or take the pledge! and enjoy supporting an artist or crafter directly. :)

maya's advent week one gift - a handknitted kitten from fuzzy mitten

yours in making the handmade pledge,

shelley

second week of advent...

2008-12-08T13:00:00.002-06:00

today we begin our second week of advent. this is the time when we focus on the plant kingdom. we collect pinecones and place them in our advent table setting, where they join the amethyst crystals. what a joyous time it is to pay tribute to all of the plants we know and love, from which we receive both nourishment and beauty. for it is life itself which we share with the plants.

we continue to open each little door on our advent calendar, maya receives a second small gift, and we light our first and second advent candles this week.

lighting of our second advent candle

yours in beginning our second week of advent,

shelley

audrey...

2008-12-08T08:00:00.007-06:00

happy 8th birthday, audrey! we love you!

shelley, wesley, and maya

first week of advent...

2008-12-07T08:00:00.018-06:00

we missed most of the first week of advent here at home since we were out of town and with family. now that we are back home again, we are quickly catching up and enjoying our usual and much-anticipated advent festivities. we set up the nativity on our nature table, put up our new advent calendar, maya received her first advent gift and we lit the first of our advent candles (we will begin week 2 tomorrow).

our ostheimer nativity

this year's advent calendar

lighting the first of our advent candles

this first week of advent, we celebrate the mineral world - the physical foundation for life. for without the mineral world, we would have no ground to stand on. our favorites are the amethyst crystals we have collected through the years. i like to imagine all the little gnomes working underground to tend to them.

amethyst crystals

yours in cheerfully celebrating our first week of advent,

shelley

saint nicholas...

2008-12-06T07:00:00.004-06:00

along with advent, december holds a few other smaller but very special celebrations. the first of which is celebrated today - saint nicholas day (december 6). this is a european, as well as a waldorf, tradition in which saint nicholas and his silent servant, rupert, visit children. on the eve of december 5, children place their shoes or boots outside the door (as well as a bit of hay for saint nicholas' horse) hoping saint nicholas will stop by and leave some treats for them - golden walnuts, clementines, an apple, maybe a bit of chocolate and perhaps a small gift. such a fun little celebration for our children to usher in this festive month of december.

ostheimer saint nicholas and rupert

felted saint nicholas' by etsy's haddy2dogs

yours in wishing you a happy saint nicholas day,

shelley

advent...

2008-12-05T08:00:00.004-06:00

advent is a very special time of year. a time of moving through the darkness toward the yearly rebirth of light, when the days begin to grow longer. a festival celebrating the returning of the light...

artwork by j.d. habegger

we celebrate advent as a four week festival - the four weeks leading up to christmas and solstice. and during this time, we deepen our relationship to the world around us by recognizing and celebrating the strength and beauty of all four of the kingdoms of the natural world. during this first week, we pay tribute to the mineral world. during the second week, we focus on the plant kingdom. in the third week, we celebrate the kingdom of animals. and the fourth week speaks to the human being. and as we pass through these weeks, this time moves us toward a deeper understanding of our place in the universe, of all that supports us, and all that we aspire to. as well as all that needs our care and protection.

yours in celebration of advent,

shelley

around our house...

2008-12-04T08:00:00.007-06:00

ostheimer elf mama

ostheimer music box

heartwood arts gnome house and ostheimer gnome

woolens and slippers...

2008-12-03T08:00:00.002-06:00

it is finally that time of year, here in texas, where we are regularly wearing our woolens and wool slippers. so cozy and comforting. i love how wool has that special quality of warmth, unmatched by any other fiber. naturally. how it creates that layer of softness against our skin and warms us to the core. even the smell of wool makes me happy.

and as little feet have grown, it was time for a new pair of wool slippers. we got these from satch and sol after seeing them recommended here. a fantastic eco-friendly, fair trade business you can feel good about buying from. these beauties are already destined to be favorites!

yours in wooly goodness,

shelley

more waldorf art...

2008-12-02T08:00:00.003-06:00

here are a couple of more of prints that i'll be adding to my 'waldorf art' flickr group. from one of my favorite waldorf artists, jula scholzen-gnad. these winter gnomes just make me smile!

yours from gnomeland,

shelley

more heartwood arts...

2008-12-01T08:00:00.003-06:00

yes, i know this is december 1. the beginning of advent. one of my most favorite times of the year. and we have many things prepared for this special time, but we are out of town with family at the moment and so my advent posts will have to wait until we are home again next weekend. :)

in the meantime, i've got a few more photos to share from my 'waldorf play' flickr group. these beautiful cups, saucers and plates are more of the lovely work of artist bill bluhm, of heartwood arts. each is handcarved, carefully sanded and then oiled. each piece...a thing of beauty.

and perfect for a spot of tea in the afternoon, of course...

yours in more wooden toy goodness,

shelley

waldorf art...

2008-11-30T08:00:00.007-06:00

here are two more of my favorite ruth elsasser prints...

and while i'm on a roll, i've decided to start another little flickr group...specifically for waldorf-inspired and waldorf-related paintings and prints, called 'waldorf art'. so come and join me there!

yours in love of waldorf art and artists,

shelley

heartwood arts...

2008-11-29T08:00:00.006-06:00

along with the other beautiful wooden toys i've shared recently, i've also had the pleasure and honor of collecting through the years a few things from master woodworker, bill bluhm, of heartwood arts. a waldorf father himself, he is a gifted artist in the truest sense of the word. here are a few of our cherished heartwood arts toys (you can see which ones are older and more 'loved', as the wood has aged and turned a bit darker and richer in color)...

big kingdom castle set

king and queen

gnome home

mamas, papas and children

bridge

to honor the work of this amazing artist and in appreciation for all beautifully handmade, lovingly created, waldorf toys...i've started a new little flickr group i'm calling 'waldorf play' (as a companion to my 'waldorf home' and 'waldorf festivals' flickr groups). please come and join me there and share photos of your treasured waldorf toys with us!

yours in celebration of the beauty of waldorf toys,

shelley

giving thanks...

2008-11-27T09:00:00.005-06:00

happy thanksgiving to all!

around our home...

2008-11-25T08:00:00.011-06:00

a few more little things from around our home today...

yours in happy hominess,

shelley

the last of the leaves...

2008-11-24T08:00:00.011-06:00

here in texas, it's still quite nice outside and we've been enjoying these last sunny days of autumn. and raking the last of the leaves...

yours in enjoying our last bit of autumn,

shelley

hallway prints...

2008-11-23T20:00:00.003-06:00

several people have asked about the prints in my last post, so i took some close-up pictures to share. these beautiful prints are the work of artist gabriela de carvalho. she has an entire series of fairy tale prints and each one is magical...

rumpelstiltskin

little red riding hood

the golden goose

yours in fairy tale love,

shelley

passing through...

2008-11-23T08:00:00.003-06:00

here are three little hand-carved wooden picture frames that grace our hallway. in each one is a postcard-sized print depicting various dreamy fairy tales. these always leave me smiling as i go from room to room...

yours in just passing through,

shelley

late autumn nature table...

2008-11-22T08:00:00.007-06:00

here is our new late autumn nature table...

late autumn...

2008-11-21T08:50:00.001-06:00

autumn winds are sighing

stealing through the forest brown

as they softly pass the tree trunks

little leaves come falling down

but a stronger gale is blowing

then the leaves themselves

rise and dance about the forest

just like little elves

faster, faster see them whirling

till the gale has passed

one by one the tired leaflets

sink to rest at last

woodpecker toys...

2008-11-19T23:12:00.009-06:00

along with ostheimer, another german manufacturer of beautiful waldorf wooden toys is woodpecker (or buntspechte, in german). they are a smaller and younger company than ostheimer (27 years old) and have a smaller offering of wooden figures and animals. but their work is...simply exquisite. each figure is beautifully handcarved with softly rounded edges and no facial features leaving the imagination to roam free. and there is a reverence for childhood about them, a spiritualness if you will, which makes one want to be still. and, as is the waldorf way, honor the child in us all.

these figures were bought at our waldorf school and were a gift from my sister years ago (thank you, shannon!). i also have their most beautiful nativity set, which i will be sharing in pictures at christmas time!

yours in more wooden toy loveliness,

shelley

welcome...

2008-11-19T08:00:00.008-06:00

hey everyone, please help me give a warm and wonderful welcome to my new sponsor...babybearshop.com! this wonderful online shop offers 100% natural and organic skincare products for mamas and babies. and was created by a mama in her own very personal search for a pure alternative for her baby who had allergies.

mama belly oil, $22-$32

this company is truly committed to organic. and they believe firmly in supporting organic sustainable farming methods. in their own words..."we are committed to our planet. and we are committed to our children. we believe that every day is a new chance to make the best choices for our children, their future, and the world we live in." and how about this? for every order placed, they plant a tree to offset carbon emissions!

cheeky baby butter, $24-$34

and just take a look at this lovely holiday recycled glass soy wax candle. a perfect idea for the holidays for yourself or someone you love. and you can sign up on their site to enter into a free giveaway for it!

thanks, everyone. and welcome babybearshop!

waldorfmama

credit where credit is due...

2008-11-18T08:00:00.010-06:00

i just received my winter 09 issue of living crafts in the mail yesterday. and i must say, it's quite a thrill to see something you've created in print (my ornaments are in the 'good finds' section, and my doll sweater is in the 'ready to wear' section, as a companion to the girl's red holiday cardigan). i just love this magazine and eagerly await each issue. i was a charter subscriber and definitely feel a special bond to it. and now it holds an even more special place in my heart.

and i also want to give credit where credit is due. to a very special person who inspired me to make the two things that are featured in the magazine - my twin sister, shannon. she is the one who taught me how to make the ornaments. and also inspired my doll sweater pattern when she made this lovely little sweater for maya's special baby. thank you, shannon! you are an inspiration in more ways than you can imagine and i love you very much!

yours in thankfulness and inspiration,

shelley

and winner #4 is...

2008-11-17T21:30:00.004-06:00

commenter #108, taimarie!

congratulations on winning this week's final ostheimer giveaway, taimarie! please email me with your mailing address and i'll send this ostheimer blue riding knight and red horse off to you right away to enjoy!

i'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was able to participate in these four joyful weeks of ostheimer knight giveaways. it has truly been a pleasure to pass these ostheimer treasures on to some new and happy recipients. it's also been wonderful 'meeting' some of you here for the first time. as well as getting to see many of you again whom i already know. i only wish i had a knight to give to each and every one of you! i do plan on having a few more vintage ostheimer giveaways in the future, so feel free check back whenever you can. i hope everyone has a wonderful week!

yours in joyful ostheimer giving,

shelley

fourth and final ostheimer giveaway...

2008-11-15T09:00:00.002-06:00

this week's fourth and final ostheimer giveaway is the riding blue knight and red horse! to enter in this last drawing, please leave a comment in this post anytime before monday evening. i will announce the winner at 9:00pm CST on monday. good luck to everyone!

yours in one last ostheimer to share,

shelley

doll house...

2008-11-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

maya has been enjoying her doll house a lot lately. as the weather turns cooler, her play turns more inward as well. and as we set about our tasks each day, i see these reflected in her play with her own little doll house family.

yours in doll house fun,

shelley

martinmas...

2008-11-12T08:00:00.007-06:00

yesterday was martinmas and we enjoyed a lovely little lantern walk just after the sun set. this festival has always been a favorite of mine. it's magical seeing the lanterns all candlelit in the darkness. and it always brings about a feeling of cherishing and protecting the light, in preparation for the coming season of darkness. this celebration of martinmas is a special one, as it is truly about sharing our own inner light and being of service to others...

the story of saint martin is a simple one. he was a roman soldier who, on one cold november night, saw a beggar man by the side of the road. the man was freezing and begging for help, but everyone was passing him by. however martin, feeling great compassion for the man, chose to stop and help him. he removed his cloak, cut it in half, and shared one half of it with the beggar...who was no doubt grateful. that night, martin dreamed the beggar was the christ. and he came to realize that by helping this man...he had been in service to god and, indeed, to all mankind.

in honor of this selfless act, we began our martinmas celebration by first telling the story of saint martin amid glowing candles in our living room. then we lit our lanterns and carried them out into the darkness to walk our neighborhood and share some special gifts with friends. we offered our gifts of beeswax candles to our neighbors, along with some lovely artwork maya had created for them. we also plan on donating some warm clothing this week to those who are in need.

yours in celebration of this very special festival of light,

shelley

p.s. i've just created a new waldorf festivals flickr group, a place to share our photos of all of the wonderful waldorf festivals throughout the year. please come and join me there!

festival of saint martin...

2008-11-11T17:00:00.001-06:00

tonight is the festival of saint martin. a beautiful festival of light. we will be taking our lantern walk and sharing pictures tomorrow!

yours in anticipation of this wonderful autumn festival,

shelley

living crafts...

2008-11-11T09:35:00.008-06:00

today is the day that the winter issue of living crafts magazine should be out in stores. i haven't received my issue yet, but i'll be so excited to see it. i have the honor of having a two of my waldorfmama shop handmade items featured in this issue. my felted christmas ornaments are scheduled to be in the 'good finds' section. and my handknitted doll sweater pattern will be featured, as well. it will be fun to see these in print!

in honor of being featured, i've listed a few felted christmas ornaments in the shop. i certainly intended on making more of these before the issue came out - but you all know how that goes. i'll be listing many more in the coming days, so if they disappear fast...please check back often! i also plan to have more handknitted doll sweaters and dresses available as soon as possible. and remember, you can always request a custom order.

yours in loving living crafts,

shelley

and winner #3 is...

2008-11-10T21:15:00.001-06:00

commenter #30, martha!

congratulations on winning this week's giveaway, martha! please email me with your mailing address and i'll send this ostheimer blue standing knight right off to you to enjoy!

and remember...next weekend will be the last, and final, opportunity to win one of these vintage, discontinued, hard-to-find ostheimer knights (plus horse next week). so please join me once again, beginning on saturday and ending on monday!

yours in continuing the ostheimer love,

shelley

third ostheimer giveaway...

2008-11-08T09:05:00.002-06:00

this week's ostheimer giveaway is the standing blue knight! to enter this week's drawing, please leave a comment in this post sometime before monday evening. i will announce the winner at 9:00pm CST on monday. good luck to everyone!

yours in more ostheimer love to share,

shelley

some little things...

2008-11-07T07:20:00.001-06:00

around our home...

a favorite little handcarved wooden gnome from zooloonaturals

lighting a candle in gratitude

keeping my knitting bags close at hand

yours in enjoying the little things today,

shelley

ostheimer play...

2008-11-06T08:58:00.000-06:00

i just happened to come across these two older photos today that i had taken of our ostheimer nativity shelter, one day after maya had been playing with it. i love the way the light falls on this scene. and the peaceful serenity and comfort i feel in being able to provide such natural and imaginative toys for her.

maya's room is really a peaceful and joyful place to be and, as requested, i plan to take a few more pictures to share later this week.

yours in joyful play,

shelley

yes, we can...

2008-11-05T00:27:00.011-06:00

change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. we are the ones we've been waiting for. we are the change that we seek.

~ president-elect barack obama

i am filled with happiness and hope for the future. for our children.

and for our world...

yours in gratitude, thankfulness, joy and hope...

shelley

a day of hope...

2008-11-04T08:57:00.008-06:00

once you choose hope, anything is possible.

~ christopher reeve

yours in hope today,

shelley

and winner #2 is...

2008-11-03T19:46:00.012-06:00

commenter #57, blue yonder!

congratulations on winning this week's giveaway, blue yonder! please email me with your mailing address and i'll send this ostheimer purple standing knight right off to you...for you and yours to enjoy!

i want to thank everyone again for participating in this week's giveaway. and remember, there are two more chances for some ostheimer knights over the next two weekends. :) it's interesting - several people have asked...why am i giving these beautiful knights away? well, the answer is simple. we have more than enough. plus i love the idea of sharing these older style knights because they happen to be my very favorites. so join me, won't you, for next week's giveaway (week #3) - once again beginning on friday and ending on monday!

yours in continuing the ostheimer love,

shelley

second ostheimer giveaway...

2008-10-31T08:26:00.002-05:00

i wanted to start this week's ostheimer giveaway opportunity on friday (rather than saturday) to give everyone a chance to join in. i will still be closing the comments on monday evening at 9:00pm CST to announce the winner, i just wanted to give everyone an additional day...especially because of the holiday festivities today. so again, all you need to do to enter is leave a comment in this post sometime before monday evening at 9:00pm CST for a chance to win this week's vintage ostheimer giveaway!

and this week's ostheimer giveaway is the standing purple knight!

good luck everyone!

yours in sharing some more ostheimer love,

shelley

peace on earth...

2008-10-29T21:01:00.010-05:00

deepak chopra and david simon led their second 'global peace meditation' yesterday. a one-hour worldwide mediation for peace, harmony and love on the planet. hundreds of participants with deepak and david in california...were joined by thousands more meditators around the globe. with the collective intention of creating peace in the world. and peace within.

in this time of choice for our country, i hope we all look within. and unite together, as one, with the vision and intention of peace for our country and our world...

felted dove of peace and olive branch made by my dear friend, becky, over at the singing bird

yours in visualizing world peace,

shelley

more pumpkins...

2008-10-29T09:28:00.004-05:00

pumpkin patch...

2008-10-28T08:08:00.004-05:00

on a recent visit to the pumpkin patch, maya found this very interesting gourd. my my, nature is truly amazing...is she not? what a joyous autumn season we are enjoying. we hope you are, too!

yours in wonder of nature,

shelley

and the winner is...

2008-10-27T21:08:00.011-05:00

commenter #7, stephanie!

congratulations on winning this first week's giveaway, stephanie! please email me with your mailing address and i'll send this ostheimer purple riding knight and gold horse off to you. enjoy!

i want to thank everyone for participating in this week's giveaway and leaving such wonderful and thoughtful comments! what a pleasure it was to see some old friends here and to also 'meet' some new friends. please come back again and join me for this week's giveaway (week #2), beginning on saturday and ending on monday!

yours in the joy of giving,

shelley

ostheimer knights and a giveaway...

2008-10-24T21:53:00.011-05:00

when i began my ostheimer collecting years ago, some of the first pieces i bought were the knights and the knight's horses. my older girls were particularly fond of castles and kings and queens and knights and princesses and all the things that go along with that world. and many a day was spent building kingdoms and villages and towns in which numerous elaborate scenes were taking place. a few years pass, my son is born and in the following years...a resurgence of kingdoms and castles begins in earnest. so naturally, a couple of more knights and horses joined our collection.

old-style ostheimer knights and horses

(with kinderkram castle pieces)

fast forward 14 years. maya is born and after a few years of having only teenagers in the house...i begin to bring out, clean and polish our beloved ostheimer toys in preparation for maya to enjoy. as well as dream of the new ones we will add throughout her childhood years on special days of celebration. this is when i learn that the style of these ostheimer knights and horses has changed and the older ones (which i love) are no longer in production. they are only making the new style now (which i'm not as crazy about).

purple riding knight and gold horse, purple standing knight

my mission begins. the search is on. i put the word out there in various and sundry places and believe it or not, i eventually locate and purchase all of the older style knights and horses known to man. now, this became somewhat of a laughing matter around our house as more and more knights and horses continued to arrive. but you see - at that point, i was committed. what else could i do? but now, i know. the reason is clear. very clear. because now i can share some of these vintage ostheimer knights and horses with you, my dear friends. spreading the ostheimer love!

blue standing knight, blue riding knight and red horse

so, for the next 4 weeks...i will be giving away the old style knights and horses you see in the pictures above. either one riding knight and horse. or one standing knight. this first week's giveaway will be the purple riding knight and gold horse. (now, mind you, these are not new ostheimer figures. they have been gently enjoyed by my children and lovingly cared for over the years.) each giveaway will begin on saturday morning. to enter, all you need to do is make a comment in the post. then i'll close the comments on monday evening at approximately 9:00pm CST and shortly after that...announce the winner. so here's to all you ostheimer lovers out there. enjoy!

yours in sharing some ostheimer love,

shelley

maya's room...

2008-10-24T01:03:00.014-05:00

here are some framed prints that hang in maya's room. they are by ruth elsasser, my favorite waldorf-inspired german artist...

yours in appreciating beautiful art,

shelley

maya...

2008-10-23T02:12:00.006-05:00

my sweet maya meadow, what a joy it is to be your mama. you are a bright light, a boundless spirit of pure love and abundance. i love spending every single day with you...

yours in everlasting gratitude,

mama

elves and gnomes...

2008-10-22T01:38:00.010-05:00

elf and rooster

gnome, mouse and felted mushrooms

(mushrooms made by haddy2dogs)

bedroom wall...

2008-10-21T10:11:00.007-05:00

here are a couple of favorites that hang on our bedroom wall...

sun musicbox

woodland princess print in wooden frame

yours in seeing the beauty around me,

shelley

pentatonic music...

2008-10-19T20:16:00.012-05:00

pentatonic music and songs (based on the pentatonic scale which has five notes, instead of the usual seven) are used in waldorf schools up until 3rd grade - when, according to waldorf pedagogy, children have developed an inner emotional life that makes the major and minor scales more appropriate for them. one beautiful and important aspect of the pentatonic scale is that all notes harmonize with one another. and therefore only harmonic sounds are made when children are playing instruments and improvising together or alone. additionally, pentatonic music has the characteristic of going on and on without having an ending note, which encourages the young child to stay in that dreamy, wondrous, imaginative state. here are a few of our well loved pentatonic instruments that we so enjoy...

little lyre

kinderlyre (that i've had for 20 years)

lyre tuning tool

xylophone from germany

yours in beautiful pentatonic harmony,

shelley

take a seat...

2008-10-18T22:27:00.007-05:00

there is a maple theme around my house (as if you couldn't tell that already). i adore maple. as i'm sure i've said before, it's my favorite wood. and we have a lot of things in our house made from maple. here are three of my favorite chairs in our home - all maple. so take a seat with me and sit a spell...

maya's highchair (made by papi)

my favorite rolling desk chair

our kitchen counter stools

yours in taking a seat,

shelley

felted boxes...

2008-10-18T20:48:00.007-05:00

a few people asked so i wanted to show you what we use the felted boxes for - our block beeswax crayons. these beautiful felted boxes were custom made for me by my friend, leah (kneek), over at spider felt. i specifically asked for these color combinations so we could separate our stockmar block crayons into these four color groupings - reds/oranges, yellows, greens/blues, purples/violets. they are quite a handy way to store the crayons and make clean up a breeze. and didn't leah do a wonderful job? thanks, leah!

yours in felted goodness,

shelley

sit a spell...

2008-10-17T21:07:00.012-05:00

i'm joining my creative blogging friends, amanda and stefani, and taking a few photos for their new 'sit a spell' group. come on over and join us! do you have a favorite sitting spot? here are a few of mine...

a cup of tea at the kitchen table

our daily creative time

a cozy knitting spot

yours in sitting a spell with my friends,

shelley

golden october...

2008-10-17T09:00:00.005-05:00

it's golden in the tree tops,

it's golden in the sky

it's golden, golden, golden

october passing by.

i shake the trees

and blow my tune

ho, ho...the leaves

will be dancing soon!

yours in golden october,

shelley

beanbags...

2008-10-15T22:30:00.007-05:00

we've been enjoying some play and exercises with beanbags lately. singing or saying verses as we toss the bags back and forth. they are perfect for encouraging rhythm, hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. our movements being a mixture of purposeful large and small gestures to develop fine and gross motor skills. which, in the waldorf pedagogy, are considered the foundation for writing and reading. balance is also an important pre-literary skill, and maya is especially loving the challenge of balancing a beanbag on her head while walking.

i made these little bean bags years ago using some cloth we had dyed in the kindergarten. i used dried navy beans to fill them. and then colorful embroidery thread, using the blanket stitch, to sew the seams. i loved the way they turned out and they are still holding up just fine after years of play.

yours in beanbag fun,

shelley

my first ostheimer...

2008-10-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

i was inspired by maike's question in the comments from my last post...to take a picture of the very first ostheimer figures i ever purchased, and here they are:

rider, horse for rider and farmer's wife

i bought these 3 figures more than 20 years ago, in the little waldorf school store...the very first time i went to our one and only waldorf school here in texas (austin). it was in the kindergarten there that i was overcome by a deep connection and feeling of reverence that i had never felt before. i knew right then and there that waldorf was my path. that i was to be a waldorf mama. and i have been connected to this waldorf way ever since that day. these 3 little figures represent that moment of discovery, that moment of 'rebirth' for me. and they will always be cherished. as are all of the ostheimer figures and treasures we have collected and loved since then.

yours in ostheimer memories,

shelley

ostheimer love...

2008-10-14T08:25:00.006-05:00

well, i'm not sure how it happened...but somehow i just now, as of yesterday, discovered soulemama's ostheimer flickr group. i have no idea how i've missed this up until now? but i guess it doesn't really matter. at least, i've found it. and let me just say...i plan on being a top contributor. if you didn't know this about me already, i am a huge ostheimer fan. and have been collecting these beautiful german-made wooden toys for over 20 years now. that's right. 20 years. and i'm still adding new treasures every christmas, every birthday, and many other special occasions. these ostheimer toys are, by and large, the most quintessential waldorf toys made. and i'll venture to say they can be found in every single waldorf school across the globe. each figure is carefully and lovingly crafted and painted by hand. each an individual work of art. and the lovely ostheimer family have owned and operated their family business in germany for more than 50 years now. speaking to just how great their commitment is, here is a wonderful quote from their catalog: 'our hand-crafted wooden toys are invented and created out of love for the children, because we realize that children have individual needs to develop themselves and that they need beauty and purity. our materials, colour, design and the manufacturing by hand take into account these realizations.' no doubt i'm a devoted supporter of their efforts, their cause and their beautiful toys. so you've been warned. many, many more ostheimer pictures to come!

red riding hood, the hunter and the wolf

handheld musicbox ~ 'weisst du wieviel sternlein'

elves and foxes

yours in devoted ostheimer love,

shelley

silk...

2008-10-13T19:39:00.005-05:00

new silk yarn in a specific colorway that a customer requested. wow, do i love knitting my hats in this beautiful silk. each and every one is a joy to make. and i always dream of how the baby will feel with this luxuriously soft yarn next to his or her skin!

yours in silk love,

shelley

fall treasures...

2008-10-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

here are a few little fall treasures we're enjoying inside to help us celebrate the coming of the change of seasons outside...

three little autumn dwarves

a wooden mushroom

a willow catkin baby, made by ruprecht

yours in welcoming the coming autumn,

shelley

more color...

2008-10-12T08:27:00.002-05:00

from around our home...

dress up corner

goethe's color wheel

a very carefully prepared lunch for mama

basket of silks

yours in more beautiful color,

shelley

lighting a candle...

2008-10-11T00:30:00.004-05:00

~ for lizz and her family ~

this is a verse we use as a parting verse, but i find it

especially appropriate today for a dear friend

going through a difficult transition...

around the kitchen...

2008-10-10T18:12:00.010-05:00

a few friends have made some nice comments about some of the wooden things in my kitchen (from my breakfast photos below) so i thought i'd post a couple of more of my favorites - our sugar box and salt cellar. most of the things we have are made of maple (my favorite wood), including our floors, cabinets, beds and nightstands. maya's playstands and cupboard, as well as our shelving and dressers, are made of pine. i prefer the lighter-colored, naturally modern, scandinavian type wood as i feel most connected to it. there is really something so special and comforting about wood. as it holds that organic spirit that all things that have lived hold...

yours in wooden goodness,

shelley

breakfast...

2008-10-10T08:15:00.001-05:00

color...

2008-10-09T08:30:00.004-05:00

i have this love for color and most everything in my home is very colorful. to me, it's really all about color. and surrounding myself (and filling our home) with colors that evoke a happy, peaceful, tranquil feeling. i have always loved and felt a connection to the warmer colors of the spectrum - pinks, reds, oranges and yellows. these colors make me smile and feel warm inside. and the paint for the walls in our home have all been specially chosen, as well. maya's room is that beautiful pinky-peach waldorf kindergarten color. our living room is a vibrant yellow. the hall is a soft peach. our bedroom is a lemony-green. and our kitchen and dining area is a bright citron. what colors do you love?

snow white and the seven dwarves

a second quilt (this one in pinks, reds and oranges) by my friend, malka, over at stitch in dye

and a beautiful fairy made by my dear friend, orit dotan

yours in love of color,

shelley

door chimes...

2008-10-08T09:00:00.002-05:00

one of my favorite things around our home are the door chimes we have. i love the simple and clear sound they make as the doors open and close. we have one on the front door, one on the back door and one on the garage door. and no matter where we are in the house, we know the sound of each chime and which door is being opened. it is comforting somehow. sort of magical in a way. here is a picture of the one that hangs on our garage door - a favorite, for sure. one that i have had for many, many years...

yours in the sweet sound of chimes,

shelley

new doll sweater...

2008-10-07T08:30:00.003-05:00

here is a new doll sweater that i just put in my waldorfmama shop. a lovely creme and pink merino wool, with small wooden buttons. i'm really loving knitting these doll sweaters and plan on putting as many as i can in my shop before the living crafts magazine feature comes out...

yours in lots of fun doll sweater knitting,

shelley

early autumn nature table...

2008-10-06T12:34:00.007-05:00