August 2010 | Rhythm of the HomeRhythm of the Home

The Blessing Hour

One of the first things that drew me, as a young mother, to the Waldorf philosophy was the sense of rhythm that is valued. For me, rhythm keeps us going. It keeps us flowing and breathing, enjoying, creating and living. From almost two weeks old, my oldest son craved a rhythm to his day. His [...]

Lessons from the Library

This summer my family moved from our long-time home in Colorado to a new home in the Midwest. It took us several weeks to begin to explore our new neighborhood, and to slowly step forth into the community around us. It was during this process that I rediscovered the public library. To be honest, we had [...]

From Day to Night: A Reversible Totebag

As a mama of two very active boys, and another little one on the way, I often find myself looking for ways to cut down on some of those silly time consumers that waste time and can often cause conflict. For months I spent every day in pure frustration at the clothes on my children’s [...]

Creating Community in Nature with the Northern Colorado Nature Tribe

Creating connection in our very spread out and busy communities can be a challenge. Nature is playing a huge role in the resurgence of community, as we are looking to small groups of like minded families to connect with, gain ideas from, and create sustainable communities around. Angela Nelson of the Northern Colorado Nature Tribe [...]

Felt Cat Pin

To complete the project, you’ll need to understand how to do a blanket stitch, chain stitch, satin stitch and fly stitch. Materials 1″ pin back Pinking shears Embroidery needles 2 green glass beads (about 1/4″) Embroidery floss: black, brown, orange, gold, light green Wool felt: 2-1/4″ x 2″ pink, 1-1/2″ x 1-3/4″ blue, 1-1/4 x [...]

Autumn Crafts for Little Ones

Little Acorn Necklaces Materials Bucket full of acorns Very small screwdriver or other sharp tool Thread (doubled) Long doll-making needle Where we live, there is an abundance of acorns on our property each autumn. We often use the acorns for crafting, little wee-folk heads or for simple play, but one year we decided to get [...]

Handmade Beginnings with Anna Maria Horner

Anyone expecting a new baby, or those who have the desire to create for one, will love Anna Maria Horner’s newest book, Handmade Beginnings. From a gorgeous diaper bag, to a welcoming quilt, nesting blocks, to baby booties, this book is full of dynamic color, flawless patterns, and inspiration to shower any new little one [...]

The Sugar Sprite

Dressing up for Halloween has always been a much-loved event in our family. We spend the weeks before it piecing together items from the dress-up box, the local thrift store and, of course, making some items. There have been many years when the adults join the action too! I love watching the creative process we [...]

Felt Wee Folk with Salley Mavor

Salley Mavor’s book Felt Wee Folk is a treasure for any family who enjoys the combination of handcrafting and seasonal celebrations. Every page is filled with ideas and directions for bringing the world of imagination alive. From Hansel and Gretel to Blossom Fairies, A Royal Family to Harvest Folk, the possibilities for felt crafting are [...]

Life in a Viking Village

This summer my son and I spent our vacation on the island of Gotland , in Sweden. Everywhere you turn on the island you can find evidence of the Vikings. The largest Viking hordes have been found on Gotland; one in particular was found by a school group touring an old Viking village. We would [...]

Capturing Your Mothering Memories Through Art Journaling

What do we usually think after we hear something funny or amazing our kids say? “Oh, I’ve got to remember to write that down!” And how many times do we stop to write it down, let alone remember the phrase at all? I’ve caught myself telling my husband, “Kestan said the funniest thing today but [...]

The First Day of Fall

Few things say “autumn” to me more clearly than a bite of pumpkin bread on a crisp day. That’s why, for the last fourteen years, I have enjoyed baking up this recipe and sharing it with family and neighbors. As my children have gotten older, they’ve helped with the preparation, and we’ve given the loaves [...]

Autumn Leaf Placemat

Autumn is such a profoundly beautiful and dramatic season. For many of us, the turning of the year is most apparent in autumn; the air chills, the leaves blush and drop, and many creatures experience a turning inward — toward contemplation, celebration, and being with those we love. Making an autumn leaf placemat is a [...]

Creating a Waldorf Home

Creating a Waldorf home and lifestyle isn’t mysterious or out of reach, but it is a process. Myths are imagined that all Waldorf homes are perfect in some way and all the children just dreamily sing along baking bread. More than accoutrements, Waldorf living is a feeling that can be invoked in your home. The [...]

Making a Doll Swing

The play and adventures of the dolls in residence at our home is highly valued. In fact there are few privileges granted to the humans that are not granted to the dolls! Creating for these beloved playmates is a joy. Truly. Of the simplest and most enjoyed playthings we have made are a set of [...]

Mother Roasting

Mother roasting refers to the almost universal practice of keeping mothers warm immediately after the birth and in the weeks that follow. It is believed to seal the gateways, which have been opened by the birth, and to keep wind and cold from entering a vulnerable new mother’s body. In cultures all over the world, [...]

The Rhythm of the Temperaments ~ Melancholic Temperament

Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. During the months of autumn I feel more easily grounded, balanced and at peace than I do all year. I never really thought about why that was until I learned about the temperaments. Now it makes a lot of sense. Autumn is the time when the [...]

Love with Intention

In a world that can feel so fast-paced, it can be a challenge to make time and space to intentionally love our children. Yes, our love is ever present but there is a strength and soothing energy that comes from intentionally being present with the powerful love we have for them. Three weeks ago I [...]

Michaelmas Dragon

Michaelmas is a festival that marks the turning of the seasons. Traditionally, it is celebrated on September 29th. In Medieval times, Michaelmas was celebrated as a time for gathering: landlords gathered rent, people gathered food, and the food was gathered into cupboards and storerooms. A celebration was held to rejoice in the harvest if it [...]