Argh…are you a pirate at heart? Do you dream of pieces of eight and adventure on the seven seas? Well listen up scurvy dogs! Just in time for Halloween or some fun dramatic play, here is an easy sew or no-sew felt pirate hat tutorial that even little buccaneers can make in minutes. Pirate Hat and Eyepatch Tutorial read more …
The Storyteller Series: Many of our favorite authors not only bring to life stories which hold our attention, they also were and are actual people who hold a variety of talents, passions, and interests. These have become part of the woven cloth of the storytellers themselves. This series sheds a light on the writers and read more …
In the corner of our family room is a red leather bag. Our bag right now is filled with items such as a wreath of Tibetan bells, a polar bear snow globe, felted toy animals, chopsticks, and our favorite storytelling item of them all– a coconut shell half. Once every six weeks or so, I read more …
Martin and Sylvia live in tall house with lots of windows. In their backyard is all a five- and a seven-year-old could ever want: a brook, a tree swing, a playhouse and a garden full of magical friends. These two enterprising and all-too-familiar children explore the nooks and crannies of their house, the infinite possibilities read more …
In my childhood, my mom was always sewing in the background while we played. Of course now that I have children of my own, the sewing bug bites me hard just when there are not enough hours in the day to get my fix. You can imagine then my giddiness when I came upon the read more …
Our eyes are always upwards lately. In the winter we watched it snow, in the spring we watched it rain, and in the summer, we lazed about and watched the clouds float by. Autumn is a perfect time to look to the sky and watch the effects of the wind. We watch the gusts blowing read more …
When my son Julian turned eight, he took his birthday money to our local hardware and picked out a little green pocket knife. The knife has made a few trips through the wash, but other than that, he has cared for and carefully used his knife for close to two years. For a boy who read more …
There is magic in a story that comes to life with puppets. It may seem that a puppet show is only something you take your child to, and not something you offer yourself at home. I hope this project inspires you to think otherwise! A little story with a few puppets, that you may already read more …
Spindlewood, spindlewood, will you lend me pray, A little flaming lantern to guide me on my way? The fairies all have vanished from the meadow and the glen, And I would fain go seeking till I find them once again. Lend me now a lantern that I may bear a light, To find the hidden read more …
Camping is one of those childhood activities that nearly all of us have memories of, and that many hold dear. Camping out in nature is a thrill for children: to sleep under the stars, tell stories around a campfire, and eat a meal freshly cooked from a fire built by their own hands. Camping allows read more …
Autumn is a time of drawing in, the tipping point in the balance between the bounty of the harvest and the quiet of winter to come. We are often pulled out of doors this time of year, into the mellowing light and crisp air, out among the vibrant last stand of growing things before they read more …
I love to create with my children. Nothing in this world is more rewarding to me than seeing their eyes light up when they have asked for a special something from Momma and then it appears before their eyes. The wonder and respect they have while watching and participating in the creation process will last a read more …
Autumn is a magical time in forests and gardens. Creatures make homes and hiding places to store up food and cozy things for the winter. Autumn also brings cooler days and art projects can help entertain kids when the winds and rain begin to blow. Making a fairy house out of clay is the perfect read more …
In our busy, commercialized lives it can be difficult to slow down, be present and connect with our children. But when we finally allow our grown-up selves to put aside the “must get done” stuff and allow ourselves to play, we reap personal and familial benefits beyond anything we can imagine. Imagine getting lost in read more …