christmas bedroom

 
Yesterday while the kids were at school I did a bit of Christmas decorating in their room.  They loved it!  Even with several toys being boxed up and stored in the basement they played happily all evening long with the few new Christmas additions!
I had hoped to get them red flannel duvet covers this year but I haven't been able to find any!  Hard to believe this time of year!?
 I've kept it a very simple and clean decorating style, I wanted them to feel relaxed not overstimulated!
I pulled out the Christmas linens for the play kitchen and on the doll's bed.  We plan on making tiny ornaments to add to the small tree on top of the kitchen throughout the season.  I've tried to leave more spaces bare around our home for holiday creating.  We often end up not having room to display this year's projects if I put all of our decorations out now.
And it looks like we're ready for Santa too!

Have you been making creative holiday corners in your home?
xoxo
~ joey ~

waldorf christmas fair 2011

::  hallway display  ::
After blogging about our past Waldorf Christmas Fair visits here, I was so excited to share this year's experience.  It was so magical! 

Last Saturday we woke to a very brisk morning of frost and could see that the higher elevations around us had a light dusting of snow!   Rather than risking icy road conditions we took the ferry to bypass the mountain drive.  Here are a few photos of the inlet...
::  leaving the misty inlet, standing on the car deck of the ferry  ::
::  a light dusting of snow  ::
:: I grew up in this little community across the bay from where we live now ::

::  around the corner and down the arm  ::

Upon arriving at the School we bought our tickets and headed straight for the silk scarf painting!  I have wanted to try this for years and this year my daughter was right in there with me!
::  getting started  ::

::  A's scarf sprinkled with salt  ::
::  I was so eager to try a rainbow pattern!  ::
The kids also dipped a beeswax candle.  The room is hard to photograph as it is unlit but I tried to capture some of the beautifully decorated table that they slowly walked around to each dipping pot.

::  I think I'm going to make some of these little houses!  ::
::  B dipping his candle into the pot of beeswax  ::
B also wanted to make a centre piece for our table,  He had so many lovely natural materials to choose from!

::  some of the centre pieces waiting to dry  ::
A decided that she wanted to make bath salts.  She chose to scent hers with a blend of tea tree, eucalyptus, and lavender essential oils.  She also added flower petals.  They wrapped them in a circle of cloth and tied them with yarn.  There were pretty watercolour cards to write on if you were making it as a gift.

Nestled in the corner of the room was this beautiful display!
::  isn't it gorgeous?!  ::
 The blow a boat venue was truly magical!  We entered a small area that was enclosed by blue sheets.  It was dark inside, lit only by tiny twinkle lights and the candles in the walnut boats.  The children crouched down alongside the shore of the pond and gently blew their boat across the pond (without blowing out the candle!)  On the bottom of the pond were shells and crystals.  Moss lined the perimeter of the pond and was decorated with wood and other natural materials. Gentle music played softly in the background.  We all left the room feeling so relaxed!

The kids also went through the "cookie cavern" which was a tunnel formed out of sheets and decorated with cookies hung on yarn pinned to the walls and ceiling of the tunnel.

And the "enchanted garden" was very spectacular but sadly I couldn't photograph it either.  Again a tunnel was created but with tables set up in the centre to form a pathway to walk around.  On the tables were the most fabulous displays of gnomes, plants, crystals and other goodies celebrating the seasons.  So much inspiration for the nature table!  Each child could pick out a carved wood gnome to take home.

We didn't have a chance to do all of the activities but we did try and peak inside each classroom!  There was wreath making, clay sculpture, soapstone carving, a music room and several food venues.
::  wreath making room  ::
::  music room  ::
Some of the classrooms were set up with the beautiful chalkboard drawings and examples of the children's school work.

I hope you enjoyed these photos, if you have attended a fair and blogged about it, please link up, I would love to see it!

Happy Holiday Season!
xoxo
~ joey ~


{this moment}

inspired by soulemama and waldorfmama..

::  ready for advent  ::

this week I am thankful for.....

~ being able to release some creative energy

~ a relatively smooth week despite being quite busy

~ learning how to open a pomegranate

~ holiday plans coming together

~ being able to participate in the 4 seasons exchange
 
what are you thankful for this week?
xoxo
~ joey ~







{this moment}

Inspired by soulemama and waldorfmama..


This week I am thankful for...

~ how this simple little mailbox starts a flurry of note writing in our house...

~ my son reminding me just what the season is all about...

~ inspiration that helped to rekindle my creative energy...

~ friends that make me smile...

~ being able to offer comfort to friends who are going through a rough time...

~ a chill in the air that is forcing me to start thinking about winter.

What are you thankful for?  I'd love to hear about what made your week!
xoxo
~ joey ~


simple little bits of christmas

::  blanket stitched heart stuffed with wool  ::

For the past month or so I felt as though I had lost my "crafting mojo"!
My creative spark was barely flickering.
I wanted to start Christmas crafting . . . but I just wasn't quite ready yet!

Well, the other night I managed to rekindle that fire and wanted to share a few simple little bits of Christmas.  I like to keep things simple so each year I add a few handmade things to our decorations. 

::  drying rosehips strung onto a wire shaped into a heart  ::
::  popsicle stick snowflakes, great to make with the kids  ::
::  little zip bag  ::
::  so quick and easy to make for gifts, excellent tutorial here  ::
My daughter tried her hand at needlefelting on a flat surface the other day so we framed her first picture!

::  A's first needlefelted picture  ::

Are you feeling the Christmas Season yet?
Have you started any Christmas crafting or gift making?!
Please leave a link to share your projects, plans or inspirations!
xoxo
~ joey ~



looking back: past waldorf christmas fairs

::  floating walnut candles 2007  ::
One of the events that we look forward to during the Christmas Season is a visit to a Waldorf School Christmas Fair!  The only school is located an hour from our home so our children do not attend the school but we do enjoy visiting and absorbing all of that Waldorf goodness!   I always enjoy going through our photos of past visits as the date of our next visit draws nearer (this year's fair is this weekend!!) so I thought I would share some of them today.  

Our journey begins traveling up over the mountain that we admire through our living room window every day!  This is the view from the mountain's summit....totally spectacular!
If you click on the above photo and look very closely you can see the ferry that travels across the inlet through the railing (yes, that little white spot!).  We often take it one way to reduce highway travel time, it's a very relaxing way to travel!  We are about 1150 feet above sea level.  Salt Spring Island is on the left!
::  we live in the little bay on the right of this photo  ::

 .... back to the Waldorf Fair!  Here are some photos from past visits!  It's amazing to see how much the kidlets have grown.  We couldn't attend last year due to a snow storm so they seem so little!!!
::  candle dipping is a favourite activity!  2008  ::
::  candle dipping 2009  ::
This particular year (2009) they had set up the most beautiful display in the center of the candle dipping "circle" that we traveled around.  When we enter the room we remove our shoes, quiet our voices and wait our turn.  The room is lit by only filtered light through the windows and a musician softly plays as we make our way around the circle to two dipping pots.  


I couldn't believe how much work went into creating this gorgeous display!  Sorry some of the photos are dark and out of focus.  I didn't want to use a flash and the light wasn't great for photography, plus I was trying so hard not to disturb the others as I snapped my photos!

The activities and crafts that they set up in the classrooms are beautiful as well!  Here in the Kindercrafts Room the kids have made candle holders, God's eyes, wool angels and scented bath salts!
::  2008  ::
::  2008  ::
::  2008  ::
::  2009  ::

The playground is fantastic and we always leave lots of time to explore every inch of it!

::  2009  ::
::  2008  ::
::  aack!  I can't believe he's not quite 3 years old here!  2007 ::
The entire school is decorated so beautifully...hallways, classrooms, even the bathrooms have sprigs of greenery on the counters, so much goes into every detail!
::  hallway mural 2007  ::
::  classroom chalkboard drawing 2007  ::
::  candle dipping 2007  ::
::  decorated hallway  2007  ::
::  displays of the children's schoolwork 2007  ::
::  when I fell in love with kite paper stars!  2007  ::
::  wreath making 2007  ::
::  musicians play  ::
::  vendors sell their handmade goods  ::
I hope you enjoyed taking a peak into a Waldorf School Christmas Festival, if you have an experience or photos to share of your Waldorf Fair please leave a link!
Enjoy the beginning of this rich holiday season,
xoxo
~ joey ~