The Waldorf Inspired Butterfly Baby is such a sweet little treasure to soothe the soul. With so much intensity happening in the world, these little babies seem to have come to bring some comfort... both to the maker and to the receiver.They are also a beautiful little project to welcome the beginning of spring or summer. These little butterfly babies make treasured gifts, and can be made into a brooch to attach to a bag, or perhaps bedroom curtains! You may like to add some dried lavender when stuffing your baby for a little more magic.
The air is getting crisp and the leaves are starting to change colors here in Utah. Fall is definitely in the air. With the changing of the season, I am getting excited for everything FALL! Today, I will be sharing some Acorn Crafts Ideas that are sure to get you into the Fall spirit! Who
During winter we don't have so many outdoor activities because temperatures here are constantly below zero. But luckily there are tons of winter crafts and arts activities to make with kids and have cold winter days amusing. I especially love seasonal Waldorf activities inspired by nature, followed by Waldorf books that are helping us understand
Take a little peak at some of my favourite Waldorf Inspired Spring Crafts from The Sewing Circle....Springtime SnailsThese little springtime snails are
How to make small doll heads and draw on bead heads by Atelier Pippilotta in English
Autumn must surely be the most generous season of all. When we go out for our walks, one thing we make sure to remember is our basket to carry the multitude of treasures we find along the way. Our basket quickly fills up with pine cones, acorns and beautifully colored leaves, along with the customary […]
assemble materials cut yourself a pattern of the square body {6cm} and cap {5×2.5cm} has come curvature to it two colors wool felt fabric a wooden bead for the head 12mm or so thread and nee…
During winter we don't have so many outdoor activities because temperatures here are constantly below zero. But luckily there are tons of winter crafts and arts activities to make with kids and have cold winter days amusing. I especially love seasonal Waldorf activities inspired by nature, followed by Waldorf books that are helping us understand
Learn about the meaning and history of the yarn and stick gods eye classic camp craft!
Owls, babies, and tea parties - - you 'll find all of these and more with these acorn crafts for kids.
This tutorial is a perfect first loom building and weaving experience for young children, typically around age 6, who are ready to be introduced to handwork or for an older child/adult who is new to weaving.
Preview: Find inspiration and ideas in simple activities and crafts for 3 year olds. In a constant search for new developmental activities, I looked for specific crafts for preschoolers. As I found many beautiful craft ideas and beneficial activities, this time I focused on Waldorf inspired crafts. Mostly inspired by the natural materials and
We are beginning to move full swing into the holiday season and I have been planning the two weeks we will all be at home. With some down time I thought it would be a great chance to plan a few activities with my little ones, and since I do love all things Waldorf, I
Claire of Poopscape shares how to make these fun felt houses into which you can place battery-operated tea lights to create a glowing group for your
45+ non-toxic indoor crafts and activities for kids. Have fun with these natural craft ideas that are good for you and the environment.
Waldorf toys are beautiful but so pricy. Follow this easy tutorial to make DIY Waldorf play silks at a fraction of the price you will pay in stores.
We’re excited to share the third and final guest post from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and is sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork.
Waldorf Window Stars A Simple Craft in Paper Folding IN WALDORF SCHOOLS, window stars are often displayed throughout the lower school grades to brighten the classrooms. Making one for your home can be a wonderful at-home craft to do with your little ones. What you'll need: Kite paper. We purchased ours from A Child's
Why Bother? Is This Some Kind of Weird Waldorf Thing? Yes, Waldorf in grade 1 is heavy with gnomes but that's not the only reason why we use them in Math. In Math, they actually have a very special and practical purpose. Here are my notes for how to tell the introductory story. If you're getting ready to teach this block, join my NEW step-by-step Math Gnomes course... or check out the full First Grade Immersive Experience! The basic idea here is that you are imagining... what if each mathematical operation was a person? How would that person dress? Move? Talk? Actually embodying those characters helps children develop their mathematical thinking. In addition, Steiner aligned each operation with a temperament. Addition is phlegmatic. Subtraction is melancholic. Multiplication is sanguine. Division is choleric. This not only comes into play in the colors and actions in the storytelling, but it allows each child to identify with an operation (his/her own temperament), as well as to see the balancing effects of coming out of one's own temperament and experiencing the world from the point of view of others. In the Waldorf classroom, we actually act out the math stories, with children acting out the characters/operations/temperaments and dressing in those colors. When the students solve the problems, we manipulate little pieces (suh as flattened glass "gems") and the characters each collect or distribute the gems according to their own way until harmony is achieved in the land. The King simply serves as someone to give the tasks for collecting or distributing. Sometimes the King will request that each gnome bring him a certain number of gems at the end of the day, and the child has to create the math story to explain how the gnomes did it (ie. the King wanted 12 but Plus got too many and he had 15, so Minus helped him by taking away 3). How Many Gnomes Come in a Set? Four and an optional King. The four characters are + (green), - (blue), x (yellow), and ÷ (red). They have different names in different stories. Farmer Plus, Mr. Minus, Tommy Times, and Mr. Divide are what I use, but it doesn't really make a difference. And feel free to make some or all of the characters female! Here's the sample lesson from World of Numbers by Live Education! (a Waldorf curriculum company), with the character they created for Multiplication. It is called Mul de Plier: The Girl from the Land of Plenty. my set of Math Gnomes (made by Melisa Nielsen) Counting Gem Ideas flattened glass gems buttons beads dried beans whole peppercorns dried juniper berries cardamom pods plain popcorn kernels sunflower seeds tiny fir cones acorns acorn caps pebbles small shells or other uniform items from Nature You will need to collect 50 pieces, so they should be relatively small. You can sew a small pouch to keep them in or use a pretty dish or a wooden box. Gnome Patterns & Ideas Thomas and Petra Berger, bless them, made up an entire book of gnome patterns and instructions. If you have The Gnome Craft Book you are in luck! And if you don't, you still have lots of other options. If you're a knitter, knit them. If you're a needle felter, needle felt them. If you're a sewer, sew them. If you're a gluer, glue them. Have fun with it! Pinecone Gnomes from We Bloom Here Walnut Shell Gnome from Andrea Greco Yarn Pompom Gnomes from Lia Grffith Even Wine Cork Gnomes(!) from Ruffles and Rainboots You can also make simple yarn dolls (suggested in The Gnome Craft Book) Make Yarn Dolls from Little House Living Gnome with Pipe Cleaner Frame (also suggested in The Gnome Craft Book) How to Needle Felt a Gnome from Shepherd Like a Girl includes step by step instructions Needle Felted Gnome Tutorial from Lincolnshire Fenn Crafts step by step instructions with lots of photos if you're new to needle felting Felt Gnome Tutorial from Wee Folk Art for wooden peg doll gnomes includes step by step instructions with photos, also patterns in two sizes Adult Gnome Patterns (PDF) Child Gnome Patterns (PDF) Simplest Knitted Gnome Pattern (this is from The Gnome Craft Book) Body and Head Cast on 24 stitches in gnome clothing color and knit 4 rows in garter and then 10 rows in stockinette stitch. In the next row k2tog all the way across. Purl the remaining 12 stitches. Change to skin color. Knit 10 rows stockinette stitch. In the next row 2tog all the way across. In the next row cast off. Fold the knitting in two lengthwise and sew up the top and back. Fill the head with unspun wool. Stitch a thread around the neck, draw tight, and tie at the back. Hat Cast on 20 stitches in gnome hat color and knit 2 rows in garter stitch and then 6 rows in stockinette stitch. In the next row knit the first two and last two stitches together. Repeat for the 11th, 13th, and 15th rows (these are all knit rows; the even rows are the purl rows) and so on until all the stitches are finished. Sew the sides together and sew the hat firmly onto the head. Collar Cast on 26 stitches and knit 2 rows in garter stitch and then 4 rows in stockinette stitch. Then k2tog all the way across. Cast off. Sew the collar around the gnome's neck, leaving the front seam open. This book suggests knitting cotton or fine wool and knitting needles in U.S. size 1. Of course, you don't have to make them that tiny! Simplest Sewn Felt Gnome (click the link for full-size version) If you don't have wool felt, try them with whatever fabric you have in your stash. If they are all patterned fabric, find patterns where the dominant color is the desired one. If you don't have wool batting or fleece to stuff them with, try pulling apart some cotton balls until you have a little pile of fluff. Other Patterns & Ideas It doesn't have to be gnomes, folks! Some people use four little squirrels, especially if your preferred manipulative is acorns. The squirrels can also hop about and collect and distribute in a different way (you could read Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin to start the block) and if you make felt finger puppets and embroider the signs on them, that could be quite sweet. Squirrel Pattern (click the link and print at 125%) If you have Around the World with Finger Puppet Animals by Suzanne Down, there's a squirrel pattern in there. Of course, it could be any animal! Rabbits, bears, ducks, or anything that fits and which your child likes (maybe not turtles; it's hard to imagine a turtle springing around with a bell on his hat). Bears could collect blueberries; rabbits collect carrots, radishes, or cabbages. Songbird Felt Finger Puppet from Melissa Depper Family (this would be nice if you were using sunflower seeds) Songbird Pattern (PDF) Owl Felt Finger Puppet Tutorial from Playing with Words (burrowing owls are distinctive in that they eat animals but also seeds & fruits; owls do not ever build a nest so don't have them collect twigs) Owl Pattern & Instructions (PDF) You could even cut a bunch of little fish out of colored construction paper and have all the characters be paper doll fisherman. It really would be fine. In fact, one of the main qualities of the melancholic is deep empathy for the suffering of others, so the blue fisherman would constantly be releasing the fish he caught. What a lovely and different way for children to experience subtraction, as a sympathetic "giving away" versus "taking away"! Fisherman Pattern (click the link and print at 165%) What you do outwardly is not the thing that matters. You don't have to buy something beautiful and handmade from Etsy or stay up all night sewing. Really. It is your child's inner experience that matters. You are trying to set up a situation where they will have a lively understanding of the operation. That is all! This is worth doing because of the deep understanding it gives your child, but do not stress out about having every little detail be perfect!! This post contains affiliate links to materials I truly use for homeschooling. Qualifying purchases provide me with revenue. Thank you for your support!
We’re excited to share the first of 3 guest posts from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and will be sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork.
Here’s a branch of snowy May, A branch the fairies gave me, Would you like to dance today, With a branch the fairies gave me, Dance away, dance away, Holding high the branch of May! May Day is a traditional festival celebrated across the globe. We welcome spring and honor the changing of seasons from darkness to light with dancing, singing and stories. Children in floral crowns dance around the May pole, wrapping ribbons around with each circle they make. Today on the Moon Child Blog, Sunny from North Woods Folk on Instagram is helping us celebrate May Day and spring with a beautiful butteryfly wand, perfect for waving around as you dance and sing. Gather Your Materials Pencil Scissors Hot glue Wool Felt sheets Colored ribbon or string Wooden dowels or sticksOptional: Printed butterfly template Needle felting materials Embroidery floss Needle Assemble Your Wand Start by printing the butterfly template, or draw your own butterfly on a sheet of paper, and cut out your butteryfly shape. Trace two matching butterflies on a sheet of colorful wool felt and cut them out. Hot glue dowel or stick in the middle of one butterfly shape. Cut ribbons or string to be approximately 18 inches long (or desired length.) Attach with hot glue onto dowel on top of the butterfly shape. At this point, you can decorate the top butterfly piece if you wish. You can cut out and glue colored felt pieces, needle felt or stitch on the desired pattern. Hot glue second butterfly cutout on top of the ribbons and stick, carefully lining it up with the other. Trim away any excess felt around edges. Use colorful embroidery floss to do a blanket stitch around the edge to finish. Wamrest thanks to our friend Sunny who is a wonderfully creative and artistic Waldorf parent. Follow her on Instagram for more inspiration. We hope you all have a wonderful time crafting and celebrating spring. We can't wait to see how your wands turn out. Don't forget to tag us @bellalunatoys when post your unique creations. Have fun!
Gather some twigs and sticks, grab a few balls of coulourful yarn and get crafting on this fun and easy-to-make mobile that's also a great fine-motor workout for the kids.
We love the world of blogging because it gives us a venue to make friends from all over the world... but we hate that at the same time. Sometimes it'd be fantastic just to hang out with y'all- to have girls' night, to make play dates. For example, if we lived in the same town as
Waldorf inspired summer solstice ideas and crafts. Sun catchers and weaving activities.
We've been always admiring the rustic look of Waldorf building blocks, and here is my DIY tutorial on how to build a set of nature blocks for your children.
Spring brings a variety of colors to the trees. From colorful blossoms to the bright green of emerging leaves, colors are everywhere. This craft is a simple way to capture the beauty of spring in a natural way. It would also be perfect to celebrate autumn's colors. We did this project in a class wit
Take a little peak at some of my favourite Waldorf Inspired Spring Crafts from The Sewing Circle....Springtime SnailsThese little springtime snails are
The digital download contains a detailed step-by-step tutorial for making this simple no-stitch storytelling apron as well as my pattern. Storytelling aprons are wonderful tools in Waldorf storytelling that allow us to engage our children at eye level. This particular design was inspired by the fairytale "Hänsel and Gretel" by the brothers Grimm.
Zauberstäbe filzen, Filzen mit Kindern
Turn pinecones into moths in just a few simple steps!
Our favorite nature play activities for springtime
Some of our favorite Waldorf-Inspired Summer Activities are nature walks, gardening, rock and stick collections, outdoor arts and crafts, and fairies...
This is a Waldorf inspired piece made of wool by the needle-felting technique. It's been created to provide a peaceful and harmonious image that communicates with the soul through its colors, textures, forms and energy. Dimensions: 12 in height , 12in width Fairies: 5 inches. Note: it is not a toy. SHIPPING: Since shop-home is located in Montréal, contact the shop owner for more accurate delivery-time and shipping-costs.
This sun suncatcher craft is an easy craft for kids that looks bright and cheery in your window or doorway.
We’re excited to share the first of 3 guest posts from author, educator, and all around amazing human, Elizabeth Seward! Elizabeth brings decades of experience, and will be sharing her insights into Waldorf handwork.
:: R A I N B O W ..... G N O M E S :: This listing is for a 6 piece Rainbow gnome family 3 x small 3 x medium 🎁Gift wrapping is included 🎁 NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3 DUE TO SMALL PARTS Perfect Waldorf inspired party favours. If you would like a customised family of gnomes please message me for a personalised listing Small approx 8cm tall Medium approx. 10cm tall Rainbow gnomes are perfect for your Waldorf seasonal decorations, nature table, gnome village ,fairy garden or dolls house. Their coats are cut from beautiful hand dyed 100% wool rainbow wool and they are hand stitched by me using hand dyed embroidery cotton. Each gnomes coat it tied with cotton embroidery thread with two small beads to finish Please note that as the felt is Hand dyed each gnome family will have a unique coloured combo of cloaks and colours may vary slightly due to different monitors. Lovingly handmade by me in my smoke and pet free home PLEASE NOTE Most suited for a child over 3 who no longer mouths their toys and are designed for gentle play. SMALL PARTS - Choking Hazard Not suitable for machine wash, spot clean only NOT INTENDED/SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3 DUE TO SMALL PARTS Suitable for children over 3 who no longer mouth their toys Have a magical day Deb
Here is a tiny Waldorf doll in a raincoat and with a flashlight. The price is for three tiny dolls in different raincoat colors: red, grey, and green (including FREE worldwide shipping). This Waldorf doll is a little gnome with a flashlight and looks great on the Fall Nature table at St. Martin's Day lantern festival. In autumn, when the day is getting shorter - this kid with a flashlight will be a symbol of light in the gathering dusk. This natural lantern doll is 3.5". Made of wool felt with handmade embroidery. Filled with pure sheep's wool. Stand on a wooden base made by myself. Each piece of this gnome doll is hand cut and sewn together one tiny stitch at a time. ! You can order a custom set of dolls. An example of such an order is in the last photo. To do this, contact me to discuss details and price. Thank you for visiting my ETSY shop! I hope you will check out my other listings at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GenuineDolls Please contact me if you have any questions :) Made to order. Approx. 7 business days. *****Follow me on Instagram: @olga_piasetska
Today on the Moon Child Blog we are joined by guest poster, artist and Waldorf mother, Jacinthe from @littlehouse_happyfamily. We asked her to share a bit about how she creates a summer infused with Waldorf tradition and we're thrilled with what she had to say. Read about how she establishes a relaxed rythmn that guides her family through this season of exploration, learning and play! Settling Into A Summer Rhythm When the days grow longer, and the flowers start to bloom we feel a shift in our energy and mood. A need to be outside most of our days, to climb trees, run barefoot, make bubbles, search for fairies in the woods, eat breakfast with the birds and explore every stream. After Beltane we naturally ease into a slower and simpler rhythm that leaves more place for free play, nature exploration and crafts. We drift away from our lessons in favor of books about adventure and fairy tales, we follow every rabbit hole that we stumble upon. Anchor Moments Our summer rhythm that starts with the summer solstice is more about anchor moments during the day that allow for rest and connection and still leave place for spontaneity and whimsy. These moments that are important to us are the spine of our rhythm during every season, but they become even more important during the summer months when we spend a lot more time outside or away from home. We start and end our day reading aloud as a family and we get together for meals and teatime. A daily rhythm should be about fostering a natural flow and dependable moments for rest and togetherness. Make A Wish List At the beginning of the season, we make a simple list of recipes we would like to try, crafts we would love to make or subjects we want to dive deeper into. This list represents our interests as a family. It changes with the years and can take any form that fits your family’s wishes and needs. It helps to give purpose to how we spend our time but still nurtures the freedom that we treasure so much about summer days. Every week, we plan one recipe, one project, one craft, one field trip and one free day. but we’ll let our mood and the weather dictate when they happen. This year we want to learn to cook Italian, bake sourdough bread, brew sun tea and find our favorite cheesecake recipe; we want to do sun printing cards to gift during the year, suncatchers with our pressed flowers, carve animals out of soapstone and make walnut boats to race down the stream. We want to learn more about bees and honey, pond life and bird songs. We want to make paper airplanes and fly a kite; make smores and go camping. We also want to try different hikes in the parks near our home. We’ll build a fort in the backyard, watch a concert in the park and get gelato from our favorite spot. It doesn’t have to be big adventures, just make the most of those precious summer days! Thank you to our friend, Jacinthe for sharing the way her family settles into a summer rhythm. Follow Jacinthe on Instagram @littlehouse_happy family to see all about how her family practices Waldorf homeschooling throughout the year. We hope you all can find marvelous adventures over your summer break. Share them with us on Instagram @bellalunatoys and using the hashtag #bellalunatoys. Hope your day is full to the brim of sunshine!
A simple handwork for caregivers: marble pouches. You'll need felt, embroidery thread, needle, scizzors and beads 2-3 marbles.
