waldorf mama

a day of rest...

sorry for the late post today. maya had a bit of fever yesterday and hasn't been feeling well all day today, so we spent the day resting, relaxing and recuperating. it was just what we both needed.

and since today is the last day of the month, here are our portraits for august...

maya :: august 09

me :: august 09

happy monday!

shelley

*** i was recently interviewed by heather over at shivaya naturals for her weekend 'artist at work' series. you can check out the interview here. thanks, heather! ***

gratitude friday...

 artwork by ruth elsasser

this week i am grateful for...

:: a perfect first day of kindergarten experience for maya.

:: the welcoming spirit of our beautiful new waldorf community.

:: a school store full of waldorf supplies and treasures.

:: picnic tables, rainbow knitting and the power of visualization.

what are you grateful for this week?

shelley

all things to know and love...

wip wednesday :: needle case for hannah

today's finished work in progress is this knitting bag needle case i made for my oldest daughter, hannah, as she had requested one like i had made for myself. i decided at the last minute to add a small pocket in front as a handy spot to keep a tape measure, stitch markers, etc (i may have to go back now and add one to my case, as well!). i also chose a button closure this time, as opposed to a snap, which i think will work out nicely. she chose the felt and contrasting thread and i filled it with a few of the things she might need in her knitting bag. i think it turned out lovely. and now we have matching needle cases! 

happy wednesday, everyone!

shelley

maya's sunhat...

along with maya's rainbow dress, the other project i planned to finish for her first day of kindergarten was a sunhat. in waldorf schools, there is a great deal of time alloted during the day to the children spending time outside and in nature to connect with the natural world around them, and so...sunhats are a necessity. and, of course, my first thought was...what better hat than a homemade one?

this sunhat was a fun and easy pattern (although i somehow messed up the pinwheel pattern on the brim?) and i think the handmaiden sea three yarn i chose for this worked out perfectly, as i wanted something that would be cool and not heavy out in the heat. i used much smaller needles than was called for (i wanted the hat to be more sturdy and less floppy)...so to compensate, i knit the largest size noted in the pattern (adult large) - which turned out just right on maya!

maya and i are both very happy with it! you can find the link to the pattern, as well as all of my additional knitting notes and details on this sunhat, here on my ravelry project page.

happy knitting,

shelley

our sungarden...

we spent a few days last week and over the weekend at maya's new kindergarten, along with all of the other sungarden parents, cleaning and making ready this sacred space for our children and their teachers for the coming year. it was a great honor and privilege to be there. and created, for all of us as parents, a deep feeling of ownership to the space. then, as we all gathered together at the larger parent meeting, i felt an overwhelming sense of kindred spirit as we raised our voices in song and verse together...just as our children will be doing in the coming days.

sungarden door

photo courtesy of austin waldorf school

approaching the sungarden door was, for wesley and i, the true culmination of a dream we have had for maya. it is something we have visualized and worked toward for many years. and as we stood there together in that moment, we felt and shared an enormous flood of gratitude and thankfulness wash over us. as we begin this new rhythm together as a family, we will continue to hold that gratitude in our hearts and go about our daily life with great thankfulness and honor.

humbly yours,

shelley

gratitude friday...

artwork by ruth elsasser

this week i am grateful for...

:: the opportunity to work alongside maya and the other children and families in her new kindergarten while we cleaned and made ready their beautiful 'sungarden'.

:: ms. pat (maya's kindergarten teacher) and her beautiful, caring spirit that touches everyone she comes into contact with.

:: some sweet words about my blog from ms. pat.

:: my sister and her family for their gracious love and support.

:: a dependable and safe car to travel in.

:: knitting and finishing maya's rainbow dress for her first day of kindergarten.

:: all the comments and great suggestions from my blog readers for some bean soup, non-meat alternatives.

:: being married to my soulmate.

have a great weekend, everyone!

shelley