waldorf mama

:: right now ::

right now, i am...

:: loving this week's worth of amanda's 'right now' posts, and inspired to do the same today!

:: reminiscing about maya's birthday celebration at school last week and the yummy muffins we took to share, topped with fruit kebabs (at her request).

:: relishing our spring break time together as a family and this lovely spring weather.

:: watching maya create, in all of her own artistic and inspired ways.

:: enjoying the sweet music coming from papa and his guitar.

:: savoring all of the knitting time i've been enjoying.

:: feeling grateful for family and friends and how hope springs eternal, even in the face of world tragedies.

:: hoping you are happily enjoying your right now.

painting day...

we had another painting day recently, using our traditional waldorf wet-on-wet watercolor painting technique. i so enjoy preparing our table and space for this, wondering what our color experience will bring forth for each of us creatively...

she decided to use her painting to get a headstart on her valentine's day cards...

i decided to use my painting to make some gift tags...

 i think we'll have another painting day...soon.

corners of home...

cabinets that are opposite this wall...

organized yarn...

our winter ostheimer nature table...

my knitting spot...

watercolor lanterns and postcard art prints...

ostheimer barn and animals...

buntspechte family and heartwood arts castle (both can be found at thepuppenstube.com, one of my current sponsors)...

dream in color yarn needing to be wound for a new project...

guardian angels (buntspechte on left, ostheimer on right)...

i'd love to see some of the corners of your home!

the new year...

happy new year to all!

we are truthful and helpful

and loving in trust...

for our heart's inner sun,

glows brightly in us.

we will open our hearts

to the sunbeams so bright,

and we'll fill all the world

with our heart's inner light.

austin :: juniper treehouse waldorf store

as a second installment in my series of our favorite austin spots, i bring you a place very near and dear to my heart:

THE JUNIPER TREEHOUSE WALDORF STORE

8700 south view road

austin, tx  78737

512-288-5106

the juniper treehouse is located near the kindergarten and lower grades playground on our austin waldorf school campus, which is situated on 19 wooded acres here in the hill country. a fun and lovely place to visit if you are ever in this part of texas. the store has a vast selection of waldorf-inspired items, such as:

dress up items and play silks...

waldorf dolls...

wooden ostheimer figures...

and many waldorf school and home art supplies...

beautiful postcards...

and waldorf artwork...

as you make your way upstairs to the second level, you will find yourself bathed in a rainbow of color as you enter a haven of yarn, knitting supplies and books:

an amazing and wide variety of malabrigo yarn...

'bitty balls' of yarn especially for the children...

an array of noro yarn, noro samples and knitting supplies...

 and, of course, a vast selection of waldorf books...

if you're in the area, i hope you get a chance to visit and experience our warm and wonderful waldorf school store, the juniper treehouse - just tell them waldorfmama sent you. :-)

martinmas...

we enjoyed a lovely martinmas celebration last week. truly my favorite and the most magical of all of the traditional waldorf festivals. a time of celebration as we welcome the outward darkening of the year and bring the light inward to the warmth of our home...

according to old customs during this time of year as the days become shorter and the stars appear earlier, children walk with lanterns through the streets singing and offering small gifts of light. and as is the tradition in all waldorf schools, the children make lanterns in preparation for this special lantern walk...

we celebrate the age old story of saint martin, the roman soldier who cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm to save the beggar from dying of the cold...

we have begun a family tradition of giving maya a handmade woolen garment on this day, as well as giving away any outgrown coats and sweaters to others who may be in need. this year, maya received this beautiful handknit hooded sweater (scrappy-style, the work of a dear friend - i still need to sew in a zipper)...

in gratitude for this lovely time of year, the gift of light and warmth, and the joy of giving...

michaelmas...

brave saint micha-el is my guide,

as free and fearless forth i ride

with courage of saint george of old

i dare to fight fierce dragons bold.

. . . . . . . .

the festival of michaelmas was celebrated yesterday at our waldorf school, marking the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days. what a lovely sight it was to see all of the children on the playground...running in their golden robes of silk! all of the students at the school were invited to watch the fourth grade's performance of the traditional michaelmas play, and maya came home singing songs of micha-el. what a lovely way to commemorate this change of seasons. happy michaelmas to all!