waldorf mama

weekend {birthday} knitting...

thank you all for your sweet birthday wishes! i had an absolutely perfect and lovely birthday weekend...filled with lots of knitting time, a handmade birthday card and a beeswax sun, fresh flowers, a new iphone, a yummy lunch at a favorite restaurant, our spring parent meeting with our beloved first grade teacher, a handknitted scarf from a dear friend, a fun supper with my twin sister and our parents, and time with my precious family. i am filled with gratitude for everyone and everything in my life!

as for my weekend knitting, i finished this little felted drawstring bag that i wanted to make for maya's upcoming birthday (which is march 15, just 10 days after mine). i highly-altered my iphone purse pattern to create this little bag (ravelry notes here), widening it and putting in an eyelet row close to the top for a drawstring cord...

and i've got more handknits for maya's approaching birthday to share this week. :) happy monday!

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.

her second school knitting project...

this week, maya completed her second first-grade knitting project at school...a baby bunting!

she has been working diligently on this sweet little project in her handwork class each week...ever since she finished her first little chick, less than a month ago. how proud she was to be able to bring home this beautiful little handknitted baby (and what a proud mama i am, too)! next, she begins the work of knitting her lion. :-)

our christmas...

 our days have been filled with family, food and fun. hoping yours have been,too!

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...

this moment...

a single photo capturing a moment from the week. a simple, special, extraordinary moment. a moment to pause, savor and remember. inspired by soulemama. if you're inspired to do the same, share a link to your 'moment' in the comments!

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this week, i am grateful for...

:: the celebration of my very favorite waldorf festival, martinmas (more on monday)!

:: a weekend knitting retreat to end all knitting retreats (details forthcoming).

:: the completion of my new felted iphone purse pattern.

in gratitude,

shelley