GardenMama

.: Crafting With Intent :.

.: Her small hands lay out the strips of newsprint and saturate it in the paste :.

On this day in celebration of spring our time of crafting echoed the theme of the birds  that has been so prevalent in our days these past few weeks! 

Inspiration was discovered and the curtains were opened to let in the newness of this fresh spring day.  The table was set with supplies that were needed to create eggs made by the process of paper mache.

To create paper mache eggs you will need:

Egg forms

Strips of newspaper (we used newsprint that was used to pack our breakables during our move)

One cup of water mixed with two cups of flour to create your "glue"

.: One cup of water and two cups of flour formed the paste for this project :.

The morning sun happily  streamed in through the windows nurturing the sunflower seeds that were planted in egg cartons the evening before. The gentle crackle of the record player sang our favorite Beatles tune "Good Day Sunshine" in a most comforting way that record players do. 

The children mixed the flour with water in the mixer to form the paste to aide us in our creative work on this day.

.: Each new egg was so much fun to create--they started piling up very quickly! :.

As my children placed strips of newsprint into the mixture of flour and water I begin to read the first pages of "The Easter Egg" by a favorite author Jan Brett.  Like the rabbits portrayed in this sweet story, my little bunnies also set out to create the most beautiful eggs!  With inspiration from the story, they begin to wrap each egg into its new paper covering in anticipation of painting them and seeking them in the yard on Easter.

.: Wood is this rabbit's medium of choice :.

In Jan Brett's story, the rabbits each create the most beautiful eggs-- each one in their own medium and  unique unto themselves!

.: An intrigued feline watches the process  :.

More and more eggs piled up in front of us. Each family member joined in to take part immersing hands in the floury glue as we applied the mache and made it smooth.

 

.: Each rabbit creates in their own medium, I appreciate how this shares how different we all are :.

I appreciate the intricate details of Jan Brett's illustrations. Not a corner is left empty! Each page is framed with living natural beauty.  If you watch very closely throughout the entire book there is an ever so subtle surprise to be discovered among the pussy willow branches!

.: Almost finished! The eggs were then set out on a tray on our drying rack overnight :.

We let our eggs dry on a tray overnight and the very next day they were ready to be painted.  I enjoyed this process as much as my children did. My oldest choose to paint brightly colored rainbows over the eggs that he created. My littlest one speckled each egg with his favorite colors,  and my daughter and I chose to paint robin eggs as well as chicken eggs like the ones we encounter in her grandparent's nesting boxes of their chicken coop.

 



 May the magic of a story fill your days and enter into your time of creating!

.: Nature & Nurture :.

.: Homemade bath salts paired with hand-knit face cloths and stones found at the ocean :.

Spring has greeted us this weekend with a warming sun that brought such cheer to our spirits and to our bare toes!  Green buds on the trees shared with us that Spring has finally made her arrival!

As the children played outdoors among the purple and white crocuses that recently pushed up through the earth, I sat in appreciation of the sun with my knitting project in both hands. 

During the Winter months we followed the sun around the inside of our home.  In this season of blue skies and emerging flowers we are following her outdoors!

.: Organic, cotton yarn is used in knitting these face cloths  :.

We appreciate this new season nature is sharing with us. We also appreciate this new season in our lives that finds us in a new home.  Both seasons urge me to nest both indoors and out.  Through the careful work of my hands, I am inspired by the careful work of the birds who are knitting together nests for their young.

As the sun shares its warmth with me, I close my eyes and knit a few more rows taking in the sound of my children's play.  The spring chorus of the birds also joins us on this day.  I will join the birds in their centuries-old tradition and knit my own nest for my young ones. 

.: I appreciate that my children are seeing their own face cloths emerge as I knit row after row with love:.

Cotton Dish (or) Face Cloth ~ Pattern from Crafty kin

50g ball worsted weight cotton yarn. 
6 1/2 mm needles 
Cast on 25 stitches. 
Work 36 rows in garter stitch (knit every row). 

Cast off.

.: These ingredients for relaxation are not only great for mama but for the entire family! :.

In this photo I have shared a few other elements that nurture our family.  As we feather our new nest, stones found at the ocean now sit next to our bath tub.  Bath time will be seasoned with the same peace and calming energy of the waves where these stones once lived. 

Branches with new green buds are brought indoors. They bring in the fresh energy of spring!

.: Home made bath salts scent the room beautifully--even before mixing with water! :.

This wooden bowl holds beautifully scented bath salts that Kelly shared with many of us who joined the Valentine card swap! Kelly nurtured many of us mama's with her positive spirit as she created this special mix.

Warming Bath

1/2 cup Epsom Salt or Sea Salt

6 drops pure essential tangerine oil

4 drops pure essential cinnamon leaf oil

6 drops pure essential clove bud oil

2 drops pure essential lavender oil

May the process of creating paired with this combination of hand-made bring forth relaxation and nurture your family at the end of the day!

.: Of Field And Sea :.

.: My oldest son holding a nest he found - Mama placed in a few 'eggs' :.

I am inspired by the natural treasures found right outside of our door.  The inspiration that is found in nature lasts much longer than just a day.  It enters into my dreams while both sleeping and while awake...

.: Three little nests for my three little ones :.

In this new landscape around our home the ocean lives alongside the woods and fields. I enjoy  mixing these varied treasures together from the collecting baskets that are at hand as we head outdoors!

.: Eggs masquerading as stones? Or stones masquerading as eggs! :.

Simple, smooth white stones gaze up at me from the sandy shore as we walk along the beach. One stone in my basket very quickly turns into two.  (With three small treasure hunters by my side our basket soon becomes very full!)

.: We are nesting in this new place and enjoy finding these two homes in nature--a honeycomb and nest :.

As we settle into this new home, it is a beautiful surprise to happen upon a bird's nest and honeycomb, both intricately designed homes that will each host little ones of their own...

.: The diverse landscape begets such diverse nature finds! :.

In this new season of Spring it is a delight to resume  treasure hunting outdoors with the sun once again upon our backs.  Nature seems to leave so much in our paths, especially in the time of newness and growth that is spring. 

.: Some of these sea stones remind me of the wool-felted variety! :.

.: A collection of nature sits atop a favorite in my collection of aprons. All are "hand-made" :.

 I appreciate the work that goes into each individually crafted piece--both by human hands and by the work of the creatures of the earth.

.: We have become accustomed to finding river stones gently tumbled by the energy of the river.  It is interesting to observe the shapes the ocean has made crashing against these stones :.

.: There is such depth to the intricacies found in nature :.

.: The trees around are home are covered in such interesting moss! :.

What are you discovering or collecting in your corner of the earth?

Peace to you in the newness of this season. May creativity inspire your every day!