GardenMama

.: Welcome To Wash Wednesday! :.

As the sun melted away into the horizon, wood smoke from the campfire  scented  pillowcases that hung on the clothesline nearby.  As we slumbered on these pillowcases last night, we were reminded in our dreams of this fun evening of roasting marshmallows together in the warm summer evening... 

Welcome to Wash Wednesday!

Teena shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...  

"My clothesline this week featured the onesies my friends and family made for the new babe at the Blessingway. I think they came out amazing!"

Naturally Chic Mama shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...  

"When I'm out in the hot sun, hanging up my laundry, I feel incredibly connected to my great-grandmother, Mama Stacy. I always remember her having a beautiful clothesline in her backyard. It's one of my many fond memories of her and a small way to carry on her legacy."

Samantha Tara shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words... 

"Cloth diapers yet again!  They always seem to be drying on our patio ~ 

Oh, but aren't they a beautiful sight? (I think so!!)"

Farmgirl Susan shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! This photo is called...                                      "The Lamb and the Laundry Line"  

Amy shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words... 

"I bring you the dark side of the laundry line... just dried laundry, left out for a bit longer, only to be soaked by those afternoon storms that pop up so often these days."

Mona shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words... 

"I treasure my clothesline, the mere sight of clean clothes waving in a breeze, the smell of cleanness (and perhaps a drop of essential oil for the joy of it) and the feel of damp and cool hands while hanging up the clothes makes me feel at peace."

"My clotheslines stretches between a couple of old apple trees, to a giant willow tree and to the back of a shed that houses our chickens. I have to walk through the entire garden and through a hedge to get there. It's like walking into some shadowy, private place, and even though I sometimes postpone my »visits« there, I always have this feeling of settling down and enjoying the task."

Patricia shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...  

"The sun is shining and the wind dances gently through the air.

I enjoy to see how the laundry and my daughter are playing with the wind."

Joy shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...  

"drying all the swimsuits during dinner"

Meg shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words... 

"we're enjoying the shots that unfold here each wednesday

and enjoying the sunny, summer days that we're able to hang stuff on the line to dry"

Julie shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words... 

"I love hanging washing on the simple line strung between trees.                                                                                      We have no washing machine here. Everything is simply washed, by hand                                                                  This is Summer, a Swedish Summer... Towels hung on the line to dry after a refreshing swim in the river at the bottom of the forest track."

Christina shared her photo for Wash Wednesday! In her words...  

"I do so enjoy to see the clothes on the line, that I actually enjoy to color coordinate it as I am hanging, I view it as a creative expression, and in this way, since I rarely get to a canvas these days, I can play with color on my clothesline.

Thank you for participating in the two-month long photo challenge "Wash Wednesday!" This series has now come to an end! 

I am now very excited to begin the creation of the Wash Wednesday book! 

.: If you are up for one last photo challenge for next Wednesday, I hope to incorporate some human elements into the book. If you would like to take this challenge and possibly end up in the book, email me your photos or blog your Wash Wednesday photos of yourself with your children at your clothesline in the spirit of Motherhood! :.

Happy Wash Wednesday!

.:Waldorf-Inspired Centerpiece Tutorial:.

.: Recycled glass jars adorned with colored tissue paper and shells create a vase for flowers :.

Time was spent today gathered together on a blanket under the shade of an old tree in the yard.

This time was met with creativity and togetherness. The shade of the tree created a canopy for our time of artful collaboration and our supplies were set out ready for us to imagine and add handmade beauty into our day!

.:Glass jars covered in white glue and wrapped with torn tissue paper to add color to the jars:.

With recycled glass jam, tomato sauce, and pickle jars we set out to create lanterns and flower vases for our front porch. 

With sponge brushes we covered these glass jars with white glue.  Once the entire jar was covered we chose colored tissue paper and tore away long uneven strips that were then wrapped around the jars to create the patterns around our candle lanterns and flower vases.

 

.: Tissue paper covered jars drying in the sun will soon be fashioned into vases and lanterns :.

Once the colored tissue paper has completely covered the glass jars you will set them aside for a few moments to dry.

 

.: With a tiny nail and hammer little holes are made in the tops of the shells :.

We decided to adorn the jars with shells. 

Using a small hammer and a nail, we tapped small holes into the top of the shells (as seen in this photo) as a hole for thin floral wire to go through to hold the shells onto the jars.

Measuring a piece of thin floral wire that will wrap around the top part of the jar (with a little bit to spare) You will then cut this piece of wire in half.

.: Thin floral wire cut in half and pieced up through the hole in the shell :.

(As seen in this photo) Both pieces of wire will go up and through the small hole that was created in the shell.

  

.: Wire twisted together at the top of the shell to be secured to a glass jar :.

Once the two pieces of wire are threaded through the small hole the two pieces will meet on top of the shell and you can twist the wire together. (As in above photo) Now the shell is secured and there will be a length of wire on either side that may now be wrapped around your jars.

.:With the simple addition of water the glass jars are transformed into colorful flower vases!:.

With each new creative application to the jars new ideas were born. The simple addition of water into our jars transformed them into colorful flower vases. We enjoyed the process of gathering and placing into the vases these colorful blooms!

  

.: Tea lights placed into glass jars make wonderfully colorful lanterns to illuminate a quiet evening :.

In the evening tea lights were placed into the wrapped tissue paper jars creating beautiful glass lanterns. Candlelight illuminated our lanterns casting a beautiful glow through the colored tissue paper. This added another element of beauty into this time of creating.

 

.: Adding shells and flowers brings natural elements of beauty into play:.

Peace was found through creating this simple and enjoyable craft. I enjoyed creating these glass vases and lanterns as much as my children did!

May your time be met with creativity that adds beauty and peace into your day!

.: The Fairies Of Midsummer :.

.: My eldest son runs through the flowery fields  :.

On this morning we gently rub the sleep away from our eyes and our gaze turns towards the sun.  We peer outside and our eyes grow wide from the brilliant sight before us!

The fields have come alive with graceful dancing ladies bedecked in golden yellow dresses swaying in the fields.  We run out to join them in their joyous dancing.  The children feel their playful energy and skip alongside them, entranced by this dream-like landscape that is full with such magic!

 .: Taking notice of the beauty found all around us in the fields on this day! :.

.: "Follow me through the fields on this Summer's day!" :.

The fairies of Summer have paid us a visit! They have scattered the seeds of summer and it is growing up all around us! We remember the name of our summer time friend "Daisy" who also shares this space with her beautiful friend "Susan" who has the most beautiful eyes you ever have seen! 

Beautiful Black-eyed Susan greets us in these fields with her golden dress and Daisy with her white dress--the appearance of these dear friends are a welcome signpost of Summer for us on this day!

    

.: Flowers grow up as tall as the children and create magical spaces for them to tuck themselves into! :.

 

.: My eldest teaches me to "Be here now"  :.

We can still hear echoes of the summer fairy's laughter--they planted many wildflowers this season knowing that these three little ones would take joy in the freedom and beauty of this magical carpet of flowers. 

.: My thoughtful little one taking careful notice of these cheerful blooms of Summer! :.

.: A spider friend sits among her knitting for the day! :. 

.: Making a trail into the sea of flowers   :. 

There are times where only the tops of their heads can be seen among the tall growth around them. It is as if they are also flowers of this field.  

 .: Sister and Brother and also best of friends :.

  

.: Carefully stitched and delicate knits sway in the breeze :.

In this clearing a simple line is hung and wee fairy finery hovers above the Black-eyed Susans.  The Fairies of Summer appear to have a proper washing line too! As the children approach this clothesline they take notice of each handmade raiment.  

.:With magic in her eyes and joy in her heart my daughter imagines the fairies who live among the fields!:.

  

.: My daughter lending a helping hand to the fairy's laundry on this wee line! :.

Soon a  rain gently sets in. The children are cooled off and our dear friends Susan and Daisy have a drink. The fairy's clothing will be washed once again by the summer rain and will be dried by the sun to leave us with the sweet scents of the fields on this day!