GardenMama

.: Native Corn Jewelry Tutorial :.

.:You may read Humble Luna's beautiful interview and sign up {once daily} for the very sweet handmade costume giveaway here!:.

.: My daughter wearing her carefully crafted native corn necklace :.

While visiting the farm we noticed the most beautifully colored Flint corn. We found ourselves gazing at the beatifully paired colors and just knew some would join us at home in our crafting! My little ones found it to be quite magical that the corn is naturally colored in this way.

After bringing our corn home we enjoyed doing a bit of research and read more about this corn being the original corn known to Native Americans long before hybridized yellow corn was created.

.: Beautiful rows of natural color line this native corn :.

We appreciate the heritage of native corn and honor its historic roots.  This history, paired with the beauty of the colorful kernels inspired us to adorn ourselves with beautiful natural corn necklaces!

.: Each child carefully harvests native corn kernals that soon will create their necklaces :.

The children push nimble fingers over each kernel that drops into a wooden bowl that was made by my Grandfather so many years ago.

.: She appreciates the diverse colors of the native corn :.

When the wooden bowls were full we took note of the texture of the corn flowing through our fingers. Soon each color would be joined again in the form of a necklace.

.: 'Baby Zuku' looks on with careful attention to the process :.

With our newest little friend "Baby Zuku" (Zoo-coo) watching our every move, we placed each kernel  into another handmade bowl that was full with warm water.  We allowed the corn kernels to soak overnight. 

The very next morning was full of excitement over anticipation of the work of stringing together the necklaces.

.: After the corn is softened by the warm water we begin to string each kernal :.

With embroidery thread and needle we began to string each kernel that join the necklaces.

.: Tree block circles made a great surface for piercing each piece of corn :.

We found that small circles of wood (from our tree-block set) made a lovely hard surface to pierce each kernel through.

.: The native corn matched the colors of the braided rug very closely :.

We took notice of how the kernels of corn matched our braided rug almost perfectly. Similar to the  process of braiding rugs,  little by little strings of color took form.

.: Baby Zuku enjoyed the necklaces just as much as the children :.

Soon, longer displays of color emerged, and Baby Zuku grew a bit more curious!


 .: It did not take long for this little kitten to fall asleep once again :.

After an enjoyable process of stringing these natural beads, the necklaces were complete! Each child has enjoyed wearing their necklaces and sharing with others their process. I have plans to create Flint corn earrings in appreciation of it's heritage and beauty.

.: Strings of natural beads :.


  .: Beautiful strands of nature adorn us on this day :.
 

.: Wrapped in the rich colors of autumn :.


.: Your family may enjoy researching the history of Flint corn while creating beautiful natural necklaces of your own! :.

.: Cozy Autumn :.

.: Woodsmoke spirals out of the chimney on this crisp autumn day :.

Down the road just a wee bit into the woods and down the dirt roads there lives a cozy little sugar shack. Here in the early spring when the trees slowly begin to warm and the sap starts to flow, comes the unforgettable sweet scent of pure maple syrup paired with wood smoke...

.: Beautiful pumpkins, gourds, and squash sit outside the sugar shack adding their beauty to the day! :.

Now the scent of woodsmoke is paired with apples. It fills your nose as you enter the shack and are warmly welcomed in to witness apple cider being pressed.

During the pressing of the cider,  our littlest one cozies up on the rocking chair next to the potbelly stove. He enjoys the warmth that it radiates almost as much as the sun that pours across his red sweater.

.: My littlest one found a very cozy spot on the rocking chair next to the potbelly stove! :.

.: Beautiful farming collections line the walls adding warmth and charm :.

Each little corner holds such treasures. Glass telephone phone insulators and antiquarian farming implements grace every wall.

As the warming autumn light dapples in through the windows and across the room, an artful collection of tractor seats lining the ceiling raftors catches my eyes. 

.: Tractor seats line the rafters making for a wonderful display! :.

.: Crates of apples await the press to transform them into fresh cider :.
 

.: Mini pumpkins and gourds were chosen to grace our kitchen table :.

.: I chose a few gourds of my own as well! :.

The colors and richness of this autumn seaon bring such warmth to these chilly days! We enjoy selecting beautifully textured gourds to join us at our table to remind us of the gifts of this season.

.:A beautiful day for a game of checkers with a gameboard made of burlap and playing pieces are gourds!:.

As the leaves crunch underfoot my heart smiles as I quietly note it is indeed sweater season. The children sit for a while and play a game of checkers on a handmade burlap gamesack with gourds as their playing pieces. At that moment I feel how good and beautiful life truly is.

.: It was beautiful to watch the children navigate their way through the maze :.

The towering corn beckons us on an exciting journey. Here we feel as if we have been turned into tiny field mice travelling through a maze with corn stalks and the crisp blue sky overhead.
 

.: My husband and I enjoyed this maze just as much as the children did! :.

Three little ones sharing this journey together led the way to find 'The Great Pumpkin' among a field of pumpkins.

.: It was lovely to be surrounded by this corn and to see firsthand how strongly it grows :.

Golden corn lines our paths, reminding us of the sweetness of this summer season spent sampling the very same local fresh flavors of this sweet harvest.

.: The orange leaves on the trees up ahead remind us of a campfire! :.

There was dancing, running, skipping, and walking through this great corn maze! We follow the firey glow of color in the autumn trees up ahead!
 

.: Three shining faces enjoying this autumn day! :.

As we walk away from the corn maze, my husband and I sit together in the pumpkin field and gaze out past the old stone walls to towering corn stalks.  The corn field is ringed by trees bursting with autumnal color. At our feet and spread across acres in every direction are hundreds of dots of perfectly orange pumpkins.
  

.: The field of pumpkins was like a dream-- the children enjoyed running through it and played there for quite some time! :.

I consider it a rich gift to enjoy this time with my family on this incredible piece of land. The energy surrounding us is warm and bright, and the atmosphere feels as though we are visiting with old friends at their farm.

.: And The Winner Is... :.

.: With the help of the random number generator I am happy to announce the 2011 calendar and a set of twelve postcards goes to Shannon at motherrhythm.blogspot.com (please email me!) :.

Thank you to both known and new friends alike who have joined together in this space for this thoughtful giveaway!

Thank you Dawn for sharing your creativity in this space and for bringing such sweetness to families through the poetry and drawings you share!

{With the holidays soon approaching, giveaways and interviews are now filling in quickly! For those of you who are interested in an interview and giveaway of your own, please email me at gardenmama3@gmail.com}