GardenMama

.: Frosted Votive Centerpiece~Tutorial :.

While the house is cozy and warm we pull back the curtains in search of the morning sun. To our delight we find our old friend Jack Frost has paid us a visit and left behind his lovely artwork on the newly-frosted windows!

With Christmas drawing near, we wish to bring cheer to all of our family and friends who may visit! We set out white tissue paper, glass jars, and glue to create frosted candleholders!

.: The candle reminds us of the warmth of  home, and the white tissue paper covered jar is  reminiscent of the beauty of the morning frost! :.

For this project you will need:

.: Half-pint Mason jars.  (Recycled pickle, jam, or sauce jars would be wonderful as well!)             

.: Modge Podge Decoupage Glue  

.: Paint brush                          

.: White tissue paper.                                                        

.: Paper doiles (Can be found in the baking section of a craft store.)

.: Raffia  ( I used brown-colored Raffia  to pick up on the brown pine cones in the greenery.)

Steps One, Two & Three:

Cover the entire glass jar with glue.

Tear white tissue paper into strips and begin to cover every part of the glass with the tissue paper. Once this step is finished, coat the entire jar a second time to seal it and ensure a smooth finish.

Cover the bottom of your jar with glue and set it on top of a paper doile.  This will give your jar a place to dry without getting glue everywhere. (It also brings a sweetness to the candle with the 'lace' edge showing.)

Step Four:

Cut out the center of one of the larger paper doilie's and glue the circular shape onto the front of (a larger sized) lantern so that the glow of the candle within highlights the lace design.

Step Five:

Tie your Raffia around the rim of the jar. Next, place your greenery and pinecone in place and secure them to the jar with the raffia as well.

* These frosted votive holders are also easy enough for the children to create for their own gift-giving*

  These small frosted winter votive holders were originally part of a commission for a winter party. I inscribed all of the attendant's names on the bottom of each paper doile.  All of the votives are ringed by a handmade evergreen wreath to create an illuminated natural centerpiece. At the end of the evening each guest will take home a frosted votive as a keepsake of the celebration! 

.: The decorated mantle - also part of the creating I did for a winter party commission piece! :.

May your holiday celebrations be infused with intention, artfulness and light!

.: Carving Twig Gnomes ~ Tutorial :.

.:Hand carved and painted twigs that soon took on the likeness of St. Nicholas!:.

Small branches were gathered, carved, and painted in the likeness of St. Nicholas and tucked into each of the children's wooden clogs that were set out on the evening of this year's St. Nicholas day celebration. 

On the morning of the celebration the children were brought such joy from discovering these sweet treasures and they soon became an important part of their play!

.: With a pocketknife I carved each twig to have a 'face' and 'hat' :.

I find it important for the little ones to witness mama or daddy creating with their hands,  as it inspires them to do the same. Today we enjoyed creating a few more carved branches that soon grew into a little family of gnomes that will be shared with others in this season of giving!

.: I like to leave the face 'blank' so that the child may imagine the emotion she wishes :.

Step One:

Gather up your branches in the thickness you wish. Cut them to 6" lengths. 

Step Two:

Carve the front piece of the branch to expose the inner wood and shape a face and beard for your new carved friend.  Then carve upwards along the sides of the branch to make a pointed hat.  Continue making slices in the branch until the tip is brought to a squared-off point.

.: Time to paint! We enjoyed painting hats and beards to bring these new friends to life! :.

Step Three:

For easy clean up a sheet of waxed paper was set out on our workspace. Two small drops of paint were used as a palette.

You and your littles will enjoy the next process of painting your hats. We themed this set to be a gnome family with red hats. For another inspiration you could try  a family with rainbow hats. It would be lovely to use throughout the year as 'Waldorf inspired math gnomes' with the respective ( - + x = ) symbols painted on their chest.

.: The finished family of gnomes! Ready to bring cheer into the day! :.

The most enjoyable step of this project for both the children and I was the finishing touch of painting on  beards for our new friends!

Now it is time to enjoy some time of play with your handmade friends!

Some of ours found their way into a wreath that sits upon the table. Others will enjoy hitching a ride on the tops of beautifully-wrapped gifts! 

Enjoy this season of giving, creating, and nurturing memories with your family!

.: Weaving Evergreens ~ A Living Ring Of Hope :.

.: Into the woods with gathering baskets in hand :.

Into the woods with gathering baskets in hand we set out to harvest Evergreens that will make up a winter wreath to greet others at our door. (As well as a second wreath made of delicate greens that sits upon the table with winter lanterns in celebration of this Advent season.)

.: Harvesting Evergreen boughs that will create a Winter wreath! :.

The woods envelopes us in its beauty and grace and grounds us to this moment and to this process of receiving these gifts from nature!
 

.: The gathering is done eagerly as we anticipate creating with these boughs! :.
 
The sun pours over our shoulders and kisses the tops of our head as we walk towards home with hands scented of pine.  The scent of moss and earth surrounds us as we walk and enjoy the beauty that is this day!

.: The wire frame can be saved each year ~ this one is from a local craft store for only a few dollars :.

With a wire frame set out and a basket full of greens I begin to weave each green bough in and out until each child gathers around me.  I hand over this loom to my eldest son who begins weaving the boughs  passing them through, over, and under, creating this pine scented tapestry.

.: With the wire frame in hand my oldest son now guides this process of wreath making :.

Now he is the teacher. He guides the process and on he passes this loom from small hands to smaller hands. While teaching each other we also teach ourselves.

.: Each child waiting their turn to weave the boughs that create this Winter wreath :.

.: I appreciate that we each take part in this process from start to finish :.

Children and nature are such rich gifts. They are creative inspirations which bring such meaning into the simple processes of life.  They make us mindful of choosing wisely and allow us to slow down to notice the details of life!

.: The scent of pine scents our hands as we weave each bough :.

We set orange peels and pine to simmer on the stove while the wreath became very full with the beauty of the trees and the energy of the creative hearts and hands that were creating with it on this day.

.: The finished wreath waiting to be trimmed :.

.: A living ring of hope! :.

Once our winter wreath was complete we trimmed  the center to create a circle.  The green boughs remind us of the life that emerges even during the darkness of winter.  The circular shape reminds us of the circularity of the seasons. Together the two form a living ring of hope!