Global Waldorf Expo 2013!

Do you need guidance and support to help you in your homeschool planning, rhythm & parenting? Are you ready to receive practical ideas, guidance & inspiration for your homeschooling lessons and family rhythms?

If you said YES! I would like to invite you to the 4th Global Waldorf Expo, an amazing virtual conference so you can be on your way to increasing your level of knowledge with ease. By attending this event, YOU can take away nuggets of wisdom helping you make an even bigger difference in the lives of your children & family.

The 3rd Global Waldorf Expo will run May 17-19. Join 14 of the Top Teachers & Experts in Waldorf Education and Parenting for this No Cost Virtual Online Event. Creating Your Own Curriculum, Planning Your Block Rotations, Introduction to Waldorf, Storytelling, Music,

Building Character through Education and more.

Ready to reserve your seat? It’s Totally FREE. 

Here's the link:

http://thewaldorfconnection.com/dap/a/?a=8&p=www.globalwaldorfexpo.com/2013

Fixing up an old Waldorf Doll

Many of us think about either making or purchasing a Waldorf doll for our children. Another option to consider is accepting a hand-me-down doll and fixing her up!

Our niece Sydney had a much-loved Waldorf doll named Kiki for years. She had a beautiful wood wardrobe and a variety of clothes sewn and crocheted. Sydney is now 13, so the doll was passed down to her cousin, Linden.

The body was in great shape. There were dark spots on the face and hands that were cleaned by hand with soft soap and a wet wash-cloth. We let the doll dry and lighten up in the sun for a day.

The hair was ratted and removed easily. Instead of blonde, we made her brunette. The hair was first created by crocheting a wig cap, and then looping strands of wool, silk and mohair boucle along the edge.  The hair is long enough to put into a ponytail or two pigtails.

We then sewed new olive green eyes over the previous blue embroidery threads.  Thus, her new name, "Olive"! We also sewed some darker pink threads over the light pink mouth.

We are enjoying playing with Olive and crocheting her new shoes.  She is so loved!

(knitted hat and sweater by Mama Judes on Etsy)

Learning Anatomy Through Art

Learn the cross-hatching technique as you draw muscles and bones of the human body! Dr. Rick Tan shows you how in a video available in our Etsy shop and at the Bearth Institute.

Appropriate for grade 8 Waldorf on up, although artists, homeschoolers, and those interested in anatomy will enjoy it at a variety of ages. The picture featured here is from our 8th grade daughter, Joey.

Easter

This year, we will celebrate Easter with extended family for a yummy brunch and egg hunting.

To prepare, we dyed eggs with natural ingredients: onion skins, turmeric, beets, madder root, grass and spinach, tea, blueberries, red cabbage.

Wilson and Mommy felted an egg for each child's Easter basket. The felt is cut open, awaiting to be filled with candy!

Our Ukranian-dyed eggs are hanging from the Spring nature table tree.

Happy Easter!

Weddings at Syrendell

UC Berkeley Arboretum Redwood Grove - Sylvia Vizcaino Photography

Yes, we do weddings! We officiate, play music and host weddings. Being a part of such a joyous, amazing day is a pleasure for us. We want to share this special part of our life with some beautiful pictures on our blog.

Empire Mine State Park in Grass Valley

Both Jennifer and Rick are ordained ministers and musicians. Jennifer plays flute, and Rick plays harp or piano. We have been officiating weddings, vow renewals, memorials and other ceremonies for 10 years, and playing music in ceremonies for over 25 years. All types of ceremonies...all over Northern California and other destinations. Our business is called Reverend Tan.

England-Shaw Vineyard in Winters - I Love That Glove Photography

Vineyards, hotels, beaches, private homes, parks, resorts, golf clubs...and sometimes, our favorite weddings are the sweet elopements and small weddings in the greenbelt near our home! More pictures and some reviews and information on our blog and our Facebook page. 

Citizen Hotel in Sacramento - Kris Holland Photography

Courtyard D'Oro in Old Town Sacramento - Jessica Stout Photography

Pt. Reyes, overlooking the ocean -- just the couple, photographer, and Jennifer

Catta Verdera Golf Course in Lincoln

Dante Club in Sacramento - Kris & Dee Photography

Birthday and Advent Ring

Here is a true sign of having a little one around the home again...We wrote this blog post months ago and never published it!  Although it is well past Advent, the ring may be purchased at any time of the year and is beautiful for birthdays and more.

Instead of the traditional four tall candles around a circle, this year we purchased a beautiful, round, wood candle ring  for Advent.  Each Sunday, we light a candle and add a little something extra.  The candle in the middle was given to us by our midwife when Linden was born.  We lit it and sang happy birthday after her blissful home waterbirth.  We have been saving the candle for something special and decided to use it for the middle of the Advent ring. Crystals and stones from homeschooling projects.  Dried sage from our CSA box from the local organic farm.  Ricky made the yellow ceramic candle holder in the middle.

Advent ring by Joshua Rutherford of Honoring Fallen Trees (he does custom orders, too!). Organic candles by Oakmoss. Wood wolf by Halushka. All shops on Etsy. Third week...crystals, plants, beasts....

Dyeing with Plants

Plant-dyeing is easy and rewarding. It is a wonderful project for families, classes and groups of children and adults. We always say that plant dyeing is a bit of science and a bit of art -- and, always just a bit of a mystery! Part of the fun is seeing what kinds of colors will emerge each time.

Colors will vary, depending on the quality of the water, the freshness of the plants, the plant source, the weather, and more. Overdyeing is also rewarding -- dye with one color, then dip into another color to create a third color. Will yellow from onion skins and then a dip in the pink Brazilwood make orange? Hmmm....

Plant dyeing may be done indoors, but is usually easier to do in groups outside . Have space for a table with cook stoves and pots, a space for bins of water with mordant, a hose for rinsing, and a spot to hang dyeables safely for drying.

Jennifer recently had the pleasure of leading a workshop at the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education's annual conference at Steiner College in Fair Oaks, CA. We dyed yards of silk gauze with onion skins, Brazilwood, logwood, cochineal (which are bugs that live on plants!), and copper. Beautiful!

To learn more, we highly recommend Griffin Dyework's eBook on dyeing, available in our Etsy shop. If possible come to one of Griffin Dyework's Fiber Frolics or the annual Dye and Fiber Retreat in Southern California! This year, the retreat is June 14-17.

Give-away Knitting Patterns!

Give-away from Mamma4Earth!

Welcome to Linda Dawkins!  

"I have always loved knitting, my mom taught me to knit when I was 5 years old. When she was younger she knitted cricket jerseys for all of her brothers. I used to often see her knitting when I was little, she knitted us a variety of clothing including our royal blue jerseys for school, these were the softest jerseys, so much softer than the shop bought ones. One day I asked her if she could show me how to knit and she did. She gave me two short, size 4mm knitting needles and a ball of blue double knitting wool. I can remember that day clearly. I was always encouraged to try and knit her projects that she was busy with, this was wonderful because I managed to master some complicated patterns and knitting terminology at a young age and she always helped me along the way. I attended a Catholic convent school while growing up and knitting was a part of our curriculum, there were new projects to make for school each year and when I was older I started to knit more advanced items. The first jersey I knitted was a cabled design, I was 18 years old and I still have that jersey today.

After my husband and I had children, I studied to be a Montessori preschool teacher, I taught for a few years and then after the birth of our fourth child, Kye, we decided that I would no longer work but rather homeschool our children. I discovered the wonderful world of Waldorf education with all its beautiful natural toys and this is when I started knitting toys. At first, I just knitted them because toy patterns were so adorable but then I felt a change developing. A few months later, Mamma4earth, our family business, was born and has been growing each year since 2008. I began to really start looking at animals, I noticed that when I encountered an animal or bird I would often study its shape and see the curves and bulk of its body. I would watch its movement and grace. I would calculate the stitches in my mind and see the animal become a knitted creation in my mind's eye. The design usually marinades within my consciousness for a few days and then I begin the pattern writing and designing process. When I start to write a pattern, I usually continue writing until I am finished, I seldom start designing and finish later, this tends to break the flow of my thoughts. Often I wake early in the morning and while my eyes are still closed, I think of a new design, this is one of the most exciting aspects of my creative process. I love how my thoughts eventually fall into place and a new creature takes form... My inspiration stems from my beautiful family and the wildlife that we are surrounded by in this lovely country of ours. 

My family and I live in South Africa, we have a suburban homestead where we grow veggies and fruit and live a sustainable lifestyle. We have a whole troop of chickens, rabbits, cats, birds, fish and our newest pet that seems almost human at times... a Labrador called Sandy. I often write about our life on our blog called Natural Suburbia. You can find my patterns for sale on Etsy, my Craftsy Shop and my Ravelry Store.

  

Links:

http://www.naturalsuburbia.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamma4earth?ref=si_shop

http://www.ravelry.com/groups/mamma4earth

http://pinterest.com/mamma4earth/

https://twitter.com/mamma4earth

http://www.facebook.com/pages/mamma4earth/48290052809

  

Giveaway:

The winner will receive 8 patterns of their choice!  

Entries include leaving a comment on the Natural Suburbia blog, "Like"ing Mamm4earth Facebook page, Repinning a Mamma4earth pattern image on Pinterest, Following Mamma4earth on Twitter, adding Mamma4earth as a friend on Ravelry, or purchasing something from the Mamm4earth Etsy shop.   That's up to 6 opportunities to win!  

Email us at: info@syrendell.com by December 31 to let us know about your entries. 

So Grateful....

During this time of Thanksgiving through Advent, we stop to pause and think about what we are grateful for...

A beautiful Thanksgiving Day celebration with family on both sides.

Healthy, happy children.

Living in a beautiful city that is safe, full of nature and arts and so much more.

Being able to express ourselves artistically.

Have the freedom to choose the best way to educate our children as they grow.

Giving birth at home blissfully.

Being surrounded by musical instruments...and yarn!

Having jobs that we absolutely love...teaching, consulting, music, workshops, weddings.

Enjoying our adventure as a couple over the past 24 years.

What are you grateful for?

Blessingway - Rhythm of the Home

Our article about having a Blessingway is featured in the Winter 2012 issue of Rhythm of the Home magazine! http://rhythmofthehome.com/2012/11/creating-a-blessingway/