Monday, August 17, 2009

Weekend Handwork.. and music, and flowers, and bonnets

This weekend Chloe told me that all she wanted to do was sew. Oh how happy this makes me! I often think how wonderful it is that the girls and I have a lifetime of sewing, handwork, and crafting together. One of Chloe's favorite handwork activities is embroidery. I know that usually comes a bit later in the Waldorf curriculum, but seeing as how it is one of my favorite activities too, it's something she's done a lot of in the past year. She doesn't use a pattern, doesn't draw a sketch onto the fabric, she doesn't even question whether or not she can actually embroider the idea she has in her head. She just picks up the fabric, chooses her colors, and starts. And she seems to prefer to make her embroideries into pillows. (All hand sewing for now. Chessa joins in sometimes too, but on a much smaller scale, with her little 5 year old fingers.)

The smaller pillow is an embroidery she did last year, she just needed to stuff it and sew it up. The larger one is an embroidery she finished this weekend and then sewed and stuffed that one too.

Here they are tucked into bed with her and dolls this evening. Along with the first pillow she made last year. (The doll on the left is the first doll I made her 7 years ago. Quite worn, very well loved! Her name is Emerald. And then on the right is Emma, the doll I made her for her 9th birthday this summer.)

My activities for the weekend included some more work on the dolls, a little bit of knitting, and giving myself music lessons! We started with the pentatonic flute in first grade, and now two years later have unfortunately not gotten very far. But this year I got the Shepherd's Songbook by Elisabeth Lebret and we will see how it goes. Please wish me luck, I think I need it.

Do any of you have one of these pentatonic glockenspiels? It is wonderful. We got it a few years ago as a Christmas gift. Many nights before we gave it to the girls I would sit and play it. It is like fairy music!

And here is where our instruments and some of our special books live...

A pretty and yummy salad for dinner tonight...

and a little bunch of flowers the girls picked for me. I am supposed to let them dry and keep them on the windowsill by my bed in case I want to smell something nice!

And hooray, Jason just got home and the bonnet pattern came in the mail! Yes, I will certainly have to make another yellow bonnet someday, but I think we may have to start with something a little more autumn like. Maybe even lined with flannel?? Oh dear, this may have to wait a while... dolls, knitting, lesson planning... I think I need to go now..

16 comments:

sarah said...

What a lovely homey post. The salad is beautiful!

sarah said...

I'm sorry, I meant to add that I think the embroidery is wonderful! Beautifully, thoughtfully done.

Kelly said...

Those embroideries are almost just too cute! So wonderful to see :)

Stacy said...

Chloe's embroidery is gorgeous! That's amazing that she just picks it up and starts sewing-- what confidence. The salad looks green and delicious. I've so enjoyed reading about you and your family.

Katidids said...

Beautiful pillows! My youngest loved needle work..seeing those get me itching to start again! Just found your blog and realy enjoy it

Lisa said...

I love your embroidery, Chloe! Very pretty! My daughter has been wanting to give it a try and I think you may have inspired her! She has been finger knitting a lot lately. Getting ready for fall! We eat a lot of flowers in our salads, too!
Have a lovely week!

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh.....tell Chloe how wonderful her embroidered pillows are!....I LOVE them!
Sara

Cadi said...

Oh, I love the beauty! The embroidery is awesome. What treasures! --- I also love the beeswax(?) decorations around the candle. Awwww.

Lisa said...

What wonderful embroidery to cherish forever. I love it when my girls just want to sew all day too. It just satisfies the soul for all 3 of us!

Lisa

suzanne said...

Hello Renee

I see a little laura and Mary room developing there. How gorgeous to have embroidered cushions made by your little one..Music,sewing,healthy eating, candles and smiles makes for a very happy home..

A wonderful day to you and your girls

Warm regards
Suzanne

Anonymous said...

I loved this post so much Renee, such beauty and gentleness in your home and in your days. The embroidered pillows are gorgeous, so very sweet with the dolls! I love all of this so much : )

Indigo, madder, marigold said...

I love those embroideries. The music is a wonderful journey, is it not??? Hard to go wrong with the glockenspiels and beautiful flutes. If you are interested in any music info, let me know. I used to teach music at our Waldorf School.

Anonymous said...

what great work your daughter does. A beautiful way to save her art. I would love to hang out in your home. It's so comforting.

Sara said...

The embroidery is absolutely precious! Thanks for sharing it!

We also have diatonic glockenspiel similar to yours, and we love it dearly.

Tahara said...

I wish Keanu knew how to sew!...He wants to learn, I just haven't really taught him...Cloe's pillows are beautiful!...I also love the candle and the salad :-)...

Tahara said...

I also forgot to say that we have a pentatonic glockenspiel as well :-)...I love the tones...