MOLICAAustralia

Today we welcome Michelle of MOLICAAustralia to our 

Waldorf on Etsy Team!

 

MOLICAAustralia is about the love of natural materials, the beauty of uniquely handcrafted fiber art and eco friendly living.

  Michelle has been working with 100% Wool Felt and Fleece since 2005, because the colors and textures of these natural mediums are both attractive and comforting to people of all ages.  She creates pieces with the intention of inspiring creativity and imaginative play, whilst also reducing our environmental footprint.

The business name ‘MOLICA’ is a combination of her two daughter’s names because her interest in Natural Fiber Art was inspired by them.  They are now both budding artists and do some amazing work, which they are beginning to list for sale. 

 Michelle's work is a mixture of sewn and needle felted pieces, sometimes combining the two. Some pieces are adapted from pattern books, some are her own organic patterns.  Her needle felted sculptures come from a range of inspirations and imagination, all original works.
With a background in early childhood education and working with vulnerable families teaching parenting skills, Michelle wanted to do something that combined her early childhood knowledge around children’s play and development while at the same time supporting more environmentally ways of living and enjoy her creative pursuits.                  All of her work is made with care and attention, from quality natural materials, either sculpted from wool fleece or hand cut and sewn from 100% wool felt. Sewn items are stuffed with 100% pure wool fleece and sewn with quality cotton or silk thread.

  Michelle is:

 "Inspired by nature and motivated by the pleasure this work brings to me and to those who receive a unique gift hand made with care and creativity. My work celebrates nature, living simply and having reverence for beautiful handmade creations and artistic work."

Visit MOLICAAustralia at the following websites:

Etsy Facebook
Pinterest
The Textile and Fiber Art List

And be sure to check out Michelle's blog Step Lightly on the Earth where she celebrates nature, living simply and having reverence for beautiful creations, handmade from natural materials.

Remember,  the world of natural fiber art isn't just about the 'end product'.  It is about the rhythm of the making, discovery, creative expression and a way of living...... that is what her blog is about! 

Enjoy!

Syrendell's LAPHH

Aromatherapy for the Home eBook
 

 ~Love ~ Abundance ~ Peace ~ Health~

Happiness!

  
Kerelaion eBook
 
Jennifer & Rick Tan are the owners of Syrendell.  Syrendell is the collaboration of love, abundance, peace, health and happiness in the Tan Family.  They share their knowledge and talents with others through their arts, crafts, writing, and music in order to help others have an enriched, holistic, joyful life! 

Handspun Yarn

Syrendell's mission is to provide you with handmade 

toys, crafts, fiber arts, custom aromatherapy and harp music 

so that you may fill your home with opportunities to learn 

and LAPHH!

Felted Slippers eBook
 

 Their items are wonderful for home learning, for artists, as well as for Waldorf-inspired folks and families who wish to attain a more holistic, artistic, and natural family life.

 
Wood Crochet Hook Set
 
Follow their blogs and join them on their magical journey:  

www.syrendell.blogspot.com  

www.thewaldorfway.blogspot.com

You can also "Like" their Facebook page! www.facebook.com/syrendell

 Chalk Drawing Video & eBook
Syrendell are proud members of the Waldorf on Etsy Team!

May Day

A Brief History of May Day 
by Brenda Massei of the Waldorf on Etsy shop Pail and Pie


 Waldorf Play Silk
 A wonderful entry into the summer season is May Day, the first day of May. It’s a celebration of the summer days to come and a thankfulness for spring’s renewal. Many groups brought forth the traditions we use today.

 

The Virgin Goddess of Spring

 In the past, May 1st  was the exact half point of the Druid calendar and so chosen as a date of great celebration. This date also was celebrated by Romans who held a five day event between April 28th and May 3rd for the Goddess Flora which focused on fertility, flowers, the renewal of the circle of life, and drinking. 

 White Rose Spring Maiden

Also, during the Middle Ages, every village square held it’s crowning glory, a freshly cut tree, removed of it’s bark and decorated with flowers and ribbons. Great care was taken in selecting the trees and towns were known to be competitive about the sizes of their poles, which then were signs of fertility as well. 
  
 Floral Head Band

How Can We Celebrate Today?

A more common tradition today is to make and share May baskets. These are usually a form of a paper basket or cone. These baskets are filled with fresh cut or potted flowers and hung or shared with friends. Some delight in making and sharing anonymously.

Wood Peg Daisy Sprite
Flowers are out in abundance come May and the perfect decoration to celebrate the lovely weather. Crowns can be woven with an ivy or vinca vine base and any flowers tucked in for color and show. Hang them on a nail for a sweet and simple wreath when done. 
 

 Flower Child
Songs or poems signifying the abundance of nature are fun to learn alongside your children. Reading song lyrics as poetry is just as rhythmic if we are unsure of the tune.  Cakes and cookies look special when adorned with edible flowers, ribbons, and/or miniature may poles. 

 

 Spring Apple Blossom Flower Fairy

May poles may be a bit more difficult to set up at home, but look for local festivals. Our botanic garden has a pole they set up for 
May Day complete with ribbons, music, dancers, and flowers. Just watching the dancers go around is fun for my children. For smaller, private affairs, attach ribbons to any posts or poles in your yard for the day. Your children will delight in running round and winding the ribbon for themselves. 

 Needle Felted Blue Tit on its Nest

This is the first year we are making May Day a group affair with friends. Check out our May Day Festival photos at www.pioneerkids.wordpress.com. Our event is May 4th and will include crowns, music, flowers, and the adorned pole.  
 May Day Bag

 May Day Bag

References:

“A History of May Day – why do we celebrate it?” Metro.co.uk

Cary, Diana and Judy Large. Festivals, Family and Food. Gloucestershire, UK: Hawthorne Press, 1982.

“History and Origin.” Theholidayspot.com. 

“May Pole Dancing.”Medieval-life-and-times.info

 

Custom Felt Headband by Willow Poppy

Happy May Day Everyone!

A Hippie With A Minivan

Today we meet the artist and owner of the Waldorf on Etsy shop:
A Hippie With A Minivan
 
 Needle Felted Babywearing Mama
My name is Melissa and I am a mom or four wonderful children.

Though we unschool our children, I have always had a love for Waldorf education as my years spent in a Waldorf school as a child were some of the most memorable and peaceful of my childhood. Even though we don’t follow a Waldorf curriculum, it still is part of my children’s lives. 
 

Needle Nelted Woodland Scene

I am a mom, a blogger (paxye.com), a photographer and a lover of the fiber arts. I sew and quilt, crochet and knit a tiny bit and have now found needle felting which has quickly become a passion and maybe even an addiction. There is something about sculpting with wool that just amazes me.

 
Needle Felted Billy the Black Bear

My creatures and characters are original.  Many times I start felting without knowing what the result will be. Their personalities arise when I start creating their faces or the scenery that will be around them and they inspire me. My love of natural parenting, including breastfeeding and baby wearing, have also come to life within my creatures. I spend hours on each creation and love the small details. 
 

Needle Felted Dragon at Rest

Many of my creations are pose-able and they are all made with play in mind. I use mostly merino wools because I love the colors and the softness. Though some creations are a bit more fragile then others I want them to be handled and cherished and hopefully be allowed to come alive in a child’s (or inner child’s) imagination. 
 

Needle Felted Bluebird Earrings

I started my Etsy shops because we have a dream of converting a bus into a home, living on the road and living off our talents. One day, we hope to do just that. 
 

Needle Felted Vegetables

In addition to needle felting, I love photography and have a photography shop on Etsy :  Melissa Bellemare Photography
 All of the prints and greeting cards available from my shop are from original images taken by myself. Some are from here in Quebec, some are from majestic British Columbia, and a few were taken in the friendly Maritimes.

 
Photo Greeting Card

To see more of Melissa's sweet needle felted creations please visit her Waldorf on Etsy shop:  A Hippie With A Minivan

For more of her beautiful pictures visit her photography shop on Etsy:  melissabellemare.etsy.com

To learn more about her visit her blog, A Hippie With A Minivan at:  paxye.com

Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird Greeting Card
ENJOY!

Biodynamic Gardening

In addition to the education philosphy known as Waldorf, Rudolf Steiner introduced the world to a spiritual-ethical-ecological approach to agriculture, food production and nutrition, known as Biodynamics.

Flower Fairy Garden Angel

The Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association (BDA) describes the origins of Biodynamics on their website in this way:  In the early 1920s, a group of practicing farmers, concerned with the decline in the health of soils, plants and animals, sought the advice of Rudolf Steiner, founder of anthroposophy, who had spent all his life researching and investigating the subtle forces within nature. From a series of lectures and conversations* held at Koberwitz, Germany (now in Poland) in June 1924, there emerged the fundamental principles of biodynamic farming and gardening, a unified approach to agriculture that relates the ecology of the farm-organism to that of the entire cosmos. 
This approach has been under development in many parts of the world ever since.

Wild Rose & Honey Bee
The BDA is an association of individuals and organizations in North America who are committed to the transformation of the whole food system, from farm to table, and who draw inspiration from the spiritual-scientific insights of Rudolf Steiner. Biodynamics is a worldwide movement for the renewal of agriculture based on an understanding of the spiritual forces at work in nature and in human social life. From this understanding, a particular form of organic farming has been developed that continues to grow and evolve around the world.

Felt Spring Flower Elf
If you'd like to know more about biodynamics, please explore the 12 Ways To Learn More About Biodynamics, visit the BDA blog at  biodynamicsbda.wordpress.com, or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/biodynamics.

 For those of you living in the Southern Hemisphere this website from Australia with the message "Care for the Earth by caring for your earth" is a good resource and inspiration: 

 http://backyardbiodynamics.com/

 

Original Waldorf Inspired Garden Painting

 In addition to the obvious benefits children receive from eating healthy foods and living in a healthy environment, are the more subtle changes that take place within children when they experience farms and gardens for themselves. We encourage you to go outside with your children, visit a local farm and spend time in the garden together this spring!

 

Sweet Wool Sprout Baby

*If you would like to read these lectures for yourself as well as other teachings and writings of Rudolf Steiner please visit this resourceful website: http://www.rsarchive.org/
Other Book References on Biodynamics:
Companion Plants and How to Use Them by Helen Philbrook 

April Giveaway from Softearth Art

 Visit 

the Softearth Art blog 

for a chance to win 

this beautiful Wool Wall Hanging

crafted by Waldorf on Etsy artist 

Marie of Softearth Art!  
The giveaway ends on April 6th so be sure to check it out today for your chance to win.
 Softearth Art blog 

Waldorf on Etsy Blogs Worth Checking Out

In addition to the beautiful creations on Waldorf on Etsy, there's a world of information on raising kids, creating art, making crafts, and experiencing Waldorf inspired lifestyles available on the blogs and websites of the individual artists who make up this special Waldorf on Etsy team.

The purpose of today's post is to share with you links to some of these Waldorf on Etsy blogs and encourage you to explore them for yourself.  They are hosted by artists from all over the world and reflect the depth and diversity of the Waldorf experience around the globe.

Roses and Cream Studio

A place to dream, create and look for unique creations - like this currently featured chocolate bunny or the linen tea bags for recently made for her daughters dolly tea party.

www.rosesandcreamstudio.blogspot.com

Pioneer Kids

 

Recycling, raising boys, crafting, gardening, exploring - it's all here and so much more - a great resource, especially for homeschooling families from the owner of the Waldorf on Etsy shop Pail & Pie
http://pioneerkids.wordpress.com

ziezo

An inspiring blog about raising children in Kenya and a personal favorite of mine - so many great ideas for meaningful activities with your kids as well as interesting posts about the life of ziezo in Kenya.

  http://ziezokenya.blogspot.com/

Sevgi Dolls

Sevgi is a Waldorf inspired doll maker living in Turkey, Sevgidolls blog is 

a place to meet her new dolls and learn more about them. 
  http://sevgidolls.blogspot.com 

Fairy Shadow

 

Check out the upcycled garden at Fairy Shadow's blog.  Tania's unique hair accessories and adorable fairy babies make the perfect eco-friendly addition to a little girls Easter basket or Easter outfit.

www.taniaprosser.com

Willodel

This blog is such a delight to browse through!  Willodel creations bring out the child in everyone - I love these gnome homes and fairy and elf dwellings

http://willodel.blogspot.com/

LaFiabaRussa

There's all kinds of interesting things to look at and explore on blog from Oksana, a Waldorf on Etsy artist living in Italy, called La Fiaba Russa which translates to The Russian Fairy Tale in English.

http://lafiabarussa.blogspot.it/

Soft Earth

"Enter the enchanted world of needle felting. . ." that is Soft Earth Art.  New Zealand is a land of beauty well known for its sheep farming.  Marie of Soft Earth combines the magic and beauty of her surroundings with that of the simple beauty of wool into amazing needle felt creations.   
softearthart.blogspot.co.nz/

A Little Handmade

 "I am being the change I'd like to see in the world. Every day I strive to work to relieve the suffering around me. I am learning all the time, lessons in humility, understanding, opening our hearts instead of hardening them, and so much more. . ."

www.alittlehandmade.blogspot.com

Magical Forest Creations

This blog gives us a peek into the world of Magical Forest Creations.  Want to see the process Auromira uses to make her magical mountain play sets?  That is just one of the many things available on her blog.

www.magicalforestcreations.co.uk/

The Indigo Forest

Visit the Indigo Forest to enjoy the "everyday musings of a happy mama!", to learn about the natural polishes she uses on her wooden creations and how she makes them or read about the five etsy shops that have recently caught her eye.  This and so much more at:
www.theindigoforest.blogspot.com

This happy mama has another blog also worth checking out.  She's even got a recipe for elderberry syrup!

 www.happyturtlefamily.blogspot.com

Enchanted Glade

Visit the blog of Carmen, a Waldorf on Etsy artist, nature lover and dreamer from Italy to see her beautiful needle felted creations.  If you don't know how to read Italian, use the google translate tool available here:   http://translate.google.com/
to translate her words into English.
http://intreccidilanafatata.blogspot.it/

Happy Reading!