Making Peg Dolls

While there may not be a Burning Bush, it is clear there is a Power greater than myself. I have been so delighted with pleasant surprises lately. I don't know if they didn't used to happen or if I did just not receive them. 

Today I received an email from Margaret at We Bloom Here with a Lifeways book offering, pennies from Heaven as far as I am concerned--there are endless books out there for me, I have to pace myself. 

An unexpected letter, a gift from someone out there, offers so much more than meets the eye. How deeply meaningful it is to follow the path that is mine, and have put myself "out there" over the years and today.

Margaret's is a blog I always check out when I am in the blogosphere. There is nothing she can't do with a peg doll, and the pictures alone tickle me. I am so happy to announce to all of my crafty friends and Waldorf people, Hawthorn Press has just published Margaret's book, Making Peg Dolls!

I encourage you to buy her book, read her blog post about how meaningful these dolls can be for children of all ages:

Small Hands, Greiving Hearts and a Peg Doll

It's the little things after all.

Lost and Found, Stories of Hope and the Human Heart

I have always wished their would be something truly uplifting on television; this is it, and watch it.

These two women were once girls who survived the Holocaust. Their respective families saved their lives by putting them on a ship to America to escape certain death, never to see their loved ones again.

They became instant and inseparable friends, who had only one another to relate an impossible reality.

Upon arrival in the U.S. they were adopted by different families and never saw one another again. Miraculously, by the determination of a group of teenagers in the Midwest, they are reunited more than 70 years later, a lifetime.

OWN network, thank you for offering this profound series, Lost and Found, which not only reveals the depth, constancy and unstoppable power of the human heart, but breathes the presence of a universal connectivity, a unified field, the pulse of us all.

Waldorf Speech, Wake up Your Words!

Let's build it! Years ago, parents kept urging me to have adult classes, and voila they are here. 

Speech for Parents and Educators is the most fun you will have on a Wednesday afternoon at 12:30PM hands down and guaranteed. 

Daniel has been a celebrated teacher for many moons and he leads of fun-filled and enlightening class that will wake up words for you. Why is this important? The same motivation you have for reading or story-telling with your little one in the first place--connection, literacy, ritual, and love. 

Not to be missed if you have ever been Waldorf-curious as well. In all of the beautiful gems of my teacher training, this was one of the most memorable and immediately useful.

Speech for Parents and Educators, Wednesday, January  23rd at The Besant Lodge.

Sign up today!

We Already Love You

It is not always like hot butter going through a knife or the other way around, rather. By nature, there is some kind of confidence enough to go forward with the classes I hold, and yet, never was I ready to perform at any age even if I had the ability. I was repeatedly reminded of the track and field incident where I insisted on not racing because I was terrified of the crowd, though at the time I did not know how to articulate that. 

So in my small world it is always a miracle when I find myself able to lead a playgroup and sing in front of anyone, and the reason I do this work is because I must be small enough somewhere to meet those children.

 I am doubly blessed when a parent connects with what I offer and even sings my praises. However, it is always a fearful confirmation when I get the opposite message even intuitively.

I have to remember at awkward times as these that I already love you before you've even walked through the gate, whether you will like me or not.

Hooray! He's Back, Hooray

Can you believe it? I have dusted off my blog, and here I am again! New Year here I come.

I really appreciate the above image. I think it illustrates exactly my happy place, and where I'd really like to be and where I will ultimately wind up once upon a time. The children are each just perfectly in their private exposed glee and their grown-up holds a place for this and allows and soaks in and radiates out their glee like the sun.

I am very grateful and fulfilled to host playgroups out of my home. It is really a balance of my hoping to gracefully share the ideas and suggestions I have gathered from both experience and study, and my deep craving to connect with both the grown-ups and the little ones.

Oolah Woolah

Oolah Woolah

Olah Wolah Clap

Oolah Woolah 

Oolah Woolah

Olah Wolah Slap

Sits in the Sack

Pin Pun

Pin Pun

Pout Jumps Out

Hooray!

He's Back

Hooray!

Pin Pun Pin Pun

Pay and Away

-Wilma Ellersiek

Spring and Me! Weekend Parent and Me Class Los Angeles, CA

Though our Mini May Faire may have been wee, I am replete knowing I pursued a vision of toddlers enjoying a sweet "Mommy and Me" based on Waldorf principles.  Over the course of 6 weeks, our sunflower seeds sprouted and grew so big (and will hopefully flower quite soon).  We learned many fingerplays and poems, made beautiful Spring-inspired artwork together, met baby animals, and made new friends.

We walked around the maypole saying good-bye to our class with this song,

Sow the seeds in the ground below

Add the sun and the rain

Watch a garden grow,

I can see in front of me,

A garden by "Rosie" just as pretty as can be.

(Each child grew a miniature garden in a picnic basket to take home at the last class.)

DIY: to make the Maypole I found a thick stick and nailed ribbons to the top, stuck in a flower pot with soil, and covered with cloth and flowers.

If you are in Los Angeles, please join the next session, visit http://playgrouplosangeles.com

Down to Connection

A genuine love of family, a profound feeling towards children propels my consciousness, guides me through my life's work.  I can't seem to listen to enough (conversations about) children, period.

I have been fortunate to attend two interesting lectures concerning early childhood in the past month.  One with Dr. Reggie Melrose at Maple Village Waldorf School and the other with Polly Elam at the RIE conference.  (I intend to write about those in more detail.)

A practical approach to parenthood and personhood is what I crave from life first and foremost--when I  am not doing it, I am learning about it.  Ultimately, there is a marked difference between knowing about something and being it.

And, though I imagine I will always attend and engage in conversations about the ways to see children and be with them, I probably have most singularly been influenced by my spiritual teacher, David Hawkins.  When asked how to be the best teacher for children, he offers, just love them, they know when you love them, they get it instantly.

When I reflect on what informs or at least navigates my approach, I would say I rely most heavily on an instant connection.  I feel the rainbow bridge, I see One, when I look into the eyes of my young friends.

Very grateful to pause for a moment and acknowledge that I am in the vortex of what I want to be when I grow up.  

I suppose out of love arises all of the right suggestions.

'Tis A Gift To Be Simple, 'Tis A Gift To Be Free

I am a huge fan of mermaids (luckily so is my child), and I have grown to have a deep appreciation for handmade dolls = win, win.  Thus, I am compelled to share Julie's Meltdown Monday Giveaway, where one lucky person takes home this beautiful handmade doll.  Dolls made from natural material with limited facial expression are tradition in Waldorf Early Education.  In this way, the children can project their own feelings and experiences onto the doll.  Also, recommended is to only give children one doll.  Let it be a mermaid!