Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Projects from Rudolf Steiner College Handwork Program






These are the projects we made to be brought to first through third graders. We made our own knitting needles(first grade) and spindle, so fun. All this wool is plant dyed wool. Of course I made two gnomes. I couldn't come home with just one, my boys wouldn't have approved. These two gnomes are my Sanguine and Phlegmatic ones, air and water. I need to dye some red wool so I can make the Choleric (fire). The blues for the Melancholic (earth). The flute case (which you can learn your times tables on, eventually), rainbow ball and baby bunting were the first we knitted. The horse was fun because of the dividing line (purl) down the back to the top of the head. The jump rope was double finger knitting. I also learned from another student Mari how to finger crochet!
Still have a few other projects to finish up for these grades and invent a few too. Working hard on my sewing basket now, so that I can start everything more organized.
So much more to it than could be explained in written text, hope this all doesn't give the illusion of what we bring to the children as being simple. It is fun to learn, yes! But, every little thing the teacher does along with each project has a deeper purpose in the process of developing the heart, mind and spirit of the child.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Plant Dyeing at Rudolf Steiner College






I am enrolled in the Handwork Program at the RSC in Fair Oaks. One of the amazing things we did this summer is plant dye wool and silks. This was the second time I'd done this and love it. It was especially great doing it with such great classmates and teacher. It was a bit chaotic with all the people and wool going in and out. I didn't have as much to dye as most people though, so keeping track of mine was pretty easy. We used Osage, Brazilwood, logwood, Madder Root, Black Walnut, Cutch, Indigo, Marigold, and Coreopsis. Can't wait to do this with students and for student someday. Having there materials so rich and beautiful all from plants is beautiful. It seems to radiate that energy while you knit/crochet.