Craft Projects

Our main craft projects are currently underway, and we have all been very busy. Gabriel has started his first cross stitch project for the year- a pin cushion. He was bursting to go straight into a larger project (as Usual) but after this smaller one, we will look at designing a cushion cover for him to cross-stitch.

First stage of designing

Second stage designs- and the one outlined in red, is the cross-stitch pattern

Gabriel's project in progress

My design for a pin cushion.

Meanwhile Willow is into the early stages of her planning for making a stuffed toy. She's busy modelling wax horses, working on getting a good sense of shape for the horses she's making and developing her skills of observation. It's also interesting for her (and me) in that I'm largely leaving the project to her. I've discussed the goal (making a realistic 3d soft toy animal), and given guidance as required, but I'm leaving her to direct the project and what she does during her craft session.

Here is some of her work so far- all of these have been made in one afternoon.

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2025

The modelling wax strengthens the fingers and requires a lot more strength than regular play-doh, and IMO it can be really nice to alternate them for different purposes, in the early years.  Originally we had play-doh and Willow would use modelling wax at Steiner kindy.  With home schooling I found somewhere I could buy a few modelling wax colours at a time and build our collection slowly.  

There is a bit of a trick to using it when the weather is cold- using hands and breath to warm it, warm water or a candle if it is very cold.  In warm weather/hot weather it is very malleable, and so there is a lovely natural relationship to it as a material as the weather changes, and the seasons shift.

What I'm reading

"Hold on to Your Kids" by Neufield and Mate.

I borrowed this recently from my local library, after someone recommended it on a message board I use. I have found it very insightful and helpful, for understanding my kids, their peers and my journey through the schooling system. It seems to me to be a very important book for parents to read, to help them to understand why attachment to parents is more important that attachment to peers, and why we need to help our children stay connected so that they can feel our love for them.

I highly recommend it!

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2025

I still regularly recommend this book to people.  It really changed how I regarded socialising amongst age based peers for my kids, and why, even if they are home educated, it is necessary to be attentive to how the social times are playing out for my kids.

Onto block two and recent activities

Well we've finished our geometry block and Norse Myths, and have seen some beautiful work from everybody.  The geometric drawing are done with pastels, and Gabriel's picture is done using lyra pencils.

Willow's final drawing for the block.

Something by me.

Gabriel's picture of Frey.

So now we've moved onto our new blocks- Human and Animals for Gabriel and Ancient Rome for Willow. I've been reading"Wind in the Willows"
to Gabriel, and The Story of Rome to Willow. We've also been doing some reading about Latin, and I'm looking at purchasing a workbook on Latin for Willow to use. A friend lent us the Lively Latin workbook to look at it, and Willow liked the look of it, so I think I'll order a copy of it soon.

Otherwise we've had a number of interesting things happening recently. Willow had her last performance, which was at Her Majesty's Theatre. The choir, she is part of, sang the role of the bridge in Stari Most. It was a very moving performance, and beautifully done.

Then the week a before that, Damien, Willow and Gabriel went and learnt to make a long bow. All had a fabulous time, and are looking forward to the next workshop in the series- quiver and bow making and knife making.

The start of the bows.

Hard at work.

A guest.

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2025

One of the good things about living in a place that actually likes school, rather  than seeing all the negatives in it, is that there are some interesting curriculum recommendations.  Later on a friend suggested to us "Lingua Latina".  It teaches one latin via the things already familar in English.  

An example page can be seen here.
https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2020/09/term-2-lockdown-and-winter-solstice.html