Twig and Toadstool

Peg Doll and Pinecone Turkeys

2015-10-08T19:24:00.001-04:00

Head on over to CBC Kids Parent site to see how to make your own peg doll and pinecone turkeys.

(just in time for Thanksgiving here in Canada)

Wishing you a weekend FULL of goodness!

Washi Tape Back to School Supplies

2015-08-20T11:04:00.002-04:00

Head on over to CBC Parents to see how to make your own colourful back to school supplies

using colourful and cheap washi tape.

Spring Blossom Bracelets

2015-05-14T14:13:00.002-04:00

Who can resist an excuse to play with flowers?!
Here is a super simple activity that you can do with all those gorgeous blossoms around!
Moments to make, almost no supplies needed and lovely results.

Pop on over to CBC to see how we made our blossom bracelets.

Happy Spring,

Nesting Mobiles

2015-04-22T09:13:00.002-04:00

Happy Earth Day!!!

In honour of Earth day, we made some nesting mobiles…this is a great craft for kiddies of all ages…made with natural materials that will eventually go back to nature.

Did you know that if you provide birds with nesting materials, they are more likely to build a nest in your yard?!

Head over to CBC Parents site for the full tutorial!

Teach them when they are young to be stewards of the Earth!

2015-03-16T18:08:00.001-04:00

Head over to CBC Parents for the full tutorial on how to make your own

RAINBOW BOWLS!!!

They are made simply with tissue paper and Mod Podge!

Happy St Patricks Day, and soon SPRING!!!!

The Artful Year…Book Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

2015-03-12T07:18:00.000-04:00

Today we are reviewing the new book by The Artful Parent,

called

The Artful Year

This is the author…the beautiful and so very talented Jean Van't Hul…

she describes herself as a children's art enabler and writer.

We've followed the success of The Artful Parent for years now and she has inspired us so much

in our own blogging journey.

Onto the review...

This book takes you on a crafty journey through all 4 seasons with beautiful art ideas,

craft ideas and even recipes!!!

My 6 yr old was DELIGHTED to go through this book, earmarking every craft she wanted to make

(and there were MANY!!!)

In honour of spring, we decided to make these cheerful plant pokes with beads…

so very simple and so so pretty.

It was a great little craft to quickly whip up before supper…here is Matildas finished product...

and here is mine!

With Easter soon approaching you can bet these glitter eggs are next on our list.

Oh the crafting possibilities…from bunny ear crowns, a garden loom, autumn leaf mandalas, coffee filter buntings…it's going to be a busy year!!

I like how the book starts out…Jean says, "Art is often considered a solitary pursuit, but crafting is traditionally done together abuzz with conversations as participants create together or side by side."

in my own home we are often at the kitchen table crafting together, catching up on our day...

What a beautiful tradition we give our children when we take the time to craft alongside them…

creating not only beautiful art, but beautiful traditions throughout the year that they will remember for a lifetime.

I encourage you to pick up a copy for your library at home…this is a book you are sure to reference over and over again, season by season…I know as every season changes I am always on the lookout for great ideas and craft inspiration…this book is sure to be a hit!

You can purchase this beautiful book at AMAZON.com

or request it be ordered at your local bookseller.

Jean has also generously offered us a copy of the book to

giveaway to one lucky reader…

~~to enter our giveaway please leave a comment below,~~

~~The give-away will run until Sunday March 15th at midnight.~~

The winner has been picked and contacted.
Thank you to all who entered.

Good luck to all who enter, and happy Spring blessings, as we enter into a seasonal shift here!

Rainbow Ice Totems and Sculptures for CBC Parents

2015-02-25T14:12:00.000-05:00

Head on over to CBC Parents to see our latest post on how to make

Rainbow Ice Totems and Sculptures!

We've been stuck in a deep freeze for weeks now and this is a great way to make use of those cold temperatures, and to bring some much needed JOY and colour to your yard!

Hope you are all surviving winter well!

Making Peg Dolls and More…Book Review and Giveaway!!!!

2015-02-19T18:42:00.000-05:00

Today we are so deeply honoured to tell you about our dear friend Margaret Blooms newest book

Making Peg Dolls and More…

If you don't know who Margaret Bloom is, well

she is the official peg doll QUEEN of the Universe!!

Her website We Bloom Here is full of beautiful crafty inspiration,

and every now and then she hosts peg doll swaps with enchanting people all around the world!!

To say we adore her work would be an understatement!!!

So…onto the book review…

In this book Margaret takes peg doll crafting to a whole new level of amazing!

From mobiles, to wall hangings, necklaces, dream pillows…

the scope of crafting possibilities is mind blowing,

(and it all starts with a little peg doll).

She covers wedding cake toppers…

cupcake toppers, (totally doing these)

and my very favourite…the Greenwood Tree Wall Hanging!

The photos inside the book are beautiful and inspiring…the instructions are easy to follow

and there are patterns contained throughout.

She even has suggestions on how to get the whole family involved in making these projects…

little kid and big kid crafting suggestions. *Love it*

Of course I had to do my own variation of the wedding cake topper…

just have to find that pointy hat wearing man of my dreams and I'm all set!!!

The book is available at the following wonderful retailers...

Castle in the Air, Bella Luna Toys, and A Child's Dream

and of course you can also order on Amazon

There are also discount codes for peg doll making supplies and wool felt available!

Now…Margaret has been generous enough to offer our readers a chance to WIN a copy of her newest book!!

~~All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below…~~

~~we will also be accepting entries on our Twig and Toadstool Facebook page~~

~~Enter until February 14th!!!~~

~~Best of luck to all who enter!~~

The winner of our giveaway is Anne in NC!!!!!

Mrs Bloom…we love you!!!!

Here is the official book tour schedule…

go check out the links for discount codes for supplies

other chances to win a copy of the book

and to support some of the BEST creative people online!

February 2: The Crafty Crow

February 3: Clean.

February 4: Castle in the Air

February 5: Sally Mavor-Wee Folk Studio

February 7: A Child's Dream

February 9: Forest Fairy Crafts

Febuary 10-Bella Luna Toys

February 11-ben and birdy

February 12-Twig and Toadstool!!!!!

February 13-Wee Wonderfuls

We can't wait for the next book Margaret Bloom!!!

~~Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a copy of~~

~~Making Peg Dolls and More~~

~~by leaving a comment below.~~

Pinecone Ninjas

2014-12-08T18:34:00.001-05:00

I wanted to make something a little different this year for an ornament…

with my daughters newfound love of nunchuks, I opted to make some ninjas for the Christmas tree!

These little ornaments are super cute and can be made in any colour you could dream up.

To make your own pinecone ninja you will need:

pinecone

wooden bead "head" (about 1 inches in diameter, or larger)

black paint and brush

black glitter

embroidery floss

glue gun and glue stick

white craft glue

*you are certainly NOT limited to black…

make PINK ninjas

BLUE ninjas

or whatever colour you please!!

To begin, paint your pinecone black all over...

While it is still wet sprinkle it generously with glitter.

Now take your wooden bead head and paint it like so…

just leave a small space clear to paint on your eyes.

(use a very small brush, or toothpick to make the eyes)

Paint your bead all over with white glue, (except the "face" part)

Roll around in your black glitter!

Now take your embroidery floss and stick it through your bead head…

using your glue gun, run a dab of glue at the bottom of the bead to fasten your floss,

(I also put a bit of glue in through the top of the hole, just for extra durability)

Fasten your head to your pinecone…

and DONE!

Nature Imprint Ornaments

2014-12-05T09:01:00.000-05:00

With the Christmas season upon us we were inspired to create some magic for the tree. Lovely to see how simple snowy white clay and bits of nature pair up so sweetly.

These ornaments are quick to make and your natural imprint options are limitless!

Thinking these ornaments would make wonderful gift tags as well.

Pop on over to CBC to see how how we created these.

Wishing you peace and creativity in this season and always,

Bean Adorned Frames

2014-11-19T11:10:00.002-05:00

Head on over to the CBC Parents site to see how to make your own bean adorned frames!

They have magnets on the back so you can stick them on your fridge.

Sweet, easy and totally inexpensive!

Happy Crafting

Acorn Mobile

2014-11-05T09:52:00.000-05:00

Tis the season for acorn gathering!

We decided to create this easy acorn mobile from our acorn harvest.

This craft whipped up super quick and looks quite lovely hanging in the home.

Pop on over to CBC to see how to make one.

In Autumn Bliss,

Bat Luminaries

2014-10-30T11:51:00.000-04:00

Head on over to the CBC Parents site to see how to make these super simple Bat Luminaries!

(took literally minutes to make, and are a sweet and easy decoration for Halloween).

Happy Haunting!

Pine Cone Bats

2014-10-16T08:58:00.000-04:00

Autumn is such a wonderful time of year. There is such immense beauty and so many wonderful nature crafting supplies to be gathered. We decided use some of the bits of nature we found on a Autumn woodland walk and craft up some bats. Perfect for setting the scene for Halloween!
Pop on over to CBC to see how we created these!
Happy Autumn nature crafting!

A Thanksgiving Thanking Tree!

2014-10-09T10:04:00.001-04:00

Head on over to the CBC Parents site for the FULL tutorial on how to make our Thanksgiving Thanking tree! This weekend in Canada is Thanksgiving… there is so very much to be thankful for!!
Gratitude to you all

Acorn Cap Necklaces

2014-10-03T11:00:00.001-04:00

Head on over to the CBC Parents site to see how to make your own

Acorn Cap necklaces!

These would make fantastic gifts and were easy to put together.

Pinecone Owls

2014-09-24T11:35:00.000-04:00

Happy Autumn!!

Gathering natural craft supplies is an Autumn tradition at my house. We head outside with baskets and bags and go on a pinecone and acorn hunt.

Of course this gathering time always inspires a nature craft or two.

Today we decided to make some pinecone owls out of our bounty!

To make your own you will need:

pinecones, (various sizes, shapes)

pumpkin seeds

paint and paintbrush

glue gun and glue stick

branches

To start we painted "bellies" on our pinecones.

(basically these were upside down triangles)

Then we added little spots to their bellies.

Paint the pumpkin seed beaks orange

Then using a glue gun glue on the pumpkin seed beaks and googly eyes.

Finally glue onto your branch and admire!

What a simple and adorable craft to begin the Autumn craft season!

Milkweed Pod Fairies

2014-09-15T12:29:00.002-04:00

With autumn just around the corner, we thought we would create a fairy from nature using one of our favorite crafting supplies... milkweed pods!

Pop on over to CBC to see how she came to life!
In fairy love,

Cattail Birds

2014-09-10T13:01:00.000-04:00

The ditches along the highway are FULL of cattails this time of year.

It's the perfect time to harvest them before they burst open.

I remember as a child my mother would collect them and spray paint them silver…they were in vases all over our house at Christmas time.

I came across this goodie of a craft in an old nature craft book, (aptly named Nature Crafts)

To make your own you will need:

cattails

scissors

glue, (glue gun or white glue)

feathers

paint

Enlist the help of a pint sized helper…

get on your rubber boots and go on a cattail pickin' adventure!

(oh, and be sure to show them that if you rub off the outer layer,

the inside bursts open in a cloud of fluff)!!

We trimmed off the ends...

Painted on eyes and painted the beak orange.

If you want to paint your cattails different colours, go for it…we painted one of ours blue.

Get out your glue gun and feathers…

We put a dab of glue on the end of each feather and stuck it into our "bird".

Tie a length of string around the middle of your bird, hang and enjoy!

My daughters thought this would also make for a really cool cat toy.

Nature crafting at its best.

The Allure of a Sunflower Field...

2014-09-04T09:44:00.001-04:00

In the next town over we spotted this…

(if I had a field of my own I think I would do the very same thing.)

Of course we had to stop to take pictures…

sunflowers are, perhaps, the happiest flowers of all.

Eldest informed me that Goldenrod is a sure sign that the seasons are about to change.

Here's to celebrating the end of summer in full bloom!

Stained Glass Butterfly Crowns

2014-08-25T08:22:00.000-04:00

Head on over to the CBC parents site to see how to make your own

stained glass butterfly crown!

What a great craft to do to celebrate summers end.

(time to fit in all that last minute summer crafting)

Enjoy every last morsel of sun, summer and fun!

Fairy Garden Den

2014-07-30T21:26:00.000-04:00

Deep in the hills of Killaloe, nested amongst a bountiful fairy garden... lives a fairy den.

Come take a peek with me....

The fairy kitchen...

with the stove burning bright with bubbling delights.

All of their treasures collected from their many forest and field journeys, sitting in little acorn cap bowls on their pantry shelf. Stars from the sea, feathers and snails to adorn their home. A queen Anne's lace and maple leaf hearth rug to sit upon.

Flowers and herbs hanging to toss into their magical brews. A shell spoon ready for the stirring.

Wee bark chairs and a turtle shell table atop a daffodil rug... ready to serve fellow fairies some enchanted refreshements.

A Moss covered ladder to carry them up to their bark loft.

A dragonfly sitting quietly by.

A cozy spot to drink tea and soak up the fae wonder...

while the butterflies and dragonflies flit about the flower filled walls.

A daisy rug, a vase full of flowers, a tiny bit of knitting... all awaiting.

A hot cup of tea and a little birch bark book with a a monarch perched upon their acorn cap basket of flowers.

The bird's nest and rose petal chair filled with dandelion fluff.

A quiet stillness... are they here?

High up on the loft rests the fairy bed, bath and vanity.

The canopy bed is laid with silk and feathers with a rose peal pillow filled with moss.

Lanterns hang to keep it all alit.

A shell and bark vanity with a snail shell of flowers.

Flowers all around.

Magic flowing freely.

With many a fine friend to share in the beauty.

Thank you for joining me. Hope you soaked up some delicious fairy magic.

Do you think they are here?

First Moon Kit

2014-07-10T21:07:00.003-04:00

Both Shanti and myself have tween girls in the midst. Inevitably, this means that "moon time" or "menstruation" is looming on the horizon.

Enter the First Moon Kit!!

I remember getting my period at age 12…my mother had talked about it a little bit, about finding blood "down there", and thinking she was bleeding to death, running to her own mother to tell her, (and subsequently having her mother laugh at her).

Still…we only had one conversation about it, and it was never spoken of again…except for what I read in Judy Bloom books.

I got mine at a friends house, and I remember feeling such fear. I told my friend I was sick and needed to call my mom to come and get me. It was, (horrifyingly), my father who went out and bought me a JUMBO box of no name pads, (that came in one size…BULK)!!! I felt so embarrassed, and the subject of this was never brought up again in my home.

For my own daughters I don't want them to feel any embarrassment or shame when their own moon time comes.

I'd like to find a way to honour this transition into womanhood, without too much fanfare, (as my eldest is a bit private about such things).

So, my thoughts came to making a "First Moon Kit"…

something special to have on hand for when that day arrives.

This is what I've come up with so far...

First thing…this book found HERE.

This is the most incredible book for young girls about to enter their moontime.

Lucy speaks about menstruation in such a positive light, and offers such great wisdom.

Every mother of a tween age girl should have this book on hand.

(Lucy is also the author of "The Rainbow Way"…she's an amazing lady).

And then…the bulk of the kit…

organic pads and intimate wipes.

(these could also be reusable cloth pads…menstrual cups.)

Before getting this, have a talk with your daughter about what she might like to use and have those things on hand.

A dear friend told me that her own mother gave her bubble bath when she got her first period,

so I added some bubble bath and organic dark chocolate.

Raspberry Leaf tea, and moonstone earrings.

The earrings will be her first piece of fine jewellery.

Some other suggestions made by friends are…

Hylands homeopathic menstrual cramp remedy

A journal and a pen

New Moon magazine

Clary Sage, Lavendar and other Essential Oils

Rice Bag

Permission slips to cry or be unreasonable

Cozy slippers

Lip Balm and other pampering items

I love that I will have all these wonderful "gifts" for whenever this day arrives.

All of the things I bought will "keep" in the closet for a year or two with no issues.

Would love to hear your stories…wisdom…or suggestions for those of us entering this phase in our mothering adventures!

With love and light

Poppy Dolls

2014-06-30T16:12:00.000-04:00

Poppies are one of my favorite flowers. I adore there whimsical frilly faces and their "Alice In Wonderland"feeling in full bloom.

After they are done blooming, I always see little fairy heads.

Do you see it?!

Nature is the best inspiration for creation.

We decided to try bringing a poppy doll to life.

We made a small slice in the stem...

and inserted a twig for arms.

We folded a leaf and cut a hole for the head.

A sweet little dress!

We tied on some grass for a belt...

and gave her a wild rose for her dress.

A little face and a daisy hat and she was ready for play!

So much fun to create with the bits of beauty that find you on a summer's day.

In poppy love,

Creating Ceremony for Children...

2014-06-25T13:46:00.001-04:00

I was raised in a Roman Catholic household…my mother, was in fact, a nun for about 20 years of her life and catholicism was a bit of a big deal in my house. When I was young I loved going to church and Sunday school, but as I got older some of the values that the church held sacred, weren't necessarily values I felt I could support. Spiritually, we all need to find that place where we can feel free to be ourselves…that space where we can identify. This is merely one example of so many healthy and beautiful ways to celebrate spirituality.

My dear friend had decided to take on the task of bringing sacred ceremony to the children of our community.

Every time the seasons change we hold a child specific ceremony.

I wanted to share our experience in hopes that it may inspire gatherings like this for those of you who can identify.

Once everyone had gathered the ceremony began with the ringing of a bell…

time to begin and quiet down.

The stump in the centre with cedar boughs, stones and talking sticks

We all met in my teepee and sat around the table in the centre.

We honoured the four directions, Mother Earth, our centre, each other.

We smudged with sage.

Stories were told about the sun, about summertime.

A song was sung.

At the end of the ceremony, each child was given a piece of cedar to bury on their property…

it was suggested they could bury it with a wish or intention they had.

And then each child was invited to choose a special stone to take home with them.

The circle was then closed.

Ceremony for children need not be complicated…we do this every time the season changes,

(4 times a year).

The purpose of it is to get the children used to the idea of creating a sacred space…

this is especially nice for children who do not participate in organized religion.

There is no age limit…we had babies in arms…moms and toddlers…our community elders.

After the ceremony, we gathered the children and had a summer Solstice parade!

Luckily we live in a very small town where spontaneous parades are encouraged and let's face it, a bit expected from time to time.

One of our community elders wrote a beautiful song in honour of our celebration.

We sang it on the way down to the village.

Afterwards we gathered for healthy snacks, a visit and playtime.

It was a beautiful event, one that we or our children won't soon forget.