Stockmar crayons are wonderful for young children. They are made from the wax of our beloved friends, the bees. Beeswax crayons come in a variety of colors that blend beautifully together. They are fragrant, smooth and long lasting.
It was time to keep our vibrant block crayons from marking and rubbing against one another. The only color of felt I had big enough for this project was red and since its Sasha's favorite color it was a perfect choice. I cut out some peach/pink stripes to lay across the red felt and sewed some small little pockets to hold the crayons snugly.
I then felted a little flower onto the front of the red felt for decoration.
and sewed on some little green ribbons so that it can be neatly folded.
This wonderful "Coloring with block crayons" book is a favorite of mine designed by Sieglinde de Francesca. It has wonderful illustrations and techniques on how to color with block crayons. You can find it at this link Coloring with block Crayons, along with her helpful DVD.
I was never able to draw and with the help of a few books I've been practicing. These are a few of them. I can only hope to inspire those that are intimidated by drawing as I once was.
and the boys wanted me to draw a tractor.
i have missed you here : )
ReplyDeleteit must feel good to settle back in at home again, i hope your travels were pleasant and gave you some positive direction for your next steps. i love that your sons favorite color is red. it is also my oldest sons favorite color and it fits him so perfectly. i love your pouch, i made ours many years ago and i love that we still use our original block crayons from so long ago. beeswax crayons really are so beautiful to use. i love your drawings and appreciate you posting this book. i can imagine it shares good inspiration for chalk board drawing as well. sending love xoxo
I hadn't thought of making a case for the block crayons - great idea! At this point, I only know the whereabouts of one of the crayons. And Gardenmama, you raise a good point -- that one block crayon that is still going strong is about 13 years old. I wonder where the rest of the set went? If only I had had a case to store them in!
ReplyDeleteAnd...impressive drawings there, mama! Those trees are divine and I love the tractor.
ReplyDeleteDear Jeanene,
ReplyDeleteThis felt block crayon case is perfect, so beautiful. I love the flower you felted onto the front. We have had our block crayons for a few years now, I think we should also make a special folding case for them:) Your drawings are wonderful:)
With love from South Africa,
Linda
The most interesting thing to me about drawing is the way it makes you see things. There is an old story about a famous biology professor, Dr. Agazzi, who set a student this task: here is a tray with a fish on it; spend an hour and learn everything you can, then report to me. The student sat, fidgeting for an hour - what could he learn? It was just a fish. When the hour came, the report was typical: fish have fins, eyes, a tail. Agazzi sent him back, this time to draw the fish, carefully, paying close attention to all detail. At first, the student was only annoyed. But as the hours went by, and he was forced to observe the million fascinating structures - the neat and miraculous way scales fit together, the amazing complexity of even a fish eye - the student realized that there was no such thing as "just" a fish. And the way he interfaced with the world was forever changed.
ReplyDeleteWhen you observe the world for drawing, one of the things that happens is that you start seeing the spaces - the negative spaces, the shapes. When you begin to see that way, the It's an interesting experience. The right side of your brain begins to be engaged. There is a book about this, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. I used it with my kids when I was educating them - and found myself learning TONS.
Thanks for coming to my own little blog. I am very much enjoying yours.
Hello dear friend,
ReplyDeleteHope you are all finding your pace again back at home. What a beautiful and useful pouch you have created. Your drawings are lovely too - peaceful yet active and happy. I will show our Leo your tractor. He will love it. We were watching the tractor turn the soil yesterday and the boys found big branches to pull along as their ploughs. We have crazy birds here (gulls) that follow the ploughing looking for tasty meals turned over in the soil. We too could do with a nice cosy home for our family of block crayons. They have lived with us for around six years now and are still mostly here except two have been nibbled.
Best wishes
Kelly
I followed the link to the day at the stream, and from there found myself on YouTube. I wanted to email you after that, but can find no address, so I will have to brave it out and just gush in public: you are Parelli! It's so funny - I saw that, and it was as if I'd just found that we were the same religion, or the same family - and as I watched the Parelli piece, I finally just put my head on the desk and wept. What you are giving you children - it makes my heart ache. My parents had no inclination or really, chance to give me what you are giving the boys - I watched them in the water with the ponies, and riding the wide hills - my dreams were made of this when I was a kid, and the kid inside me stirs and holds its hands out, watching. I think of the balance they will have as adults, the quiet confidence and sense of companionship with their horses. My poor Zion is so kind to me; he pretends that I speak pigeon everything to him, nonsense in ignorance. I just don't know how to tell you what I mean.
ReplyDeleteYour children are blessed.
Hello Kristen, I could learn much from you... and I do have the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain - if it wasn't for that book my drawings would be a lot worse,, amazing book isn't it. Now my drawings would be better if I had continued studying from that book and practicing but I stopped after the 5th project.. and yes I do keep looking at the book about 8 years later and know I must continue because I need to improve for the sake of my children (You've just motivated me). I am learning to and I just love the way the Waldorf philosophy emphasizes so much on art and creativity.. something that was hindered in my youth. It's what I love about homeschooling. Warmly Jeanene
ReplyDeleteDear Kristen, I'm so happy that you loved the videos, they really are amazing - I could watch them over and over. Since we arrived back from our vacation we've been out trail riding almost every morning visiting all our special hideaways and creeks. My children love animals, nature and being outdoors, in fact it's really hard to keep them inside. It's so beautiful and there is so much to explore and create out there so I really don't blame them. I had a terrible accident on a horse when I was young and although I loved them I was terrified. When we came to the farm I wanted to have horses in my life, I have always wanted them but we couldn't afford it - so this was my opportunity to have them and overcome my fear. Of course being in my 30's when i got them and they were wild I wasn't very confident until I found the Parelli program and wow it changed my life and is wonderful for the horses all 12 of them... at least I can allow my children to live the life I've always wanted. Wonderful isn't it.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing what you have been creating Jeanene. The crayon pouch is very sweet and your drawings are beautiful. I love that book too.
ReplyDeleteJust think, someday we can be crafting and creating together!!
xoxo
It is a lovely felt case. I should imagine that it helps to make a very productive setting when you sit down to draw. Having something handmade to hold your crayons, has just got to make you smile.
ReplyDeleteThank you Renee,, I would love to spend more time crafting and creating with your family and only hope that this will happen soon.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous blog you have here :) I look forward to having a bit more of a look tonight. Great idea for the crayons, our little felt case is a bit worse for wear so yours has inspired me to make a new one!
ReplyDeleteI love your sweet crayon case and such beautiful drawings. Thank you for reminding me to dive further into Sieglinde's book, it is a treasure.
ReplyDeleteI love you pouch you made for the crayons it is beautiful, a wonderful idea.
ReplyDeleteYour drawings are lovely and I think our children learn allot and delight with us as we try to uncover our own creativity and show them that we are learn as well through our journey.
Have a beautiful day. xxx
Beautiful drawings, so drawn to them. I love the tractor, something fun about drawing farm machinery :-)
ReplyDeleteI think I will set up my boys with some Stockmars from my Waldorf mama- friend's store this week.
i have been meaning to check this book out! you have further inspired me!! ;)
ReplyDelete[...] inspired by this blog and several cases/rolls for crayons/pencils/tools that I had seen in various places, I dug into my [...]
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