Deal of the day!

Flower and Earth Children

Children are so connected to living things in the garden. Below are a few of my absolute favorite flower fairies/children storybooks...

My name is Maginary the Fairy,

My life is joyful and oh, so merry:

If you want to be happy all the day,

Learn about living the fairy way.

We are gentle nature spirits you can trust.

Flowers and wishes bloom because of us.

We have a warm heart that shines so bright,

When you believe in us, you'll see the light.

We are really just tiny versions of you,

But our eyes shimmer with a magical view:

We try to be good, at least most of the time--

If I make a mistake, I admit that it's mine

Next time you hear the wind, listen well:

Soft whispers and secret laughter will tell

That fairy friends and magic are near

To help you with the things you hold dear!
The above taken from Fairy Fun by Marla Schram Schwartz. This is a great little book. It has instruction for projects, games, ways to bring fairies into your life. 

Midnight Fairy Craft and Party Book

Sprinkle a little fairy dust in your world! These marvelous crafts, fantastic party ideas, wonderful games, and enchanting stories twinkle across the pages ready to delight the young and young at heart. Bring the realm of the fairies into your own home with a series of glittering decorative items: a pretty, soft-bodied doll; a gilded castle, shining brightly; and a sparkling wand so you can cast some spells. Carry your stardust in a velvet and lame bag with a gold cord threaded through. Create a delicate fairytale scene in an old book; a large wish box or a small one with glimmer wings; and picture frames. And, because the fairy magic will catch you, give a very special party. Wear the fairy or wizard outfit that you've stitched up yourself; eat small chocolate star-shaped fairy cakes; and play Fairy Statues and Pin the Star on the Wand. There's so much to make and do! (all in color)

Fairy Fun

Does your child love the special make-believe magic of Fairyland? If she does--and most do!--Fairy Fun will delight with all kinds of wonderful, creative, and easy fairy crafts and activities. Using simple items found around the house and garden, your child can make fairy dust, a magic wand, fairy wings, and a fairy house. She'll make a pretty flower doll, grow a magic garden, and play with a fantasy sun catcher. She'll learn the best way to make wishes come true, how to do a fairy dance, and how to discover fairies outside. She'll find easy magic tricks, fairy riddles, tongue twisters, lots of fun ideas for playing with friends, and games for fairy parties and sleep-overs. With its wondrous color illustrations and imaginative projects, Fairy Fun will win the heart of every child who knows just how real fairies are.

Dear Fairies

When Adele finds a tiny letter among the strawberries in her garden, she discovers that there really are fairies living nearby! As she pulls each letter from its hidden place, she learns all about these magical creatures. The storybook will delight every little girl. There is also a special foldout section that includes note cards, envelopes, a pencil, and fairy stars for composing one's own letters to fairies!

Fairy Wings

Little Fia is the youngest fairy in a family of eight sisters; her sisters have lovely wings, she has none. Fia's seven sisters have compassion for her lack of wings, but they disapprove of her earthly behavior and the animals she has befriended, which are a frog, a rat, and a crow. It's time for the May Dance, and the fairies will be showing off their wings in the reflection of Puffers Pond near Troll's Wood. Fia has reconciled to being left out again. While sharing a new creation with rat, Fia runs into a boy fairy named Kip. He invites her to the dance, and she accepts. Will she be brave enough to follow through? Will the May Dance be safe near Troll's Wood where the wing-collecting Troll lives? Fairy Wings is a creatively written, artistically illustrated tale. The story is memorable, and little Fia, delicate in appearance, is valiant in thought and deed. She is a great role model. Fairy Wings is enjoyable for all ages, including adults. Getting through this 30-page wonder will take longer than you think; each illustration is wonderfully done, and will demand ample attention before you can turn to the next.

Wow! Finally you can have the step-by-step instructions you need to create wonderful ting fairy folk... This lovely book, entitled Fairies: Petal People You Make Yourself Rachel Haab presents Fairies: Petal People You Make Yourself, with a tiny spiral bound guide featuring illustrations, photographs and easy-to-follow instructions for making the wee creatures. A handy craft kit contains all the necessary materials including fake flower petals, colored wire and embroidery floss. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Backyard Discoveries

I have always kept my eye out for anything that may look like a little fairy house at craft stores, yard sales, etc...

Not too long ago, Michael's was having a sale and my husband had the afternoon off, so I got to go alone. In their floral section I found little "nests" and birdhouses, which didn't really look like functioning bird houses, but were made of wood and covered with moss, etc..

I purchased several items and kept the bag hidden in the car until they went to their grandmother's and I again had some free time. I carefully placed all of the items I had found all over the backyard, into hiding places within the bushes, on branches, etc...

Some they discovered right away, some are still awaiting discovery. It was interesting to watch from my window and see how they reacted when they suddenly made a discovery - precious!

It was also interesting to see what had happened to the ones who sat in the elements for weeks - how they became a part of the landscape and truly came to look like fairies had moved into them! It was an idea which has brought many hours of joy to my children...

All back yards have the potential for great discovery and activities. You should try to keep the area as natural as possible, and yet have a variety of "tools" on hand. These would include any of the following: a place for digging, a vegetable or flower garden, some wild growing plants (vines, wildflowers) wind chimes, windsocks, wind wands, pinwheels, prisms to catch the sun, gazing balls, a bonfire pit (obviously with supervision), planting sunflower houses or bean tents so children can experiment with light and dark, a water table, watering cans, seeds, potting soil and pots, scraps of wood (no nails!) for building, a long log for a balance beam, a hammock or comfortable chair, tree stumps which could be used for chairs & tables, cotton gauze cloths which could dirty, clothes pins or play clips, ropes, etc...

Simple Garden Magic:

Additionally, keeping a garden is a large part of the Waldorf curriculum. Even if you have an apartment in the city - try to keep a window box of herbs for your children. they will love it. It's also fun to take a drive out to local farms and farmer's markets.

Steiner said:

"Although it may seem absurd, it must be stated that a person who has not learned to distinguish an ear or rye from an ear of wheat is no complete human being. It can even be said that a person who has learned to distinguish between rye and without having observed them growing in the fields, has not attained the ideal. As teachers we should avoid going on botanical expeditions to collect specimens to be shown in the classroom. The children themselves should be taken out and wherever possible, be brought to understand the plant world in its actual connection with the earth, with the rays of the sun, with life itself. Through this we can find the transition in a quite naive way to something else which is very important."