Watercolor Bedroom Signs Tutorial

by Erin Wallace

As we’ve been unpacking and filling our new house I’ve been thinking through what to put in every room. I decided about a week or so ago that I wanted to put little signs with the kids initials on the door. After searching around and looking at initials, I thought what could be even better is for my daughter Cami and I to make it.

 With new paintbrush in hand, we set to work.

Here are the supplies we used:

• Wooden embroidery hoop

• Watercolor paper — 90 lb weight (make sure that it is larger than the hoop)

• Watercolor paints

• Colored pencils

• Glue stick & Scissors

First we started by with painting two larger sheets of paper. Cami and I both painted together and it was so

fun! A good break from all the unpacking.

After we set the paintings outside we painted the embroidery hoops with watercolors.

While the watercolor sheet was still damp, I placed the hoop around and pressed down. This can be a bit tricky. You want to be sure to do it while it is still damp to make it easier to mold to the hoop.

After pushing down on the top of the hoop, I flipped it over and pushed the inside of the hoop down as well.

This is how it looked attached:

Next I drew on a new sheet of thicker watercolor paper the first letters of their name and a little fairy and pirate boy. Cami colored all but the pirate boy. I snuck that in while she was busy with the others.

We cut out the colored drawings and used a glue stick to attach them. I centered the letters for Cami and then we put the little decoration around it. They don’t have to be perfect remember. Cami accidentally used her glue stick when applying on top of Noah’s sign, but I still think it looks amazing and the perfect entrance to their own little spaces.

 

Zentangles: Doodling as a Form of Art

by Stacey Libbert, Running Monologue

Photo provided by Mommy Labs

I am a life-long doodler.  I doodled in my notebooks as a child.  I doodled on the phone book as I sat and talked on the telephone.  I doodled in the margins of my notes in college and in staff meetings.  Even now, I doodle on my church bulletin or my calendar or my journals.  Some teachers thought I wasn’t listening if I was doodling, but nothing could have been further from the truth.  If anything, when I was doodling, I was listening more intently and deeply than if I’d been sitting with my hands folded neatly on the desk in front of me.

Doodling brings a clarity and focus to my hearing, my processing and my learning.  It’s one of the greatest tools I ever used as a student, writer and artist because doodling opens up creative pathways in my brain where my best ideas find their way to the page. 

Doodling is a form of prayer at times.  It is a form of creative thinking.  

I have become a huge fan of art journaling, sometimes filling as many art journal pages as written pages, and one of my favorite forms of art in those journals is something called a Zentangle. 

Simply put, Zentangles are repeated patterns, often in black and white, that are put together in creative designs to create a piece of art.  They are intuitive, imaginative, and beautiful, and best of all, anyone can do them.  Children also find them very appealing and accessible.  

Zentangles are super easy because they don’t require a lot of material.  All you need is paper and a black gel pen or fine-point Sharpie and a willingness to let your imagination flow.  

Because I am a dedicated journal keeper, I began a Zentangle journal.  I carry it with me in my purse and pull it out when I am bored or have some free time or if I’m in a long meeting.  I’ve even taken to cutting my patterns out and pasting them onto painted pages in other journals. 

I also pull it out and work in it with my children at the dining room table.  We put on some music, chat about our day, and let our hands doodle all over the page.  The result is always interesting.   My daughter likes to add lots of vibrant colors to hers while my son’s are big and dramatic.  Either way, each zentangle is as unique as its creator, and it serves as a wonderful way to wind down at the end of a long day, to breathe deeply, to not think too much.  They are, quite simply, one of the best meditations around.  

If you’re interested in learning more about Zentangles, you can visit the official website .  There are also some great books available as well as hundreds of images on the Internet to get your creative juices flowing.  One of my favorites can be found at Mommy Labs.  Rashmie has great examples and thoughts on the process of zentangling.  Check it out.

Stacey Libbert is a writer, artist and mom in the mountains of North Carolina.  She spends her days writing, exploring the world, and doodling in the margins of her papers as often as possible.  Stop by to say hello and visit her at Running Monologue.

SouLodge: Online E-Course Offers a Safe Place to Journey Within

Green Room Blog Special Section: Wisdom Workshops

by Joli Forbes

Photos by Stacy de la Rosa

I got out my journal and favorite pen, sat down with a quiet mind (and a quiet house!) and eagerly signed in. This was the first thing like this I’d ever done for myself… and I loved every minute of it… even though sometimes it was hard, sometimes I had to look stuff up (some definitions you’ll find here in case you need ‘em too!), and sometimes life made focusing a bit challenging… but I found a way to persevere because I’m worth it.

SouLodge is a sacred space for women to gather to learn about Earth Medicine, the Divine feminine experience and journey through our mind’s eye with the aid of ancient animal and plant wisdoms. (Earth Medicine is defined by The World Health Organization as “The medicine that refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being.”)

Creator and SouLodge.com guide, Pixie Campbell’s bio states, “she is a Magician, interested mostly in transforming what isn't working into wisdom: that which works.” That is what she’s teaching in SouLodge. She teaches us how to transform perspective by diving in, noticing, appreciating what we find, then clearing out and lovingly embracing all that is within the light and love that is us. Campbell is a writer, an artist, a teacher, and a wise woman who holds retreats and gatherings, writes and produces workshops and courses that are designed to reignite our connection to the earth, creativity, and the depths of our individual and collective souls.

My class’ animal totem was the Panther and we were doing fear-challenging shadow work. It is the kind of stuff nightmares are made from -- what am I afraid of? Why don’t I feel I’m good enough? Why aren’t my ideas taken seriously? What do I hide from? Deep, dark stuff.

I learned it was time to release my darkest story to the universe. I set it free to a group of strangers then to my friends and, while I was an emotional wreck through the writing process, I feel much clearer and without sadness about it now. I have also moved houses, changed patterns and shifted toward success and prowess. I am different now. And I am grateful.

Pixie Campbell will be launching an online painting course and “Self-Care the SouLodge Way.” And Campbell told me that the next Soulodge totem, while she remains elusive, will be a “certain fuzzy, hopping creature who teaches us to thrive by means of prolific and fertile creativity.”

SouLodge is an ongoing, Shamanic soul journeying “e-course retreat” that you can purchase on a month-by-month or yearly basis and learn about the journeywork associated with that time of the season. It touches on animal totems and guides, medicine wheel teachings, meditations, and includes links, live podcasts and downloads. This is an awakening experience available whenever you are ready… for $19 per month it’s a wonderful investment into self.

SouLodge.com and/or Etsy.com.

 Joli Selten Forbes is a Bamboo contributing editor, freelance writer, photographer and poet. She is a mother, dancer, gardener and foodie who instigates change in her home and community for what she calls the “Revolution of Consciousness” currently underway. She holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon who's professional bylines can be found at  yourdailythread.com, Flaunt, Shape, Bon Appétit, the LA Times, Press Democrat, Orange Coast Magazine, Minnesota Law & Politics, URB, and many other magazines and newspapers. She is also a regular volunteer for local organizations like Food Not Bombs and music/art festivals like Lightning in a Bottle.

I (Heart) the Earth! Thoughts on Growing an Eco-Conscious Child

by Donna DeForbes of Eco-Mothering

“The earth is sick, Mommy.”

This is what my six-year-old daughter has learned from my years working for an environmental organization and talking about pollution, fish kills and global warming. 

Now that I am removed from that immediate environment, I wonder about such a negative message. Does it inspire action or does it feed hopelessness? 

My recent focus on the law of attraction tells me like attracts like. Repeating statements like “the earth is sick” builds on that negative energy and tends to create similar situations. Another way of looking at it: I see only negative situations through such a filter. I focus on the oil spills, the violent weather patterns, the displaced polar bears… and become blind to the good things happening in the world. And there are good things. 

The earth has survived for over four billion years, after all. It has learned to heal itself. It’s atmosphere and temperature and the life forms they support may change, but the earth itself keeps evolving. It may seem “sick” from our human perspective, but I’m pretty sure this planet will outlast us. 

This is not to say I don’t care about ecological issues anymore. I do. I believe in connection with nature. In striking a balance with other species. In taking action. What suddenly irks me is the message of scarcity that often prevails in environmental activism: There’s not enough. Use less. We’re running out. Think small. 

As I’m learning in other areas of my life, scarcity provokes more Scarcity and its bullying cousins: Fear, Negativity and Hopelessness. And aren’t they a fun bunch to be around? Feelings of scarcity do not inspire generosity. Feelings of abundance inspire generosity. People who are barely making ends meet typically do not donate to charities. Prosperous people donate to charities.

At home, if my daughter, Sofie, thinks there’s not enough of something for the whole family—blueberries, for example—she fears she won’t get her share. This leads to behaviors of whining, hoarding and obsessively comparing everyone’s share of berries to see who got the best deal. Fun times. 

However, I notice these behaviors are absent when Sofie believes there are plenty of blueberries. Maybe it’s because the fridge is fully stocked or she knows we’ll buy more or she sees our blueberry bush fruiting. When my daughter feels this abundance, she eats her berries joyfully and is more apt to share them. 

The eco-activities we engage in as a family—recycling, composting, gardening, second-hand shopping—I prefer to do in a spirit of joy and love for the earth. We bond as a family and we reap the rewards (as does the planet). If we engage in such activities out of obligation or fear, they become chores that eventually fall to the wayside. And nobody has any fun.

When I notice sudden compulsiveness (Oh no! I tossed a #5 yogurt container in the trash! The earth will die because of me!), I know I’m coming from a place of fear. And I can tell you from my Catholic upbringing how effective that is. People are motivated to do things out of fear for only so long before they rebel. 

This may be a fine line of distinction, but I believe it is an important one. The same action taken under two different motivations often produces different results. Coming from a spirit of lack tends to put focus on the problem, whereas coming from a spirit of abundance brings about solutions. And solutions are what this planet needs. 

In the end I want Sofie to be eco-conscious, but I hope that stems from believing the earth is a source of abundance. I want her to rejoice in its waters and forests, its mountains and creatures. To notice its beauty, not just its trash. To view it as a haven, not only a force of destruction. To act joyfully, not fearfully. To replace messages of scarcity with messages of abundance: There is enough for all. Love more. Do more. Think big. 

I’d rather hear my daughter say, “I love the earth, Mommy!”

Donna DeForbes is a writer, graphic designer and green mommy blogger who aims to uplift others and inspire change. She is passionate about books, art, the environment, clean design, natural parenting and living authentically. Her Eco-Mothering blog shares tips and stories on green parenting plus eco product reviews and giveaways. A Philly native, Donna currently lives in Rhode Island with her progressive husband and precocious six-year-old daughter. Follow EcoMom on Facebook (www.facebook.com/EcoMom.DeForbes) or Twitter (@EcoMom_DeForbes).

We Got the Beat...

by Stacey Libbert

I had a stereo, a hairbrush, and a box full of thrift shop dresses and my grandmother’s old nightgowns.  I twirled and kicked, spun gloriously around my bedroom floor, grabbed hold of the bed post, my makeshift dance partner, waved my arms and hands in the air and sang every word to every MGM musical I knew.  I was a star.

It would be easy to say, “If I had a dollar for every hour I spent watching myself mime the words to Judy Garland’s songs or the dialogue from Gone With the Wind, I’d be rich,” but I don’t need a dollar.  The hours themselves are what really made me rich.

They gave a shy, quiet girl who dreamed of being able to openly express herself hours of creative, wildly imaginative play.  Oddly enough, those hours in front of my bedroom mirror were some of my happiest.

Even now, I enjoy a good whirl around the floor in front of a full-length mirror.  Maybe I’m a closet diva.   And my child is a full-on, put-it-all-out-there diva who has no hesitation about displaying her awesomeness on a regular basis.  As soon as she was able to bounce her diapered bum to the beat, the two of us have enjoyed “spontaneous dance parties”.

In time, her brother joined us—first, as an innocent bystander in the baby sling and later as a full-fledged member of our spontaneous dance troupe.  His little boy dance style is more aggressive and looks more like exaggerated martial arts moves than actual dance moves, but they are musical and joyful and BIG. 

That’s the thing about spontaneous dance parties in the privacy of your own home.  You can go BIG all the way.  It’s a moment of total freedom, a dose of wild abandon.  It’s medicine for the soul.

Conventional wisdom will tell you that these kinds of activities are good for children.  They encourage healthy exercise and provide an outlet for creative expression.  I agree whole-heartedly.  But I will also assert that those who need it most are not necessarily children. Children, by definition, are wild artists, original dancers, radical singers, and generally free spirits.  It’s who they are, who they were born to be.

It’s us older kids who have lost some of our luster, our shine, our BIGness.  Dancing, singing, flinging one’s hair up and down like the lead singer of an 80’s band is sort of weird… possibly irresponsible… and definitely embarrassing.  Who are we, these grown up people with responsibilities to behave in such a way?

Well, in the words of Marianne Williamson, who are we to not do those things?  One of the best things you can do for yourself is to set yourself free.  Become a child again.  You have wise teachers to guide you in this dance.  Watch them.  And then jump in.  Dance with them.  Be a star.  Let them be stars.  Make the sky shine a little brighter.

A Few of Our Favorites

“It’s got a good beat, and you can dance to it.” 

Say Hey by Michael Franti

Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets

Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry

Respect by Aretha Franklin

Surfin’ USA by The Beach Boys

We Got the Beat by The Go-Go’s

Three Little Birds by Bob Marley

Be OK by Ingrid Michaelson

Whole Lotta Shakin’Goin’ On by Jerry Lee Lewis

Me and Julio Down bythe Schoolyard by Paul Simon 

 

Stacey Libbert is a mom, teacher and writer living in western North Carolina.  You can find her at her blog, Running Monologue.  Stop by and say hello.

Winter Tea Ceremonies

by Stacey Libbert, Running Monologue

One of the most beautiful things about winter is the opportunity to create warmth inside the home.  For our family, this means layers and layers of old quilts, a fireplace, candlelight, warm soups and homemade bread, wooly socks and the smell of cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. 

It also means hot tea.

My children have always loved a tea party.  Tiny ceramic pots, cups and saucers painted with dainty roses are placed lovingly on the table and filled with warm concoctions of milk and sugar and a little bit of tea.

Last year, my daughter discovered the tradition of having an actual teatime.  For some reason, this resonated with her, and she begged to begin serving tea in the late afternoon as part of our “coming in from the cold” ritual.

It has been a lovely addition to our afternoons.  Rosy cheeked and shivering, we stomp the mud and snow from our boots, shed layers of wet clothing, and toast ourselves by the fire as a kettle of water begins to whistle on the stove.

Then we pour and wait.  Waiting for the aroma of tea brewing to hit our nostrils and warm us all over again.

I don’t know what it is about a cup of warm tea that pleases them so much. 

For me, it’s about the slowness of it all, the chance to sit and rest and visit with these people I love so dearly. 

Kid-Friendly Tea Options

Lemon balm, lemongrass, ginger, chamomile, mint, red teas with rosehips and hibiscus, honeybush, rooibos, and tulsi.

*Special note: Children with ragweed allergies may react to chamomile, so monitor closely.

Check out Groove Tea, an organic, fair trade tea company that blends teas specifically for children.

 

Stacey Libbert is a writer, teacher and mom living in the foothills of North Carolina.  You can read more about her adventures in raising children and goats and brewing the perfect cup of tea at her blog, Running Monologue or visit her on Facebook at Running Monologue.

Keeping a Seasonal Nature Journal

by Elizabeth Sniegocki

I love writing. I almost always have. I discovered my devotion to the craft at 10 years old, when my mother gave me a lock & key diary, in which I scribed the inner most secrets of a pre-teen girl. Though middle and high school, I filled notebooks with short stories, poetry, and prose. I then took my love of writing to college with me, where I earned a degree in journalism, and continued to find my voice on the blank page. Through my 20s, and now most of my 30s, I've continued to navigate life – including marriage and motherhood – using the written word as my compass. Journal writing has been a consistent outlet and a constant connection, bridging my inner and outer worlds.

As my journals have evolved over the years, I’ve experimented with many different types and styles. One of my favorites is the nature journal, a personal record of observations, perceptions, and reflections about the natural world. I believe I’m drawn to keeping a nature journal because it marries three of my true loves: writing, nature, and mindfulness. By recording what’s going on outside, right now, right where I am, I connect to my environment on a more meaningful level.

Keeping a seasonal nature journal can foster a deep sense of place, and help one to understand their role in that place. I live in the suburbs of a small beach town in Florida. Most would not recognize it to be winter here, with temperatures currently hitting record highs in the 80s! But through mindful observation, I've come to recognize (and appreciate) signs of the season here, in my place: the citrus trees are hanging low with fruit in my backyard, bearing sweet, juicy oranges.... the sun sets early in the evening over the icy-cold Gulf waters, followed by a cool, salty breeze.... hawks circle above the suburban streets in cloudless, blue skies.

Nature is everywhere! Our connections are endless, and flow from season to season, place to place. A nature journal gently, yet powerfully, grounds you in nature’s wonder.

Would you like to connect to your place in nature? Simply take a little time – it can be 10 minutes or an hour – to be present in nature and follow the exercise below. You'll emerge refreshed and recharged, with a heightened sense of place!

A Nature Journal Primer

Materials needed: blank book or blank paper, pen and/or pencil, colored pencils if desired.

1. Go to a place in nature that intrigues you, or that you have easy access to. Or simply look out your window.
2. Record the date, time, and place in your journal.
3. Observe what's going on around you upon first glance. Use your senses: what do you see, hear, feel, smell, taste?
4. Record your observations using words and drawings. Don't judge what you're doing - just do it. Work at your level of ability, and know that it's good enough.
5. Now, reflect on what you've observed and recorded. How does it make you feel? Can you make any personal connections to this place and what's happening in it?
6. Record your reflections in any way you like... make a list, write a poem, draw a picture. Let it flow naturally.
7. Repeat this exercise as often as you can – in as many places as you like – and discover the magic of keeping a nature journal!

Want more? Join Elizabeth of A Natural Nester for a 6-week online course that will guide you through the basics of keeping a seasonal nature journal. Learn to record your observations, perceptions, and feelings about the natural world around you with: themed lessons on nature journaling ~ creative & seasonal writing prompts ~ exercises to connect you to the natural world ~ a supportive online community ~ resources, tips, and more!

“A Sense of Place ~ Keeping a Seasonal Nature Journal”

E-Course begins January 21^st!

*Flexible pricing

* Work at your own pace

Get more details and register here:

http://anaturalnester.blogspot.com/p/nature-journaling-e-course.html

 Elizabeth Sniegocki writes about creating a natural and mindful environment around you and within at A Natural Nester (www.NaturalNester.com). She offers everyday inspiration and informative feature articles on seasonal living, community building, conscious parenting, organic gardening, wholesome cooking, and more from her nest in Sarasota, Florida.

Parent Soul Fever

by Stacey Libbert, Running Monologue 

This morning, I washed baseboards, cleaned behind the refrigerator, organized a closet and mopped all the floors.  It has been bliss. 

For a few weeks, I have been on a relentless schedule of work, travel, volunteer activities, and looming deadlines.  Not to mention nightly homework and extracurricular activities, which we purposely keep at a bare minimum for everyone’s sanity and well being.  What I needed most was some good, old-fashioned home time.  I wanted to sort some things, clean out the cupboard and knock down cobwebs.  I wanted to put on music and zone out while washing dishes.  I wanted to be alone in my house without any disruption or urgency. 

Click to read more ...