Saints
Posted: February 18, 2012 Filed under: Gallery - Quotes 2 Commentsfrom Thich Nhat Hanh’s Your True Home
Sometimes you encounter people who are so pure, beautiful, and content. They give you the impression that they are divine, that they actually are saints or holy beings. What you perceive in them is their awakened self, their Buddha nature, and what they reflect back to you is your own capacity for being awake.
“Agriculture and Creativity” by Paulo Coelho
Posted: February 15, 2012 Filed under: What is an Art Farm 2 Commentspaulocoelhoblog.com February 11, 2012
Ploughing the field
The moment the soil is turned, oxygen penetrates places it was unable to previously. This process of interior revolution is very important – because, just as the field’s new look will see sunlight for the first time, a new assessment of our values allow us to see life innocently, without ingenuity. A good creator must know how to continually turn over his values, and never be content with that which he/she believes he/she understands.
Sowing
All work is the fruit of contact with life. He/she never knows, at the outset, which things will be important to him in the future, so the more intense his life is, the more possibilities he/she will create for an original language. If he/she tries to imitate or control his inspiration, he/she will never obtain that which he/she desires. He/she must allow his life to sow the fertile soil of his unconscious.
Growth
There is a time in which the work writes itself, freely, at the bottom of the author’s soul – before it dares show itself. The creator must respect the time of gestation, although he/she knows – just like the farmer – that he/she is only partially in control of his field; it is subject to drought and floods. But if he/she knows how to wait, the stronger plants, which can resist bad weather, will come to light with great force.
The Harvest
The moment when a person manifests on a conscious plane he/she sowed and allowed to grow. If he/she harvests early, the fruit is green, if he/she harvests late, the fruit is rotten. Every artist recognizes the arrival of this moment; although some aspects may not have matured fully, some ideas not be crystal clear, they reorganize themselves as the work is produced. Without fear and with great discipline, he/she understands that he/she must work from dawn to dusk, until the work is finished.
Sharing
And what to do with the results of the harvest? Again, we look to Mother Nature: she shares everything with everyone. An artist who wishes to keep his work to himself, is not being fair with that which he/she received from the present moment, nor with the inheritance and teachings of his forefathers. If we leave the grain stored in the granary, it will go bad, even though it was harvested at the right time. When the harvest is over, the time comes to share, without fear or shame, your own soul.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Posted: February 13, 2012 Filed under: Child Centered Activities, In the Kitchen 5 Comments
Farm Day
Posted: February 11, 2012 Filed under: Child Centered Activities 6 CommentsPregnant mama Mia
Learning how to milk
A two day old calf
Collecting eggs
Learning to use gentle hands
Learning Shapes With Stencils
Posted: February 8, 2012 Filed under: Art & Healing, Child Centered Activities 5 CommentsUse some recycled cardboard scraps and trace simple shapes to cut out. I suggest using an x-acto knife up and out of reach of your little one. The nice thing about creating a stencil from corrugated cardboard is that it’s thick enough for your toddler to push against with his or her marker or crayon, without tearing easily. Encourage your child to hold stencil with one hand while following the edge with drawing tool in the other hand. Your toddler’s desire for repetition is just what you want here!!
Happy Valentine’s Day by the way!
Nutcracker, Anyone?
Posted: January 31, 2012 Filed under: Art & Healing, Child Centered Activities 4 CommentsIt’s been 3 months since David took our daughter to the Nutcracker performance in town. We are still listening to the music, dancing in dress-up clothes, singing the melodies and now making art together.
Working in her Nutcracker coloring book from Gramma Jane. Beautifully detailed depiction of all the characters. The music is playing in the background. 
Buttons & Beads
Posted: January 22, 2012 Filed under: Art & Healing, Child Centered Activities 4 CommentsHere’s some more fun with Sculpey Clay and a great project for helping your little one with fine motor development. I made some beads ahead of time. There are a million ways you can make beads and I used a very simple method. Knead the clay with your fingers until it warms up. Roll small amounts into ball shapes between your hands. One way to add color without blending is to roll out a small snake shape, then attach it to the ball and roll between hands until it’s incorporated – but not blended. Pierce with pin or other fine tool for hole and place them on smooth cooking pan. Be careful NOT to let pieces touch each other while cooking. Cook according to thickness in a preheated oven at 275 degrees. Sculpey packaging suggests 15 minutes for every 1/4″ thickness. You must be careful not to over-bake.
Remembrance Memory Wire is great fun to use as it holds it’s shape. Using some wire cutters and needle nose pliers I cut off a section and curled the end to keep beads from falling off. 
Once finished stringing the beads, I trimmed the excess wire with my cutters leaving about 1/2″ to curl with the needle nose pliers.
Et Voila
Below are some Sculpey buttons which became eyes for a sock puppet. I expect you could use them on clothing but you’d want to coat them with a waterproof varnish to protect them during laundering.
The Five Sisters and Two Brothers?
Posted: January 20, 2012 Filed under: Gallery - Visual 2 CommentsOK, so now we think there are 2 males and 5 females. The two are slightly bigger (top left two), not necessarily more ornate, but have bit more red on their heads. Also, they’ve been strutting their puffed-out selves to the girls. I’m hoping we see some babies! Their tails are spread out here as they keep balance walking over the snow. What a show!
an Art Farm 