There is something just so simple and beautiful about Waldorf styled toys,
I have always been very intregued by them especially now with my two little girls.
I remember as a child my mother taking me to this tiny old fashioned toy store as a special trip, it was an enchanting place even now as I think back to that time. Such thoughtfully made toys and games lined the walls clear up to the ceiling.
The old creeking wood floor, low lighting, hand made oak shelving, and the sounds of the antique cash register machine still fresh in my mind like I just woke up from a vivid dream.
Childhood seemed so much simpler when I think back to my own.
Although, as a child I did have some of the newest and greatest toys with the flashing colors and lifelike movements but I always favored the simpler things... Mostly my Breyer horse collection, realistic plush animals, and my delicate porcelain dolls.
I guess I haven't changed much since then, I am never thrilled with the latest and greatest "tech" toys and I usually, like many parents... cringe when one of my daughters receive an loud, obnoxious battery operated toy.
I am a "dabbler" as I call it. Just about everything is art in my eyes and I usually wanna try everything at least once..
I love to take on new artistic projects all the time.
I come from a family with many "artist". I was always drawing as a child and making clay animation movies that were well beyond my years. When I started high school thanks to wonderful teachers I fell in love with painting and also creative writing. I won a few national awards for my writing before taking interest in an editorial position with our school's newpaper. But like I said above, I am a "dabbler" and I would easily become bored or distracted. After highschool I decided to become a licensed makeup artist which I enjoyed for many years. I fell in love with the ever changing trends and fashions and the creative people that surrounded me. I was able to travel to a show one weekend and the next be back home helping create a timeless look for a bride. I visited many large cities while in my career I even was asked to be apart of some fashion shows but like everything else after 6 years I was once again bored... During the 6 years I spent being a makeup artist I had gotten married and as the industry was starting to loose it's luster for me I became pregnant with my first daughter.
Now after having my second daughter shortly after the first my true passion is just being with them, so I made the hard decision to be a "stay'-at-home-mom" and have been now for over 4 years.
If cooking is considered an art form than my husband is a TRUE artist when it comes to food! His family is still deep in their rich cultural roots and have a small chain of restuarants in our state which is fairly well know to local people and the nearby university. This however is not an art form I exceed at lol. Although I do not complain about reaping it's benefits! Yet somehow I am still the one stuck making dinner most nights of the week... Does that make any sense at all??
Of course staying home with them has it's pros and cons.....
Pro: I get to be with my girls all the time teaching them and just being with them and never missing out on those special moments with them and having a very close special bond.
Con: I had to trade in my high heels, freshly manicured look, my professionalism, and oh yeah! I got to leave the house everyday!!
But I wouldn't trade it for anything!
I still find time to "dabble" but not as often as I want to. It's funny... you would think that being at home would give me much more personal time but it is the complete opposite!! Now I know where they got the expression "there is not enough hours in the day".
But when I do find those precious windows of opportunity I do not take them for granted and I do love having my little audience. Of course most of the time my "audience" wants to help me with whatever project I am working on which sometimes makes things a little more complex.
It brings me back to the many fond memories as a young child I have watching my grandmother handmake every detail of her one-of-a-kind creations and then shipping them off to happy individuals or boutiques in much larger cities than our tiny one horse town to places like Chicago. But the artistic gene didn't end their! My mother is also what I call a "dabbler" when it comes to the arts. Whether it is poetry, photography, or my personal favorites that she does repurporsing antiques and furniture, she manages to turn them all into true art. I also have a talented aunt who creates beautiful wedding and special even cakes and many others in our family so like I said I come from a family of "artist".
I started making these adorable Waldrof styled bendy dolls for my girls just as a fun project just for us. I had my girls help decide on colors and styles and they love them that much more because they got to "help" make them, we even would gather some natural elements to add like acorn hats. Many of my daughter's friend's parents and some of my family members started asking about them and I had a few request to make some for their children or themselves. I really enjoy making these simple little dolls, so I decided that I would start up my very own Etsy shop so that other child could enjoy the simplicity of imagination! My shop should be up and running very soon!!
Tiny little bundles of joy cradled in a crisp autumn leaf. These tiny little cuties are perfect for Waldorf bendy doll gnomes. These will soon be up for purchase at my Etsy Shop!
Standing at approx. 2.5 inches tall this little woodland gnome is all ready for the fall weather with her stripped legging and white pumpkin outfit on topped off with her little acorn hat. She will be up for purchase soon in my Etsy shop!
This sweet little gnomes loves fall harvest time! She looks forward to pumpkin season every year when she makes the most tasty pumpkin pies!
