Art Homework - Class 8

Request:  draw a collection of vases/bottles.  One minute Brooke's setting it up and then I happened to walk past and this is where she was up to...

Lyre Handover

Earlier I posted about getting ready for Lyre Handover at school.  At the bottom of that post is the links to previous posts on the lyres - the making of them, progress pics from the workshops and so on.  Well this afternoon was Lyre Handover day.  Handmade for the children, their very own musical instrument.

Lyre is Strung, Bag is Made... It's Handover Day...

With thanks to S for giving me a refresher this morning with a few strings (and spilling some drops of blood in the process!), so I could remember how to do the strings.  Note to self: don't wait so long - next time do it right after the workshop so you don't forget!  I didn't break any (so far) and didn't stuff anything up so I think I'll tick that one off the list...  Pardon the pics - taken on my old phone so they're not the best but I was really wanting to take some.

Thorny Devil cut-out for Sound box - Zeke's choice, his Dad's design and cutting work.

Kraul Basket Cable Car Kit

I ordered the Kraul Basket Cable Car Kit for the children for Christmas but they were popular (apparently I wasn't the only one who liked them!) and we had to wait for more stock to come from Germany.  That's ok, it's good to have to wait sometimes, patience and anticipation.  Tracie from Dragonfly Toys was lovely, excellent customer service.  This week, the basket cable car kit arrived.

This From A Class One Child...

I know I'm his Mum but I think this is pretty special art work by my Class 1 son, Zeke ...I am so pleased the children have the opportunity to draw and write like this.  I would like the Aussie version of the Christmas Carol lol but it doesn't change how chuffed I am for Zeke that he can create like this... and that it's how they create and learn at his school...

girl dove at the bottom, boy dove at the top

Over the Grassy Bridge Go The Strings...

Well, the last lyre workshop today (previous posts here).

Started the bridge with a plank of wandoo.  Rectangle actually, apparently from old floor boards in Dalkeith.  Closest I'll ever get to having floorboards in Dalkeith!

Marked and measured.  Cut to length on the ban saw, shaped it on the belt sander and for interest I added some 'grass' complete with grass seeds (hammer and a nail to punch them) for Zeke's little thorny devil to hide in.  Tidied up the grass with files and sanded the ends and top smooth.  Waxed it.

thorny devil, meet grass

Also marked out and etched/chiselled out the groove for the little brass rod to go in.

Lyre progress pics - today's workshop results

Here's last week's post and this is the results from this morning's workshop.

smoooooth and with new holes (bottom of the face of the lyre)

Third Lyre - Progress pics

The lyre began here 'Third Lyre Beginnings'.  It had one workshop that I forgot to take pics of, and now has just had it's most recent few hours spent on it.  Zeke chose a 'thorny devil' as the soundbox shape and this is his Dad's artistic version of it.  Looks quite good I thought.

Third Lyre Beginnings

The beginnings of the third lyre - this one for Zeke.  In Class One, the parents make a lyre for their children.  Further down the post, you can see the ones we have already made for Brooke and Jake.

Zeke's Knitted Purse + Hand-made Wood Button

Another craft project finished by Zeke (Class 1).  All hand knit himself, finger knitted the strap and hand made the button, sanded it and stitched it on.  He's quite chuffed to have finished it and some parts of the knitting are very regular and neat indeed.

Yellow for a Special Birthday today

Five years ago today, a tiny little Brenna baby girl was born.

...today for making Brenna's Birthday cupcakes, I decided to go with yellow. 

There were yellow lemons on the bench, yellow and white flowers in the vase.  Lemon cupcakes I decided.  Used this recipe from Taste.com and completely didn't follow the method, rather put the whole lot in the bowl and whizzed it.  It worked :) but I am sure it would have been a lot lighter had I followed the method.  I was just aware of the time and needing to be at school in time for Zeke's Class Play performance.

Despite wondering if they would turn out at all, the cupcakes are made ready to sing Happy Birthday tonight.

later this afternoon, when the boys were home from swimming, Brooke called everyone in the kitchen to show what she has been working on, now finished.  She had finished it earlier in the term but had been keeping it aside until today.

Class 7s make their very own doll from scratch, all the children make one, both boys and girls.  Most of the time they make one that resembles themselves... however Brooke did hers as 'Brenna'.  She's done a lovely job and you could see she was really pleased with the work she put in and how it turned out.

Brooke's hand carved wooden waddling pull-along duck

 Brooke bought home her finished hand carved little pull-along wooden duck (woodwork and mechanics class).The wheels on it are offset so it 'waddles' side to side.

this little wooden duck...

Bread minus long tin, 5 minute dinner and Geometry Main Lesson

Getting the hang slowly of this new Blogger setup.  Three pics are from Brooke's main lesson workbook.  Then 5 minute dinner prep and then the long bread you make when you aint got a long tin plus yay to oranges from a friends' tree.

From Brooke's Geometry Main Lesson Workbook

cheat pizza

finished bread

The pizza is Lebanese breads from the freezer, pre-grated block cheese, capsi presliced and frozen, ditto the toms if there's none in the garden, and any spare sausages after a bbq get cut like pepperoni and frozen too.  Easy quick dinner.  Pull out the oven trays, line, slap on a Lebanese bread, sauce, chuck on your prechopped stuff and in the oven.  done.

From Brooke's Geometry Main Lesson Workbook

a piggywig stood...

The owl and the pussy cat went to sea

in a beautiful pea green boat...

these are the little wax figures that Zeke made to 'illustrate' the story they learnt and then performed in Class 1, for the school and later for parents/family/friends. To show you just exactly how smal these wax figures are - the little pig sits nicely on a 5c piece...

Why Waldorf - a video to share.

If you've ever wondered about Waldorf/Steiner schooling, then this video is a good visual - a taster if you like. Enjoy!



and the funny thing is that despite it being in the US and us being here in Au... so much of it is very familiar as it's the same as here! The insides of the rooms, the subjects, the songs, what we hear from the children and the things they do in class.

Crayon Roll - Zeke and Nanna together

Being in Class 1 this year, Zeke needed a crayon roll for his block crayons, and his stick crayons to come.


Mum he said, 'I need a crayon roll for school'.
I said I'd make him one.
His reply: 'But that will take aaaaaaaaages Mummy'.
...Yes mate, I know... Mummy is not the fastest one sometimes when the 'to do' list is long.

All hand done by Master 6

Here's Zeke's craft projects he finished last week at school. He is very chuffed with it. I am very proud of him - there's a lot of work gone into it, it's quite neatly done I think for his age (6) and he finished it. It's really very sturdy and I think will hold up to it's uses well :)

front with toggle fastening

The main of the bag is done using

Winter in our Steiner Playgroup

We attend two Steiner playgroups and this week at one, the children with their Parents and Playgroup Leader, made 'apple candles' (I'm sure there's a better word for it).

from two of my boys

Craft through Steiner learning plus Easter and Eostre and other...

Through the seasons, at Primary, Kindergarten and Playgroup, the children and their teachers are always doing craft. This term in woodwork Brooke finished crafting her mallet from a single lump of wood. Next term she begins making a wooden spoon. Last year's project of two matching striped knitted socks still amazes me!

Last year Jake's class knitted their own doll. This term Jake has finished making his duster - a hand made, sanded wooden handle and knitted 'cloth-head'. Now making a wrist band.

Zeke is making a skipping rope - two lots of long fingerknitting then woven together with wooden beads on the end. After that he begins his pillow baby. Brooke and Jake still have their pillow babies that they made in Kindergarten all these years later.

Playgroup always has some crafts going, mostly the parents do but the children often participate and/or watch as they go about their play. I've included just a few pictures of the most recent crafts, and will someday get around to adding in the other pics - like the hand made knitting needles the children made before commencing knitting... love the process from start to finish and they're certainly treasured items once complete.