Crafty Mama Kate

It all started with a daydream two months ago on August 13, 2010. I was taking a luxurious Friday afternoon nap while my boys slept, and I woke up dreaming about the kind of home I want to have...one in which there is an abundance of creative energy and space, where we are always making, doing, and creating from our imaginations and the world around us. I remembered an article I read in Mothering magazine a while back about "crafty mamas." I was so inspired, but too overwhelmed at the time to put any of my ideas into action. I dug out the magazine and reread the article. As I read about the women and their lives, I thought to myself, "I can do this." I decided to transform, little by little, my home and the way we do things. I spent some time looking at the blogs from the women in the article for ideas and inspiration. Then, I bought some books that were either recommended in the article or on one of the blogs:

1. The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections by Amanda Blake Soule
I have to admit that SouleMama has been my greatest inspiration since I had this "reawakening" of my creative spirit. She basically has the life I dream of: she lives in Portland, Maine, and cares for and teaches her four children using a model called "unschooling." After reading about unschooling a little on her blog and in the article, I bought a couple books about it to explore the idea some more.

2. Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher's Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto
Mr. Gatto taught for many years in NYC and writes about his experiences and opinions of public schooling. Very interesting, but I put it down to read John Holt's book as it's more practical for where I am right now.

3. Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book of Homeschooling by John Holt and Pat Farenga
John Holt is considered the "father of unschooling." He talks about what unschooling is and how to do it. I have only been able to read a few pages each night before bed, but have found it very helpful and informative.

4. Handmade Beginnings: 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby by Anna Maria Horner
What a gorgeous book! I haven't had time to do any of the projects yet, but I aspire to...someday! I am trying to get everything in the house organized before I start on one of these.

Since that day in August, we (mainly Henry and me) have done many creative things together: we made two of the sewing projects from Amanda Blake Soule's book. I bought a canning kit and canned nectarines and tomatoes (actually, Dan mostly canned the tomatoes). I've done tons of baking, including making nectarine plum crisp and pie, homemade granola, and various cookies using all natural, local, and organic ingredients. I've been collecting materials for Henry like boxes, bottle caps, etc. and we've made several things, including a rocket ship with remote control, a fire truck, a spaceship, a color wheel, and a fortune teller. We've gone on nature walks and explored the changing seasons. I try to engage myself and, ideally, the boys as well, in something creative, imaginative, and exploratory every day.

My reason for starting this blog is largely for myself as a journal or log of what we've done, and I'm also hoping it will motivate me to do more! I also hope that it might be helpful, interesting, or inspiring to others as SouleMama's and some others have been to me lately. I don't want to make any commitments as to how often I will post, especially with a new baby arriving in about 8 weeks, but I am going to try to at least twice a week. Thanks for sharing in my joy!