Hearts and Trees: 2008

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Winter Nature Study and Snowflake Book Suggestions

I wanted to share with you all some book suggestions that I haverecently listed on my blog sidebar. Many people may have trouble with nature study in winter, and these books may help you, because they focus on nature study in winter:

If you want to focus on snowflakes, here are some books you may wish to check out:

You may also want to check out my video here from last winter about how to catch a snowflake.
You may also want to make your own paper snowflakes. There are some instructions here.
There are some templates you can print to cut very fancy snowflakes here.
Here is a fun website where you can make your own snowflake: Make-a-Flake

Hope you enjoy these books and links. If you have any more winter nature study or snowflake ideas, feel free to leave them in the comments.

*********

And I still have some Hearts and Trees Winter 2008 Kits, so be sure to check them out, if you haven't already.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Jan Brett Links 2

There are tons of games and printables available on Jan Brett's website.

Here are a few more things you might want to check out:

I will be shipping all pre-orders of my Winter Kit on Friday, so be sure to get your order in by Thursday.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Jan Brett Links

Here are some links of activities you might enjoy based on Jan Brett's book The Mitten. My Winter Kit was mostly inspired by this book.

I hope you enjoy checking out these links. I will be back tomorrow with some more Jan Brett inspired ideas.

I will be shipping all pre-orders of my Winter Kit on Friday, so be sure to get your order in today if you are intersted. :)

Saturday, December 13, 2008

And the winner is....

The winner of my little conest is Phyllis from bergblog! Thanks to everyone who participated and shared about my Winter Kit and blog on their blog. I wish I could send everyone a goodie bag.

This coming week is going to be Jan Brett week on my blog, so be sure to check back for lots of links and fun things to do. I totally forgot to mention that what inspired most of the projects for my Winter Kit was the book The Mitten by Jan Brett. That's why I decided to focus on mammals and why we are sewing mittens. And the artwork in the book is very Pennsylvania Dutch inspired, so I wanted to include that in the kit too.

I will be shipping all pre-orders of my Winter Kit on Friday, so be sure to get your order in today if you are intersted. :)

Monday, December 8, 2008

Hearts and Trees Contest

In an effort to advertise my Winter 2008 Kit, I am hosting a little contest. To enter this contest you will just need to either use my button in your blog sidebar linking to my blog (the html code is in the scroll box below) or post about my kit or my blog with a link to my blog on your blog. You will then need to leave a comment on this post with a link to your blog.

I have a whole bag of handicraft and art goodies to send along to the winner.

The goodies include:

1 watercolor set
a stack of 1/2 sheets of watercolor paper
some plastic canvas and a plastic canvas needle
some tissue paper sheets
three sheets of felt (0range, yellow and pink)
and whatever else I can find to throw in. :)

You can copy the html code in the box below to paste into your sidebar. I am not too technical, but if you have any trouble, I may be able to help you out. Thanks!

The contest will end Friday (the 12th). I will pick a random winner on Saturday the 13th. Thanks to all who participate! And you can find out more about my winter kit here. They are going fast, so purchase yours soon!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival November 25, 2008

Welcome to the November 25th edition of the

Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival!

There are a lot of great entries to this edition of the carnival. I hope you take a few minutes to enjoy each entry.

General Charlotte Mason Homeschool

Tammy presents The Further We Go On Our Homeschool Journey ... posted at Adventures On Beck's Bounty. In this post she shares with us how much she admires and appreciates Charlotte Mason's approach to education and shares some of her favorite Miss Mason quotes.

Jamie in Rose Cottage presents A Happy Talent posted at Rose Cottage, saying this post is some of her thoughts on the importance of play.

Lisa in her post The Essential Difference between Public School and a Charlotte Mason education shares with us her observations about an important difference between a Chalotte Mason approach to education and public school, posted at Hopewell Takes On LIFE!.

Mama Squirrel shares with us her 2nd grader's exam response in her post, Exam response: Understood Betsy, posted at Dewey's Treehouse.

History

Jeanne Webb shares her family's Charlotte Mason approach to history in her post Our Book of Centuries on her blog A peaceful day.

Math

Shannon shares with us her experience both learning and teaching math in her post Why is math so difficult??? posted at Mountaineer Country.

Nature Study
Barb-Harmony Art Mom reminds us that nature study is not meant to be a drill in her post Nature Study is Not a Drill: How I Learn to Be Flexible posted at Handbook of Nature Study.

Amanda shares two free PDF calendars to download that she has designed to help with your nature study observations in her post Nature Study Observation Calendars posted at Hearts and Trees.

lindafay presents Autumn Nature Study 2008: Wonderful WEEDS posted at Higher Up and Further In. In this post she shares with us her family's approach to studying weeds this autumn.

Music, Art and Handicrafts
Barb-Harmony Art Mom shows us how she organizes her classical music CDs in her post Organizing My Classical Music With Colored Dots posted at Harmony Art Mom.

Cindy presents Embriodery Project posted at Our Journey Westward, saying "This was a super easy handicraft that turned out far better than I imagined. I'm hoping others might find it a good handicraft activity for the winter."

Resources & Reviews
Angi presents Q & A: Boxes & Writing posted at Peakmore Academy, saying, "Freewriting & copywork --easy, cheap, useful, and enjoyable!"

Makita presents Labyrinths & Mazes posted at Twinkling Stars Family School.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Nature Study Observation Calendars

Calendars: It's a great idea to have children keep a calendar to record when and where they saw the first oak leaf, the first tadpole, the first daily walks and nature hikes! A day won't go by when something isn't primrose, the first ripe blackberries. Then next year they can pull out the calendar and know when to anticipate seeing these things again, and they can note new discoveries. Imagine how this will add enthusiasm for seen to excite them.

From Charlotte Mason Volume One, page 54

I really like the idea of using a calendar to keep track of your nature observations for each month. It would be so much fun the next year to look back and see what you had observed each day and compare to the current year's observations. You could also include a small sketch on the calendar if you wish. It could also be motivating if you wanted to observe something in nature each day- as you would have a space to fill for each day. Even if you just recorded the weather or what you see out your window, that would be something for each day. I'd love to hear your ideas.

I have put together a free PDF calendars for this purpose. It is a completely blank calendar you can use for any month you wish.

Blank Nature Study Observations Calendar

I would love to see how you and your family use my calendars, so feel free to leave me links in the comments section or to email me. Enjoy.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Hearts and Trees Fall 2008 Kit

Introducing the

Hearts and Trees Fall 2008 Kit!

SOLD OUT!!! Thank you!!

Each kit includes the instructions and materials to complete easy and fun handicraft, art and nature study projects with a minimum of effort on your part. (Please note that you will need to provide common art supplies such as colored pencils, white school glue, a permanent black marker, etc.)

In this kit we have an embroidered leaf project. Using a leaf you find in your yard, your child will learn to make a basic back-stitch around the leaf shape. We were inspired by these embroidery projects. You can even use the provided embroidery hoop as a frame for your child's finished work!

Our art print for this kit is Cezanne's Still Life with a Curtain. There are also 2 notebooking pages to go along with this art print. One is about Paul Cezanne and the other is "What is a still life?"

Another handicraft project included in this kit is a simple macrame beaded bracelet. We have provided the red hemp, 6 black beads and easy to understand instructions to complete this fun project.

I have also designed a set of 6 Fall Poetry and Nature Journal Quotes Notebooking Pages. The first page includes 7 quotes and poems you can use throughout the notebooking pages or in your own nature journal. There are three variations of blank lined pages. You can use these pages to copy one of the poems or quotes from this page. For younger children you can lightly write in the poem or quote and have them trace over it. You can also use these notebooking pages to write facts about fall or about a fall nature walk.

Two of the blank lined pages have boxes where your child can draw a picture related to whatever he or she writes on the page. One blank lined page has a fall themed picture of an apple basket that can be colored in by your child. One page has 2 fall quotes and then lines underneath for your child to copy the quote. One page has the words FALL and HARVEST written along the side so you and your child can write your own acrostic poems. You are also welcome to copy these pages as needed for your personal use.

The materials and instructions are also provided for this vibrant tissue paper collage. Using Spectra Deluxe Bleeding Art Tissue and leaves you find in your own neighborhood, you will complete this collage.

Complete Contents List:

Cezanne art print: Still Life with Curtain
Paul Cezanne notebooking page
"What is a still life?" notebooking page with instructions to complete your own still life drawing
Materials to make an embroidered leaf project (embroidery hoop, leaf-colored embroidery thread and embroidery needle)
Instructions for embroidered leaf project
Materials to make a macrame beaded bracelet (hemp and 6 beads)
Materials for fall leaf tissue paper collage (4 colors of tissue paper and cardstock)
Instructions for fall leaf tissue paper collage
Set of Fall Poetry and Nature Journal Quotes notebooking pages (6 pages)

In all there are 7 notebooking pages, an art print with corresponding drawing project, 2 handicraft projects and 1 crafty art project included in this kit!

These kits were gathered with children ages 6-12 in mind. Parents may need to help their students, especially younger children, with some aspects of this kit.

To purchase a kit you will just need to make a PayPal payment to my account. You can do that using the "Pay Now" buttons in my sidebar. Just be sure to use the button for the right number of kits you would like to purchase.

The cost per kit is $11.95 plus shipping. Shipping for one kit will be $2.50 First Class. Shipping for two kits will be $3.50 First Class. Shipping for three kits will be $4.75 Priority. SOLD OUT!!! Thank you!!!

For information about purchasing more than three kits, please email me for shipping information. Shipping prices are for the US and Canada. (For information about shipping outside of the US and Canada, please email me.)

All kits will ship within the next two to three days after payment is received.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the PDFs I am currently selling (they are in my sidebar) and you wish to make a combined payment for multiple items, feel free to email me for a total.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at amandachristina@yahoo.com.

Some Fall Crafty Links

Here are some more fall crafty links you might enjoy checking out:

Apple Stamp Bag: Here you use an apple as a stamp to decorate a tote bag.

Apple Candlesticks: Apples aren't just for eating. Here you can use them to make interesting table decoration.

Cornhusk Dolls: I used to love to make these.

Yarn "Painting" Leaves: I love the look of these. A nice way to use colorful fall-colored yarn.

Indian Corn Napkin Rings: I love these. These would be perfect addition to your fall dinner table.

That's it for now. Be sure to check back soon. I have some posts lined up with some crafty ideas using gourds as well as some interesting ways to use leaves and some easy fall recipes you can mix up with your children. Hope you are all having a great week.

**If you haven't already purchased your Hearts and Trees Fall 2008 Kit, I am nearing the end of my supplies, so be sure to get yours soon!! I still have quite a few left, but once they are gone they're gone. :)

Friday, October 3, 2008

Fall Kits Shipped and Origami Leaf

So all the Hearts and Trees Fall 2008 kits that were pre-ordered were shipped yesterday. I am looking forward to seeing all the projects you and your children complete using my kit! I still have plenty more kits available, so if you haven't already purchased a kit you can still do so. If you purchase a kit now, your kit will ship one to three days after I receive your PayPal payment. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

I also wanted to share with you what looks like a really fun fall origami project: Maple Leaf Origami. I was thinking this would be fun to do if you used paper you had watercolored with fall leaf colors (reds, oranges, yellows, browns, etc.). You could also make a centerpiece, garland or wreath if you made a whole bunch of them.

It sure is starting to feel like fall here. Wherever you are and whatever the weather, I hope you have a nice weekend. I'll be back on Monday with some more fall themed art ideas.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Macrame Basic Knot Video Tutorial

Here is a video tutorial for the macrame basic knot that is used to make the macrame beaded bracelet in the Hearts and Trees Fall 2008 Ki t. (Thanks to my mom for making the video for us!)

I would love to see any bracelets you complete using this tutorial. Feel free to email me photos or leave links in the comments section. Thanks!

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Fall Picture Study With Warm Colors

Here is an easy picture study you can do focusing on the painting The Mulberry Tree by Van Gogh and discussing warm colors. First you can start with a discussion with your children about warm colors using the facts below. Encourage them to look for warm colors around them (there are lots of places we can find warm colors during the fall season). Then you can help them find the warm colors in the art print in the post. I have also included a few follow up activities that you can complete if you wish.

Here are some facts and questions about warm colors:

Warm colors usually remind us of fire or the sun.
What colors are fire and the sun?
Red, orange and yellow are warm colors.
Can you find any warm colors around your house?
Where do we see warm colors in nature?

What warm colors can we see in Van Gogh’s painting Mulberry Tree?

Some other questions you could ask about this painting:

What sort of brushstrokes did Van Gogh use?
Does this painting look like a real tree to you? Why or why not?
What time of year do you think it is in this painting?
Do you like this painting? Why or why not?
What would you do if you were in this painting?

Here are some activities you can do using your knowledge of warm colors:

Draw a fall picture using only warm colors on a separate sheet of paper.
Find all of the warm color crayons in your box.
Go on a warm color nature walk- look for warm colors wherever you go.

***If you are interested in adding more art, nature study and handicrafts to your homeschool, be sure to check out the Hearts and Trees Fall 2008 Kit- in all there are 7 notebooking pages, an art print with corresponding drawing project, 2 handicraft projects and 1 crafty art project included in this kit!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

A few fun art ideas

So every time I have come across a fun art project on the Internet the past few months I have bookmarked it. I am getting quite a collection, so today I thought I would share a few with you. The last two are perfect for the new season- autumn.

*Glue and Pastel Landscape: Using black construction paper, school glue and pastels (or she says you can use chalk) you make a sort of stained glass looking piece of art. I love working on black paper anyway with pastels, but this looks especially fun.

*Watercolor Crayon Resist Leaf: This is an interesting take on a crayon resist using corregated cardboard to make an interesting texture.

*Contour Fall Leaves: I love the energy of this project.

I hope you have fun with these projects. Feel free to leave any links to completed projects or links to your favorite art ideas in the comments section. Look for more art ideas here in the future!

Monday, September 1, 2008

Coming Soon.... Hearts and Trees Fall 2008 Kit

This is just to let you all know that I will be beginning a two week pre-ordering period for my Fall 2008 Kit on September 18, 2008. I am really excited about this kit. It is going to include a great embroidery handicraft, an exciting watercoloring with tissue paper craft, a Cezanne art print and many other ideas and projects to help you add more art, nature study and handicrafts to your homeschool.

Be sure to check back here often for updates, or SUBSCRIBE to my blog so that you will be sure to know as soon as I am accepting orders.

I still have a few summer kits available, so if you are interested in purchasing one (or two or three), you might want to do so now, because once I begin selling fall kits they will no longer be offered.

The Habit of Imagining

Imagination doesn't come down from above fully developed, and plant itself into a mature mind like a man moving into an empty house. Like any other function of the mind, it starts as the merest seed of a power. It grows according to what nourishment it gets. Childhood, the age of wonder and faith, is its window of opportunity to grow. Children should know the delight of living in faraway lands, of being someone else living in a different time, a wonderful double life.

Charlotte Mason in Modern English Page 153

How can we introduce our children to faraway lands and people from different times, to those ideas that can encourage the habit of imagining? One way to do this is through art. Art can help your history lessons come to life, and give children a starting place for their own imaginations.

For example, if you and your children are studying ancient Japan, you can encourage your children's imagination by first of all sharing descriptions of what it would have been like to live in and experience that time and culture. Then you could share artwork depicting what that time was like. Ask them to describe to you what they see. What is happening? What would they do if they were in the painting? Encourage them to put themselves in the painting-- in the time and place you are studying.

Use art to encourage the habit of imagining.

By encouraging the habit of imagining in your children, you will help them to learn and remember lessons. History can come to life if you encourage your children to put themselves in the places you are reading about in your history lessons and imagine what they would hear, smell, taste and feel if they were there. You can use art as a stepping stone to help your children begin to "see" what ancient cultures and peoples were like. If you let them explore these places in their mind, they are far more likely to remember the lessons you are attempting to share with them about those places and people.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Watercolor Techniques #7 Texture with Table Salt

Today's video watercolor technique is another interesting texture. This one is made with watercolors and salt. As you can see in the above photo, sprinkling table salt on wet watercolor makes a strange grainy texture. So get out your watercolors and try this with your children. I am sure you will all have a blast.

For tutorial #7 you will need:

Watercolor paper
Watercolors (tube or cake)
Assorted brushes
Cup of water
Table salt

(If you are reading this via a feed you will most likely need to click through to the post to watch the video.)

Feel free to share any projects you and your children complete using this watercolor technique. I love seeing what you all have done.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Watercolor Techniques #6 Texture with Rubbing Alcohol

Today's video watercolor technique is a very fun and interesting experiement with watercolor and rubbing alcohol. As you can see in the above photo, dripping rubbing alcohol on wet watercolor makes a strange bubble-like texture. I am sure you and your children will have lots of fun with this.

For tutorial #6 you will need:
Watercolor paper
Watercolors (tube or cake)
Assorted brushes
Cup of water
Rubbing alcohol
Cotton swab

(If you are reading this via a feed you will most likely need to click through to the post to watch the video.)

Feel free to share any projects you and your children complete using this watercolor technique. I love seeing what you all have done.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Watercolor Techniques #5 Loaded Brush Smooshes

Wow! I am sorry it has taken me so long to post the next watercolor tutorial. I have been seeing quite a few families that have been using my tutorials and I am loving the results. If you want to share your projects with us, feel free to leave links in the comments or email me a photo to put in my sidebar.

This video tutorial is for what I am calling "Loaded Brush Smooshes." This is a type of brush stroke that can be used for making flower petals and whatever else you can think of. (If you are reading this via a feed you will most likely need to click through to the post to watch the video.)

For tutorial #5 you will need:
Watercolor paper
Watercolors (tube or cake)
Assorted brushes (a medium sized one will work best)
Cup of water

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Hearts and Trees Summer Kit Order Now!!

(This post will stay on top.)

As of July 31, 2oo8 I still have quite a few kits left, but

be sure to purchase yours soon. Supplies are limited!

Introducing the Hearts and Trees Summer Kit

I am now accepting orders for the Hearts and Trees Summer Kit!

Each kit includes the instructions and materials to complete easy and fun handicraft, art and nature study projects with a minimum of effort. (Please note that you will need to provide common art supplies such as paper, stapler, watercolors, markers, colored pencils, etc.)

This kit includes a wonderful garden nature study lapbook. Included in the lapbook is a 12 page cardstock nature journal bound with comb binding, 3 sunflower seeds, a sunflower observations section to record what you see as your seeds grow, a place to put a pressed flower, a nature poem, a 3x5inch Monet art print and a section about the parts of a flower and plant.

A worksheet to accompany the Monet print as well as an art element worksheet focusing on overlapping and depth is also included.

The materials are provided to make an amazing watercolor collage for the front of your lapbook.

This kit includes a sewing project: a drawstring treasure pouch. The fabric, ribbon needle, thread, pins, and instructions are included. (Please note the fabric for the drawstring pouch will not be the butterfly fabric shown above, but will be either a blue bee or a blue bandanna print.)

All of the materials and instructions are provided to make a cardboard flower press and then a bookmark using your pressed flowers.

A laminated 3x5inch nature study card focusing on things found in the garden is also included in the Hearts and Trees summer kit.

Complete Contents List:

Colored file folder for the lapbook
Garden nature study lapbook pages
12 page cardstock nature journal with comb binding
3x5inch art print: Claude Monet The Artist's Garden at Vetheuil
Watercolor paper for watercolor collage on front of lapbook
Sunflower seeds for sunflower observations
Cardboard and rubber bands for flower press
Cardstock and contact paper for pressed flower bookmark
Fabric and ribbon for drawstring treasure bag
Notions for sewing the treasure bag (needle, thread, pins and safety pin)
Instructions for the drawstring treasure bag
Instructions the flower press and pressed flower bookmark

These kits were gathered with children ages 6-12 in mind. Parents may need to help their students, especially younger children, with some aspects of this kit.

The cost per kit is $11.95 plus shipping. Shipping for one kit will be $2.75 First Class. Shipping for two kits will be $5.00 Priority. Shipping for three kits will be $7.50 Priority. For information about purchasing more than three kits, please email me for shipping information. Shipping prices are for the US and Canada. (For information about shipping outside of the US and Canada, please email me.)

Please note that the price per kit has remained the same. The cost of shipping has increased partly because this kits weighs slightly more than past kits and because of the increase of USPS shipping prices.

Kits will ship within the next two to three days after payment is received.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the PDFs I am currently selling (they are in my sidebar) and you wish to make a combined payment for multiple items, feel free to email me for a total.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at amandachristina@yahoo.com.

Friday, July 25, 2008

A Summer Ice Cream Project

When I worked at an elementary school, the children *loved* this project. I guess anything that involves ice cream they would probably have loved. Making ice cream is surprisingly easy and this project makes it so much fun, because everyone is involved: Ice Cream in a Baggie. And for me at least, there aren't too many things better than homemade ice cream in the summertime.

You could add chocolate syrup or mini choclolate chips or crushed up oreos once your ice cream has thickened. The possibilities are really endless! Is this a project you think your kids would enjoy? Feel free to leave me a comment letting me know what you think.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Some Summer Book Suggestions

Here are some links to Amazon with some summer books you might want to check out. Enjoy!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Watercolor Color Triangle

I haven't had time to put together another watercolor tutorial to share with you all. I expect to have a new one up on July 28th, when I get back from my camping trip. Here is a little watercolor project I came across online that you can do in the meantime: Color Mixing Triangle.

This is a great experiment in color mixing and demonstrates some of the wonderful blending properties of watercolors. I hope you enjoy and would love to see any watercoloring you and your children may complete using these instructions. Feel free to leave me links in the comments section.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons- Summer

So, in keeping with my tradition of posting Vivaldi's movement from the Four Seasons for each season, here is Summer- my favorite season and movement from Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

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As you listen you might want to try this idea from my mom's blog: Coloring to Classical Music.

You also might want to brainstorm and record any images of summer that come to mind when you and your children listen to this song and write your own poems.

If you are interested in studying a little more about Vivaldi you can check out the Harmony Fine Arts Free Dowload (Vivaldi is on page 8 of the PDF). It has links to biographical information and online listening.

If you want to purchase a Vivaldi CD from Amazon, here are some to get you started: (We own the first one and highly recommend it.)

And if you haven't seen my summer themed art, handicraft and nature study kit, check it out here!

Monday, July 7, 2008

July 8, 2008 Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival

Welcome to the July 8, 2008 edition of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival. There are a lot of great entries included in this edition. Be sure to take a few moments to check them all out.

~Nature Study~

Nature Mama presents Nature Project ~ Seashell Music Makers posted at Nature Notes From Above - Homeschool Blogger, saying, "I have a fun nature project to share this month. My kids are always coming home with scads of shells so what better way to make good use of them than to make musical instruments! I've made a little tutorial out of it with lots of photos."

Lisa presents Nature Journaling with Photos posted at House of Many Blessings.

Jamie presents Nature Study: Pollen posted at Life & Love in the Rose Cottage, saying, "Another fun & relaxed summertime nature study right in our own yard."

Cindy West shares her post June's Creation Club from her blog On Our Journey Westward. In this post she shares with us her nature day in a place that at first might seem unusual.

Karen Flores presents The Accidental Nature Study at the Catskills, NY posted at By the word of their testimony - Homeschool Blogger. Here she talks about how she came across a birds nest and the "accidental" nature study that followed.

Amanda shares with us her Summer Nature Walk Worksheet PDF on her blog Hearts and Trees. Be sure to print this out for your next nature walk.

~Art, Music and Handicrafts~

MomToCherubs presents Making Butter With Fresh Cream posted at Adventures On Beck's Bounty. This looks like a really fun project which her children says makes the best butter they've ever had! She also shares with us her post Pickles !! about her family's Pickle Making Day.

Amy Lapain shares with us Hymns for a Kid's Heart outlining her current CM music efforts on her blog The Arts.

Jessica shares with us the results of her Watercolor Lesson #2 posted at Nest of Pleasant Thoughts.

~Writing~

Shez presents The Book Arts Bash - A Summer Writing Program posted at Homeschooled twins, saying, "Two Norfolk homeschool moms bring you the "Book Arts Bash: An exhibition of literary arts". You’ve heard of “Summer Reading Programs”? Now there is a “Summer Writing Program” for homeschooling families. Write your book, create your story, draw your comic, bust out your illustrations! Send us your work, and get your manuscript read by our judges: bestselling authors and industry professionals. Imagine having the opportunity to have your work critiqued by a New York agent or editor. Imagine having one of your favorite writers, or your kids' favorite authors, reading your work! Who knows -- will this be the start of a beautiful career?"

:: Suzanne :: shares with us her post writing & gardening from her blog :: adventures in daily living ::. In this post she compares writing to gardening and helps us to see how we can nurture little writers as we would a garden.

~General Charlotte Mason Education~

Leslie Romano presents With Seven Days a Week We Can Even Include Tea posted at Pockets of the Future Blog. This is a great post about how she discovered a hidden pocket of time on the weekends and how she is using that time to relieve some of the stress from other days of the week.

Tim's Mom presents Unconditional Parenting: The Child's Perspective (and CM) posted at Bona Vita Rusticanda Est, saying, "Drawing parallels between Alfie Kohn's and Charlotte Mason's perspective of the child using Kohn's book "Unconditional Parenting.""

Barb presents What is a Commonplace Book? Or Another Way to Narrate posted at Harmony Art Mom, saying, "If you read the article you will see how the commonplace book is just a form of narration which is encouraged in a CM education."

Elizabeth Foss presents Charlotte Mason Summer Study: Education is a Life posted at Real Learning: Education in the Heart of My Home.

Art Middlekauff a homeschooling dad writes his scriptural views about a Charlotte Mason education in his post For Whose Sake? posted at Le jardin féerique.

Swylv presents The Daily Three for Children posted at Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life., saying, "just my musings while re-reading A Charlotte Mason Companion"

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: the charlotte mason blog carnival, blog carnival.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Outdoor Hour CafePress Store

~Outdoor Hour Tote Bag~

I just put together a small CafePress Store using the graphic logo I designed for my Mom's weekly nature study challenges she hosts over on her blog The Handbook of Nature Study. Our favorite item is the Outdoor Hour Tote Bag. It is a great size and very sturdily made. The graphic looks very cute and would be perfect to take along on your next nature study adventure.

~Outdoor Hour Magnet~

We wanted to check for quality before we advertised these items on our blogs. I purchased the tote bag, a magnet and the nature journal. The magnet is totally great. It would be perfect to hang on your refrigerator as a little reminder to participate in her nature challenges each week. We even designed it with the web address of my mom's blog!

~Outdoor Hour Unlined Nature Journal~

The Outdoor Hour Unlined Nature Journal would be a perfect to record all of you nature journal entries as you complete each challenge. The paper inside this journal is a nice weight and it is the perfect size to carry in your backpack. The only thing is the back cover is made of flexible plastic, which will surely withstand some wear and tear, but it does not make for a sturdy surface if you are not working at a table or on a clipboard or something. You can also purchase an Outdoor Hour Sticker and stick it on your own nature journal or binder.

I would love to hear what you have to say about these items, so be sure to leave me a comment. :)

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Watercolor Tecniques #4 Wet-on-Wet

This week's watercolor technique explores one of the wonderful properties of watercolors: the ability to run together and blend on a wet page. Make a color wet-on-wet rainbow as you and your little ones discover how stripes of color can blend on a wet paper.

For tutorial #3 you will need:

Watercolor paper
Watercolors (tube or cake)
Assorted brushes (a large sized one will work best)
Cup of water
Paper towel or sponge

Since my last video tutorial was such a hit, I made another one for this week's technique. Enjoy!

Feel free to leave me comments or links to any projects you complete using this tutorial. You can find the other watercolor technique posts listed in my sidebar.