Do you have an Easter Tradition? What is it? We don't tell stories about any bunnies, but we do go for an egg hunt on Easter Sunday (and because my husband is Catholic - we go to Church). I'm trying to start a more 'Autumn' feel to Easter, as it bugs me that we just inherit the Northern Hemisphere traditions all the time down here in the Southern Hemisphere. The shops are full of chocolate eggs, bunnies and fluffy chicks. None of these images of new life/new beginnings can be seen outside in March/April. I want my children to be more in tune with nature and it's revolving seasons, so I'm trying to find ways to match the event taking place in shops and society around them to what's happening outside. Here is what we tried for a more Autumn feeling Easter: We made a paper mache / paper clay bowl/vessel, using a pumpkin (in season now) as the mold. See pics below for the method. I laid some Autumn leaves between the pumpkin and paper. Then let dry for a couple of days in a warm dry place. This can be used as your Easter egg basket or - as we did - a vessel for harvesting the seeds from our garden to store for next Spring. As the bowl/basket is made with paper and flour (as the glue) it will be biodegradable. We could then put some spring bulbs in the basket with a little earth and bury them in the garden (mark the spot!) or in a pot so you can enjoy a spring flower or two after winter.
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To be honest, I’ve never really much liked ‘painting’. I sorta got into it in my last year of high school, and then failed (don’t get me started on the judging criteria, hoops to jump through, like most tests in school). I’ve always liked the control and precision of drawing (and printmaking) and painting just didn’t fill my cup. I finally accepted that part of myself and decided it best to stay away. Then this year I’ve discovered this whole other realm of Expressive Arts. I’ve been delving into that area a bit lately. OK, I admit it’s been more dipping my toes, because it’s scary new territory for me. I have to let go. Let go of it looking ‘nice’, let go of knowing what it is I am aiming for, and, well that’s it..there’s no aim, only exploration. (Which is actually quite freeing.) So I’ve done a couple of plays and it’s been interesting watching/feeling the resistance in me bubbling away as I don't know how this is going to look. Here’s the start of one. I watched a few of Flora Bowley’s Painting session examples to help me get going (find them here), and activated the canvas (aka bit of a cardboard box) with the word ‘play’. Then I left it for quite some time, not quite sure of myself or this process yet. Then when I came back to it when I felt a little more at ease and tried to ‘stay local’ which is great advice of Flora’s to really just focus on the one area in front of you, to not hit overwhelm with looking at the whole canvas. That layer of paint was a bit of an eye opener. I wasn’t expecting to see what emerged, or rather, I hadn’t consciously chosen to create these images. There were pregnant belly shapes, and a swaddled baby shape. (Last year I spent 3 months in hospital getting our baby safely to earth side, it was a rough year for us all. There’s some multi layered grief and trauma to unravel from that time.) I guess in a way you see/find what's wanting to be acknowledged and processed. I left this piece in our spare room for some time not really knowing what to do next with it. I wouldn’t hang this piece, but it was a record of a conversation I had had with myself. Today I went back to it. I’d been feeling a bit heavy hearted, unwell and sluggish. We'd just gone through another turning point of moving forwards and away from last years ordeals, and I think I was feeling it. As a highly sensitive person we can feel emotional upheaval as physical un-wellness. So I went back to the painting and just let my fingers pick the paint, and I worked quickly to not engage in doubts and let go (it’s getting easier). What began to emerge were many moons and galaxy symbols, with a cosmos kinda vibe. Tears flowed and I let go of another layer of held in tension. Recently I had a session with an EFT counselor and we spent a little time pondering the idea of the spirit/soul and when it comes into being. We were discussing this idea, because it’s clear my lil boy had to fight hard to be here. I don’t know what I believe on this subject, but it was good to discuss this. It’s obvious some of this pondering stuck with me. The painting was expressing my mulling over of this idea of souls and the (much) bigger picture of life. As for the moons? Well I am doing a lot of work around the menstrual cycle at the moment, and that cycle matches the moon's cycle. It probably makes for a more picturesque painting than blood hey...haha!
So that’s where I am at with intuitive painting. Gaining confidence, seeing that it’s really a way to journal with colour and hook into the deeper layers without having to find the words for it all. I'm not sure if I am coming back to this painting again, or I've said all I need to say on that one for now. If you want to have a play...it’s a wee leap of faith, but just remember it need only be for your eyes and it can never be ‘wrong’. Here's some thoughts of mine to pass on: Tips to get started: * Just think in colours, brush strokes, mark making and shapes. Images will form when and if they want, and if they don't, it’s just enjoy playing with colour, don’t have expectations, just play. * Use a piece of cardboard from an old box to take the pressure off having to make something ‘nice’ on a ‘nice’ canvas. * Have a selection of paints open and waiting for you to grab whatever takes your fancy. * Consider finger painting, or using hard bits of cardboard to take the pressure off precise brush strokes. * Remember you will layer this up, so the first few colours and patches don’t matter too much, just get started. Write a word to set the intention (like ‘play’ or ‘let go’ etc), do big bold brush strokes, even close your eyes for a bit. (Flora has a video to check out on ways to activate the canvas see here). * Work quickly, notice the doubts that creep in and let them go. * Turn the canvas. You will see new shapes emerge this way. * Just play! Let me know if you have a play! Love to hear how you find it. xxx
I think I've finally got my aha moment! The 'what' behind Creative Calm Mumma, I always knew the 'why', but the 'what' was taking it's time to really feel authentic. I started Creative Calm Mumma because I needed to come back to me, and my core after becoming a mother. I had a strong urge to create again, and I hadn't really dabbled in my creative outlets for a long time. I think there are two new births that come with a babies entry to the world, that of the child, and that of the mother. When the initiation of 'motherhood' calmed (slightly) into toddler hood, and I somewhat emerged from the totally engulfing baby haze, I took a years course on art and creativity. It somewhat quenched my thirst of needing to return to visual art making, but my perfectionist nature meant I struggled with creating great 'new' ideas, and perfect pieces of art. So I stalled a lot and fell behind a lot. I finally woke to this perfectionist struggle far too late (even though I had recognised its existence from day one, with the first page of my art journal (See image below)). I knew the beast but still didn't know how to tame it. With my second to last send in of work for the year I FINALLY cottoned on to the fact I was supposed to be showing all the ways I was EXPLORING the mediums not finished pieces to hang on art gallery walls. I did not play nearly enough...I was sad that in some ways I had felt more pressure than pleasure with my art. I wanted to start again. My lil sideline project of Creative Calm Mumma sadly became a little of the same pressure for me. I knew I wanted to help inspire other mummas to use creativity as self care, and to get back a little of their own identity and not be just 'mum'. I knew I felt GOOD when I did create...but I was still missing the mark, because I hadn't gone far enough on my own journey to share that with others yet. I was trying to show something that I hadn't quite grasped. (i.e. wasting time making videos on how to make multi coloured tissue paper. Fun. But soooo time wasting editing bloomin video's, there's a million pinterest tutorials on that already!!) And then. Then calamity hit when I became pregnant with our second child. To cut a long story shot I had to spend 100days in hospital to get this baby safely earth side, and it was very touch and go when he did arrive. 2016 was, for our family, a big black sink hole (but we have such a darling now). These sort of experiences provide yet another sort of re-birth. You experience the world in a new, deeper way. Finally the 'what' of CCM and how I wanted to explore creativity became exceptionally clear in a short space of time.I found a pin on Pinterest advertising Expressive Art workshops and my heart sang out as I explored the website, I signed up for the newsletter and then joined an online group of Expressive Art facilitators and realised this.was.me. The art here was all about expressing what cannot be expressed with words, about putting paint on paper without a pre-planned result, intuitive painting, meditating through paint, pencil, paper, clay. I had never given myself permission to JUST play, to explore like this, and to not have to make something 'pretty'. So I am joyfully stepping into new territory and letting go of the perfectionism.
Now I am stepping into blind contour drawing again and experiencing the release from creating a 'good' picture, to really getting into the zen state of doodling, of playing with line and colour, of looking so closely at the world around me, and the beauty and reflective it holds. Art and mark making begins to hold purpose through it's process, not the end result. I invite you to come and make some beautiful messes with me. xxx Have a look at my 'play' with creativity (and self care) here. (Part 2 coming soon - where I start an art journal for the first time, in its truest sense of the words!) P.p.s I am also becoming much more aware and in tune with my monthly cycle and how affects my creativity and calmness (or non calmness!!) so you will see a bit of that now too. ;) Life changing stuff to explore. Blow bubbles with your children. This gives you time to practice deep slow breaths, while sitting still, and (bonus) the bubbles are pretty to watch! Hopefully you get to have a cuppa while the the children watch or chase them. (Let’s be honest as soon as they walk they wanna chase them!) Try to pause between the blowing and watch, watch, watch until the last bubble is gone before blowing the next round. Encourage your children to do the same. Blowing bubbles without bubbles, for calm. Sometimes emotions run high and you all need to breath and refocus and gain a little calm. This is when you can pull out an imaginary bottle of bubbles from your pocket to blow. Make it into a fun game and ask them; 'Are you unscrewing the lid? Careful! Make sure the mixture doesn’t spill! Now hold it up, and deep breath iiiinnn...and slow as you can blow all the bubbles out for as long as you can...’ This can help short circuit a melt down or redirect cray cray behaviour. I use this and the below excercise when teaching drama for breath control, but as we well know, control your breath and you can begin to control your emotions :). I've tried it a couple of times with my 3 year old when he is about to hit a melt down and it has worked well! Blowing an Imaginary Balloon
(I put mascara on just for you guys ;) ) Oh lordy lordy. My last blog post was back in March. That's about when ze sheet hit zee fan. I was 19 weeks pregnant with bubba no.2 and I went for my first scan. Then I got a call we had to go see the specialist...from there it was weekly scans to keep an eye on his growth. Then at 27 weeks I was admitted to hospital. I was 5 and a half hours from home. I spent 7 weeks living on a ward with daily monitoring on baby and me. Bubs came at 33 weeks via emergency C section, and then we faced another 7 weeks NICU. It’s quite a different world, quite a different way of living. Everyone thought I’d be bored out of my brain. But boredom doesn’t really feature...it just feels like pure survival and the time between monitorings easily slips away. But it's hard times like these you realise what really matters in life and so here are my 5 life lessons from my time on the inside! 1.The most important thing in life is not objects nor jobs, nor money. It is the people. It is relationships. He aha te mea nui o te ao What is the most important thing in the world? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata It is the people, it is the people, it is the people Maori proverb It is the ones that you love and need to be near. It’s the kind hearted people you meet along the way. It is missing a part of your son’s growing up when you are away from home for so long. It is women I barely know stepping up to help me. Bringing me wholesome food, tying my hair up as I can’t bend my arm with an IV line in. It is holding hands with women in the middle of the night when babies threaten to come into the world too early. It is the tears and laughter of shared journey’s. It is relationships straining at the seams as both partners struggle to keep themselves afloat let alone another in high times of pain and stress, it is making those steps forward and towards each other again, and holding each other. Nurture your relationships. They really are the most important thing. 2. You really don't need much stuff. So, so much stuff that I don't need RIGHT now. I lived out of a suitcase for three months. I didn't need that much. When I came home I realised just HOW much stuff and fluff and crap was in my house, and erm, I think about 80% of it is mine. All these craft projects that I’ll do ‘one day’. I am creative I wanna try it all...but what ends up happening is I do none because there’s too much stuff in the way to start and focus on one. I have a whole laundry basket of sewing material waiting for the magic day I decide I love sewing...I do not love sewing. As I slowly purge my house, I find more time to actually get out my paints (they aren’t going anywhere, nor are my pencils and printmaking stuff...I love them). Less stuff = more time and a calmer mind (and a calmer mummy). Less stuff = more calm and more creativity. 3. You really do have to be in the right head space/environment to create. This was a surprise. You read all the time about just getting up and doing the thing you love even if you don’t feel like it at the time. Well I had weeks to pump out a million mandala's but I did one and that was it. When I looked at the notebook and pens I was reminded of where I was, and what I was doing and how I didn't want to be there. You sort of hit survival mode. Another friend who has gone through the same ordeal did the same...had weeks to knit a babies blanket but it just didn’t happen. A certain part of my brain needs to be engaged in order to create something, and in a stark hospital environment there was little around to engage it. Very little colour, no fresh air, sharing a room with 3 others, constant interruptions...it does not lend itself to creativity. You need fresh sights and new experiences to nurture creativity, and a nice space to create in! 4. Outdoors is amazing! It’s seriously under appreciated. Hubby and I went for a walk in a lovely little garden near the end of my hospital stay. I found an amazingly large seed pod and showed it to my husband with such enthusiasm that he laughed and said ‘You need to get out more’. I agreed. It was a gift to see the natural world through fresh eyes again. We speed by it all and ignore the amazing growth and life all around us. I’m trying to not let this wonderment fade again too much. On my little walks on hospital grounds towards the end of our stay, I honestly walked around with a silly grin on my face at how amazing and beautiful flowers and plants were. Get outside more. Take the time to really see nature. (Children can help you do that, they are still filled with wonderment and curiosity of all that is around them.) 5. Money: It's just numbers. Another unexpected learning curve. We have got backwards significantly with a hospitilsation 5 hours from home, and me stopping work early. But with a little life at the center of all this, and being incredibly lucky to have him and have him so well, nothing else much matters. Money comes and goes. It waxes and wans. I used to be quite hung up on money and debt and making it to each payday. Now, it’ll be what it’ll be. It won’t be forever. Nothing is more important than having a gorgeous wee soul join our family. This is the path that had to happen to make sure he got here safe. And so once again…
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata... xXx p.s so much thanks to all those wonderful souls who supported us this year...(and a special mention to my Husbands Aunt who was with me for 'false alarms' and then for the real deal. Not an easy way to get to know someone better!) Better At Mornings for March
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Then I painted another piece of paper with 2 different tones of gold, mixed together on the paper. This just adds more tonal interest. 2 tones of yellow will also work. I luckily had a star stamp I could use, but I did chose to take the scissors to half of them to create a few different shapes. Kids can of course create their own star shapes (let's not get too geometric on them either...stars are actually just big balls of light after all!). You could make them all in one go, or one a day, or a few a day. Then there's the optional silhouette of Mary and Joseph...I left the crib empty until Christmas morn (and technically Mary and Joseph haven't made it to the stable yet...but that was getting a bit too tricky!) |
Once dry I chose to round off the edges of the 'sky' That's just personal preference! It's a simple but effective idea and I think anything that builds up the excitement to Christmas is going to be enjoyed by little ones... Will you give it a go? I'd love to see any made by children. I'm afraid I didn't hand the paintbrush or scissors to my two year old this time round. Maybe next year. But I know he's going to enjoy pulling a star out and putting it up in the 'sky'. :) |
It’s 3pm. The house is in chaos, you’ve been busy all day and somehow achieved nothing.
Or you’ve already had a nap with your little one and its only 12.15pm. What on earth will fill the rest of the day? What chores should you do? Or what activities should you be doing with your lil one?
Or you’ve already had a nap with your little one and its only 12.15pm. What on earth will fill the rest of the day? What chores should you do? Or what activities should you be doing with your lil one?
It’s a strange, strange world this stay at home mummy thing. I’m only coming to grips with it all after 2 years. Up until now I have put so much pressure on myself to spend the time wisely, and to get it ‘all’ done. There was this constant pull of ‘what I should be doing instead’. When I played with my boy, I felt I should tackle the dishes. When I tackled the dishes I felt bad I wasn’t having a tea party with my boy.
It’s the pull in many different directions that is the unravelling of me at times. I want to achieve it all and I just didn't know where to start. I felt like I was going in circles, achieving nothing and slipping into overwhelm.
In the quest to cover all areas and achieve some sort of serenity and calm, I have tried many weekly plans, daily plans and schedules (I’m talking housework schedules– NOT children). Not much of it has worked or lasted more than a week or two for me. I think the only thing I consistently remember to do is ‘towels on Thursday’ because they both start with ‘T’.
And then if I create a daily/weekly plan I tend to self-sabotage it. It seems I do not like to be told what to do – even if it’s by myself! For example, yesterday (Monday) really should be food prep day – start of the week etc. I gave up after an hour, had a nap with boy and went outside and I finally did the garden job I’ve been putting off /not feeling like for a couple of weeks. The kitchen was a monumental deserted mess. And I realise now I don’t care. I came back to it in my own sweet time. |
Recently I have begun reading up on Waldorf ways and methods for little ones days and learning. There’s a lot written about rhythms and IN BREATHS and OUT BREATHS for children. Making sure there is a balance between focus and freedom each day. I am a fan of rhythms and routines for children, because I know children take comfort and feel safe knowing what’s coming. So the 'in breath' and 'out breath' was a nice addition to this, and it helped me get a better balance of time spent with child vs time spent doing something by myself while he played by himself (and not feel guilty about it!).
I began to think of how this could relate to what I needed to achieve through the day.
Could I bring balance (and less stress) to my day, my lists, and my needs by using this philosophy?
So I began to use the basic rhythm structure for our mornings and then listened to what breath I needed in any moment – and of course what is going to work with Mr toddler. (There’s no point trying to take an in breath if he also needs one (because for him that requires my complete attention.)) We have a morning routine of sorts: Stories and snuggles, stretches/yoga (for me), breakfast, a couple of quick chores then outside time before snack and nap/or lunch (depending on what’s needed). So now I simply listen to what sort of breath I feel I need, or Mr Toddler needs, or what we both need. This might mean more stories and snuggles after breakfast or just stepping outside with Mr Toddler for some big wake up breathing instead of yoga stretches (because being bounced upon by a tot is not really so relaxing).
(Yup. The above image is TOTALLY me and TOTALLY how I look in the mornings!)
These 'breaths' have become like sub-groups within our daily routine. They have provided us both with an outline of the day, but enough flexibility to not feel restricted and entrapped by it. Within one part of our routine, I can choose to breath in or out. If it's outside time I can choose to garden (in breath) or sit and create a nature mandala (out breath), while still keeping the rhythm flowing.
It’s working well so far…and no it still doesn’t ALL get done, but I don’t stress about it anymore, because there will always be another breath to take.
Here are some examples of my in and out breath activities: (note - these do not always correspond to the toddlers in and out breath activities)
It’s working well so far…and no it still doesn’t ALL get done, but I don’t stress about it anymore, because there will always be another breath to take.
Here are some examples of my in and out breath activities: (note - these do not always correspond to the toddlers in and out breath activities)
In Breath (concentrating) Computer work/emails etc Housework (unless you somehow find that zen...???) Shopping Cooking (some people find this relaxing. I don't) Out Breaths (freedom, calming) Sitting down and playing with my boy (This is actually his 'in breath') Enjoying a cuppa (and chocolate if I'm lucky!) Sitting in the sunshine or walking outside Small sewing jobs Mandala making Doodling |
If you want to read a description of the Waldorf rhythms and breaths for children you can find one here:
http://sydneysteiner.com/tag/waldorf-rhythm/
p.s come join the Creative and Calm Mumma's facebook group to chat about how you find calm...and how we can get creating for calm.
p.p.s Like the idea of doodling to take an out breath? Sign up below to get a free 8 -day doodling journey to get you started :)
http://sydneysteiner.com/tag/waldorf-rhythm/
p.s come join the Creative and Calm Mumma's facebook group to chat about how you find calm...and how we can get creating for calm.
p.p.s Like the idea of doodling to take an out breath? Sign up below to get a free 8 -day doodling journey to get you started :)
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There’s nothing scarier than a blank canvas….and an empty paintbrush.
I’m a leeeelte bit afraid of painting. I’d like to call myself an artist but I failed ‘painting’ in high school, and that has stuck with me. (It was more due to the fact that I didn’t follow the panel layout ‘criteria’ than the lack of skill set.) Also I like to draw, and so when I pick up a paintbrush I tend to ‘draw’ with my brush – fine lines and controlled colour application. I yearn to be able to create colourful pieces filled with freedom to put on my walls.
So I have been pushing my comfort zones and trying different ways to get colour onto canvas and just enjoy the process of MAKING without the fear of failure (did I mention I am a perfectionist?).
I have tried to free up my hand and let go of so much control by making ‘monoprints’. I love, love LOVE printmaking. Because you never know exactly what the end result will be and I think this helps the perfectionist in me (‘hey – I couldn’t help that particular result – It wasn’t me! It was the printing method!’).
So I have been pushing my comfort zones and trying different ways to get colour onto canvas and just enjoy the process of MAKING without the fear of failure (did I mention I am a perfectionist?).
I have tried to free up my hand and let go of so much control by making ‘monoprints’. I love, love LOVE printmaking. Because you never know exactly what the end result will be and I think this helps the perfectionist in me (‘hey – I couldn’t help that particular result – It wasn’t me! It was the printing method!’).
Here’s what I did to create a monoprint ‘abstract’ painting:
(Hover your mouse to read the captions)
(Hover your mouse to read the captions)
I plan to overlay some of these with other pieces of printed paper (think collage – again pushing my comfort zone) and to allow myself to get hold of a pen (and control –lol) again and doodle all over the top.
Here are some other mono abstract 'paintings' I have created to give you an idea:
Here are some other mono abstract 'paintings' I have created to give you an idea:
Can you do this with kids? – absoluuutely! Finger painting anyone? So much fun (and yeah messy, sorry)! Kids love the ‘what’s it going to look like’ anticipation that printmaking brings.
So there ya go! Give it a go - don't expect a masterpiece but just enjoy the process, and give up the need for perfection and play!
I would love to see some of your abstract monoprints - please do come join the Creative and Calm Mumma's facebook group and share!
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