Handwork Through the Year

The Waldorf Connection Teleseminar

June 24, 2010Jennifer Tan, MA

Thank you all for listening. Join me on our adventure through planning handwork in your home!

“Children who learn while they are young to make practical things by hand in an artistic way, and for the benefit of others as well as for themselves, will not be strangers to life or to other people when they are older. They will be able to form their lives and their relationships in social and artistic ways, so that their lives are thereby enriched. Out of their ranks can come technicians and artists who will know how to solve the problems and tasks set us by life.”

–Rudolph Steiner, Handwork Indications

Welcome!

Holidays and Celebrations

Tie-in with curricula and blocks

Look at yearly Waldorf chart

Purchase Supplies

Schedule weekly handwork time

Create a Calendar!

www.youtube.com

www.ravelry.com

Online tutorials and blogs

Classes at yarn shops, parks/rec, colleges

Amazon Book Shop http://astore.amazon.com/syrendell-20

www.flickr.com

Living Crafts magazine

Curriculum, such as Earthschooling

Find Ideas, Patterns and Inspiration!

Handwork in the Dell eBook www.syrendellacademy.com www.syrendell.etsy.com

•verses, songs, stories•spin, knit, crochet, weave

•knitted & crocheted gnomes (simple)•how to set up the handwork room

•articles about handwork in Waldorf education•chart featuring year-by-year types of projects and handwork

Dyeing Fun with Children eBook

www.syrendellacademy.com www.syrendell.etsy.com

A wealth of information on dyeing with natural ingredients, powdered drinks mixes, gelatin

desserts and more! Wonderful resources for families who want to get started with dyeing

yarns, silks, eggs, fabrics at home. Written by master dyer Bjo Trimble of Griffin Dyeworks and

published by Syrendell.

Weaving on a Loom: table runner

Natural Dyeing: silks, yarns, fabric

Felting: ornaments, animals, balls, clothing

Woodworking: sandbox, playhouse, play stands, sailboats

Sewing: curtains, quilting, embroider towels

Knitting/Crocheting: blanket, pillows, washcloths

Glass: stained glass ornaments, pebble bowls

Make Family Projects!

•Learn at least one new craft each year

•Read books, patterns, blogs •Create songs, verses, stories

•Do, do, do!

•Model and work alongside    

Learn Handwork Yourself!

• Sewn puppets for plays• Glass fused into magnets or jewelry• Felted Advent wreath, Menorah or Kwanzaa candleholder • Handspun/dyed yarn, crocheted or knitted into scarves• Whittled, carved, sanded candleholders, animals, frames• Finger crocheted bookmarkers, spiral paths, birthday rings• Ukrainian or natural egg dyeing• Window stars for holidays, seasons, birthdays• Soaps, oils, lotions, aromatherapy products for home and gifts• Felted balls for games, math, garland• Polished stones for rock classifying and jewelry• Woven placemats for special dinners and holidays• Origami animals for storytelling• Woven baskets with reeds, pine needles, cane• Metal forging, copper chasing, soldering stained glass• Leather (sewn, stamped) belts, shoes, bracelets• Ceramic bowls built by hand or on the wheel

Start Making a List Now!

• Learn and love the handwork before teaching it to children!• Take classes, look at YouTube, take private lessons.• Look at Waldorf recommendations for type of handwork per grade level, and relate to

blocks and child’s interests. • Schedule handwork time each week. Remember that some projects will take much

longer than you plan for!• Work on “Family Projects” together regularly.• Start holiday and gift projects early!• Get involved in swaps and exchanges to get ideas from other crafty parents.• Have a room or area set up with materials that are easy-to-reach and use. When a

project is in sight, it will get worked on!• Sing, say verses, share stories, play games, or play music in the background while

doing handwork.• Come follow my blog, get one of my eBooks, come take a workshop, and email me,

any time!

Conclusion

Questions?

All teaching must take an artistic form. --Rudolph Steiner

www.syrendell.blogspot.com

www.syrendellacademy.com

info@syrendell.com

Ravelry: gyi

Facebook: Syrendell

Amazon: astore.amazon.com/syrendell-20