Cleaning a Waldorf Cloth Doll

I have had the honor of making my children's first dolls. Far from perfect but still well loved. In fact loved till they were dirty. After so much work going into them I was afraid of cleaning them. I had done spot cleaning, which led to a different type of stain. I searched and searched for what to do, but found nothing. So I took a chance and bathed them in a sink of water...I know very scary. But the results were excellent and I wanted to share.

Sammy and Alaska

Doll Bath
1. Fill Kitchen Sink about two inches deep with warm water (about the temperature you would bathe a baby in)
2. Add two Tablespoons of Prell Shampoo and swish water till bubbly.
3. Dip the dolls body parts in the water till very wet including face. (The dolls limbs felt heavy with water)
4. Gently squeeze doll over the sink (soapy bubbles will come out) dip again if needed. I also rubbed the very dirty hands but tried to maintain the dolls shape as I did so.
5. Wrapped the doll in a towel and continue to squeeze and rub gently on extra dirty spots. This is a good time to hand them over to there Mamas and Papas for some extra squeezing.
6. Lay them out in full sun all day long turning them half way through.

My dolls kept there shape and felt soft...there skin looked brand new. The wool inside didn't felt and kept its shape.

How To Stash All The Decorations

Well its time to make the seasonal change once again in the school room...we are saying goodbye for now to the winter tissue paper scene, wax paper folded stars and all the cut snowflakes.  But they all are in great condition and we can get a few more years out of them.
I have tried several ways to store them but nothing works as well as laying them between my mattresses.  Its dark so they don't fade, its flat and the weight of the mattress presses them out looking nice and crisp for next year.  I also keep all my poster board there as well.

As for my mobiles they get hung on a hanger, with a trash bag tied over them and put in the front coat closet where no one go's.  

The rest of the gnomes, fairy's and such get put in plastic bags (I use old bread bags and such) then into a bin in the bottom of the coat closet.  This keeps everything near by and handy and out of a damp basement.

Buzzy Bumble bee Tutorial

These little guys are fun and easy to make...perfect if you have a limb in your Waldorf or natural Home school room. Or just because you like fuzzy little bees.

Materials:

Stripy Pipe Cleaners

Wax Paper

String to Hang them by

Scissors

Cut the pipe cleaners about 1.5 inches long.

Cut a piece of wax paper about 1 inch wide and 1.5 inches long.

Fold the wax paper accordion style and trim ends in a curve.

Fold the pipe cleaner in half with the wax paper at the bend.

Fold pipe cleaner in half.

Fluff up wings.

Add a string to hand it with.

Walla!

It took maybe 20 minutes to make these...that's with looking out the window at the bird feeder. And sipping my ice tea. And taking photos.

Just buzzing around

I know you really can't see my bees in this photo...I wish the lighting were better. But its been overcast here forever and I just had to take the photos. The little black dots are bees, with a few cloud babies and fairy's hanging about.

Process Gnome Patterns

I had been looking for a pattern for some Process Gnome Bean Bag Patterns and couldn't find any so I made my own up and am sharing them here.

PROCESS GNOME PATTERN

1. I made a pattern that I liked the round squiggly circle is the beard (I thought of that after I sewed the face on)

2. I cut out two body's for each color and one face and one beard.

3. I sewed the face on each using a blanket stitch.

4. I then did french knots for the eyes and a pink V for the mouth. Then I sewed the beard on.
5. I sew the Process symbol on the belly (put the wrong process on the wrong color, UGH!) But it still works.
6. I sewed around the edge using a blanket stitch leaving one leg open to stuff with beans, then sewed it shut.

 

If you make some please send me your photo to link and post.

How To Make Your Own Bubbles

The kids and I made our own bubble solution out of Dawn dish soap, corn syrup and water. As you can see from the photo, we made allot. We also mad our own blowing devices out of cups, straws and really anything that had a hole in it from the kitchen.


Bubble Recipe
2 Cups Dawn (regular no ultra)
3/4 Cup Corn Syrup
6 Cups of water

Let this sit overnight and you are ready for a bubble extravaganza the next day. And its a great photo opportunity as well.