Nature Corner

This little book is a real must-have if you're setting up a Waldorf environment in your home. Tons of ideas for Nature tables in each season of the year, wonderful full-color pictures, and patterns and directions to make your own creations. The book covers basic techniques including how to make a Waldorf doll head, and is divided into 11 Nature table scenes for all times in the year. The Table of Contents is set up as follows: Introduction Basic Techniques Early Spring Spring Easter Ascension and Whitsun St. John's Tide Summer Autumn Halloween and Martinmas Advent Christmas Winter I especially love the Winter tableau with King Winter and Mrs. Thaw. All parts of this book are inspirational and, even if I haven't been able to follow all the patterns, it's because of my meager knitting and crochet skills -- not the fault of the author! If you're a crafty person you'll find this book easier to use than a complete novice would. But the photography of the seasonal table alone is enough to justify buying this book! Although the Nature table is discussed in Earthways and All Year Round, this book goes much farther and I turn to it often. A necessary addition to your Waldorf library.

What a wonderful little book! It's packed with seasonal table ideas and instructions for making the dolls, animals and other craft suggestions. The color photographs are inspiring. After buying this book, I immediately set out to make Mother Earth and the Earth Babies. My daughter is now a preteen, but she still enjoys having these special touches in our home. She rarely adds to the scenes anymore, but having a bit of nature around the house is comforting. During this time of growth and change, she outwardly denies her interest in such "babyish" traditions, but if I try to alter our traditions, she voices her disappointment. I think long after she's moved on, I'll continue to set up a seasonal table -- just for me! For anyone interested in starting a Seasonal Table or if you want new ideas, consider adding this gem to your craft library.

This book is excellent for the parent or teacher looking for a way to use simple materials and objects found in nature to create little scenes celebrating the seasonal changes and holidays. Beautifully illustrated with very clear instructions and complete patterns, this book encourages a return to genuine imaginative creativity and an awareness of natural beauty.