Thanks for all of your healing thoughts yesterday. I'm truly fine and so is my finger. Having a day to just play and not even go near sharp tools was all I needed to get grounded. In fact, the play yesterday was extraordinary. A good reminder for the rest of the summer... let go of expectations and enjoy spontaneity with my children. I think my summer mantra should be "let go... and play". I used to be all about that, but having a shop has definitely put a little more pressure on me to work. So, as I'm a firm believer in "a reason for everything"... my little accident, and the dynamic day that followed, was a clear message to keep PLAY the priority for my favorite season. Yesterday began with a perfect weather and an unscheduled morning. It was a yes kind of morning...-can we go to the swing set before breakfast?
- yes!
-can we stay in pajamas all day?
-yes!
-will you watch me do tricks on the monkey bars (for the 100th time )?
-yes!
Well, I actually was ready to move on to something I could participate in... I'm not one for hanging off monkey bars any more. I'd had an idea blossoming in my head all morning. My daughter has been carrying Elsa Mora's book, Blossom Buddies, with her everywhere. I can't blame her, it's gorgeous! I got it for the entire family, but she's gotten very possessive of it. She even made a book marker specifically for her "flower peep" book.
It seemed like the perfect moment to start making some of our own flower peeps.We collected blossoms...
and got to work (I mean play).
My daughter mostly enjoyed designing mine and taking side trips to the hose to make mud...
and returning to make fairy "food" with the leftover petals.
I LOVED it all! Heaven! Muddy little girl with ringlets, favorite flowers from my garden, sun shine and blue skies. I really couldn't stop with the flower peeps... so indulge me for a moment, please:Introducing Rosa and Delilah
Greta and her daughter Florita
Stella and Pepita
and Nutbaby (named aptly by my daughter). Her head is a baby walnut and her face was created soley by nature... we discovered her smiling at us from under a tree!
Thank you Elsita for your endless creativity and for reminding me about the importance of PLAY... in my life, my parenting and my art.Hope you all have a joyful day!
Well, you know how much I love Elsita and seeing her book in print and now in the hands of other amazing creative friends just makes me smile. My favorite is nutbaby with its perfect little face. Please give a hug to the little flower artist for me.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ella! This is an inspired play opportunity! I will share this with my "moondew" playgroup mums in the Spring! A delight!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog a month or two ago, but this is my first time commenting. BEAUTIFUL flower buddies!! Makes me wish I had MORE of them in my own yard to make my own! My 3 girls could probably spend hours doing this!
ReplyDeleteOh Maya, thank you so much for letting me escape from my boxes & moving stuff, and for letting me admire the results of you & your daughter's play ! How blissful ! I must get a copy of Elsa's book ! I need to do just the same, slow down, and start to play. I hope your finger is healing properly. Big hugs to you & your loved ones oxoxox
ReplyDeleteI love Greta and Florita!
ReplyDeleteFlorita is my fave! Thanks for sharing your flower play!
ReplyDeletethis is so delightful!
ReplyDeletethese are so sweet! Have you ever made them from hollyhock flowers? My mother in law showed me how to make them years ago (when she still talked to us) now I as soon as mine bloom I'll have to do this with my little girl!
ReplyDeleteloving your blog more and more everytime i read it!
ReplyDeletelove the blossom buddies!
ReplyDeleteOMG I am sold on that book! your flower peeps are so precious.
ReplyDeleteVery creative. Greta and her daughter Florita are the sweetest.
ReplyDeletethese are tooo wonderful!.
ReplyDeleteBut agreeing with what you are saying, I think too often we get caught up in accomplishing our to do lists, and all of the things that we need to get done to keep everything running, and we tend to forget that Playing is just as much of the creative process as doing is. I'm Always trying to remember!
love you Maya!
Lizzy
I love all of those flower people!
ReplyDeleteMaya,
ReplyDeleteI love your flower buddies. Good "work" playing. They all have such distinct personalities. How amazing. And, how summer. Thank you for sharing these.
I can feel your joy jumping off the page. Those flowers are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWe will have to wait a few months to try this out here. What a gorgeous idea.
ReplyDeleteLove the "yes" morning first of all and crack me up about the monkey bar participation...yeah adult equilibrium is just not the same :)
ReplyDeleteThese are all precious. Years ago we went to a local art/craft fair and there was an artist who had amazing petal peep pictures. Very unlike myself, I never grabbed the name of her to remember for future reference. So glad Elsa did this book. It is another refreshing way to enjoy creative play.
They are very nice!
ReplyDeleteLove this! Thanks for sharing your pictures!
ReplyDeleteThe flower people are just beautiful. What a great project!
ReplyDeleteoh, the cuteness!!!
ReplyDeleteI just love your flower buddies and the muddy feet -- great pics
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! We did this in the fall, using a book called "Leaf Man" by Lois Ehlert. Lots of fun. We'll have to see if our library has this one as well.
ReplyDeleteThese are beyond cute!!! I see a flower buddy day ahead for me & my daughter soon.
ReplyDeletethese are so cute.
ReplyDeleteSuch fun! These are wonderful. Love the bright colors and soft textures.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteThese flower fairies remind me of the Hollyhock Dolls we make each summer.
Jody
Looks like the fairy flowers from the movie "spirder sawick"
ReplyDeletebeautiful idea!!
ReplyDelete