I have a confession to make! I tried to take a short cut with my stockmar paints, to make them stretch further, I mixed them with a little more water than I should have. It seemed excessive to mix them with a 1-1 ratio at the cost. But, alas, today I mixed the ratio's just right and, lo and behold, the colours are bright, and bold and beautiful!

So, we might have to paint a little less, but when we do, our pictures will be masterpieces!

Before

After

I fell into a little slump recently, perhaps it was the world recession and its effect on us personally, or perhaps I have overextended myself with a list a mile long of what I wanted to accomplish on a daily basis. Whatever the cause, the situations are all the same, but my head is in a better place. I spent a lot of time reading from the parenting passageway blog,http://theparentingpassageway.com/, and I tell you, Carrie can get you through anything, help you feel human and make sense of all the craziness. I have forgiven myself, and will continue to do so, as I find even with the best intentions, I still find myself every now and then making an irritable remark or snapping at the children. The difference is, I am managing to stop myself half way through, and change course, or immediatly after the mishap, I can rectify it, by explaining that mommy is human, and is trying her best! I have been blessed with the most understanding and forgiving children, who at times seem to have more insight to life than I.

So, here's to today, a better brighter me!

We had a fabulous easter, full of crafting and family. We created two easter trees, giving the boys a wonderfully messy painting day, after day, after day. Once the eggs were painted, we all painted our hands and feet, and made our prints on cloth, to give away as gifts.

I also got a little carried away making little flower fairy's, from http://www.weefolkart.com/, my new favourite place!!!! You have to go and take a look! We are busy with the latest project of making our own treehouse for the gnomes, (so far, 15 of them). Little beds, and furniture, and rugs! Such a joy to make, and the children love watching the creation process, helping to pick the colours of the felt, and thread.



Well, here are the boys getting covered in paint, and creating our beautiful easter tree!

And!!!! Biggest news of all! Our Stockmar art supplies have arrived!

They are treat with absolute reverence in our home......

When I opened the package, I even made a humming noise to simulate angels singing......

We didnt waste any time... we drew rainbows with our block crayons, and I have to say, it was everything I imagined it to be. Such a peaceful, beautiful process!

And then, our first painting lesson. I read Painting with children- by Brunhild Muller back to back, prepared the paint in the little bottles we have been collecting for the last few weeks.

Then I was going to start with the colour stories, but the boys really wanted to draw the Crucifixion, as we had been following the story all week, and ta da..... my little artists....

The way the colours flowed into each other....wow, really really worth it!

Our resident water fairy! I could certainly use some tips from her for mediation techniques!