Here at Sunsprite Handwork we are passionate about celebrating the beauty of nature! We work to serve the child and nature herself by bringing the every day wonders around us to light through works of art.
Holding little parts of the natural world in our hands, allowing our senses to take in the natural colors of plants and soil is an education in and of itself. We learn in wordless fashion about the nature of the world we are a part of. We make friends with the colors of flowers and rocks, our senses are nourished and our imagination is sparked by our experiences. Each one of us will work with them in our own unique way and this is part of the beauty.
All the products and activities you find here are meant to open doors to fun, accessible and inspiring interactions with the natural world. As parents strive to reduce the family screen time, and teachers work to bring nature into the classroom or if you are an artist who also wants to celebrate the beauty of nature in your work, we hope that you will find in our books and nature crafts a resource and an inspiration.
Teaching in Waldorf education since 1989, I have seen firsthand the benefits of students working with their hands in age appropriate and meaningful ways. Activities such as knitting and sewing empower the young artist and support their academic studies. The heart of a Waldorf handwork program is not teaching people to make pretty stuff. It’s all about helping students to develop their own capacities for perception and and imagination. Actualization of those refined perceptions comes from having a strong enough will to bring those ideas out into the world. We are all creators at our core, evolution comes from this!
Why plant dye?
In contrast to chemically dyed colors, which are loud and have that ‘in your face’ feel to them, plant dyed colors have so much subtle nuance that the brain becomes interested. The child is allowed to be curious and come forward in their attitude to find out more. Plant dyes are connected to the natural world and also to the cultures who used them for millennia. If the child becomes curious, there is so much there for them to discover!
This is another avenue for discovering the beauty all around us. Most people walk on dirt, but not so many are fascinated by the colors in it. By educating the senses to see, and feel, and even smell the differences, again, we are opening up a whole new world of enchanting things to learn about! The culture associated with paint made from earth goes all the way back to the roots of our species. There is something deeply recognizable and joyful about the whole process!
