Last spring I made an Easter garden, and used it to film The Good News of Easter for my virtual Sunday school class. This spring we are able to meet in person, and I decided it would be a great craft for my class to make. Over the past few weeks we have been making small parts of this project. Today we planted some seeds. Next week they will take home their gardens, and then during Easter week, each family can use the garden and the Jesus Clothespin doll to act out Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. The garden will last all summer as a visual reminder of the true meaning of Easter. I am including the instructions here in case you want to give it a try.
Category: Clothespin People
Pioneers Have Joined the Clothespin People Family!
The Pioneer Couple and Pioneer Family are probably the most appropriate Clothespin People dolls yet. After all, it is most likely that the pioneers would have made dolls for their own children from everyday objects like clothespins! Two different kits are available: the Pioneer Couple and the Pioneer Family.
Either of these kits would make a great activity for a pioneer themed party! Contact me directly to order a custom group craft kit (5 or more) and save 20%.
Conference Season is Coming Soon!
If you live in southern Ontario, you might just be able to see these products in person! South Haven Press will be exhibiting at both the KWCHEA and OCHEC Conventions this spring. Perhaps I can inspire you. I will be doing a workshop entitled “Encouraging the Writer in Your Child” at KWCHEA, and one entitled “Co-oping for the Fun of It” at OCHEC. In both of these workshops I will be sharing from my own experience as a homeschooling mother of four.
If you are able to make it to one of these conventions, please stop by my booth and say hello. I would love to show you my products and hear ideas about what other creative educational products you might be interested in. I am hoping to have the Old Testament Bible story characters available in time for the convention season.
Christmas Ornaments are Here!
We have three new kits available just in time for Christmas!
Christmas Carollers come complete with a lamp post that you assemble yourself! Decorate your Christmas tree with the angels from JOY to the World, or enjoy a more modern moment with Snow Fun. Please visit the shop page to see other kits and prices.
Christmas is Coming!
It is that time of year again where people begin to think about how to celebrate Christmas. I am working on a few new products this year to help you decorate and celebrate.
If you are wanting to celebrate the original meaning of Christmas and have young children, our Clothespin Nativity Kits will be a great tool for you. As you make the dolls together, you can talk about who the people were and what each might have been thinking on that first Christmas night. Once the glue has all dried, you can use the nativity set to act out the story. The deluxe set now comes in a wooden box that doubles as a stable and storage.
Angel ornaments and Christmas Carollers are currently being developed and should be ready by the middle of November. Here is a sneak peak of what they might look like!
The Origins of Clothespin People
I invented Clothespin People in 2002. I was looking for a nativity scene craft for a group of preschool children and wanted one that would be simple enough that they could participate in making it, and nice enough that the parents would keep it from year to year. Our original dolls have had lots of use, and are still around today. This photo shows the original Mary and Joseph.