Here at Lily and Thistle, we talk about art/creativity and motherhood - two subjects that go really well together except maybe, when it comes to keeping things in order. If you've been at this mothering gig for longer than say a day, you know how quickly things can get out of control. Add a bit of paint and glitter and you've got a recipe for disaster! Creative people need creative cleaning and organizing solutions. I'm almost at the ...
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What to Add To Your Art Journal When you are Feeling Stuck
Ah! The Blank Page. It can be so daunting! Whether your blank page is a sketchbook, an open laptop or a canvas, the "just starting part" can be paralyzing. I think my biggest fear is that I'll waste my precious time and materials on something that won't turn out like I want it to. But, I've learned that I just can’t worry about that. Like anything, just the practice of showing up and doing the work is what it takes to transform us into the ...
Ten Ways Art Helps Me Be A Better Parent
Did you know art makes parenting easier? It really does! And today I'm going to tell you how. Here are ten different ways ART (either appreciating or making) has helped me become a better parent and helped my kids with life. Quick Note: Before I start I want to invite you to the Lily and Thistle Resource Library where you will find all kinds of great resources and join our community of Creative, Intentional Moms. If you'd like to include ...
Creativity Loves Limits – Good News for Creative Moms
"The enemy of art is the absence of limitation." - Orson Welles. This is for you, artist moms. Do you need some good news today? Let me tell you about an artist I just discovered on the TED screen. His name is Phil Hansen, and he is pretty dang incredible. As an art student, Phil used a particular pointillist style he’d developed with great success. Tragically, because of the intense hand movements required to make all of ...
The Lily and Thistle Resource Library
Hello! In an attempt to make life easier for you (and me) I decided to put all of my Creative resources in one place. I now give you: The Lily and Thistle Free Resource Library! From now on, this is where I'll keep all of our free e-courses, how-to videos, ebooks, art/nature study guides, printables and whatever else I feel like adding. Inside you’ll find lots of fun options just for you! I add to this library regularly so ...
Loose Parts – The Ultimate Learning Toys
Am I the only one who spends hours reading toy reviews and guides at Christmas or birthday time - determined to find the ultimate toy for my kids and my pocketbook? I'm always sure I'll find that perfect toy that will engage my kid's minds and bodies and make them magically want to leave their ever calling screens behind. Lately, I've found that I don't have to go far or spend much. In fact, some of the best learning toys of all time both for ...
Our Favorite Nature Study Tools
You don't really need much to enjoy nature, but sometimes it's fun to invest in a few supplies that can make the experience more memorable and enjoyable. Here is a list of our family's favorite nature study tools. I'll add to it as we find new things (because we are always finding new things!). There are so many benefits for getting out in nature. You can read about them here, here, here, and here! Just click on the pictures ...
Our Homestead – The First Year
We moved from our large home in the suburbs to a smaller home in the country(ish). And we love it! We have discovered so many things we love about this life! More time for Nature, Art, and Creativity to name a few! So I thought I'd keep a log of what we are doing each year to add to our little (acre and a half) homestead. Year One (2016): House Finished - We learned a lot of lessons here. Most of them really hard. But, we ...
Ancestor Gallery Wall – How We Did It For Less
The Long, Dark Hallway When designing our home, we knew we didn't want the very popular open-concept floorplan. We wanted the kitchen to be its own space with a separate living room, dining room, etc., just like an old farmhouse would have. So, in order to do all of these separate rooms, it was clear early on, that we would have to have a long, potentially dark, hallway. Like 20 feet long. I did everything I could in the designing phase to ...
A Year of Living with Open Shelving: Pros and Cons
When we were planning our kitchen, I searched all over the internet for open shelving reviews. I love the look but worried about the maintenance. I had a hard time finding an honest review so I thought I'd do a quick post for anyone out there who might be searching. We ended up deciding to put open shelves in the butler's pantry area with a window behind to bring in more natural light. This allows me to put all of our "pretty dishes" on ...
Chronos and Kairos – Measuring Time When the Days are Long
From the Archives January 2012 The twins just had a birthday. Four years old now. I will spare you the "I can't believe they have grown up so fast" commentary because it has gone fast but in a lot of ways it has been slow too. Today I have been thinking about what my life has been these last four years. It's easy to sit here in my quiet studio and reflect when all of my kids are in bed and it is calm. It's easy to feel ...
How American Girl Helped My Kids Love Reading and History
Our love affair with the American Girl books started with a desire to get the twins excited about reading on their own, for fun. I wanted to find something that would keep their interest and make them want to come back for more. My cousin (who is just enough ahead of me in this parenting journey and oh so wise) told me how great the books are and what she did to encourage her girls. We tried out her advice with great success! A ...