If your hands feel at all creative this Spring – here's a wonderful article posted on ECOSALON's blog . . . 

featuring tons of fun, unique & resourceful DIY projects to get you inspired !

15 Ideas for Spiritual Kindling and Other Nature Crafts

written for ECOSALON | by JEN WALLACE

click here to read full article

"As a long time maker and lover of nature, I often find myself making art and nature crafts from treasures I find in the wild. 

The flotsam and jetsam of my backyard are some of most inspiring mediums to me. Pieces of bark, dried leaves, fresh mosh, stones, acorns, dried herbs, and more all call out to incorporate them into DIY and arts and crafts ideas.

Inspired by my own desire to create and companies, sites & individuals like Spiritual Kindling, Juniper Ridge, Margaret of Resurrection Fern, John Muir and so many others... 
I put together a list of nature-inspired DIY arts and crafts ideas that you can create to add your own brand of nature, design and spirituality to your space."

- Jen Wallace

1.  Painted Pebbles – Decorate your stone collection with a paint or a sharpie.

2.  Kindling Wall Hanging – Turn kindling into a spiritual and decorative wall hanging.

3.  Tabletop Biosphere – Make and tame your own mini biosphere for a taste of nature indoors.

4.  Branch Candelabra – Decorate your next dinner party with some wild abandon.

5.  Rainbow Painted Stick Wind Chimes – Create a visual and auditory homage to nature.

6.  Painted Stick Love – Turn sticks into a lovely work of art to show that love is all that matters.

7.  Painted Stick Mobile – Let your creativity drive you to create a painted stick mobile.

8.  Stick Stars – Turn brush into celestial art to decorate your own starry night.

9.  Branch and Textile Mobile – Use a branch, yarn and other textiles that speak to you into a hanging  mobile.

10.  Evergreen Paintbrushes – What a clever idea–use evergreen cuttings as paintbrushes for your next painting project.

11.  Branch Weaving – Branches can be used as a loom to create colorful textiles.

12.  Branch Wall Art/Room Divider – A practical and decorative natural touch.

13.  Flower Petal Sketches – Use flower petals in your next sketches for the ultimate in creativity.

14.  Hanging Dried Flower Art – Create a hanging “garden” with dried flowers.

15.  Garden Mandalas – Turn leaves, flowers and other natural bits into decorative mandalas.

“New year’s day is every man’s Birthday”

— Charles Lamb

Each year I take time to reflect on the year that has passed. I take into account the struggles and the moments I triumphed when I didn’t think I could. I recall the lessons I have learned, and the habits that did or did not serve me.  It’s become a tradition of mine to take a few days to commemorate, as a way of settling the previous year’s affairs and an opportunity to plan and look ahead to the future.

Years ago, I was gifted a workbook that has helped me in this process and has since become part of my yearly ritual.

In several ancient traditions it is customary to continue giving gifts long after the holidays to

encourage an auspicious start to the new year. I would like to share the workbook that I was gifted so many years ago with you! 

I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do, and that you also form your own tradition of reflecting and dreaming your way into a bright future for yourself!

Susannah Conway is an artist, author and teacher who’s been sharing her heart online for over a decade. She helps people trust, know and express themselves better by sharing the tools that helped her heal and live a self-directed life. Her work is steeped in self-compassion, kindness and practicality.

You can download the workbook here:

http://www.susannahconway.com/unravel/

In love and light,

Mei-Ling