Bella Luna Toys - Sarah Baldwin - www.BellaLunaToys.com

Before becoming a mom and a teacher, I earned a degree in theater from NYU and worked as an actress in New York City for ten years. In 1992, my life was transformed almost instantly when I gave birth to my first child. Soon afterwards, I realized that children were meant to be my life's work.

In my early years of motherhood, I taught music-and-movement classes for parents and toddlers; began a support and activity group for stay at home mothers; and worked in mainstream preschool settings in Los Angeles before discovering Waldorf education and enrolling in the teacher training program at the Waldorf Institute of Southern California. I completed my Waldorf Early Childhood certification in 1999 at Sunbridge College in Spring Valley, NY, and received an M.S.Ed. in Waldorf Early Childhood Education.

In 1999, I joined the faculty of the Ashwood Waldorf School in Rockport, ME and went on to teach parent/child, nursery, and kindergarten classes there over a period of ten years. My two boys, Harper and Whit, attended Ashwood for most of those years. For two years, I homeschooled my boys using Waldorf methods, relying primarily on curriculum materials from Christopherus Homeschool Resources ( which I endorse most enthusiastically!).

I am also the author of Nuturing Children and Families: One Model of a Waldorf Parent/Child Program, a guide for leaders of Waldorf playgroups for parents and toddlers. I have offered workshops and mentoring to Waldorf schools, early childhood teachers, childcare providers and Waldorf homeschoolers. I remain involved in Waldorf Early Childhood education, serving as a board member of Spindlewood, a Waldorf kindergarten and LifeWays Center in Lincolnville, ME.

In the spring of 2009, I knew it was time to put my knowledge and experience to work in a new way, and soon after I made the decision to take a break from teaching, I discovered that Bella Luna Toys was for sale. After many conversations with Miaja Rocciola, Bella Luna's founder, I became the new owner of the company in September 2009

Harps of Lorien - Raphael Weisman - www.harpsoflorien.com

See  Playing a Musical Instrument for a guide by Raphael to choosing an instrument.

"The founder of Harps of Lorien, Raphael Weisman, has been making instruments and been involved in creative artwork for over 28 years. He studied Musical Instrument technology and design in London and was one of the few instrument builders in the forefront of the revival of Early Music in Europe. Raphael exhibited his work in numerous shows in Europe, the USA and Israel, and won awards for his craftsmanship. He also appeared on television, was interviewed on a number of radio shows and appeared in numerous newspaper and magazine articles. He has lived in South Africa, Israel, England and the USA.

"Over twenty years ago he turned his hand to the manufacture of lyres and meditation instruments in order to provide easy-to-play pentatonic instruments for families and Waldorf Schools, and also pursued his love of Celtic and Folk music by making Celtic Harps. His designs are flowing, sculptural and are works of art as much as playable instruments. He continues to provide lyres, lyre kits for the Waldorf movement, and the haunting Little Minstrel Harp, a portable instrument that can be played by virtually anyone to induce a quiet, meditational vibration. He has also developed a line of Celtic or Folk Harps of different sizes, including two models of Travel Harps that fit in the overhead compartment of airplanes. He has traveled with them many times himself, even hitchhiking with one around Hawaii. His first Travel Harp was used to record on in the Great Pyramid. Some of his harps have delicate carvings and all his work is meticulously sanded and finished creating a combination of tactile, aural and visual experience.

"He is commited to bringing healing and comfort to those who benefit from the sound of the harp, seeing this vibration as a force for healing on the planet. He has developed a new line of Therapy Harps for use by those who are working with sick or dying patients. These new models also provide a line of Economy Harps which allow beginners to purchase an entry level harp at an affordable price, thus proliferating the use of harps in the world."

Paper, Scissors, Stone - Annette Park -  www.waldorfsupplies.com

"My husband and I are getting used to being "empty nesters" after raising five children. I will forever be thankful for the education that our whole family received through our local Waldorf School. My grown children talk about homeschooling their own children someday (no, I'm not a Grandma yet...) and with the resources and help of so many dedicated educators, they will undoubtedly do a wonderful job!

"Twelve years ago when I started Paper Scissors Stone, my goal was to provide Waldorf Schools and home-schoolers with high quality, beautiful, non-toxic art and school supplies...blank lesson books, beautiful watercolors, quality brushes, play silks, wool yarn, modeling materials, pencils and crayons. The two things I look for in art materials are color and quality. When I spend time making something I want to use materials that in themselves are beautiful and fun to work with-- and that inspire me! I want to know that my finished work will be the best I can do and something I will enjoy looking at. One of my favorite things to do is play with color, whether hanging silks in a window, or painting with watercolor or gardening or making a card for a special person.

"When I think of our customers, I am truly humbled by the ideals that each of you take up everyday--ideals of family and home and school and community. You start in your home, creating an atmosphere of nurturing and soul guidance, and you are finding and building community. You are educating your children, as both parents and teachers, with love and clarity. I applaud you!

"Blessings on your journey!"

Lauri Bolland

Lauri, married to Eric, is the mother of three children (18, 14 and 10 in 2008) all of whom have been "always homeschooled" with Waldorf.  She lives with her family in Pennsylvania and aside from keeping busy with her children and home, finds time to read mysteries, cook, make crafts and explore a variety of holidays and festivals. She is an avid knitter and crocheter, a handwork expert who graciously agreed to test our handwork kits and to help us design the grades 2 and 3 handwork curriculum.

Lisa Marshall

Lisa has taken up the handwork torch from Lauri, has already created our 4th grade handwork curriculum and is presently working on 5th grade. Since 2008 Lisa has also been a member of the Christopherus consulting team. She writes:

"I can not remember a time when I didn’t have at least one handwork project going.  From toddler age, I was drawn to yarn and fabric and even as a young child, my head was always spinning with project ideas.  I picked up skills where I could, learning from anyone willing to spend time to teach me.  For my eighth birthday, my dear Aunt Ellen gave me some purple yarn and a pair of wooden knitting needles and taught me to knit.  My first project was supposed to be a scarf but had so many holes and added stitches by the time I was through that I sewed it together and declared it to be a tea cozy (the handle and spout fit nicely through several of the larger holes). 
 

"Eventually I added crochet, embroidery, and macrame to my repertoire.  At summer camp I chose basket weaving and wet felting when others were swimming or playing volleyball.  Each new skill acquired set off a flurry of new projects some more successful than others.  I remember the pride and excitement I felt upon completing a macrame belt of my own design for my Mother for Mother’s Day when I was in 5th grade.  In 6th grade, I moved to Iceland and attended public school there.  The Icelandic schools require handwork for all students through 6th grade so I got to expand my repertoire and skills.  In middle school, I selected handwork as my elective class and those afternoons spent cozily working and chatting in the handwork classroom are among my fondest memories from that time. 
 

"When my children were very young and I discovered Waldorf education, I found my handwork skills much in demand and I learned new skills such as needle felting and doll-making.  I had always longed to be a quilter and with a small group of Navy wives, arranged to take a beginners quilting course.  The group of us remained life-long friends through quilting and have gone on to have fabric swaps and make friendship quilts together even though we are scattered all over the country. 
 

"Handwork, like singing or story-telling or any folk tradition, should not ideally be learned from a book or even a class but rather at the knee of a kindly grandparent, aunt, or neighbor.  Yet such is the world we live in that often such a person is not available to us.  Nowadays, people buy books and pay for lessons from “experts”.  I hope to share my passion for handwork as a living, flexible, and enduring folk tradition with you through these projects and to provide inspiration for you go on to create your own."