sisyphuscreations

After having my daughter Sophia, I began looking for a community that jelled with my parenting style and way of life. When she was 6 months old, the two of us began attending Joyful Beginning classes at our local Waldorf school. For the first time in a very long time, I felt at home, surrounded by individuals who shared similar values and parenting beliefs. Every item in every classroom served a purpose. Every fabric choice, colour selection, weight preference, carried with it significant meaning for the progression of the early child. I was amazed. I began learning about the benefits of wool, and why it is such a commodity within so many like-minded communities- it is warm! It is natural. It is soft. It absorbs moisture. It feels divine!

Since I began this journey, I have moved cities, expanded my business to include partnerships with other Canadians and have a new addition to our family- my youngest, Isabella!

I became a frequent visitor of our school bookstore, in complete amazement of all of the one of a kind, hand crafted items it held and hid in every nook and cranny. Each time I entered, there was something new to behold. My creative juices began to flow and I started to work on my daughters toy collection (well, to be honest, I'm sure it's kind of my toy collection). I made wool felt play food and dolls and animals and book characters; The Little Price, Max from the Wild Things, the very hungry caterpillar and all his meals. I knit farm animals and gnomes. My husband suggested that I make Soph a dinosaur set that the two of them could play with, and so I did. Whenever her buddies would come over, they would b-line to the dinos! It was incredible to watch. The rest is...history!

I hand sew, embroider, fill and love each and every dinosaur I make. sisyphus creations has allowed me to revisit my inner child and partake in the magic that occurs as each one comes to life within my hands.

INSPIRATIONS

Other than my children and the Waldorf philosophy of early childhood development, I am inspired by a variety of educators and schools of thought, including but not limited to:

* Rudolph Steiner and Waldorf Education
* Reggio-Emilia
* Maria Montessori
* Emmi Pikler
* Magda Gerber and Janet Lansbury and RIE parenting
* Kim John Payne
* William Sears and Attachment Parenting
* Richard Louv and Forest Schools
* Marshall Rosenberg and Non-Violent Communication

WHAT DOES "SISYPHUS CREATIONS" MEAN?

I get asked this question often and I love to answer it.

I studied Philosophy in university and fell head over heels for the subject- so much so that I became a certified teacher of philosophy (and named my daughter after the goddess of wisdom, Sophia). My favorite philosophical area of study is Existentialism, the area that asks the question of why we are here. What does life mean? Do we have meaning? Is life worth living? I took a course called "Life, Death, Absurdity and Meaning" and did an in depth look at Albert Camus' famous work, the Myth of Sisyphus.
It changed my life.
I began using Sisyphus as my personal cheerleader whenever times got difficult, and it has stuck with me all these years as a reminder to live in the present and relish in the incredible awesomeness of simply being alive and conscious of life itself.
I encourage you to do a quick search and read about Sisyphus. I won't give you any spoilers ;)