Dyes From Nature

With spring just around the corner, many of us may be having visions of bright colors, budding trees, and lovely flowers fluttering through our minds.  Here at the library, we are anxiously awaiting seeing the beauty of our gardens in bloom!

This month provides many opportunities to brighten our lives and homes and celebrate the renewal of life.  Some of us may also be thinking about egg decorating.  

Source: Spoonful

We suggest experimenting with some natural dyes that you can make yourself at home.

In our neck of the woods, we may not be able to harvest from our gardens this time of year, but there are plenty of items available to use to get some beautiful colors.  You may even have some already in your spice cupboard or refrigerator.  Just click on the following links for some inspiration:

source: Eco Crazy Mom

source: PCC Natural Markets

source: Martha Stewart

You can also find some ideas in these lovely books that you can find at our library or through interlibrary loan:

Happy egg dyeing!

A Snowy Bird Feeder

Our next bird feeder has been inspired by one of our favorite books: 

Stranger in the Woods.

With our current weather, I'd say it's perfect timing.  Here's how to do it: Build a snow man, woman, dog, elephant... whatever you like.  Add a carrot or orange nose; some nut eyes, mouth and buttons; and sprinkle with bird seed.  Get creative and have fun.  

So get outside and play in the snow.  The birds will thank you!

Here's a little inspiration to get you going:

1.   2.  3.  4.

For the Birds

Did you know that February is National Bird-Feeding Month?

It was established in 1994 as way to publicize the importance and benefits of helping out our feathered friends.

Why February?  This is traditionally the hardest month for wild birds to find food sources as well as water and shelter. 

I can't think of a better month to show our love for the birds that are so important to our gardens and environment!  If you would like to celebrate with us and help keep our little friends fed throughout the month, we will be posting a simple DIY bird feeder each week that you can do with your children and hang outside.

To kick it off, here's a simple hanging feeder:

source: intimateweddings.com

Ingredients:

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup water

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

3 Tbsp corn syrup

4 cups bird seed

Combine flour, water, gelatin, and corn syrup in a large bowl.  
Add bird seed and mix well.
Spray the inside of a cookie cutter with cooking spray  (we found a 2-4" size worked best)
Fill the cookie cutter with the bird seed mixture and press down firmly (the firmer it is, the better it will stay together)
Make a hole near the top (but not too close)
Carefully remove cookie cutter 
Let dry for 6-8 hours
Loop a 10" length of jute through the hole and hang outside for birds to enjoy!

Let us know how yours turned out...

Nature Crafts

As I look at the calendar and think about the upcoming holidays, I'm also starting to think of snow.  It'll be here soon.  But I still want to hold on to the beauty that the fall season has to offer.  I'm not quite ready to slip into winter.

If you are feeling the same, here are some wonderful nature crafts that would put all those pressed leaves, collected acorns and pinecones, and miscellaneous treasures from nature to creative use:



Fall Leaves Window Display



Magical Nature Creatures



Fairy Tea

Leaf People





Nature Mandalas


Be sure to also check out the fall leaf and seed activities in the children's area during your next visit to the library.

ENJOY!!!