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A collage of last Friday evening at AntiquiTeas, Londonderry, NH

A collage of last Friday evening at AntiquiTeas, Londonderry, NH

All this summer, on the first Friday of the month, Trudie is hosting a light-hearted and thought-provocative evening of tea, discussion and craft activity. Inspired by Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Simple Abundance, Trudie’s Living Six Graces workshops focus on downshifting from the fast pace of day-to-day life. Sipping tea out of real china, seated in the feminine surroundings of one of AntiquiTeas’ tea rooms (there are 3!), it is easy to slow down and be present in the moment.

“Creating Your Toy Box” was the topic last Friday evening. One lady brought hers — it’s a repurposed old-fashioned hat box — and shared her 64-pack of new Crayolas with another participant who fondly recalled from childhood the heady scent of a new box of crayons. I have more than enough interests to fill my own toy box at any one time. (Too many, in fact.) But if you’re scratching your head and wondering what is a grown woman doing talking about making a toy box, I just want to share something I learned from Dr. Christiane Northrup. She advises that by remembering the things that we loved to do when we were ten or eleven years old, we can shed light on our true passions.  And isn’t passion where life sings and time evaporates?

When I was a kid, I absolutely loved making doll house rooms on my book shelf. A clear plastic box with snap closure became a fish tank when filled with blue tissue paper. Jewelry boxes were transformed into tables and sofas. Bottle caps functioned as dishware. My family of troll dolls sported many outfits (sleeveless–their arms were very short!), cut out of colorful pieces of felt and sewn by hand.

So I was pretty excited about the clothespin doll activity last Friday night! My little garden fairy is the one in vintage lace with a rosebud hat, sitting amongst the pink impatiens, in the photo above. We both skipped to the photo opp!

If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join us in August.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • pam January 15, 2010, 7:08 am

    i wish i could emigrate to join your simple abundance group ,i love that book and although i have had it years this is the forst year im actually going top do all the ideas in it ,gratitude journal first .Your craftideas are beautifull especially fairy garden ,sending you a big thank you hug ,love pam

  • Loretta July 14, 2009, 10:13 pm

    I love your description of your childhood fun. Everybody does need a toybox – my problem would be how to get one big enough to hold all my toys!! LOL!

  • brenda July 13, 2009, 4:17 pm

    Great photos! Looks like a lot of fun. Bless you Trudie !

  • Kristin Nicholas July 11, 2009, 3:42 pm

    Sounds like a great time.

    I’ll try to decide on some dates for later on out. It has been suggested that I announce dates for next summer too so people can plan – wow – that will take planning and a bit of mind reading on my part.

    Happy weekend. KN

  • Melanie July 8, 2009, 12:14 pm

    What a great idea to create a toy box, fabulous for any creative block moments. Looks like a very fun day.