parent tribe
issue six | Summer 2015
the re-launch edition brings inspiration from other creative parents including budget family travel, a crafty throw tutorial, tips on being human + more...
be creative . be free . be together
Let’s go fly a kite Up to the highest height! Let’s go fly a kite and send it soaring Up through the atmosphere Up where the air is clear Oh, let’s go fly a kite!
Instagram Photo by @charlieb_eattheearth
contents Family Travel
Food
Budget Spanish Family Adventures - 12
Herb & Wild Garlic Pesto - PRINT ONLY
Learning
Home Business
Learning Anywhere and Anytime - PRINT Working from Home - PRINT ONLY ONLY
Holistic Parenting A Family Blessing - 28 Tips for Being Human - PRINT ONLY
Family Stories
Creativity The Creative family - 30 Motherhood Poem - 16 Family Fun at a Nature Reserve - 22 A Handmade Tweedy Throw Tutorial - 8
The Barras family from Sheffield - 18
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I’ve had a year off from Parent Tribe magazine and I did really need that year. I have been lucky to have some time to enjoy my littlies after my second child, settle into our new location and find my new ‘tribe’. This time I found it hard getting back into ‘work mode’ and have had to really think what I wanted to do with my business going forward. One day during our trip to Barcelona, I was taking some time to ponder what I’d like to do and it suddenly dawned on me I missed Parent Tribe Magazine. I missed creating it, but also all the inspiration I got from it and all the lovely people and friendships I have made with other like-minded parents around the world. I decided that day to start it up again, I then found a very positive response to that decision and found some fabulous contributors in no time! I hope that you all get as much inspiration and love that I get from magazine. Big love Hatti x
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In our autumn edition we are going to focus on
Exploring what does your family enjoy exploring? send your answers with a family photo to hatti@parenttribe.net
the wonderful Parents who have contributed to this edition are: Ross Mountney rossmountney.wordpress.com Clare Cooper facebook.com/MilestonesOfMotherhoodBook Jenny Podorozhnaya humanpotentialengineering.co.uk/blog Helen Kitchenbrand helenkichenbrandphotography.com Veronika Robinson veronikarobinson.com Charlotte Davies charlottedavies.com Suzy Saunders sunnybrowfarm.co.uk Anna Dove dottydovesdesigns.co.uk
articles and artwork also welcome to do with exploring the world, food, creativity or anything else!? 7
A Handmade Tweedy Throw
Perfect to brighten up a sofa ... or simply ready to picnic on! With a house full of children and a new sofa, I set out with the brief of making a beautiful throw that would save the sofa from the
of treasured fabrics that you have stashed away, or simply go out shopping for fabrics that you just love (I love to scout second hand shops for some really lovely vintage and eclectic finds). After you have sourced all your little pieces
rough and tumble of family life. Which would though, you then need to chop and snip it not only providing a splash of colour and a into squares or rectangles that are useable
fabulous variety of texture, but also bringing (maybe size them 15cm by 20cm but you together all the colours from the plethora of can be flexible here) and then all you need to cushions that scatter the sofas.
do is to lay them out into strips the length of your throw. The huge one there are pictures
There’s a simplicity in this though and the of here is over 2m long and 1.8m wide (it technique of putting together a range of covers a king size bed –so as you can fabrics into a fabulous patchwork throw is imagine, it was very heavy putting through straight forward. If you can sew in a straight
line, then you too can put together a unique
the machine!), but yours need not be so big!
throw for your sofa, to cover your bed, or a The next step is to pin the pieces together simple blanket to snuggle up on for a picnic forming strips, and then sew them piece by in the summer.
The first thing (and one of my favourite bits
piece with a straight stitch. This will form long strips of fabric. After which you iron the seams flat, over stitch each seam with
of the whole project!) is to gather together a large zig zag (or other fancy, decorative all the little pieces of fabric that you want stitch of your choice) and then sew the strips
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to use in your masterpiece. You can use together (with right sides facing) forming the this as a fun way of using up little pieces front piece of your throw. Next, you need
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to lay it out on a flat surface (I use the floor!) and then cut out some strips of fabric that will form the edging. Sew these on with right sides facing (I like to put the sides on first and then the top and bottom pieces on last of all) and then, all you need to do is sew on your backing piece of fabric with outside pieces facing (I like to use a vintage piece of fabric if I can find one) give it a good old iron, and Bobs your uncle! A completed and unique throw or blanket – ready to drape on a sofa, or laze on with a lovely summer picnic. If you don’t fancy having a go at sewing up one of these for yourself, then they can be made to order, to your specifications by me (dottydovesdesigns.co.uk) made in tweed or another, lovely fabric of your choice. Having just decorated my Little Dot’s bedroom, another patchwork project that I might pick up at a quiet time will be to use their old dresses and tops etc that they wore when they were little. Cut them up into useable pieces (or patches) to sew into a pair of lovely throws for their new hand painted beds...all ready to be used as picnic blankets, or dens... or whatever their creative little minds may want them to be! Enjoy your crafting and if you do have a go, and want to share your makes with me, you can share your makes on my facebook page, or pop me an email – It’s always great to see interpretations on a theme! Anna
www.dottydovesdesigns.co.uk www.fb.com/dottydovesdesigns 10
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Budget Spanish Family Adventures Words by Hatti Burt
Living in another culture, or experiencing them with our children has always been a dream for my partner and I. We almost moved to Australia last year, but having just had my second baby, the timing wasn’t right. Looking back the opportunity wasn’t right either and we were just rushing into things. Anyway, things always have a funny way of working out and our current situation has enabled us to have much more family time and we are living in the heart of The Lake District, which is just a beautiful part of the world. The situation we are in, with my husband joining his familiy’s business and us living within the hotel premises has also given us the opportunities to go away more, as we have more disposable income and more family around to look after our dog! After the anti-climax of not moving away last year, we soon found ourselves looking for an adventure, so with limited budget and two small children, we set out searching for alternative ways to do this. We love Spanish culture and have since been on two amazing adventures, where we have met some inspiring people and delved into Spanish culture with our children. Here is how...
Workaway If you haven’t already , check out the website workaway.com. You basically exchange work for food and board and there are opportunities all over the world. We found it a little harder to find somewhere that would take us with our two young kids, as with Felix being only 8 months old, I wasn’t able to do a lot of work. If you search through, you can find family friendly opportunities. We found a British family who had sold their house and business and bought 26 acres of land in the mountains in Spain. They didn’t actually need us to do much work and were just really happy for us to be there and experience the lifestyle, so we spent the days exploring with them and their two children, harvesting almonds and collecting firewood. We were really lucky as their children were the same age as our eldest and they just played outside all day long. We hardly saw Jude the whole week, he had so much fun. We stayed in a caravan outside their house and ate all our meals with them. It was a great experience for us all.
House Sitting There are many websites where you can find house sitting opportunities, but if like us, you have friends abroad, you might be lucky if they decide to go away for a few weeks and need someone to look after their place. That’s what we did, we stayed in our friends flat and took care of the one they rent out on Air B&B in the centre of Barcelona. We love Barcelona and have visited it every year for the past 3 years. I think we’d move there if we didn’t have the kids, but although we had a great time, it’s not somewhere we’d want to live with our children. Whilst there though we immersed ourself in the Catalan culture, visited parks and festivals, the beach, the local markets and ate lots of nice food. The only downside was house sitting with an adventurous toddler. We were constantly on our toes, making sure he wasn’t climbing over the 4th floor balcony, or pulling breakable or dangerous things out of cupboards! And the lack of high chairs in Barcelona made meals times interesting. All great fun though, but just something to consider. Maybe it would be more suited to families with older children, although I would do it all again!
How would you like to relax with a cuppa and a real copy of Parent Tribe Magazine in your hands? 20 more pages with some inspiring articles to read!
Buy Parent Tribe Magazine here
Young mother in the fabric souq by K. Grossman
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Motherhood Six months ago I first put on my mother hood. It felt strange at first, weighing heavy on my head and on my shoulders. I worried how it looked to others. Did I wear it right? Gradually, I felt more and cared less. I caught my reflection in my daughter’s eye It looked good. Six months ago I first put on my mother hood It suits me. I forget what I looked like without it. by Jessica Starr
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Three words to describe how you feel about your lifestyle?
Fulfilled, lucky and blessed!
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Family storie s Zoe Barras (34), her partner James (36) and their children Bailey (16), Piper (14), Cordelia (13) and Ruben (11), live in Sheffield and share their story about entering into home education.
lifestyle and philosophy
We began our home educating journey when
We’ve been pretty much autonomous, with bits of workbooks, worksheets, projects and use of some learning websites like IXL,
we took our eldest three children then aged but we prefer to pursue the children’s own 9, 7 and 6, out of school at the end of 2007. interests rather than force them towards We had read an article in a Sunday paper something they don’t enjoy. Our eldest son about a dad home educating his youngest daughter and straight away my husband said “we could do that!”. Our children
Bailey decided to take an online GCSE English and Maths course after attending the Britannia Games Festival at Sheffield
weren’t unhappy at school, but they were Hallam University. He decided he wanted to always tired and there was always so much do an Interactive Media and Video Games homework- reading, maths and spellings,
Design course at Sheffield College and with
that they never felt they had enough time his two B’s from the GCSE courses got a to play. We always did lots of activities and place straight away. He is very happy at visited lots of places with our children, so college but we do miss him! home educating didn’t feel like it would be so much different to what we had always
I’m not sure what lies ahead for the girls and
done. Our family thought we were crazy, but Ruben, not sure if we will go down the GCSE we did it anyway. Our youngest son Ruben road yet as their not sure what path they’d was 4 and still attending nursery but he like to take so we continue to be interestwasn’t happy there and one day asked if he led. We like to visit lots of places and find could do school at home too. So we never learning things in real life much more fun looked back.
than in books.
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Do you work at Home?
something I worry about much less now. Whilst it has worked well for him, I’m not sure our daughters or youngest son would
I’ve always been a stay at home parent, but relish being back in a structured education. James left his job in insurance two years We try and encourage them to think outside ago to run our Ebay shop. It’s been fantastic the box a little and also since they see us because we have much more freedom and running our own business, we try and flexibility to be able to travel and spend more encourage their own entrepreneurial skills! time as a family. It’s been great to have him around more, especially now we have three teenagers in the house who all want to be off doing different things. Much easier with two adults!
How we make it work
Advice for other work at home parents? We find getting things done for the business works better in a morning, or late at night, giving us the majority of the day to go out,
We try and strike a balance somewhere play board games, help with projects etc! between allowing our children the freedom to be who they want to be, but occasionally we do projects/written work or sometimes
Favourite Family Activity?
we encourage a break from screen-time. I We like getting out for a walk in the Peak think it can be a little overwhelming growing District with our rescued Jack Russell up in such a digital age and I’ve gotten good Tallulah, or playing a family board game. at knowing when we need to step back from
all the technology and just enjoy a simple walk with the dog!
What inspired your lifestyle? A newspaper article, I wish I had saved it. I would love to frame it! I can’t even remember the dad’s name….
education options Having gotten Bailey off to college this is
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Family fun at a nature reserve Photos by Helen Kitchenbrand
Helen Kichenbrand is a stay at home mum and professional Family Lifestyle Photographer, living in Hertfordshire with her husband and 2 year old daughter. She started her photography business just over a year ago, after realising that there are limited options for families wanting more natural, creative looking family photographs that portray the beauty of everyday life as a family. So far she has been amazed at how many families have been after what she is offering and is thoroughly enjoying every moment. She loves in particular photographing beautiful unposed moments between family members and children’s portraits that show their true characters. She only shoots out and about in nature, or at people’s homes to truly capture a real day in the life of each family she photographs.
helenkichenbrandphotography.com
A Blessing for Our Family Every day I am thankful for those who are my family; my loved ones and our children. I hope to enfold them in my arms, to impart to them a sense of love, belonging and strength. Through all the little things I do every day it is my wish that my children feel the depth of my love for them, and that our home is a place of happiness, nurture and laughter. I welcome in the highest, brightest light to illuminate our home and our hearts; may we all be filled with love and know that love so pure is who we truly are. Our little ones, who began in our hearts, it is our wish for you to be nurtured in our love. Then to spread your wings and soar upwards and onwards into your life, spreading your love and light, making your way in the world, knowing you will always have a home in our hearts. May all children, everywhere be loved, cherished and nurtured. Peace to All, Light to All, Love to All Words by Clare Cooper
The Creative Family From toilet rolls and coat hangers to musical theatre and novels. Words and photos by Veronika Sophia Robinson
One of my key memories in early mothering awe at a little girl’s butterfly wings. Perfect, was visiting a family that had shelves and pink, sparkly. I can’t even begin to express shelves (and cupboards) full of creative and
how inadequate I felt at not being able to
arty supplies. Pencils, pens, paints, crayons, afford to buy her a pair. chalk, charcoal, papers, coloured card, wool, string, fabrics, glue, felt, pipe cleaners. The
Later that day, my daughter pulled a wire
works! I felt both inspired and completely
coat hanger out of the cupboard, shaped it,
disheartened. We’d moved countries twice
and turned it into butterfly wings by cutting
in a short space of time, and were living in
up a pair of my beige tights. She stretched
a rural area on one low income. Our budget them over the wire, and stitched them into didn’t extend to what seemed like luxuries. I
place. I swear she had far more enjoyment
watched my children play with old toilet rolls and pride from creating those wings than and make dolls from sticks and grass. What
any ‘perfect’ pink shop-bought wings. It was
sort of useless mother was I?
an important turning point for me. I stopped beating myself up for what I perceived to be
What became really clear to me was that artistic deprivation. play is something that happens naturally
Creativity comes from within. Yes, there are
and instinctively and is not dependent on a things that make the creative life a lot more
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bank balance. One day we were shopping
pleasing, and perhaps, fun, but if we want
in town and my elder daughter looked on in
to create, we will always find it deep within
ourselves to manifest an art form.
At 16, my elder daughter was so inspired by reading a novel that she wrote a musical
Countless dolls were made from string,
of the story. Beautiful and inspired tunes
toilet rolls, scraps of paper and fabric, wool, and lyrics flowed from her. She’s now 19, sticks, pebbles, leaves, moss, bark, and so and just finished her first year of music at on.
university. She’s actively involved in musical theatre productions and thriving on this
We also spent a lot of time together in the artistic outlet. In her final year, the musical kitchen preparing meals. The journey to she wrote will be presented as one of her culinary creation began either in the garden major assignments. or at the fruit and vegetable market. All those beautiful and vibrant colours on display!
At 14, my younger daughter began to write a novel. She spent her days writing by hand in
As a homeschooling family, it was vital that
a journal. Many, many lined note pads later,
we provided opportunities for our children.
it grew to become a published trilogy. At 17,
When you’re immersed in a way of being,
she’s writing her eighth novel. Next year, she
it isn’t always so easy to see clearly. My leaves home to do film and TV studies at daughters are young women now, and I university. Being raised without TV was an truly give thanks for those toilet rolls and important part of developing their creativity. wire coat hangers.
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The deep impetus to create is something
Creativity always begins in the invisible
that is naturally fostered in a family which realm of the mind and heart. The most loves, laughs and lives together. I’m a huge beneficial resource for any parent to offer advocate of sharing meals (without a TV on).
children, if they wish to inspire and develop
Around the table, a family can share ideas. It their creativity, is to immerse them in nature is a place for offering support. It is here, that
as much as possible. No toys or equipment
we learn to listen.
are needed. Just bare hands and bare feet. In Nature’s arms, a child feels the wind on
We did a huge amount of reading to our
their skin, the rustle of leaves in their ear.
children, and storytelling is enormously
Observing the diligence of the honeybee
powerful for activating the imagination. And
inspires a work ethic. The fragile blue sky
this is even more so if reading from a book
provides a palette for daydreams. Even city-
without pictures or telling stories which
bound families can see a bird soar in the air,
come straight from our heart. I have many
or marvel at a persistent dandelion seeking
treasured memories of my husband reading
sunlight through a concrete pavement. How
to us all, beside the fire each night, and using many insects can your child find on a rusty different voices for each of the characters railing? What sounds can they hear? Tuning as he read through such classics as The into the natural world around us opens our Secret Garden.
hearts, and inspires our mind, and most importantly, it feeds our soul. Creativity is
Creativity isn’t just something you pass
simply everywhere. As parents, the more
down to your children. This magical way of
we nourish our own creative lives through
living and being goes both ways. I doubt I’d
daily walks, breathing in the morning air,
have become a novelist if it wasn’t for being
taking time to watch the Sun rise, living in
a stay-at-home mother. Family life has been accord with the Moon’s phases, walking deeply moving, satisfying, challenging, and barefoot on dewy grass, eating al fresco, has augmented my personal growth in many making nature mosaics, wild swimming, ways. My children constantly inspire me and playing on the beach, breathing in the scent move me to deeper levels within myself. I’d of a woodland, frolicking in a wildflower written about a dozen non-fiction books by
meadow, the more likely our children are to
the time my daughter wrote her first novel.
feel inspired.
Her courage inspired me to try something completely different. And as a result, I have forged a new career as a novelist.
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veronikarobinson.com
your y yo u ur Creativity eat atitivity t ty Celebrate Crererea
Celeleleb Ce ebra rat ate te
Family camp hosted by Veronika, Paul and Eliza Robinson
Songwriting・Felting・Knitting・Weaving・Archetypes in literature・Writing fiction・Ceremonies Origami・Dream catchers・Art therapy・Yoga・Herbal medicine・Foraging・Forest school Drumming・Singing・Healing spaces・Meditation・Market stall・Ventriloquist show・And so much more!
August 18th - 22nd 2016 Limetree Farm near Ripon North Yorkshire
Limetree Farm is a beautiful nature reserve of wildflower meadows, ancient woodland, an Iron Age round house for workshops/ceremonies, a stone circle, a secret spring which has produced water for 3,000 years, and a bird/badger hide (log cabin) from which to view wildlife in the gill. Adult: £95 | Children aged 14 and under: £35 | Children aged 15-18: £50. This five-day event will be catered for by Rocket Catering.
Join our Facebook page: Celebrate Your Creativity Booking forms from www.veronikarobinson.com/creativity-camp
You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, The more you have. Maya Angelou
Instagram Photo by @jaimerachel
www.anorakmagazine.com
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