Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
The Arts in the Everyday
 4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Subject Topic: Alternative Suppliers Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
Summer
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: Dec 26 2009
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 32
Posted: March 05 2010 at 10:42pm | IP Logged Quote Summer

One of the concerns in the Waldorf conversation was where to find supplies that were not connected with Steiner in any way.

I found this site, http://www.barebooks.com/ while looking around the FIAR forum. It sell blank books at really reasonable prices. Hard bound with 28 blanks pages for only $1.75! They also have lined book, blank calendars, puzzles, and board games.

My children have loved using the main lesson books and they have enhanced our studies tremendously.

I thought this might help.

God Bless,
Summer

PS I'll work on learning the linky thing
Back to Top View Summer's Profile Search for other posts by Summer
 
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
Posted: March 06 2010 at 6:28am | IP Logged Quote Becky Parker

We use Bare Books alot. My kids really enjoy getting a new one. I like that they have a hard binding so they hold up better and look nicer than a regular notebook. My dd likes to color the covers but my ds prefers to keep his plain, with just the black and white drawing.

__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
Back to Top View Becky Parker's Profile Search for other posts by Becky Parker
 
12stars
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: April 25 2008
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 372
Posted: March 06 2010 at 1:58pm | IP Logged Quote 12stars

How about for crayons that are rich in color?



I was going to ask the same question.

__________________
Claudia in Southern California
Wife to George,
Mom to DD 14, DD 10, DD 7, DS 4, DS 2, 1 in heaven, and now due 5/11.
Back to Top View 12stars's Profile Search for other posts by 12stars Visit 12stars's Homepage
 
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar
Non Nobis

Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
Posted: March 06 2010 at 2:13pm | IP Logged Quote Mackfam

Thanks for the recommendation, Summer! I added it to the resource started here - Resources/Materials To Nurture Creativity.

12stars wrote:
How about for crayons that are rich in color?

Claudia,
I think there are some good options on that resource thread I linked above. You might consider checking out the wide selection of Prang crayons. I feel like I'm always recommending them, but they're so affordable/inexpensive and I love the color and quality. It's very vibrant and the crayons are very smooth across the paper without as much crumbling as other crayons. Just thought I'd mention them, but do check out some of the other links on the Resource List.

__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
Back to Top View Mackfam's Profile Search for other posts by Mackfam Visit Mackfam's Homepage
 
Summer
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: Dec 26 2009
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 32
Posted: March 06 2010 at 2:17pm | IP Logged Quote Summer

Becky, do the hard covers impede coloring or doing copy work since they won't lie flat? How have your children used them?

As for crayons, my children have used the block crayons from Stockmar daily. We use them to color in the main lesson book pages. They blend beautifully and are so durable!

The regular beeswax crayons have not been popular. They break and I want to cry because of the cost. We also tried the Prang crayons from Dick Blick but they also break quickly and are still expensive. So, I am a fan of good ol' Crayola.

I would love to hear about a new crayon resource too!
Back to Top View Summer's Profile Search for other posts by Summer
 
Summer
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: Dec 26 2009
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 32
Posted: March 06 2010 at 2:24pm | IP Logged Quote Summer

I was posting at the same time as Jennifer.

The Prang crayons we tried are called Prang Crayograph Crayons. They are supposed to be denser and more durable. However, they broke just the same. The color was smooth and rich while they lasted but that was so short.

Maybe the regular Prang Crayons are better.

God Bless,
Summer
Back to Top View Summer's Profile Search for other posts by Summer
 
12stars
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: April 25 2008
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 372
Posted: March 06 2010 at 2:38pm | IP Logged Quote 12stars

We do use Stockmar and so far we have had the crayons and some other supplies for over a year with no breaking or crumbling. They will surely last another school year or more, I was just not sure if they were tied to Steiner aherents.

I was just asking for future reference.



__________________
Claudia in Southern California
Wife to George,
Mom to DD 14, DD 10, DD 7, DS 4, DS 2, 1 in heaven, and now due 5/11.
Back to Top View 12stars's Profile Search for other posts by 12stars Visit 12stars's Homepage
 
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
Posted: March 06 2010 at 9:59pm | IP Logged Quote CrunchyMom

I'm pretty sure that Mercurious is the sole distributor for Stockmar crayons in America and they do give money to the promotion of Anthroposophy if that is a concern of yours.

__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony

[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
Back to Top View CrunchyMom's Profile Search for other posts by CrunchyMom
 
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
Posted: March 08 2010 at 7:28am | IP Logged Quote Becky Parker

Summer, I see that the hard books impede coloring or copying a little. I notice my kids leave about a 1/2 inch margin on the inside edge of the left hand page.
As a comparison, this year I did order some books that were staple bound in the middle. The plus there is that the kids could make an entry stretch out over two pages a little easier. I've decided to go back to the Bare Books for next year though. They just seem sturdier (our paper back notebooks get a little beat up looking over time!). I asked my dd (11yo) what she prefers. She said the bare Books because the hard cover makes them seem more like a real book. I don't know if my younger sons would care so much though.

__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
Back to Top View Becky Parker's Profile Search for other posts by Becky Parker
 
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
Posted: March 08 2010 at 8:09am | IP Logged Quote Becky Parker

I just went to the Bare Books site because this thread reminded me I wanted to get some for my kids for our vacation. I noticed here (scroll down)that they do have a spiral version now, but the plus is that they are bound at the top, which would eliminate the issue of the crease in the middle. I didn't keep looking, but they might have the other binding available on top as well.

__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
Back to Top View Becky Parker's Profile Search for other posts by Becky Parker
 
florasita
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: April 06 2007
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 907
Posted: March 08 2010 at 10:00am | IP Logged Quote florasita

where does the paper come from & how is it made ? We are trying to purchase green products as much as possible etc. paper is a big concern for us . I was looking for homemade paper products for the kids this yr.
Right now we use pocket folders and loose paper we buy in bulk instead of main lesson books and our scribblers are those hard cover ones from the dollar store they are very sturdy so I like them for some subjects .
   I'm even concerned with our book purchases now so much is printed in China . Really thinking about how hard would that be for us to purchase books just printed here or used books . I'm such a book junky ! Of course we do the library each week is helpful but I purchase books both new & used each month . Chapters is our regular stop starbucks & books who can resist .

__________________

May I rise & rest with words of Gratitude on my Breath
May I have the Heart & Mind of a Child in my Depth
May I forever remember to be a Light
May Peace Love & Hope be My Sight
Back to Top View florasita's Profile Search for other posts by florasita Visit florasita's Homepage
 
hylabrook1
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator


Joined: July 09 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5980
Posted: March 08 2010 at 10:45am | IP Logged Quote hylabrook1

I've never seen beeswax crayons, so maybe this question betrays that ignorance. Anyway, I've had soy wax crayons, I think from Prang, and the colors were clearer and went on more smoothly than Crayolas.

Peace,
Nancy
Back to Top View hylabrook1's Profile Search for other posts by hylabrook1
 
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
Posted: March 08 2010 at 10:48am | IP Logged Quote Becky Parker


Good question Florasita. I've not been able to find information about that, except, in the FAQ's it says they are made with chipboard and a sturdy paper covering or something like that. They do hold up well, but I don't know if they would be considered "green".

__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
Back to Top View Becky Parker's Profile Search for other posts by Becky Parker
 
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
Posted: March 08 2010 at 11:26am | IP Logged Quote JennGM

12stars wrote:
We do use Stockmar and so far we have had the crayons and some other supplies for over a year with no breaking or crumbling. They will surely last another school year or more, I was just not sure if they were tied to Steiner aherents.

I was just asking for future reference.



Stockmar is specifically an anthroposophic company; all their philosophy is laid down in their website.

Mercurious is the main distributor of the Stockmar in USA.

ETA: I just noticed a misattributed quote to St. Francis on the homepage:

A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.

The author is actually Louis Nizer, from Between You and Me, Beechurst Press, 1948.

__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
Back to Top View JennGM's Profile Search for other posts by JennGM Visit JennGM's Homepage
 
JennGM
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 17702
Posted: March 08 2010 at 11:29am | IP Logged Quote JennGM

I have to share this funny. A male friend was looking over the link at Stockmar and didn't understand why these crayons were so expensive! He said these are for children, right? It's not like they are Michaelangelos painting the Sistine Chapel!

I had to laugh at his perspective! We're not saying to give our children subpar supplies, but we definitely don't need to break the bank!

__________________
Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
Back to Top View JennGM's Profile Search for other posts by JennGM Visit JennGM's Homepage
 
Summer
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: Dec 26 2009
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 32
Posted: March 08 2010 at 12:18pm | IP Logged Quote Summer

I truly like the beeswax crayons. They blend so beautifully! Stockmar is the only company I have bought from, so my experience is limited to their products. However, given the expense and my toddler's desire to chew on them and then break them, I would not buy them again.

Another company that is eco friendly and has had great reviews from my family is Faber-Castell. I bought their triangular pencils from Dick Blick and their triangular colored pencils. Both were big hits, much preferred to Prismacolor by the older and younger ones alike. They were very durable with bright clear colors, and the lead did not break all the time like the Prismacolor. Also, you can sharpen them easily which is a big plus when dealing with finicky art pencils.

I do not know if they are an anthroposophic company or not but here is their company description from Dick Blick:

Faber-Castell is said to be Germany's oldest industrial company. It began as a carpenter's workshop, founded by Kasper Faber in Stein, near Nuremberg in 1761. Today Faber-Castell is still owned and managed by the same family, now in its 8th generation since the founder.

In ecologically sensitive Germany, there is a heightened consumer awareness of the environment, and German companies are held to account for their environmental record. All products of the Faber-Castell group are manufactured using environmentally safe, high-quality materials and low-pollution processes.

For example, the company uses only wood from its own reforestation and soil conservation project in Brazil to manufacture pencils. The company grows its own trees on land that was once denuded and deforested, subject to soil erosion. Faber-Castell even recycles the waste products from manufacturing pencils to increase the fertility of the soil.


I would love to try their crayons and see if I had the same success.
Back to Top View Summer's Profile Search for other posts by Summer
 
Summer
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: Dec 26 2009
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 32
Posted: March 08 2010 at 12:28pm | IP Logged Quote Summer

Back to blank books:

I could see using the hard bound books for little ones that are pasting their finished art work into one thematic keepsake book (this is what we did with the Alphabet Path) but I think it would be difficult for older ones working directly in the book. My older two are making a book based on the human body and its systems. Thus, all their drawings and essays are directly written in the main lesson book. The spiral bound ones would help, definitely something to consider.

Florasita, you could make your own books by using one of those long arm staplers. Then your bulk paper could be turned into main lesson books with a colorful cover. Probably, less expensive in the long run. Hmm, I might have to consider that too given our love for main lesson books.
Back to Top View Summer's Profile Search for other posts by Summer
 
12stars
Forum Pro
Forum Pro
Avatar

Joined: April 25 2008
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 372
Posted: March 08 2010 at 12:34pm | IP Logged Quote 12stars

I see that Stockmar does have ties. I didn't buy from Mercurius though. I bought all our supplies from our charter through a childs dream , but instead of defending my reasons as to why I bought them and for what purpose.
But I did find another supplier for eco friendly supplies.

__________________
Claudia in Southern California
Wife to George,
Mom to DD 14, DD 10, DD 7, DS 4, DS 2, 1 in heaven, and now due 5/11.
Back to Top View 12stars's Profile Search for other posts by 12stars Visit 12stars's Homepage
 
florasita
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: April 06 2007
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 907
Posted: March 08 2010 at 12:47pm | IP Logged Quote florasita

Claudia the site looks wonderful , I was just reading the description for the scrapebook and it looks very good eco friendly .
I'll look up the Faber-Castell site as well .
Thanks a bunch

__________________

May I rise & rest with words of Gratitude on my Breath
May I have the Heart & Mind of a Child in my Depth
May I forever remember to be a Light
May Peace Love & Hope be My Sight
Back to Top View florasita's Profile Search for other posts by florasita Visit florasita's Homepage
 
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
Posted: March 08 2010 at 12:49pm | IP Logged Quote CrunchyMom

Thank you ladies SO much for all your links! I am so excited to find these jumbo triangular pencils by Faber Castel--so reasonably priced, and my boys love pencils that size!

__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony

[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
Back to Top View CrunchyMom's Profile Search for other posts by CrunchyMom
 

Page of 3 Next >>
  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com