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Summer
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| Posted: March 05 2010 at 10:42pm | IP Logged
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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 
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: March 06 2010 at 6:28am | IP Logged
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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.
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Becky
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12stars
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| Posted: March 06 2010 at 1:58pm | IP Logged
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How about for crayons that are rich in color?
I was going to ask the same question.
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Claudia in Southern California
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Mom to DD 14, DD 10, DD 7, DS 4, DS 2, 1 in heaven, and now due 5/11.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 06 2010 at 2:13pm | IP Logged
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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? |
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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.
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Jen Mackintosh
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Summer
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| Posted: March 06 2010 at 2:17pm | IP Logged
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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!
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Summer
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| Posted: March 06 2010 at 2:24pm | IP Logged
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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
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12stars
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| Posted: March 06 2010 at 2:38pm | IP Logged
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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.
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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.
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: March 06 2010 at 9:59pm | IP Logged
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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.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 7:28am | IP Logged
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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.
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Becky
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 8:09am | IP Logged
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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.
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Becky
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florasita
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 10:00am | IP Logged
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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 .
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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
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 10:45am | IP Logged
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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
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 10:48am | IP Logged
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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".
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Becky
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 11:26am | IP Logged
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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.
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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.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 11:29am | IP Logged
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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!
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Summer
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 12:18pm | IP Logged
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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.
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Summer
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 12:28pm | IP Logged
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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.
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12stars
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 12:34pm | IP Logged
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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.
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Claudia in Southern California
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Mom to DD 14, DD 10, DD 7, DS 4, DS 2, 1 in heaven, and now due 5/11.
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florasita
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| Posted: March 08 2010 at 12:47pm | IP Logged
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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
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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
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CrunchyMom
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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!
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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
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: Alternative Suppliers
