25 New Traditions for the Christmas Season (Creative Family Advent)

This December, I am going to say yes. To gathering all of my children around me, to entering into a sacred space of being together, creating new memories, relishing old traditions, and leaning deeply into the beauty and comfort of Christmas. I am going to shift my perspective from getting things done, to being there….

Motherhood and Creative Fire, Keeping the Flame Alive

I am the mother of seven children. This weekend, I hit publish on a dream come true. I’ve spent the last 11 weeks in a state of creative flow that I have not experienced since I became a Mama twelve and a half years ago. Looking back, I remember the shock my body went through…

Poetry Delivery Project, Creative Family Idea Box Day #11

This short, sweet, simple poetry project will help those you love to know you are thinking of them from afar.  Choose a poem, read it aloud, and send it via text or email to a friend or family member.  Allow each child to choose his/her own poem to send.  (Even the youngest children can choose…

Creative Family Advent Printable Calendar

It’s almost December!  I made this Creative Family Advent Printable Calendar so that you can have a visual of the days ahead.  Print it out, stick it on the fridge, and stay inspired to connect with your family through art, music, brainstorming, creative writing, storytelling, and more.  If you want more details about each activity and…

Slowing Down This Christmas Season (Creative Family Advent 2018)

Christmas is coming, and I am longing to anticipate it with more wonder and joy.  With slowness and purpose, deep gratitude and a supernatural ability to see beyond the busyness into the sacred.  I want us to savor these days as a family and make memories that will last well after the childhood years have…

30 Day Journaling Challenge

When it comes to journaling, I am a believer.  As I have written in a recent blog post—journaling is the heartbeat of my creative life.  It is the starting point for every good idea I have ever had.  It is the way I reflect on and process my life.  It is like a mirror for…

The Nutcracker Paper Dolls and Gift Idea

Merry Christmas from The Paper Doll Club!  Here is the promised Week 2 of The Nutcracker Doll Set with Clara and The Mouse King.  (Last week we posted The Nutcracker and The Sugar Plum Fairy.)  Hope you enjoy them.  Rosie made a beautiful Clara doll, and I think you will agree that Kells’ Mouse King…

Living Conversation

I love words.  They are not perfect, because they aren’t really the things themselves:  the word “chicken” is not a chicken, it is just some scribbled lines on paper.  The word “angry” is not an emotion, it is just a symbol for the feeling.  The word “fragrant” is not the actual smell of gardenias, it…

The Daily Turn #6: Scribble

Scribble Some thoughts can by typed with whole hands like hellos and how are yous the birth of a baby, the recipe for spice cake, the exchange of addresses, and the table of contents. Some thoughts can be typed with thumbs– abbreviations for you and tonight exclamations, commands NOW! HURRY!!! I’m here, plz call. But…

How-To Tuesdays #1: Milk Jug “Paper Dolls”

It us turning out to be an amazing summer for us.  Randy is spending a record amount of hours in the living-room-recording studio.  (If you haven’t heard any of our sneak-previews from the new album, check them out on our website–www.thejosephineknot.com)  There is a lot of creative energy bouncing around here.  As a challenge and…