Stockmar coloured pencils meet highest standards in terms of colour selection, materials and processing. They are produced by using the most modern requirements of health safety, environmental friendliness and sustainability in production.

Stockmar coloured pencils are distinguished by exceptionally luminous colours with a high proportion of pigment, a unique colour coordination system and a soft and powerful application of colour.

This assortment includes superior quality luminous colours based on the extended Goethe Colour Circle. When used together they blend beautifully.

Each pencil has an extra thick lead (6.25mm diameter) in an easy-to-hold triangular shaped pencil (10mm diameter)

They are easy to sharpen and they can be sharpened with any large holed pencil sharpener.

The pencil is made using untreated lime tree wood from sustainable forestry and FSC-certified timber

In Steiner education the triangular grip pencil introduces the pencil grip to the child. It encourages holding the pencil in a relaxed and correct manner. This is important at the stage they begin to formally learn to write. Its thick rounded triangular shaft is designed to help the child develop the perfect pencil grip.

In summary the exploration and introduction of writing and drawing to the child follows the developmental readiness of the child:

First the Stockmar Block Crayons are used to explore colour and form on paper

Next the Stockmar Stick Crayons are introduced to add more direction to the form

Followed by the Triangular Pencil when the child begins to learn to write with its thick rounded triangular shaft designed to develop the perfect pencil grip

Then the Hexagonal Pencil which is an artist quality pencil suitable for children and adults

And finally the Fountain Pen for the speed and pure flow of clear precise writing skills.

Colours included in the 12+1 Tin are:

01 carmine red; 03 orange; 06 yellow green; 07 green ;09 blue; 10 ultramarine; 11 blue violet; 13 rust; 15 black; 24 pink; 42 magenta; 44 mid yellow; and a graphite pencil B

A Stockmar set of 12 opaque colours in individual paint pans, set in a tin with a mixing palette, a cat's tongue paintbrush and tube of opaque white paint.

Artist's quality standards.

The artistically shaped box and classic metal design, contains 12 colour tabs. A pleasing and easy-to-use robust metal tin opens and closes securely and stands up to time. Each individual paint puck can easily be taken out for quick replacements as it gets used over time (replacements can be special ordered with ~1 week delivery time). The Stockmar mixing palette (that is, the white metal piece included in the tin) is not attached to the box, so you can put it down wherever is most convenient for your work - and of course it will be easier to clean than a painting box lid that is being used as a palette, as oft ends up being the case otherwise. In addition, your Stockmar box of Opaque colours contains a tube of Opaque white and a top quality Cat's Tongue Brush that holds its shape, made of Ponex synthetic hair and produced for Stockmar by the tradition-conscious German brush manufacturer Zahn.

Everything has been considered in this smart design and quality paint tin!

Tasha Tudor, the children's literature illustrator and naturalist, was herself a fan of having a simple tin of paints open on the table, easily accessible to paint. Mixing watercolours, and beginning with just one colour at a time, and then slowly introducing colour mixing is what is most recommended for the kindergarten and younger primary grades in a traditional Waldorf education; however, we quite like this offering from Stockmar for the middle and older elementary grades, as well as for travel and painting outdoors. Also, if one finds themselves without enough time to mix concentrated watercolour paints with water and portion into jars or bowls for painting, this also offers a nice and easy, yet alternative that does not sacrifice in quality.

Like all of Stockmar paints and colours, there is a reliance on Goethe's colour circle, but here in an extended version. The three basic or primary colours form a triangle; between them are the secondary colours, formed by mixing the adjacent primaries - green from yellow and blue, orange from yellow and red, and violet from red and blue. The colours opposite to one another are complementary colours in which forms the widest possible contrast.
If we now mix the primary with the secondary colours, we arrive at an extension of the colour circle. For example, we can mix red and violet to make red-violet, or yellow and orange to make yellow-orange. In order to enhance the range of colours, and to obtain a variety from mixing them, the Stockmar box of Opaque colours includes two tones of each basic colour: Lemon Yellow, Golden Yellow, Carmine Red, Vermilion, Ultramarine, and Prussian Blue.

The Stockmar colours are delicately balanced with one another, and when mixed will yield harmonious shades of colours.

Like all Stockmar's colour materials, these Opaque colours have a unique luminosity. This is due to the fact that the concentration of the colour pigments in our Opaque colours is particularly intense. As a result the colours are richer, and remain powerful even when heavily diluted. Stockmar Opaque colours are suitable for various different painting techniques; classic opaque painting (over painting), classic watercolour painting, lazure painting or techniques based on a mixture of approaches.

Colours: 01 carmine red ¦ 02 vermilion ¦ 04 gold yellow ¦ 05 lemon yellow ¦ 08 blue green ¦ 10 ultramarine ¦ 12 purple ¦ 13 rust ¦ 15 black ¦ 18 prussian blue ¦ 33 orange ¦ 36 sap green

Made in Germany.

The Stockmar 'Painting & Drawing gift set' is bound to delight those who love to both paint and draw.  The opaque colours and the coloured pencils by Stockmar boast a unique vibrancy and perfectly coordinated colour ranges.  The Stockmar drawing pad provides the ideal surface for drawing with coloured pencils, painting with opaque colours, or applying blending techniques.

The 'Painting & Drawing' gift set by Stockmar is available worldwide with either triangular or hexagonal pencils.  Here it is for sale with triangular pencils in this set.

A beautiful gift set for artists of any level. 

Includes:
~ a set of 12 Stockmar Opaque Watercolour Paints + opaque white tube + paint brush + mixing palette
~ a tin of 18 Triangular Coloured plus 1 Graphite Artist Quality Drawing Pencils
~ a 50 sheet 120gsm Drawing Pad,18.7 x 25.3 cm (7.36 x 9.96 inches)

Made in Germany.

These unlacquered pencils with four colours in one feature a large, hexagonal shape to help encourage a good grip. They are a fun way to write and draw in multi-colour. The extra thick lead cores are extremely break resistant, water resistant, wear longer than standard coloured pencils and require less frequent sharpening.

Length: 17.5 cm (6.89 inches); width: 1 cm (0.39 inch) unlacquered. Actual lead diameter 6.25mm.

Contains colours: red, blue, green and yellow.

Unlacquered wood.

Made in Taiwan by Stockmar.

No keyboard can replace a child's delight at seeing ink transformed on paper into their very own unique handwriting.  This high-quality Greenfield Fountain Pen allows children to learn to write with ease.  The solid ash wood fits easily in the hand, while the ergonomic grip with soft, non-slip finger depressions allows for a comfortable grip.

13 cm long, and 1.4 cm diameter.  (5.12 inches long, with 0.55 inch diameter at the handle).

Designed for both right and left handedness.

*** Please note: Ink cartridges are sold separately!  Blue or black available.

Replacement parts for the fountain pen can also be purchased separately, if need be.

Calligraphy has a rich history, and these pens are perfect for students just starting to learn calligraphy.  

Available in three nib sizes (small, medium and large) that can be easily differentiated by their different colours (green, blue and red).

The wooden barrel of the Greenfield Calligraphy Pen can be used with the Greenfield Fountain Pen nib as well.  

13 cm long, and 1.4 cm diameter.  (5.12 inches long, with 0.55 inch diameter at the handle).

Their comfortable grip is designed for both left and right-handedness.

Please note: Ink cartridges are sold separately!  Blue or black available.

Replacement parts for the calligraphy pen can also be purchased separately, if need be.

No keyboard can replace a child's delight at seeing ink transformed on paper into their very own unique handwriting.  High quality Greenfield pens help children with their writing journey.  The solid ash wood fits easily in the hand, while the ergonomic grip with soft, non-slip finger depressions allows for a comfortable grip.

Cartridges in blue or black to fit all Greenfield Fountain, Calligraphy, and rollerball pens.

4 cartridges per pack.

by Mark Bolitho.  Photography by Brent Darby

With the increasing popular interest in mindfulness, and seeking quiet in the tumult of modern life, origami, the centuries-old practice of paper folding, has enjoyed a tremendous resurgence. With origins possibly dating to sixth century Buddhism, the art of creating shapes from pieces of paper offers an appealing combination of calming concentration and the opportunity to create small works of art with our own hands. This mind-bending collection of geometric origami includes twenty-seven inventive shapes, from simple one-piece pyramids to beautiful and intricate starbursts, each carefully designed and explained with illustrated step-by-step instructions. Also included are thirty-two sheets of origami paper to get you started.

Softcover, 128 pages.

8.15 x 9.15 inches.

Princeton Architectural Press.

Printed in China.

Mark Bolitho has been involved with origami for thirty-five years and is the former chairman of the British Origami Society. Having worked for many years as an accountant, he now devotes his time to origami, from creating and authoring books and kits to undertaking commissions for large-scale exhibitions.

by Mari Ono

This paper can be used for drawing or folding, as well as many craft projects.  The lightweight paper in particular is perfect for paper airplanes and also works quite well for simple origami.

500 sheets in a pack. 10 assorted colours.

Light weight, 60 gsm.

Made in Germany for Mercurius.

This beautiful hardwood box is perfect for storing 16 x 16 cm origami paper.  It is the same wooden box that comes with the Mercurius japanese silk paper, but here we sell the box alone, as an option for filling with your own 16 x 16 paper - be it the Mercurius 'square folding paper' that we sell, which in the lightweight version is perfectly suited for origami creations, or your own origami paper you have at home. 

A lovely way to keep origami sheets at hand, ready to go.

Made in Europe by Mercurius.

A beautiful version of the classic game of solitaire - a test of skill and a practice to stretch one's patience. For some nice solo time.

Beech wood, varnished. With 33 holes and 32 red wooden pegs (plus 3 additional spare pegs). For peg storage and deposit during the game, there is a hinged lid with a compartment at the side. Instructions included.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Instructions:

At the start of the game, insert 32 pegs into the holes. Only the middle hole (#17 in the paper diagram included) remains free. Now jump with one peg over the other and take the 'jumped over' peg away. (Placing the pegs in the attached container). It may only be jumped in a straight line (up, down or across), and only over one peg; Also, a peg cannot jump over an empty hole.

There are infinitely many ways to get to the goal.  You have to jump the pegs with the end in mind so that only 1 peg remains.  And now have fun!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Nest Notes: For age recommendations, it is going to vary by person, but generally Solitaire is a nice game even for adults.  For children, many could get the concept already at 6 or 7 years old maybe, but we might suggest to wait to begin until 8 years old, for the child to have chance to satisfyingly bring it to a conclusion, even if not getting all the pegs but one removed in the end... It is simply a game to see how many you have remaining at the end, and try and get the lowest number possible.  It need not be only 1 left.  The goal is perhaps best introduced as to see how many pegs left at the end, rather than just try to have 1 peg left. ;)  We've seen this game introduced to children around 9-12 years of age as a golden time for delighting in it, and older children, teens, and adults too then find it absorbing.

Made in Germany.

A crank turns the axle with the eccentrically mounted wheels, these move the tappets up and down, in this way the marbles are transported step wise upwards.

29 x 7.5 x 17.5 cm, with 5 glass marbles, from 3 years.

Dieters by Fagus, known for their beech wooden vehicles.

Produced in Germany from local beech wood.

A braiding fork or knitting fork, also called Lucet, is used for making cords, a technique that probably dates from the Middle Ages and introduced by the Vikings.

In contrast to cords that are made with, for example, a braid star, these cords consist of a series of loops that are knotted, so to say.  This creates a very sturdy, square cord, which is very elastic and will not fully unravel when a thread snaps.  Also there is no limit to the length of the thread, so you can make very long and strong cords.  The wood comes from locally owned forestry in Estonia.

We recommend Filges Bioland 3-thread 100% wool yarn sold separately in rainbow, pastel, or red-pink colour combinations. 

Or there is a bundle available here with the lucet, that includes 50 grams of wool, and a small instruction manual.

The small instruction manual also comes with just the lucet alone.

Lucet is 16 cm long.  Oiled solid wood.

In the kits is: 50 grams of plant-dyed Bioland wool yarn from Germany.  

Made in Europe.

The use of a braider comes from Japan and is 1000 years old. The braiding is known there as Kumihimo. Kumi means braids and Himo means cord. Our braid star has 8 slots, which you can weave a string of up to 7 strands. Creates a strong seven-coloured braid and when using our rainbow wool it is even more colourful.

The stars are made of 5 mm thick felt and are sold here individually.

We particularly recommend the silk & wool blend yarn from Filges for use with the braid stars, but our Filges Bioland 100% wool yarn can be used.

Made in the European Union.

Our DIY friendship bracelets are beautiful and symbolic crafts products. 

For making friendship bracelets or keychain fobs. 

The lovely quality 100% cotton embroidery yarn in twelve colours will yield 3-4 beautifully knotted coloured bracelets, depending on width. 

Contents: 3 exercise threads, yarn in 12 different colours, safety pin, instruction booklet.

Ages 10 and up, supports fine motor skills and patience.

Made in Germany.

by Nicole Blum and Catherine Newman

In today’s thriving maker culture, kids are hungry for hands-on guidance in creating stylish wearables and practical objects, or hacking and customizing existing ones. Authors Nicole Blum and Catherine Newman get them started with complete instructions for mastering six favourite fibre crafts. Step-by-step photos teach kids ages 9–14 the basics of how to sew, knit, crochet, felt, embroider, and weave, plus how to make three projects for each craft. (In our experience, children as young as 6.5 or 7 years old can well manage and be inspired by several crafts from the book). From woven patches and a knitted backpack to embroidered merit badges and a crocheted bracelet, the fresh, kid-approved projects encourage creative variations and build confidence along with valuable life skills.

Softcover, 208 pages. 20.3 x 2.3 x 25.1 cm

Storey Publishing, 2017.

Reviews

From the Back Cover

Ready, Set, Make!

About the Author

Nicole Blum and Catherine Newman are the coauthors of Stitch Camp. They are longtime friends and cocreators who have been crafting for many years with each other, their families, and groups of kids at home camps and studio workshops. Blum is the coauthor of Improv Sewing. Newman edits ChopChop, a nonprofit family cooking magazine, and is the author of One Mixed-Up Night, Catastrophic Happiness, and Waiting for Birdy. Blum and Newman live in western Massachusetts.

Read more at the publisher's website.

Excerpt from the Book

Beanbag Hand Warmer

The project description below is an excerpt from “Stitch Camp” by Nicole Blum and Catherine Newman (Storey Publishing, 2017).

Toss them into a bucket and keep score — and they’re toys. Heat them in the microwave and pop them in your pockets — and they’re hand warmers. Either way, this is a project that comes together quickly, and it makes a great gift. Make your beanbag as big or small as you like, or vary the sizes for different projects.

What You Need

♦ Enough craft felt, polar fleece, or felted wool to cut a front and back piece

♦ Straight pins

♦ A small bowl (or a square cut from cardboard) for tracing (any size 3 to 5 inches is good)

♦ Chalk

♦ Scissors

♦ Embroidery floss or sturdy thread

♦ Sharp needle

♦ Rice or other grains, lentils or other small dried beans, or popcorn, for filling

♦ Kitchen funnel or a piece of paper or small spoon

How You Make It

1. Stack or fold the fabric so there are two layers and stick a pin through the middle to hold the layers together while you’re cutting. Trace the bowl or cardboard square onto the top layer with chalk. Keeping both pieces of fabric pinned together, carefully cut the shapes out. Taking your time here will make sewing easier, and you won’t have to fix rough edges later.

2. Measure an arm’s length of embroidery floss, thread your needle, and knot the end. Starting in between the two layers, push your needle up through the top piece of fabric and pull the thread through until the knot is snugly against the underside.

3. Stitch around the edge of both layers using a nice, even backstitch. It is important to make your stitches very close together so the filling won’t pop out, especially if you’re using rice.

4. When you have about 1 inch left open, stop sewing but don’t tie off your thread yet; just lay the needle and thread out of the way or push the needle into the fabric to keep it safe. Use the unstitched hole to fill the bag with rice, beans, or the filling of your choice. A kitchen funnel makes this easy, but you can roll up a piece of paper to make a funnel if you like, or just use a small spoon and some patience.

5. When the bag is full, finish stitching until you meet up with where you started, then tie off your thread and snip it close to the fabric. If it’s important to you to conceal the knot, you can push the needle between the two layers before knotting.

Tip: Materials for Hand Warmers

If you’re planning to offer your beanbags up (or use them yourself) as hand warmers, use wool felt for the outside. Synthetics can behave strangely in the microwave, which is where you’ll heat them up. Rice is our favorite choice for filling hand warmers (it smells good when you heat it.), but whatever you choose, don’t use popcorn.

By Ute Fischer; Translated by Anna Cardwell

Weaving is a creative and practical art that's great fun for all ages and abilities. This original book shows you how to weave a wonderful variety of objects -- special jewellery, a pretty bag, juggling balls, a snug scarf and even a scary spider in its web.

Some of the items have handy everyday uses -- a phone pocket, a mug warmer and a coin purse -- and some are just great fun -- fairyland mushrooms, a dreamcatcher and an Easter hen.

Each enjoyable project is accompanied by easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions and colour photos showing children how to weave with a variety of materials from traditional wool, to rags and plastic bags.

Ideal for parents or teachers, the projects are most suitable for children aged 7 to 14 years old; although a pattern for a pom-pom which may be introduced in junior kindergarten age, and then simple weaving, eg, for a wide belt, which may be introduced in senior kindergarten is also included.

Softcover, 104 pages, with full colour illustrations.  229 x 210 mm.

Floris Books.

Using this loom with a diameter of 22 cm (8.66 inch), even young children can play to their hearts' content and easily master the ancient craft of weaving.  Suitable for children aged 4 and up.  Includes a needle, 52 mm (20.47 inch).

One would be surprised at the number of possibilities for handwork with a simple weaving loom such as this.

Lime (otherwise known as basswood) from Europe.  22 cm diameter.

A variety of threads and yarns may work with such a loom.  May we suggest a very thick thread or string, or embroidery floss for the weft (structure that forms the radii of the loom), and then one may also mix threads and yarns of varying textures and thicknesses even in the circular weaving work.

Made in Germany.

Our authentic wooden Potholder Loom is an excellent introduction to weaving.  Children can easily learn this pleasant and practical craft.  The loom comes with a wooden weaving hook, instructions, and 2 skeins of soft cotton tricot band.  Colours of the cotton tricot varies.

Maple wood, 28.5 x 28.5 x 8 cm, with soft cotton tricot band and manual.  Comes in a cotton drawstring bag.

Recommended for 5 years and up.

Made in Germany by Werksiedlung St. Christoph.

Have you seen how furry the fox’s tail is?

This is a simple game involving coloured threading laces through the holes.  Children can lace the strings to create different patterns like crosses or dashes.  Lacing toys are classic examples of toys developing children’s fine motor skills.  Holding and threading and undoing the sewing motions help the hand practice different skills needed for writing.

18 cm x  15 cm x 6 cm.

Recommended for children 3 years and older.

Natural wood.  (Orange fox not available at this time).

Made in Poland.

How to care for this toy?

Designed by: Sylwia Sapała

You can apply three different weaving techniques to cover these sheeps with wool.

This toy contain a booklet to learn how to weave and a bit of information about the sheepkeeping in the polish mountains.

Dimensions of sheep: 20 cm x 12 cm x 18 cm

Contents: sheep wooden weaving frame, wooden weaving shuttle, wool yarn, and elastic cord.

Made in Poland.

Designed by: Sylwia Sapała

You can apply three different weaving techniques to cover these sheeps with wool.

This toy contain a booklet to learn how to weave and a bit of information about the sheepkeeping in the polish mountains.

Dimensions of sheep: 20 cm x 12 cm x 18 cm

Contents: sheep wooden weaving frame in natural dark wood, wooden weaving shuttle, wool yarn, and elastic cord.

Made in Poland.

A great way for a child to learn fine motor skills, basic sewing stitches, and introduce the experience of embroidery.  In the photograph you see the following stitches -- running, back, chain, cross, whip, blanket, and zigzag.  Whether a child uses this as a tool for learning or toy for fun, it provides a wonderful way to practice skills, express creativity and build new talents.

In the last photo, is a set-up the maker did with her children to create patterns on their boards.  They laid a sheet of paper onto a towel and the sewing board on the paper.  Then they poked holes into the paper through the board using a skewer.  Once the entire grid of holes was poked into the paper, they came up with designs by connecting the dots with a pencil and planned out their embroidery for the board.  Then they stitched it onto the board :).  They have a mermaid and fish demonstrated in the photo.

Includes 2 large needles and threading in assortment of colours.

We might recommend this board for children around 7 years of age and up, depending.  It depends on when you might be beginning sewing, as this is meant to help prepare for different stitches.  The needles included are blunt but still pointy.

Made in the US by Treasures from Jennifer.

35 fun and fluffy creatures to knit and wear

by Fiona Goble

Knit your own animal accessories with these fun and colourful patterns from Fiona Goble.

Everyone loves animals, and now you can add them to your wardrobe with this fun and fluffy collection of animal scarves, mitts, and socks to knit. Whether you like the bright colors of tropical frogs and fish, or you prefer the cuddly softness of a koala or a rabbit, you will find your favorite creature here. 'Furry Friends' include a fox scarf and mitts, and a marmalade kitten scarf. In 'Country Creatures' you'll find scarves in the shape of a duckling, a lamb, and a pig, as well as hedgehog mitts. 'Water Lovers' include a shark scarf complete with fin, and a pair of penguin socks, while 'Wild Animals' range from an elephant scarf to a zebra cowl and snake socks. There are loads of scarves for small kids, big kids, and young adults, plus a cute collection of socks in the form of cats, owls, mice, and more. Cowls and mittens, and some hat/scarf combinations, complete the set. With simple stitches, full instructions for making-up, and clear photographs to illustrate the all-important details, you can pick up your needles and knit a menagerie in no time.

by Kate Eastwood

35 floral and festive designs to decorate your home all year round

Crochet beautiful home decorations in a contemporary style with these 35 patterns for every season, special occasions, Christmas, and all year round.

Kate Eastwood has designed 35 colourful and natural-looking wreaths and garlands just for you, with something to suit every occasion and every place. There are garlands with flowers and foliage that won't fade after a few days, and wreaths that can be kept on display all year round, not just for Christmas. You can crochet a Heart Garland for Valentine’s Day, or an Easter Egg Wreath full of the colors of spring. In summer, a wreath covered in bright strawberries will brighten up your hallway. For the autumn, a ring of crocheted pumpkins will look great on your front door, and for Christmas there’s everything from a Mistletoe Wreath to a Gingerbread Garland. If you want a make that will look good all year round, try the Bobble Bunting in strong pastels, or the Shaker Birdhouse Garland in soft, neutral shades to suit any room.

Softcover, 128 pages.  8.2 X 10.9 inches.

Ryland, Peters, & Small.

Make Your Own Mini Looms & Weave 25 Exquisite Projects

by Harumi Kageyama

Learn how to make your own portable weaving loom with everyday materials like cardboard, paper, pins, tacks, wood, and nails. Step-by-step instructions illustrate how to construct four handcrafted loom designs with ordinary tools. Use a cardboard cake box to make a circle loom and weave friendship rings. Create a little loom with a picture frame and weave a colorful purse.

Featuring 25 cute projects like bags, jewelry, table-mats, and pouches, all projects are friendly for weaving with both traditional and unconventional fibers. You can try different materials, from classic yarn to more novel materials like ribbon, suede and pipe cleaners -change it up for a whole different look!

These do-it-yourself looms are perfect for crafting on the go. They are small enough to take with you as a portable travel craft or outside pastime. With basic materials you’ll be weaving on your handmade loom in no time!

Paperback.

Zakka Workshop.

There is something delightful and pure about these charming little brass bells. For crafting or for free play for kindergarteners.

With a robust handle.

1.9 cm diameter.

Sold individually.

Made in Germany.

These solid maple snowflakes enchant, hanging on a tree, or as we've used them in our home, tiled on the floor with small world 'winter' and polar scenes.

They come in a set of 3 snowflakes (of the same size), and each one has a tiny hole in one spot, that a thread can be looped through so as to hang them.

They also look very nice hanging from a branch in a vase, or hanging above a dining room table for elegant decor.

Small have 5 cm diameter.  Medium have 7.5 cm diameter.

Made in Germany.

100% beeswax sheets. For rolling into tapered candles. Wicks included.

The feeling of working with all natural beeswax in your hands, and the smell filling your nostrils, makes this a delightful and calming activity. And one that you can continue to enjoy with pride as you admire and light your newly created tapered candles.

Kit includes 3 sheets, and enough candlewick for 3 candles.
Each sheet is 21 x 29.7 cm.

Made in the Netherlands.

18 x 100% beeswax tealight candles in a box.

Each candle is 3.6 cm diameter, 1.8 cm height.

4 hours burning time per tealight.

Made in the Netherlands by Dipam.  

About Dipam:

In our little factory in the Dutch town of Driebergen we love to create something beautiful out of nature’s gifts. That is what the world of Dipam is all about: nature, people and candles made of pure sunlight.  In 1983 Jos Willemse started a project to help people get back on track. It gradually grew into a unique enterprise. The centuries-old craft of making bees wax candles turned out to be a wonderful way to gain work experience, social skills and self-confidence. A Tibetan monk who came to visit the company at the time gave it its name: Dipam, light that cannot go out.

Today, our small traditional factory in Driebergen still feels like a home away from home. We make bees wax candles, rapeseed wax candles and other bees wax products here. Together we are a colourful mix of people who make, pack, sell and distribute beautiful, natural products. Everyone at Dipam – from candle makers to the manager, from packers to administrative staff – is challenged to keep developing themselves and the company. 

Tips for safe and pleasant use

A burning bees wax candle is a living light.  And living light requires your care and attention.  Here you can read how to use a (burning) bees wax candle wisely.

Safety tips

For everyone’s safety, at least stick to these rules:

• Do not leave bees wax candles burning unattended, as with any other candles.
• Do not place your bees wax candles too close together or next to another heat source.
• Do not leave children and animals alone in a room where a candle is burning.
• Make sure that the flame from your bees wax candle is kept away from flammable materials.

Tips for your own enjoyment

• Avoid draughts. Beeswax candles will also soot, drip and burn unevenly.
• If a bees wax candle burns unevenly, you can carefully bend the burning wick.
• In order to burn beautifully and evenly – especially with bigger candles – it is important that the entire surface becomes liquid every time. So let the candle burn for a long enough time.
• If the rim around the wick is too high, the candle might not burn as nicely.  You should therefore cut the rim when the candle has just gone out and the bees wax still feels warm.
• The ideal length for a wick is about 1 cm.  A longer wick will usually soot.  If it does, cut it back to 1 cm.
• Do not place the candle in direct sunlight or near a heat source such as a stove, so the candle doesn’t lose its shape.
• Soot and smoke-free extinguishing the candle is done by pressing the burning wick into the liquid bees wax.  Do this with a quick, controlled movement.  Then straighten it again.  This will prevent the candle from smouldering.  Moreover, this will make it easier to light your Dipam candle again.

White dusting on a bees wax candle?

Congratulations! Your candle consists of 100% pure bees wax. A white dusting only occurs on bees wax candles of the highest quality. It will form naturally over time, especially at lower temperatures. The white dusting can easily be removed with a soft cloth.

7 x 100% beeswax tealight candles in a box.

Each candle is 3.6 cm diameter, 1.8 cm height.

Candles are in their own aluminum cups. Burning time = 4 hours per tealight.

Made in the Netherlands by Dipam.

About Dipam:

In our little factory in the Dutch town of Driebergen we love to create something beautiful out of nature’s gifts. That is what the world of Dipam is all about: nature, people and candles made of pure sunlight.  In 1983 Jos Willemse started a project to help people get back on track. It gradually grew into a unique enterprise. The centuries-old craft of making bees wax candles turned out to be a wonderful way to gain work experience, social skills and self-confidence. A Tibetan monk who came to visit the company at the time gave it its name: Dipam, light that cannot go out.

Today, our small traditional factory in Driebergen still feels like a home away from home. We make bees wax candles, rapeseed wax candles and other bees wax products here. Together we are a colourful mix of people who make, pack, sell and distribute beautiful, natural products. Everyone at Dipam – from candle makers to the manager, from packers to administrative staff – is challenged to keep developing themselves and the company. 

Tips for safe and pleasant use

A burning bees wax candle is a living light.  And living light requires your care and attention.  Here you can read how to use a (burning) bees wax candle wisely.

Safety tips

For everyone’s safety, at least stick to these rules:

• Do not leave bees wax candles burning unattended, as with any other candles.
• Do not place your bees wax candles too close together or next to another heat source.
• Do not leave children and animals alone in a room where a candle is burning.
• Make sure that the flame from your bees wax candle is kept away from flammable materials.

Tips for your own enjoyment

• Avoid draughts. Beeswax candles will also soot, drip and burn unevenly.
• If a bees wax candle burns unevenly, you can carefully bend the burning wick.
• In order to burn beautifully and evenly – especially with bigger candles – it is important that the entire surface becomes liquid every time. So let the candle burn for a long enough time.
• If the rim around the wick is too high, the candle might not burn as nicely.  You should therefore cut the rim when the candle has just gone out and the bees wax still feels warm.
• The ideal length for a wick is about 1 cm.  A longer wick will usually soot.  If it does, cut it back to 1 cm.
• Do not place the candle in direct sunlight or near a heat source such as a stove, so the candle doesn’t lose its shape.
• Soot and smoke-free extinguishing the candle is done by pressing the burning wick into the liquid bees wax.  Do this with a quick, controlled movement.  Then straighten it again.  This will prevent the candle from smouldering.  Moreover, this will make it easier to light your Dipam candle again.

White dusting on a bees wax candle?

Congratulations! Your candle consists of 100% pure bees wax. A white dusting only occurs on bees wax candles of the highest quality. It will form naturally over time, especially at lower temperatures. The white dusting can easily be removed with a soft cloth.

Price is per one glass tealight holder. 

4.5 cm diameter.

Made in Germany.

Price is per one glass tealight holder.   These tall tealight holders are a great option for a small regular 'tealight', or for our 'party lights', with the diameter of a tealight, but much taller, and for hours of burntime, for a party that lasts the day and into the evening.

4.5 cm diameter at outer base.  3.6 cm diameter inner base (fits tealight up to 3.6 cm in diameter).

6.2 cm diameter overall at top lip of glass.  4.8 cm (1 7/8") overall height.

Made in Germany.

Votive candles or Dipam's Party Lights are beautiful when lit anywhere.  They pair nicely with our Party Light Glass Votive holders.  The votives are the same diameter as a tealight, but taller.

All Dipam candles are made of 100% pure beeswax, without any natural or artificial additives. They retain their natural fragrance most noticeable while burning.

Dipam partners with institutes for disabled people and provides work experience for people who have been out of work for various reasons. Every effort is made to use materials in their packaging and products that are sustainably produced and environmentally friendly.

Burn time for Dipam 100% Pure Beeswax candles can be up to 15% longer than other candles.

9 candles per box, 100% beeswax, cotton wick.

Made in the Netherlands.

A pleasing rounded low spherical shape, to hold a tealight. 

Solid European ash wood.  Please note that wood grain and colour may differ slightly from image shown.

10.5 cm diameter.  4.5 cm high.

Made in Germany. 

100% beeswax, including wick, and 1 dipping tin.

To use:

1. You will first prepare a 'double-boiler' for the beeswax pallets, with the included tin being the container to melt the wax, and a large pot of your own to boil water in. To begin, fill your large stockpot only halfway with water. Place the tall tin with beeswax pellets inside of the stockpot. In this manner, there is no water touching the actual beeswax pellets. Turn the burner to high heat. The temperature of the water should remain under 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hopefully you can keep your pot clean. It may still happen that some beeswax might drip into your pot. Some people like to use a pot that they don't worry about dripping wax as much, but it is possible with a careful handling to keep your pot clean, and the beeswax contained to the tin.

2. As the wax is melting, you can prepare the candle wick. You can make just one candle at a time, or you can use a longer string holding it in the middle with both ends dipping in at the same time to make two candles at once. It may be helpful to tie little weights to the ends of the string; you might use hex nuts, fishing weights, pennies stuck together in a clump of soft wax. If you do two candles at a time, then hanging them to dry afterwards will be easier for candles that are thicker diameter and need more time to dry. If you are only making very small diameter candles, then they won't take long to dry, and doing one candle at a time is fine.

3. Test the wax temperature with the included thermometer. It should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. You're ready to begin. For your first dip of the wick, you will seal the wick by dipping it into the melted wax to the desired length of the candle. Lift back out again into the air.

5. The wax should take about 4 seconds or so to air harden once the wick is lifted out of the melted wax. Re-dip once more, and then immediately plunge into cold water bath. Repeat Steps 4 & 5 until your candle reaches the desired diameter.

6. For some old-fashioned charm, hang the finished candles over a broom balanced on two chair backs, making sure the candles don't touch each other. Leave them to harden for a day in a cool, draft-free spot. Cut off the weights, and re-dip the ends to have the bottoms be more tapered.

Note: The beeswaxes pellets reduce in volume when melted. We advise you to keep a refill bag with beeswax pellets from Dipam, or simply melt down your remnants from your old beeswax candles.

0.6 kg (600 grams) of beeswax. 3 x 3 metres of cotton candle wick (eg. 9 metres in total).

Made in the European Union for Mercurius.

A Pointsetta 'Christmas flower' postcard by Marjan van Zeyl from the assortment "Flowers".

A card like this is lovely to receive in the post at holiday time, or it makes for a nice visual in the home to put on display.

11.7 x 17.3 cm

Printed in the Netherlands.

More information at www.marjanvanzeyl.nl

Captivating.  Spirited. Elegant.  The mini wood racers are ideal for lovers of design and sports cars.  Hand assembled with attention to every detail, they are both a toy and a beautifully designed miniature piece.  The mini racers are unique because the bodywork, axes and wheels are made of wood.  The tires are made of rubber to provide grip.  J ust a gentle push with one finger will get them going.

For ages 3+.

Milaniwood is a brand of exclusively designed ecological wooden games that are 100% manufactured in Italy by T.a.m.i.l., a company that has been making high quality wooden components since 1924. The games are made with FSC wood using machinery fuelled by clean energy, safe, with attention to detail and recyclable packaging made of cotton and cardboard.

The fingertop for experts that can spin on both ends... Much easier to spin on the green treetop tip, or the rounded sphere of the mushroom... but with a little practice, a kreisel expert could even get them to spin on the post ends....

Fir tree and mushroom sit on bough as a holder for it, but the tops are then removed from the bough for play.

Degree of difficulty: 5 (where 1 is the easiest and 6 is the most difficult).

Dimensions: tree diameter is 38mm. Mushroom diameter is 32mm.

Maple wood.

Made in Austria.

The fingertop for experts that can spin on both ends... Much easier to spin on the green treetop tip... but a kreisel expert could even get it to spin on the post end.... Fir tree sits on bough as a holder for it, but the top is then removed from the bough for play.

Degree of difficulty: 5 (where 1 is the easiest and 6 is the most difficult).

Diameter: 38 mm.

Maple wood.

Made in Austria.

Knowing which knot to use when and how to tie it can mean the difference between safety and danger or a dry or wet night camping.  A well-tied knot is not only a safeguard, but also a thing of beauty.  40 Knots and How to Tie Them presents the essential knots, from classic sturdy, strong knots—including Bowline, Sheepshank, Pile Hitch, and Truckers Dolly—to the decorative.  Instructions on tying each knot are shown in crystal-clear, hand-drawn diagrams, and its uses plainly explained.  A perfect gift for the novice or the seasoned expert, each chapter contains a project to practice knots, including a bracelet, coaster, woven mat, and hammock.

Lucy Davidson is a graphic designer and illustrator who creates beautiful weaves, runs workshops, and is the creator of a popular craft and design blog, Peas and Needles.  She lives in Brighton, England.

Hardcover, 144 pages.

5.31 x 7.28 inches.

Princeton Architectural Press.

Nest Notes: The great thing about this book is that it can grow with you, as even children as young as first grade can begin with one or two of the different knots, and then gradually one might introduce more to their practice and knowledge.  Easy to follow diagrams, very pleasing to learn with, step-by-step.  Practical knots for outdoors, for crafting, and even then overlapping with or leading into macrame and weaving know-how.  The projects at the end help put the skills to use with pride.

Fun Whittling Project for Adventurous Kids

by Frank Egholm; Translated by Anna Cardwell

• Packed with ideas to fuel your child's creative energy and help them find a new outdoor hobby this season
• Wood carving can help improve concentration, creativity and dexterity
• Help parents share hygge and lagom values with their kids with this on-trend hobby
• Includes 180 colour illustrations and easy to follow step-by-step instructions
• Ideal for around 10 or 11 years of age, a great time to introduce woocarving.  Some children a little younger with guidance and interest, and of course anyone at any age older may also enjoy.

Wood carving is the perfect outdoor hobby for adventurous children. Teach them how to make toys, games and even jewellery with more than fifty fun whittling and wood carving projects, each fully-illustrated with easy-to-follow instructions.

Looking for an outdoor hobby to engage your children and encourage them to be crafty and creative? Wood carving is not only easy to learn and fun to do, but almost everything you need to get started can be found for free -- right outside your door!

Together you can craft a tumbling tower game, a racing car toy, a dolphin necklace or even a handy coat hook! With more than fifty activities at levels for beginners and up, children can create something useful, beautiful or fun (often all three!) out of wood.

Learning wood carving not only helps to improve children's concentration, creativity and dexterity, it's also invaluable in teaching them how to handle knives safely.

Adventurous children will be thrilled to learn woodland skills, while nature-loving parents will enjoy rediscovering the lost art of whittling with their kids.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
Difficulty levels
Whittling guidelines
Getting started
Finding a whittling knife
Protective gear
Wood
Where to find fresh branches
Dry wood
Wood carving
techniques
Whittling away from the body
Whittling towards the body
Practical tips
Sharpening knives
Saws and garden shears
Splitting wood
Colouring wood
Sanding wood
Carving seat
Whittling and reading

Animal figures
Bird made from a single branch
Bird with a feathery tail
Bird made from the end of a branch
Lifelike bird

Pigs and dogs
Fence with string or rails
Dolphin
Seal
Snake
Games
Pig throwing
Game pieces
Tower of Hanoi
The four confounding squares
Toys
Racing car
Spinning tops
Spinning top with handle and pull string
Whittled top

Softcover, 128 pages. 180 colour illustrations. 195 x 178 mm.

Frank Egholm is a lecturer, author and former woodwork teacher who worked for many years at the Rudolf Steiner School in Vordingborg, Denmark. Frank also designs and develops his own wooden toys and games, and is married to the illustrator Lillian Egholm.

Anna Cardwell is a translator who lives in Edinburgh, UK.

Floris Books. 2018.

Simple variant of the classic game 'Bilboquet'.

The solid maple wooden ball is attached by a string to the bottom of the wooden cup. With some practice and concentration, one can swing the ball up so that it lands into the cup.

We might recommend for 7 years and up.

Solid maple, with painted stripes decoration.

Meets European Toy Safety Standards.

55 mm diameter.

Made in Austria.

32 cards with illustrations by Eva-Maria Ott-Heidmann.  The rules of the game are similar to 'Go Fish'.

Recommended for 5 years and up.

Made in Germany.

Rainbow String Game, hand dyed in USA.  

String games are a good workout for the brain.  And, they are fun!

Many parents carry string games along on trips, to restaurants, and visits with relatives as a way to pass the time and share tricks with their children.

Wonderful for older children and adults to teach to younger children.

Recommended for ages 5 and up.  It can really depend on the child.  Most children begin finger strings around 8 years old.

'Finger Strings' book sold separately with endless activities for the advanced string game enthusiast.

These are the kind of finger strings used in most of the Waldorf schools; grades 1-5.

For years these have been cut, melted and hand-dyed by Sarah's Silks owner's son, Noah, in USA.

If they break (from rough yanking) light a candle and burn the ends back together (adults only).

A pocket-size brain gym.  More than 500 full-color puzzles from the original Big Book of Brain Games—the book that Will Shortz praised as “the most wide-ranging, visually appealing, entertaining collection of brainteasers since Sam Lloyd’s Cyclopedia of Puzzles,” and The Washington Post called “an opus . . . mixing math with wonder.”

Mental games, visual challenges, logic posers, riddles, and illusions, each designed to stretch neurons and give the brain a workout—all in a format that will fit in your pocket.  The puzzles (both original and mind-boggling adaptations of classics) are rated in difficulty from level one to ten, but even the easiest are guaranteed to make the solver feel smart.

A fun book for children and adult to challenge each other or puzzle out together. 

A small size to take on trips, in the car, for line-ups, or just to keep in the living room or bedside table.  Puzzles and games are a delightful way to take a mini-brain vacation!

Softcover, 440 pages.  4.1 x 6 inches.

Workman publishing.

About the Author:

Ivan Moscovich is an internationally known and acclaimed inventor, puzzler, and artist.  He has designed award-winning toys for Mattel, Kenner, Childcraft, Ravensburger, Binary Arts, and other companies, and is the author of the MindGames series and other books.  Mr. Moscovich lives in the Netherlands.

102 Brainteasers, Word Games, Jokes & Riddles, Picture Puzzlers, Matches & Logic Tests for Horse-Loving Kids

By Cindy A. Littlefield

102 brainteasers, word games, jokes, riddles, and puzzles that will keep horse-crazy children entertained for hours.  Packed with fascinating bits of equine trivia and plenty of illustrations, this book will jumpstart kids’ creativity and boost their problem-solving skills, while at the same time teaching them about their favorite animals.  Get ready for some serious horsing around.

Recommended for 8 - 12 years old (Grades 3 to grade 7).

Softcover, 144 pages.

Storey Publishing, 2004.

A blockish take on a classic game.  Connect cubes of the same colour in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line to be the winner.

FSC wood from well-managed forests.

Designed by Sergio Milani.

100% Made in Italy by Milaniwood.

Animal Mah-jong takes the traditional Chinese tile game and updates it for a new audience in this affordable card format.  Rather than the traditional line drawings of bamboo and Chinese characters, it features Ryuto Miyake’s beautiful animal illustrations – each suit features Asian animals from the land, sea and air.  Get ready to pong, chow and kong like you never have before!

Learn how to play mah-jong with this beautifully illustrated mah-jong set!

• Stunning illustrations by Ryuto Miyake

• Affordable new card format

• Screen-free fun – a high quality non-digital game for all ages

• Suitable for children and families to play together

For ages 9 and up.

by Mike Unwin, Illustrations by Christine Berrie

Enter the beautiful world of butteflies in this colourful matching game.  The task is to match the upperwings and folded wings of 25 butterflies.  Many butterflies have bright wings in flight, but when they perch their wings can be camoflaged to look like eyes, leaves, or even cobwebs.  A pictorial guide with a mini dossier on each species is included.

by Meredith & Sofie Jacobs

From the bestselling authors of the Just Between Us series comes a set of conversation cards to help the whole family get beyond the chit-chat and deepen the conversation.

Housed in a sturdy and pleasing keepsake box, these conversation starters can sit on a shelf near a family gathering place, or be tossed into a bag for a road trip.

If you like, you can slip a conversation card into the display window in the front of the box. Take turns answering the question. Then flip the card over for more ways to enrich the conversation.

With more than 150 prompts, these cards generate many rich opportunities for connection, and because the questions are open-ended, they can be reused again and again.

75 cards, front and back. More than 150 prompts.

Chronicle Books. Published April 2019.

Nest Note: We also find this to be a nice activity before bed, as a kind of journalling aloud together. We have used 'the cuddle cards journal' for this same activity, and it is an absolute family favourite for children kindergarten aged right up to adults. This set from the 'just between us' series for us feels like a natural expansion of the cuddle cards journal.

Sample prompts:

Front of card: "Imagine you're my age - what's your day like?"

Back of card, digging deeper: "Imagine you're my age - what are you like?"

About the Authors:

Sofie Jacobs graduated from the University of Michigan and lives in Rockville, Maryland.

Meredith Jacobs is an award-winning columnist and author. She lives in Rockville, Maryland.

by Adam Ford

Who isn’t fascinated by the sheer size of the universe? Stars offers a straightforward guide to what we know and how we know it—from the Big Bang to star nurseries to the beginnings of life on planet Earth.

Find out why you can’t draw a diagram of the solar system to scale, discover how gravity holds our planet together, and learn why we’re all made of stardust.

Included inside:

• season-by-season guide to stargazing
• double-sided star chart covering the northern and southern hemispheres
• pull-out activities, including "Test Your Eyesight" cards and a “What Do You Weigh on Other Planets?” spinning wheel, plus four sheets of stickers

Hardcover, 48 pages.  7.25 x 7.25 inches.

Roost Books.

by Maja Säfström

A beautifully illustrated collection of fascinating, surprising, and funny facts about extinct animals.

In the past, amazing and strange animals roamed the earth, including giant sea scorpions, tiny horses, enormous sloths, and fierce "terror birds." These and many more fantastic extinct animals are illustrated in this whimsical collection by Swedish artist Maja Säfström.

Have a look inside the book.

ABOUT MAJA SÄFSTRÖM

Maja Säfström is a Stockholm-based illustrator and architect, and the author of The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts and Animals of a Bygone Era: An Illustrated Compendium.

Hardcover, 112 pages. 6 x 7.5".

Published by Ten Speed Press. 2017.

by Maja Säfström

Did you know that an octopus has three hearts?
Or that ostriches can’t walk backward?
Or that a group of owls is called a parliament, or that they have three eyelids?

Sea otters hold hands in their sleep, bees never sleep, and penguins laugh when they’re tickled!

This charming compendium contains over 100 pages of fascinating facts about the animal kingdom illustrated with whimsical detail.

Have a look inside the book.

ABOUT MAJA SÄFSTRÖM

Maja Säfström is a Stockholm-based illustrator and architect, and the author of The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts and Animals of a Bygone Era: An Illustrated Compendium.

Hardcover, 120 pages. 6 x 7.5".

Published by Ten Speed Press. 2016.

‘This trusty guide teaches you all the essential skills you need to survive in the wild, from building a shelter to making a fire. Forest school practitioner Richard Skrein shares his expertise and enthusiasm for the outdoors through easy-to-understand instructions, illustrated with captivating drawings by Maria Nilsson.

The book is divided into four main chapters reflecting the elemental skill sets:

Earth – this chapter focuses on toolcraft, foraging and natural resources.  Learn how to make a bow, arrows and a mallet; identify essential plants and trees and their medicinal properties.
Air – this chapter focuses on shelters, knots, navigation and the sky.  Learn the secrets of selecting the perfect wilderness camp; master knots and lashings; and discover how to read nature’s ‘GPS’.
Water – this chapter focuses on finding, drinking and using water, fishing and rafts.  Learn how to purify water for drinking; suss out the skills needed to fashion a fishing rod; and make a sail for your handmade raft.
Fire – this chapter focuses on making and using fire and cooking food.  Master the art of building a fire, set your own signal fire and build a Swedish fire log.

The book also explains the items you need to ensure your rucksack is kitted out with the best equipment for exploring. With extra tips and a rundown of useful tools, you’ll find everything you need to get out there, have an adventure and survive the great outdoors.’

This stylish guide to all things to do in the outdoors will bring day hikers and campers of all ages closer to nature in delightful and unexpected ways.

Maria Nilsson's playful and informative illustrations bring each skill to life, making this the perfect gift for outdoors enthusiasts of all skill levels, from first-time hikers to experienced trekkers.  The perfect size to toss in your day pack, 50 Things to Do in the Wild will become an essential companion on all your outdoor adventures.

Richard Skrein is an experienced educational professional with a profound and enduring passion for outdoor education. He is a Forest School facilitator, teacher trainer and consultant and is evangelical about the benefits of Forest School and outdoor learning.  He lives in London, England.  Maria Nilsson is a freelance illustrator based in London.  

Harcover, 144 pages.

5.31. 7.28 inches. 

Princeton Architectural Press, 2020.

Nest Notes: the great thing about the outdoors is that you can be a beginner or an enthusiast at any age.  This book has many activities that both young and old can participate in.

Whether you're a beginner or seasoned whittler, this practical guide to the age old yet newly popular art of whittling will delight, inspire, and instruct you.  Featuring projects that cater to a range of skill levels---including a pen/pencil holder, chess pieces, a slingshot, spoon, whistle, chopsticks, fishhook, bookmark, and more elaborate carvings like a horse's head and whale, Fifty Things to Do with a Penknife is the perfect combination of cool craftsmanship with savvy survival-skill projects.  Detailed step-by-step illustrations make this book ideal for the creative adventurer with-a-knife in your life!

Harcover, 144 pages.

5.31 x 7.3 inches.  Over 200 illustrations.

Princeton Architectural Press, 2020.

Reviews:

"You have a penknife. You have some wood. You face the question mankind has pondered since time immemorial: what now? Luckily Matt Collins is here to help you through this existential dilemma with 50 Things to Do with a Penknife. We'd say this is more suitable for the younger crowd, but there are almost certainly some more mature floggers out there who are new to the whole penknife scene, and this is for them...The last chapter is the most useful from an outdoorsy perspective, with topics such as grafting an apple tree and preparing a fish. Overall the projects are easy-breezy, perfect for kids and first-timers as a companion to their first penknife."  ~ Gearflogger