Kids will get in touch with Mother Earth-and see how to save her too-with 150 illustrated, truly terrific nature-friendly projects. There are things to do for every season of the year, crafts that use recycled materials, and activities that encourage youngsters to investigate the natural world. Fantastic color photos capture real children happily working on the projects, and every project mixes fun and learning. A cute cat wind vane will show which way the wind blows and a pretty barometer in a painted jar captures changes in air pressure: fabulous facts on weather provide additional interesting information. Or make candies with fresh mint leaves, a pocket sundial, sweet smelling grass mat, a "desert in a jar," and more.
Gwen Diehn was born and raised in New Orleans, LA, and studied art at Indiana University at South Bend, The University of Notre Dame (MA), and Vermont College (MFA). She has exhibited her artwork internationally and has work in many private and public collections, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. She has taught college art as well as workshops for many years. She has also written several books about art and also journal keeping and making. One of them, The Decorated Page, is being re-issued in a revised edition/bind-up with another one, The Decorated Journal, in spring, 2012. Her most recent book, Real Life Journals, was listed as one of the top 10 gardening and crafts books of 2010 by Booklist.
You can visit her blog at http://real-life-journals.blogspot.com.
