BOOK REVIEW: Nature Babies by Tara Jon Manning
Fall 2006 saw the publication of a number of books featuring knitting with organic yarns and “living lightly.” Tara Jon Mannings’ Nature Babies: knits and organic crafts for Moms, babies, and a better world is one of two specifically geared to organic knitting for babies. Manning states in her introduction: “Nature Babies presents you and your baby with gifts and accessories that employ some of our Earth’s loveliest materials and that fit the philosophies of a natural and holistic lifestyle.”
Manning’s patterns follow her philosophy: “Live simply so others may simply live.” By utilizing recycled and organic materials, Manning proposes that gifts for babies should help teach them that “less is more.”
The sections of Nature Babies are colour-coded to help readers easily locate the projects. The first section (pages edged in red) contains projects suitable for novice knitters, intersperse with information on organic yarns. The second section (blue edges) are projects made with felt and Manning suggests recycling old wool (and other all-animal fiber sweaters) to create these fun toys and hats. The third section (green edges) contains sewing projects, the fourth (yellow edges) is pattern templates and the final section (teal edges) provides instructions on various techniques.
Throughout, Manning discusses imaginative play and the benefits of toys without batteries and flashing lights. Her theory is that “simple, natural toys absorb the child in a world of touch and fantasy…to develop a strong sense of the natural world and their place in it.”
Nature Babies provides a wide range of garments and toys that are sure to delight any new mother or baby.
Read the review at Armchair Interviews.
ISBN10: 1400053528
ISBN13: 9781400053520
Hardcover
144 Pages
Publisher: Potter Craft
Publication Date: October 17, 2006
tags: books book reviews knitting organic yarn Tara Jon Manning
You have written about “nature” and “simple living” in the context of bringing up babies. In response to this I want to post a part from my article which examines the effects of consumerism and fast culture on our minds and environment.Although not directly related to babies the article is relevant to all – babies, children and adults.
The link between Mind and Social / Environmental-Issues.
The fast-paced, consumerist lifestyle of Industrial Society is causing exponential rise in psychological problems besides destroying the environment. All issues are interlinked. Our Minds cannot be peaceful when attention-spans are down to nanoseconds, microseconds and milliseconds. Our Minds cannot be peaceful if we destroy Nature.
Industrial Society Destroys Mind and Environment.
Subject : In a fast society slow emotions become extinct.
Subject : A thinking mind cannot feel.
Subject : Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys the planet.
Emotion is what we experience during gaps in our thinking.
If there are no gaps there is no emotion.
Today people are thinking all the time and are mistaking thought (words/ language) for emotion.
When society switches-over from physical work (agriculture) to mental work (scientific/ industrial/ financial/ fast visuals/ fast words ) the speed of thinking keeps on accelerating and the gaps between thinking go on decreasing.
There comes a time when there are almost no gaps.
People become incapable of experiencing/ tolerating gaps.
Emotion ends.
Man becomes machine.
A society that speeds up mentally experiences every mental slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.
A ( travelling )society that speeds up physically experiences every physical slowing-down as Depression / Anxiety.
A society that entertains itself daily experiences every non-entertaining moment as Depression / Anxiety.
Fast visuals/ words make slow emotions extinct.
Scientific/ Industrial/ Financial thinking destroys emotional circuits.
A fast (large) society cannot feel pain / remorse / empathy.
A fast (large) society will always be cruel to Animals/ Trees/ Air/ Water/ Land and to Itself.
To read the complete article please follow either of these links :
PlanetSave
EarthNewsWire
sushil_yadav