Easy Autumn Nature Table

Fall is here and it’s time to put tother our autumn nature table. We don’t necessarily follow the Waldorf method in our home but I know nature tables are a big part of Waldorf homes. As a kid my grandmother always had a what she called a “nature shelf” in her entryway. It was an old table that held her season decorations of natural items. Over the years we have incorporated this into out home. Now with my daughter and home daycare I continuing this tradition but with a more hands-on option for the kids.

Autumn Nature Table for Kids

Your nature table can be whatever you want to make it, its just a reflection of the world outside.  Ours always has some fun friends and natural elements.

This year we have acorns and pine cones from our yard and that we collected on our nature walks as well as felt leaves, felt pumpkins, wooden mushrooms, & our peg people. You can see how we made the peg people below.

My daughter love this and visits it frequently throughout the day.  In the spring and summer we usually have our fairies and flower people out but in the fall and winter the gnome peg people take over.  Personally the fall ones are my favorite, but I’m a sucker for all things fall! I treat this as a small world activity. I allow the kids to use and play with them. The only difference is that we don’t remove the times and take them to other areas.

I’m not going to lie, I’m not one of those awesomely crafty moms out there.  I can trace and cut like a champ but other crafty things just allude me. These peg people however are super easy. I found a very simple pattern and tutorial at Wee Folk Art.  Its super easy!

Gnomes/Forest Fairies

To make these you just need a few simple supplies:

• Peg bodies (also called wooden turnings or wooden boy/man game pieces)
• Felt
• Embroidery floss

You can find the template and tutorial here, Wee Folk Art. It’s super easy! I did make one tweak, I just glued the hats rather than stitch them up to the top.  Just don’t look too close and they look great!

I found my peg people at the local craft stores but the felt and embroidery string I got at Walmart.

Mushrooms

• Acrylic Paint
• Paint brush
• Birch buttons (3/8 inch or larger if you want)

I just painted the tops red and added some white dots of paint when the red dried.  Very easy.  I got the birch buttons in the same area at the craft stores as the peg people. I also have bigger ones that I can’t find so they aren’t pictured but I plan to replace them here soon.  I made them the same way but with wooden drawer/cabinet handles from the local home improvement store (Lowes or Home Depot) so they are larger ones.

Other Items:

• Felted Pumpkins (table decorations from Craft Warehouse)
• Felt leaves (table decorations from Dollar Tree)
• Acorns and acorn caps from nature walks

And we just added our newest friends to the table! Our forest fairies (peg people with acorn caps, felt body, and felt wings)! They turned out really cute!

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