Linde Marshall and her girls are under The Noodle Spotlight! because together, they cook up a great big noodle of creativity. When I asked Linde to describe her and her girls, she replied......
"Do you know the color code personalities? I am a red and a blue; a do-er and an emoter. Possibly the most complicated personality on earth."
Piper, Maddie, Linde and Tallie
As for her girls, her oldest daughter Piper, is also a red and blue. Linde says,"This can get a little tricky at times as we switch from crossing things off the list to feeling emotion." Over here at NOW, we think those are the perfect ingredients to throwing those noodles and getting creative.
The rest of the Marshall girls continue to keep Linde on her toes and bring out the creative side in her every day. Linde's middle daughter Tallie, is a yellow and only cares about having fun. While the youngest, Maddie, is leaning towards blue (a feeler) and "touch might possibly be her love language."
At the Marshall household, these different personalities make the perfect combination for Taking On The Creative!
The rest of the Marshall girls continue to keep Linde on her toes and bring out the creative side in her every day. Linde's middle daughter Tallie, is a yellow and only cares about having fun. While the youngest, Maddie, is leaning towards blue (a feeler) and "touch might possibly be her love language."
At the Marshall household, these different personalities make the perfect combination for Taking On The Creative!
Tallie and Piper
Maddie
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On The Wall) with your child/children?
It became tradition several years back to gather my good girlfriends over for some wine and apps and make ‘dream boards’ after the start of each new year. As we cut away from favorite magazines whatever captured our attention, whether it be pretty, well-planned, or stream of consciousness, each of us always found some theme emerge on our boards, intended or not. My favorite part of making ‘dream boards’ was the time chatting with good friends and then, in the end, standing over each others’ boards and getting to know each other that much better. I was always surprised by the results, especially mine.
Last year, I began doing this with my two oldest girls—Piper (5) and Natalie “Tallie” (4). Yes! Tallie was 3 when we started, but she’s a whizz with the scissors and it’s so fun to have them all to myself for several hours (while Madeline naps) as they cut frantically from their favorite “American Girl,” “Land of Nod,” or my latest home, travel, or food magazines.
It became tradition several years back to gather my good girlfriends over for some wine and apps and make ‘dream boards’ after the start of each new year. As we cut away from favorite magazines whatever captured our attention, whether it be pretty, well-planned, or stream of consciousness, each of us always found some theme emerge on our boards, intended or not. My favorite part of making ‘dream boards’ was the time chatting with good friends and then, in the end, standing over each others’ boards and getting to know each other that much better. I was always surprised by the results, especially mine.
Last year, I began doing this with my two oldest girls—Piper (5) and Natalie “Tallie” (4). Yes! Tallie was 3 when we started, but she’s a whizz with the scissors and it’s so fun to have them all to myself for several hours (while Madeline naps) as they cut frantically from their favorite “American Girl,” “Land of Nod,” or my latest home, travel, or food magazines.
Piper and her Dream Board
Then I watch them as they pass pictures across the table finding something the other would love. When we’re done gluing our pictures to poster board, we Mod Podge over them to protect them, explain our boards to each other, and display them on our laundry room wall for the next year until we replace it with the next year’s creations. I imagine the explanations will change and give me more insight into who the girls are becoming in the years ahead.
The Marshall Girl Dream Boards
What role does creativity play in your home?
I grew up with a mother who majored in art. I have no choice but to let the creative take over my home! That can be hard for me because I love a clean and orderly home. Nonetheless, creativity was such an important part of my childhood, as my mom, also known as "Beach Nana," always had creative projects for us girls to do. And I mean ALWAYS.
So I have somehow managed to organize (mostly for my benefit) half of my pantry for my girls to access their markers, crayons, paints, paper, scissors, tape, glue (white, sticks, and glitter), stapler, hole punch, beads, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, tissue paper, stickers, stationary, envelopes, Legos.... You name it. One of the most essential items in our supply tub, passed along to me by my mom, are colored paint swatches from Walmart or Home Depot. They’re free and the girls use them for everything.
I grew up with a mother who majored in art. I have no choice but to let the creative take over my home! That can be hard for me because I love a clean and orderly home. Nonetheless, creativity was such an important part of my childhood, as my mom, also known as "Beach Nana," always had creative projects for us girls to do. And I mean ALWAYS.
So I have somehow managed to organize (mostly for my benefit) half of my pantry for my girls to access their markers, crayons, paints, paper, scissors, tape, glue (white, sticks, and glitter), stapler, hole punch, beads, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, tissue paper, stickers, stationary, envelopes, Legos.... You name it. One of the most essential items in our supply tub, passed along to me by my mom, are colored paint swatches from Walmart or Home Depot. They’re free and the girls use them for everything.
Creativity Pantry
We have one rule in the house, if it’s important, put it up away from little wandering 20 month Madeline hands because she is sure to get a hold of it, tear it, color on it and cause some tears. Well, actually we have two rules. You can’t leave the table with any crayons or scissors. Bad things happen when crayons and scissors go unaccounted for. And even Maddie partakes in the action, mostly just with markers and the occasional glue stick.
Beach Nana and The Girls
What inspires you to take on the creative with your kids?
First, my mom who is also known as, "Beach Nana." She is the embodiment of creation inspiration and any one who knows her can attest. She is a walking, talking burst of energy and it is impossible to get enough of her. Ask her elementary students when she was teaching, ask her real estate clients who work with her, and her grand babies who die for "Camp Grandma" every summer. "Beach Nana" is just plain creative fun!
A classic example: When we were little girls, she decided to reinforce our school math lessons by setting up a little shop (with super cool pencils, notepads, erasers) in our basement over the summer. She gave us money to buy the goods with and dressed up as this crazy lady with a wig, outfit, and all. She was the store owner. Not until I was in late elementary school did my sis and I know it was her!
Besides that, I would say a month-long cold streak of below freezing weather here in Colorado is also a good motivator to keep ourselves preoccupied indoors as we hibernate.
How do you nurture your child's creativity?
I try encourage the girls to be creative self-starters—meaning I don’t always need to be directing a new craft project for them. By allowing unlimited accessibility to the crafts (for the most part) and constant restocking and reorganizing of the supplies so that they are always fresh (not half cut-up, torn, broken), and easy to find. I’ve noticed when the closet is disorganized, the girls can’t find their things so they don’t use them.
Don’t get me wrong, several times a month, I will have a planned craft for them. Recently, we made our own advent calendars out of empty match boxes, painted bird houses from Michaels, and decorated little Melissa and Doug jewelry boxes with gems. The planned crafts are always their favorites.
What sticky noodles can you offer other Moms taking on the creative with their kids?
Being a parent is about giving up some form of control, right? If you’re just taking on the creative, I would highly recommend NOT focusing on the mess that creativity leaves in its wake. It’s all about the process of creating. The kids can help you clean up afterward and we often make that a game too. After you get over the mess, the possibilities are endless.
Another great tip passed on to me from a fellow mom: Save their best projects, which often times can be ALL of their projects if you have a child like Piper who remembers everything, in clear page protectors added to a 3-ring binder. They often go back and look through their work and I have a neat little place for it all with none of the guilt that comes with throwing away precious art or whatever it may be.
First, my mom who is also known as, "Beach Nana." She is the embodiment of creation inspiration and any one who knows her can attest. She is a walking, talking burst of energy and it is impossible to get enough of her. Ask her elementary students when she was teaching, ask her real estate clients who work with her, and her grand babies who die for "Camp Grandma" every summer. "Beach Nana" is just plain creative fun!
A classic example: When we were little girls, she decided to reinforce our school math lessons by setting up a little shop (with super cool pencils, notepads, erasers) in our basement over the summer. She gave us money to buy the goods with and dressed up as this crazy lady with a wig, outfit, and all. She was the store owner. Not until I was in late elementary school did my sis and I know it was her!
Besides that, I would say a month-long cold streak of below freezing weather here in Colorado is also a good motivator to keep ourselves preoccupied indoors as we hibernate.
How do you nurture your child's creativity?
I try encourage the girls to be creative self-starters—meaning I don’t always need to be directing a new craft project for them. By allowing unlimited accessibility to the crafts (for the most part) and constant restocking and reorganizing of the supplies so that they are always fresh (not half cut-up, torn, broken), and easy to find. I’ve noticed when the closet is disorganized, the girls can’t find their things so they don’t use them.
Don’t get me wrong, several times a month, I will have a planned craft for them. Recently, we made our own advent calendars out of empty match boxes, painted bird houses from Michaels, and decorated little Melissa and Doug jewelry boxes with gems. The planned crafts are always their favorites.
What sticky noodles can you offer other Moms taking on the creative with their kids?
Being a parent is about giving up some form of control, right? If you’re just taking on the creative, I would highly recommend NOT focusing on the mess that creativity leaves in its wake. It’s all about the process of creating. The kids can help you clean up afterward and we often make that a game too. After you get over the mess, the possibilities are endless.
Another great tip passed on to me from a fellow mom: Save their best projects, which often times can be ALL of their projects if you have a child like Piper who remembers everything, in clear page protectors added to a 3-ring binder. They often go back and look through their work and I have a neat little place for it all with none of the guilt that comes with throwing away precious art or whatever it may be.
Tallie and her scissors
What is your child's ideal noodle dish?
Piper Lou’s favorite project ever is to paint. Everything. Tallie is happy as a clam with a pair of scissors in her hand. To this day, knock on wood, we haven’t had any locks of hair cut off. Maddie loves to color with markers, mostly her arms and fat little belly.
Piper Lou’s favorite project ever is to paint. Everything. Tallie is happy as a clam with a pair of scissors in her hand. To this day, knock on wood, we haven’t had any locks of hair cut off. Maddie loves to color with markers, mostly her arms and fat little belly.
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