Make a miniature Dala Horse with Kirsten Larson
One of my favorite crafts in Kirsten’s Craft Book is the little clay Dala horse. This is such an easy craft that I’ve made a whole herd of them for Kirsten to play with.
These sweet horses are modeled after a traditional Swedish children’s toy, normally carved from wood. Dala horses, although featured in her craft book, are not mentioned in Kirsten’s central stories; but I know that Kirsten was a nurturing, patient girl who loved animals, so it’s easy to imagine her playing with a tiny painted horse like this. (The book shows them displayed on the dining table, while also explaining that they were toys?)
I made mine tiny enough to be held by a doll. Giving them flat feet also makes them able to stand and thus display quite well.
I’ve adapted the book’s instructions here, but I’ve modified them to make them more precise and accurate. To do this, I recommend using a sharp tool and a homemade clay recipe that a children’s book would not have included.
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