Here's some more of what came out of this weeks heart play. These little stitched ones are incredibly quick and very satisfying for using up bits from the scrap basket. They make wonderful gift toppers and look beautiful hanging from a delicate branch. Make them into a vertical garland by attaching several together or tie them to a string for a horizontal bunting. Machine sewn or hand stitched, they're fun and versatile. Bet you can't stop making them once you start!
Fold fabric in half to cut out hearts free-hand. For light-weight and shifty fabrics, I recommend ironing them to a piece of freezer paper first. Just remember to use old scissors not your best fabric shears or the paper will dull the blade. I loved using the creased hem of an old curtain I've been using up for many projects.
Use the first heart as the template for cutting out the second, so that they match.
Open them each and place right side to right side.
Stitch down the center fold.
Fold each heart onto itself and sew down the center with a decorative stitch that catches both sides- zig zag or feather work well. Snip off the excess thread at the bottom, but keep the ones on top for hanging...or keep adding hearts with a little room between the two and then hang.
Yesterday's fabric scrap hearts inspired so many things. Not having any idea of what they would be, gave me that "freedom to explore" that always turns into something wonderful. As I started to play, people I love began to float into my mind... one with a new grandbaby to love, another with a birthday to celebrate, and then someone with a newly broken heart. It was that broken heart that led me to stitch the symbol above. After all, love really is the best medicine. I will share more of my heart sewing tomorrow. I know so many in need of a "healing heart" right now, that I'm off to sew a few more before my little window disappears. xox
When my busy Wednesday suddenly shifted, I discovered a hidden hour within the day. Surely I could have filled it with something sensible, like dishes or putting away laundry. I'm so glad I didn't. Cutting hearts is like making little pieces of *LOVE*. Nothing better than that.
Love is one of my favorite words. Over the years, I've crafted and cooked up some sweet and simple ways to celebrate Valentine's Day. From garlands to kisses (miniature ones!), enjoy a plethora of heart filled ideas by hopping on over to my handmade valentine set on flickr and follow the links!
I stayed away from Pinterest until I knew I could give it a little attention. After hearing how addicting and delicious it was, it seemed safer to wait until I had a chunk of deadline free time. I decided it might be a nice post holiday present to myself... a little winter feast after months of hard work. Unbeknownst to me, my mother had the same idea at the same time. I know, we're odd that way. It comes as no surprise that the two of us have been having an exciting week or two with long distance "pinning parties" that last for several ferocious "midnight minutes". So fun and it feels like play... I hadn't anticipated that. My mom's boards are stunning... breathtaking. She is a collector and curator in real life, so those skills truly serve her virtually, as well... and she may just be spending a few more moments on it then I am. Ahem. You can find her right here. As for me- I may still be learning the ropes, butI'm totally enjoying my new inspiration boards. In fact, I feel a bit silly and shy about how happy they make me, so I've been very quiet about it. Until today. Want to peek at what I've been selecting for: outdoor spaces, home, studio, child, make, diy, repurpose,sew, eat, wear, textiles, dream, garden, dye... the list keeps growing. You can find me by clicking the Pinterest button over in the sidebar or just click here at mayamadepins.
And dear friends, that makin' mojo we talked about on Friday... I do believe a little dose of Pinterest has the potential to get the creative juices flowin'. Let's just remember to turn off that screen and dive into on our own projects most of the time... which really is the most fun of all! Signing off as I click my sewing machine on! Love, Maya
Thank you for your insightful contributions to calling back the muse in last week's post. Now we all have a docket of ideas for bringing back the inspiration whenever it goes a wondering. Brilliant! And here's that post I had been working on Friday morn when the light bulb started flashing:
I'm always fascinated with how different folks approach gifts at children's birthday parties. We all have unique traditions that are just right for our families. For instance, we don't open packages until guests have departed. I know this wouldn't work for everyone, but we feel it takes the emphasis off of the gifts at the party and keeps everyone present (pun alert!) on celebrating together. This is especially helpful for small children, but we've kept it going as they've grown.
One good friend of ours always asks for no presents at all. Another prefers to have a donation made out in her name to the local animal shelter. Two wonderful approaches. For my son's fifth party (an outer space theme) we sent out a different paper planet with each invitation and asked if the guest might write a birthday wish on the back. We assembled it into a solar system of wishes during the party. That was a good one!
Our daughter's birthday invitation has had the same suggestion for the last few years, and I believe it's a keeper, so I'm passing it on:
"Please consider a gift that is recycled, handmade, or under $5."
This has been successful because:
3 choices gives different folks varied options in their comfort range
it creates a concrete conversation about values at our dinner table
it always inspires some sort of creativity or resourcefulness
it fulfills the needs of both giver and receiver in the gifting experience
Our daughter was thrilled with the amazing energy and thoughtfulness of her friends at last week's party. Beginning with her first guest who walked in with a handmade and recycled pencil holding contraption and a collection of old and new pencils (my girl is an avid pencil collector) to the the child who decorated her package with plastic bottle caps. One friend made a craft stick frame destined for a picture of the two buddies together. Another had her mother (a master mini knitter create some amazing tiny creatures (that promptly needed mini sleeping bags), and the list goes on... mostly handmade. ALL extremely thoughtful.
And all deserving of prompt thanks. It's not always easy to be faced with a long list of thank you notes, at any age. We've found Bird and Little Bird's free thank you print outs to be the answer to both our holiday and birthday needs this year. Thanks Annie!
Do you have any gifting traditions or suggestions? How about any tips for getting those thank you notes out into the mail? Do share...
I haven't wanted to admit it, but somewhere at the beginning of the year, I realized that I had lost my "making stuff" mojo. My enthusiasm for creating and the constant rush of fresh ideas... they had gone into hiding. Intellectually, I knew that it was all tied into completing my book right before the holidays... and then well, the holidays. Knowing what it was didn't make it come back, nor comfort me. I decided to wait it out, take good care of myself, and see what happened. Guess what? Yes, you know the answer... of course it came back. With a vengeance! It's been knocking on my door quietly all week and then this morning it went and kicked that door down! Wahoo! Instead of posting about children's gifts at parties (next week, ok?), I was scribbling furiously in my idea notebooks. Plural. Finished one and began another. So, when I went to blog, all I could think about was you. You have probably felt this same loss of inspiration before. I can't be the only one? Right? So I jotted down what I believe triggered the return.
And here's a few details and an addition:
- When I'm in my studio, I've been listening to music without lyrics. It let's the words to my own ideas flow in. On Pandora it's piano solos. On my iphone it's Invoking the Muse.
- Craft party, knit night, or anything where you gather creatively with others (kids and/or grown-ups) is sure to spark new insights.
- Almost every day this month I've had a large glass of raw veggie/fruit juice and/or a green smoothie. They are power in liquid form, never to be underestimated.
- I've been making some small items for friends. Very different than making something for your children or home. If it's for a girlfriend, as it is for the recipients of those two pouches*, they most likely will appreciate something with your aesthetic. Makes it extra fun and super inspiring.
- If you live close to nature- go to the city. If you are an urban dweller- get to the country.
What would you add to the list?
*pouch ingredients: green army blanket, grey wool suit pants, linings: shirt/skirt, recycled zippers
I've been spending the whole morning checking things off my list, and it feels so good. The "to do" I was most looking forward to was the little love note for my monthly maya*mail. Many of you will find it waiting for you in your inbox. That lovely stone is one of Margie's beauties, and it seems to add something special to everything, including a stack of blank paper. January's letter spoke about these little commitment cards, and I thought I'd give them a little attention here on the blog, too. They're sweet, simple and doing a nice job of keeping me on track. I'll be making more...
My daughter's request for her belated seventh birthday party couldn't have been more welcome. She didn't want a theme (as in the past), she just desired an afternoon of art and crafting with her closest friends. She asked for a "make it" party. That's my girl! I didn't take a ton of photos, as my daughter was quite happy to have the focus of my eyes and not the lens. Any pictures with children have been kept anonymous with some intentional blurring. Photo-laden or not, I can share the steps, because seven is really the perfect age for this type of party and I encourage you to give it a try.
The stage was set for their creativity by organizing separate stations for each kind of material with signs hung from above:
Drawing Door
Beading Bazaar
Sewing Station
Painting Place
Glitter and Glue
They were each welcomed to spend the afternoon roaming from one project to another. I didn't want there to be a sense of rushing, as everyone creates at a different pace.
Three of my favorite moms, who also happen to be good friends, stayed and helped. Between their able hands (all master needle-threaders) and my husbands fire-tending and snack prepping skills, we had a smooth and cozy three hours. I had a personal moment of bliss (rare in the midst of holding a children's party), when everyone gathered for sewing simple felt pouches and purses. So good! The girls each made something unique and amazing. My only regret... not having a record of their completed projects. It must be a sign that I need to start hosting a little girl's sewing group.
I made 8 project/party bags in the final hour before the guests arrived- silly me! They were whipped up out of an old sheet with a cheery twill tape handle and printed with my old scissor stamp that I still love so much. Not my finest stitching, but they did the job as they hung on the mantle to await the piñata goodies and assorted craft projects to take home.
I had made that super duper quick piñata in the top photo at midnight the night before. Under pressure crafting seems to be my favorite kind. Tissue paper, shredder scissors, glue, and a paper bag- that's all it took. The glue dried to form a nice hard shell and it was quite pretty for being so simple. An indoor piñata with big, strong seven year olds had me terrified once we got to that final moment. My husband saved the day with a wooden spoon! No blind fold (kept them from random whacking) and the smallness of their tool, made for controlled chaos and loads of fun! I'd actually do it again next year... even with bigger eight year olds!
7 craft party tips:
Beads- use elastic beading cord and help make the final knots.
Sewing- felt, felt, felt.
Paint- use real artist canvases in small sizes and emphasize filling out the info on the back which includes date, name, signature, title, material... it gives a sense of reverence to each small masterpiece.
Music- quiet piano solos and such keeps the mood mellow, but a few dance tunes at key moments is good for shaking it out.
Snacks- have a scheduled buffet, and then gather children on a picnic blanket on the floor (fun and keeps the project tables from needing to be cleared... until cupcake time.
Cupcake Decorating- little dishes with little spoons for sprinkles, craft sticks for spreading frosting.
Piñata- wooden spoon instead of a bat (had to say it again!)
Jonatha Brooke debuted a new single at last week's show- a new rendition of the classic, This Land isYour Land. As Woody Guthrie and America's most famous folk song... it was a perfect way to honor him. Her interpretation is gorgeous, fresh and with an entirely new twist... you can find it on on itunes right here.
By the first verse the tears were streaming down my cheeks. My mother sang it to me constantly when I was little.. it was our song (along with the rest of the country). She and I had left Long Island when I was a baby and moved out to San Francisco.
From California to the New York Island...
For years, I had thought my mom made up that line just for us. She always sang folk songs to me... most of which were ones that she learned at summer camp in the 50's with none other than Pete Seeger! She went to Camp Woodland in the Catskill Mountains, a very special place steeped in folk music and the beginnings of social change. It's a huge part of her story, but I didn't think I'd be writing much about it when I began this post. My search for links lead me down a wonderful path. In order to link up Camp Woodland, I discovered their fairly new website... the sidebar had a section with photos. Now wouldn't you want to see if there were any old and long forgotten photos of your mother as a child... and teen? I certainly did! Within seconds, I was staring at a girl that was about the same age as my son... and most certainly her!
Since my mother was at work, I called her little sister- my aunt, Amy. "Is this mom!?" She was practically speechless... not only was it definitely my mom, but as she looked at the other pictures, she said "Did you know I went there too? I went to Camp Woodland when I was little! I recognize these people and the cabins and....". Can you imagine being able to go back in time 50 years? That's just how she felt... suddenly transported.
With this new information, I went scouring through the archives like a madwoman looking for a tiny Amy... and I struck gold! I'm getting goosebumps as I write this... here is my mother teaching her little sister how to float on her back.
When I saved the picture to my computer to send to my aunt, I saw the imbedded title. The name of the girl standing in front (an old long forgotten camp friend) and my mother's name. The little mysterious floater... well, I knew just who that was! Unlike today, where we're all snapping pictures every second, this photo was taken at a time when folks savored their film and only took a few select shots.The sweet girl posing was aware of the lens focused on her, but my mother and her little sister never knew this photo existed until now, 50 years later. There is something extra poignant in their candidness, don't you think? What an amazing gift, to go back somewhere so dear, when you didn't think you could. And it all came from one song, This Land is Your Land, which I'm listening to right now, as I type. Thank you Jonatha.
p.s. I will write more about Camp Woodland some day soon- it was an extraordinary place at a very volatile time in American history. p.p.s. I promise to return tomorrow with some craftiness, but I just had to share these photos with you first... I couldn't get them out of my head. And I knew you'd appreciate them, because that's just how you are!
I thought a little midweek jaunt out of town wouldn't keep me from blogging, so I didn't give any fair warning for my unusual disappearance from these parts... sorry about that. I'm back! I've actually been home for days, but my spirit didn't fully arrive until today when I threw an art and craft party for a bunch of little girls. That brought be back into my body right quick! More on the party and fun stuff when I upload the photos. Tonight, I'd love to share who took me out of town- Jonatha.
I was introduced to the music of Jonatha Brooke at Squam Art Workshops in 2009. Her angelic voice blew me away as she serenaded us around the campfire on the very first night (shown above). Her music was the backdrop to a weekend that would usher in an important new chapter in my life. I couldn't go home without a copy of her latest CD, The Works. It was an amazing compilation of never heard before lyrics from Woody Gurthrie that Jonatha had set to music. She had been invited by Woody's daughter, Nora, to look through her father's archives. She instantly fell in love with the unseen words and lesser known side of the American folk legend. This video gives a wonderful glimpse into the process of how it was produced and a sweet taste of Jonatha, herself.
Directly after leaving that first Squam, Laura and I played The Works for 8 hours straight as we drove home- singing at the top of our lungs. A few weeks later Jonatha was playing a free concert in NYC at Madison Square Park. It coordinated quite nicely with my 40th birthday. It was meant to be... and I was officially a Jonatha groupie! Here's that post from what seems like eons ago.
In the years that have passed, The Works has gotten more play time in my car and home than any other music, hands down. And as Squam became my regular home away from home, Jonatha became a friend, not just a rock star. A dear friend that I adore far beyond her soulful and melodic voice. She's an amazing, powerful, and generous woman who makes me laugh way too hard some times... and always inspires me with her honesty and openness. And hey, she's a mighty fine knitter. too!
All this is to say that when I heard she was playing a very special show at Lincoln Center in commemoration of Woody Guthrie's centennial, I had to find a way to attend. When Pixie wrote to say she was flying all the way from California with Christine... two more woman that I love, I knew it was another meant to be kind of NYC trip.We planned for months...
If you follow my tweets, the inevitable happened. My children got sick and all the familiar obstacles that seem to find mothers (determined to take a mini getaway) occurred. I almost threw in the towel, but my husband reminded me it was Jonatha. At Lincoln Center. For a sold out show. With a crew of very special folks descending from far and wide. He and the kids would be fine (and they were!)
I spent exactly 20 hours in the city with some of my favorite people in the world- my Squamily (Squam+family), and we attended the most exceptional concert ever. EVER. It was totally spectacular! You can read the glowing NY Times review right here.
Afterwards, we celebrated with the songbird who has inspired so many of us with her truth and beauty. I won't ever forget it. Never.
With Jonatha and Thea after the show. Photo courtesy of Thea Coughlin.
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p.s. I wrote most of this post before today's art party, so this is a follow up... during the sewing project my daughter insisted that she couldn't continue stitching without her favorite song- Jonatha/Woody's "Little Bird". On it went, and a few songs later she was up and dancing with her girlfriends... it was like a little folk's Squam!
Yes, the title says it all! Kate's sweet sheep make the most beautiful wool felt. And as of right this second, she's making her felted sheets available for you to work with. Yay! Make these insoles for your whole family. Then move on to slippers, placemats, rugs you name it... this is unlike any felt you've worked with before. Local (to me, at least), organic, sustainable and totally luxurious. Here it is! Thanks for sharing your sheep, Kate!
These babies have changed my life. I have perpetually cold feet. This time of year calls for wool socks and Uggs every day around the house, and cozy boots when I go out. Muck Boots are a country girls best friend but if my socks aren't thick enough, I still get chilled toes. My friend Kate, of Woolen Moss, came to the rescue with her idea to make wool insoles for her winter footwear.* Since I had some of her felt sitting on a shelf, I thought it was high time to put it to use.
I pulled out the thin insoles from my Mucks to use as a pattern. I cut a pair out with sharp shears and tried them on in my Uggs, which always get thin on the interior bottom before the rest wears out. Ooooh.... they were nice. It was like having brand new coziness- instantly. I couldn't take them out.
So, I made a second pair for my Mucks. Happy feet! Now I need to make them for each member of my family... and everyone I know! See how thick that felt is? If you have a densely felted recycled sweater I'm sure it would work just as well. Give it a try, and let me know how warm and toasty your feet are!
We moved here for the seasons... so this "not so white" winter hasn't felt right. As the temperatures plummeted this weekend, a sense that all was well and as it should be settled in throughout our home and the world outside. The snow and bitter cold gave me just the right incentive to finish up some woolen projects. Laura had come over last week for some fireside knitting and wine. With her patience and help, I stretched out my fingers and began knitting The Munchkin for my daughter. It's the perfect quick knit. I'm rusty and out of practice, so I had wanted a super easy pattern with very chunky yarn. My daughter wanted a purple hat with ear flaps. It met both our needs.
By midweek, my decreases got a bit wonky, and I ripped and began again. I started to get worried that it would join the other unfinished knitting projects in my bucket. The arrival of snow lit a fire under my needles and after a second false start, I opted to plug on through rather than sort my mistakes- like a good knitter should (forgive me Laura). I just wanted to get it on her head already. It was a good choice... no regrets.
She's quite happy and loves it so much... so the little "oops" will stay as reminders of the snow-filled weekend we finished it up in. Perfectionism- take that! The most important thing after her pleasure- her warmth! It's totally toasty, even after frolicking in our arctic conditions. Let the winter games begin!
