happy halloween!

Hope your day and night are spooktacular!

first snow

As exciting as the first snow is, I wasn't ready emotionally for it yesterday. Too early! Seeing how delighted my children were helped. Having the fire, a pot of soup, and a little last minute sewing also eased my mood... "I do love this time of year, I do," I kept reminding myself. We all went to sleep wondering what winter wonderland we'd wake up to. I was able to slip outside as the sun rose with my camera. It was in that quiet moment, with the stillness of my frozen breath, that I remembered why we chose long ago to make a home in the countryside, deep in a region where the seasons are intense and weather is always an exciting topic of conversation.

The light is so easy to find and capture out here in the wild... and every step offers a new gift...

I'm sure it will all melt as quickly as it fell. This was but a reminder of the magic we have ahead of us.

I am off to finish up a cat costume... because what else would she be, right? Hope your weekend affords you (and me!) all of the time needed to wrap up those last minute Halloween details. Now to find a black zipper!

spicy sister stew

Chunks of sweet butternut and kernels of corn mingle with savory black beans in a thick broth that has hints of smoky chipotle chilis. This is the third time I've made this dish  in less than a month. That usually means it's a keeper.
Besides being delicious, it contains my three biggest criteria for family recipes:

1. packs a powerful nutritional punch 
2. fairly quick to throw together
3. satisfies all of our dietary preferences and sensitivities 

Because we have a vegetarian, a gluten free diner and a very selective eater (not all one person) at our dinner table, I like meals that act as a foundation for fun condiments and add ins. In other words, we eat the same meal but get to personalize it when we sit down. So Spicy Sister Stew is quite mild for one, but another (my wild son) gets to kick it up to a scorcher if he pleases.

Spicy Sister Stew

 Ingredients:

• 1 onion
•  several cloves of garlic
• olive oil
•  dried oregano
• 1 medium butternut squash peeled and cubed
• 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
• 3 cup black beans (left overs are perfectly used here, but 2 cans are just fine)
• tomatoes chopped ( I sometimes eliminate these if I want to go easy on nightshade veggies)
• salt and pepper
• dash of cumin
• a tiny spoonful of adobo sauce

Bowls of options for the table:

• fresh cilantro
• chipotle chilis in adobo sauce
• creme fraiche or thick yogurt optional
• tomatoes chopped
• freshly grated cheese or a soft goat cheese

Make:

1. Saute onions and garlic in olive oil for 5 minutes in a heavy bottomed pot. Add squash and just enough water to cover it. Simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Add beans, corn and tomatoes. Then pour in another couple of cups of water or vegetable stock. How thick it is will be depends on your preference and how much water you add. Stir in salt, pepper, oregano and a little spoonful of adobo sauce.
3. Simmer until tender and flavors have melded. A minimum of 20 more minutes if you need to get dinner on the table... but longer will enhance the stew.
4. Set the table with bowls of any or all of the options above at the ready for your diners.

We enjoy this with brown rice or quinoa and a nice bed of greens. Leftovers are delicious and satisfying when put in a cast iron skillet, topped with cornbread batter and baked until golden.

Note: This stew was named after the Three Sisters: corn, beans and squash. Various Native American tribes grew them as companion plants and referred to them as the sisters.

how to make a yarn doll

My daughter learned how to make yarn dolls on a class trip last week.This old fashioned craft couldn't have been more well received, since she's currently devouring the entire Little House on the Prairie series. These "are just the kinda dolls Laura and Mary would have made", she excitedly told me. And thus began a weekend of doll making. Right from the get go she barely needed assistance, and her pride in this new found independence led her to ask if she could teach "how to" to all of you. This was a first. She's definitely asked (as has every family member at one time or another) "are you  gonna blog that, Mama?" But never has she asked to lead a tutorial... of course, you know what I said!  My daughter varied her yarn but remained true to the number of pieces for each doll. I think you could easily add some more strands for a plumper doll, but wait.... this is HER tutorial. Here we go...
body: 8 pieces of yarn cut to around 14"
arms: 6 pieces of yarn cut to 6"

And here's doll #3 Her name is Suzanne, and she's already had the honor of being toted around on errands and was even invited up for bedtime.

Note #1: I tried to stay true to her words, and hope that the photos will help with clarification... if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Note #2: You can split the "dress" yarn in half and tie knots around each side to create legs for a gender neutral doll or "boy" doll.

fall flames

It was just my kind of weekend. Saturday was cold and gray. The kind of day where the wood stove cranks, and we all find ways to do our work close by. We burn wood three out of the four seasons, and the very best part is how my family gathers together. My son would definitely be up in his room doing homework if not for the cozy temptation of the fire. My daughter set up a new mini crafting table and set to work. My husband folded the laundry as close as possible, and even though I did sweep the entire house... I mostly just circled the stove!

 

The following day was filled with gorgeous blue skies and a different kind of autumn fire(the glorious maples)... and out we tumbled to bask in our other favorite kinds of flames...

Stop on back tomorrow, my daughter will be sharing a little how to...

Infini-Tee: how to

I'm always looking for new ways to reinvent the alarming amount of t-shirts piling up at our Salvation Army. Remember that new pattern I mentioned a few weeks ago? I designed this simple scarf way back in May, and have been patiently waiting for the cooler months to arrive to share it with you. Now that the temperatures have dropped and the wood stove is kicking in, I'm excited to bring out my Infini-Tee! This two-toned, double layered ring couldn't be easier to make, but you'll be surprised at how versatile it is to wear... I've even been keeping one in the car to toss on for warmth or as last minute new look... including the perfect "hide the bad hair day hoodie"!

It works for all ages, as my nieces have proved. They're always happy to play dress up, but they totally humored me by donning sweaters in August for this shoot. Thank you girls! They took their job very seriously... or maybe it was just the heat.

Here are some ways we discovered to wear these cozy layers of soft jersey... that stretch and twist to form multiple accessories- all with warmth and style. Loop it twice for a scarf, wrap around your shoulders, nestle at your neck with a kerchief style hood, or pull up for a traditional hoodie…

It also transforms into a cozy wrap to wear over jeans or leggings. Just add a little pin to hold it in place.

The same wrapping idea can turn it into a capelet, as well. We didn't use a pin here, just fold and a tuck- but a brooch would hold it securley.

Here are the easy instructions. Go rescue some t-shirts this weekend!  Make one for yourself and one for a friend.

Infini-Tee

Need:

• 2 XL (or larger) men’s tee shirts-longer and wider the better
• button thread and needle
• scissors

Make:

1. Cut off the bottom hems of both shirts. 
2. Cut a straight  line across the body of each shirt, directly underneath the sleeves.
3. Cut one side open of each shirt. If it is a seamed shirt (not all tee’s are), cut along the seam.
4. Open each shirt into a long rectangle and lay on top of each other right side to right side. Trim to be equal in size. Sew a seam along each length to create one long  tube with one shirt on top and the other on bottom. If using a machine use a mock overlock stitch or any stretch stitch. If sewing by hand use sturdy button thread.
5. Turn the tube right side out.
6. Join both open ends together by matching up the long seams you've just sewn. Pin at the seam on the wrong side. Continue pinning the wrong side for several inches. Sew shut the tube opening where the pins are... continue to stitch around the opening on the wrong side (even thought the rest of the tube is right side out) by twisting the fabric until it simply won't turn anymore. Remove from  machine. Straighten out tube and hand stitch the small opening closed. (see final illustration)Done!

 

 Note: If you'd like to add a personal touch:  print, stencil or embroidery on one of the sides. Perhaps, adorn a seam with a ribbon of lace. These are perfectly wonderful kept simple, but they do make great  blank canvases for embellishments.

See, they're not always so serious... and can you spot the little stripy summer sundress peeking out of that wool sweater... they were such good sports!

BIG-a giveaway!

 I have something quite special and very beautiful to share with you today... here is the first issue of a brand new 60-page bi-annual  magazine that publishes stories and artworks by children and adult artists. Introducing: BIG Kids Magazine!
It's created by two lovely Australian mothers who were looking for a quality publication that featured the arts for their children. I've been watching it evolve over the year on their website, and couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy to open the pages and see what was inside. It's quite striking, with heavy weight paper that makes it feel more like a book... nice.
Here are some of ways that they told me Big Kids Magazine is unique:
•   The Senior Editor is 8 – E-I-G-H-T! – years young.
•    The two founders and creative directors, Lilly Blue and Jo Pollitt, have not seen each other for 12 years. Both are practicing artists – Jo is a dancer; Lilly a visual artist – and stay-at-home mums with bubs; they’re also educators and now they’re publishers.
•    They’ve given birth to Big Kids Magazine entirely over the ether; Lilly lives in Sydney; Jo in Perth.
•    It has taken almost one year of toil and countless hours of inspiration and perspiration to produce the first edition.
•    It can be posted to anywhere in the world, transplanting art from gallery walls onto playroom floors.
•    Each issue features a FREE artist print.
•    For every copy sold, BIG gives away one copy to children who might not otherwise be able to access them.
•    Big Kids Magazine is a creative arts magazine for kids (and big kids), which publishes stories and interviews of contemporary artists (dancers, painters, singers, sculptors, actors, film-makers, writers) with stories and interviews of kids.
•    It presents the artworks of children and artists side by side.
•    BIG is an acronym which stands for Bravery, Imagination, Generosity.




I loved this quote of Jo and Lilly's:
“We are passionate about the rigour of quality art practice as neither elitist nor hobby but as an everyday way of engaging, viewing and responding to the world.”
Yes, I say... Yes!
All the information for subscribing or ordering a copy is right here. It's a very special site filled with Lilly's incredible illustrations and well worth exploring... my daughter loves it!

This beautiful copy of Big is for one of you! If you'd like to be entered to win, just leave a comment (with email, etc.) in this post before Sunday 5m EST. I will announce the random winner on Monday morning.  The winner has been announced below. Here's something to think about... whether to share as a comment or just to quietly ponder:

 How have you been touched by an act of Bravery, Imagination, or Generosity?

Congratulations gos out to:

adriane said...

What an inspired idea for a magazine, my daughter and I would love to pour over this whole issue! Thanks for the chance!

***************

~I was happy to read how much many of you appreciated the focus and beauty of this publication. The expense to the US may be prohibitive to many, but their website is a wonderful gift in itself!

Rhinebeck

Rhinebeck is such a huge and vast festival, but it felt almost cozy being surrounded by so many blissed out people, all happily dressed in their hand knit woolens. My experience was completely shaped by my company. I hadn't had any time with My Laura in so long, plus I got the gift of deepening my connection with her incredible friend, Caitlin. Don't you love when friends share friends!?  Spending 36 uninterrupted hours with lovely women: new friends, old friends, virtual-friends-now-made-real-friends...it's food for the soul. An added treat was a pub evening with lots of fun fiber women including my Squammie sisters: Jill and Cal. Big thanks to Julibeth and Peter, the most gracious hosts ever!
And then there were the sweet and delightful creatures...

The wool inspiration was wonderful, as you can imagine. There were thousands of dazzling and beautiful jewel-toned skeins of yarn as far as the eye could see. However, my lens was utterly faithful to the constant palette of undyed and plant dyed fibers that I find so delicious.

Two of the booths that whispered to me the most insistently were the above: Fiber Craft Studio and Fromm.Christine Fromm (below) is hands down one of the most skilled, clever and artful refashioners I have ever met. She has an absolute gift! Each of her one of a kind pieces is stunning. I didn't take any photos of them, just lovely Christine! But you must check out her incredible capes/shrugs, dresses, and hats on the top left portion of her site. She uses the details of deconstructed sweaters in the most brilliant way. Be prepared to have your breath taken away.

Thanks Rhinebeck... dreaming of next year!

Baaaa...

Isn't she a beauty? I just got back from an entire weekend at the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival... or more commonly known as: Rhinebeck. It was a girls getaway!  That alone would make for some fun, but truly the woolen inspiration was incredible. I'm still processing my thoughts and uploading my photos so more on that tomorrow. Hope you had a wonderful weekend too!

"When you think of who you are this morning, you are who you are at this time in your life because of certain choices that you made. Say, when you were twelve, you stood in front of maybe five possibilities, and you chose the first one. Then things went on until you were eighteen, and suddenly it opened up and became ten again.This time, you chose number seven. Then it went on again and then when you were 28, maybe you were down to three; this time you took two. When you were 40, it was up to five; this time you took four. And so you chose, always, one choice. But the interesting question to ask is, what has happened to the lives that you didn’t choose. Where are they? Where do your unlived lives dwell?"

- John O’Donohue (an excerpt from one of his talks on Divine Beauty: The Invisible Embrace”)

I took this photo last weekend and have been coming back to it each day. It stirred something deep in my core. The solitary beauty of this frozen moment as she gazes through the branches into the depths of the blue sky- it mesmerizes me each time I look at it.Yesterday, I heard the words under it in the author's lilting Irish accent, and I couldn't breathe for a minute. That sounds odd... like his voice just appeared over my shoulder and whispered in my ear. Not exactly. I was practicing my new cleaning technique (which is only different from my old one in that I listen to podcasts as I do the never-ending tasks of keeping my home together: laundry, dishes, etc. I highly recommend it.). I was listening to John O' Donohue, the late Irish poet and philosopher. itunes has this talk available in the audiobook section for only a couple of dollars and it is well worth it, as he's lovely to listen to. (Thanks to Lis for pointing the way) It's a beautiful talk, but that last sentence stuck with me the most.

Where do your unlived lives dwell? 

 He went on to say that he suspects that our unchosen and unlived lives continue to live themselves out "secretly and in accompaniment with us". This has given me so much to ponder within my own story, and even more so to think about as I parent my children.
Have a beautiful and thoughtful weekend!

Maya

p.s. the gratitude bucket winner has been announced in the post below.

the nomad desk

 Having a laptop has given me the freedom to work almost anywhere, and I often choose outside if it's a beautiful day. Fall weather is temperamental, though and I find myself frequently relocating to maximize sun or find shade. Earlier this week I had an "aha" moment. Our shed held everything needed to whip up a traveling office. I slapped an unused cupboard door on top of a little red wagon and the "The Nomad Desk" was born! What a wonderful step up from the precarious tray I had been toting around. I felt quite clever and ran in to find my camera. I grabbed my smoothie and  the vase of flowers off the kitchen table, too. Now, I was ready for action! Inspiration surely would be increased by such a happy little workspace. (Don't worry I adjusted the board before I got to work, or I might have had a green keyboard!)

I loved my new little desk and couldn't help but think of future applications. My favorite, of course, was for children, who love to work on their knees and at low tables. A floor cushion could always be used for extra comfort or height. Beneath the board is perfect storage for all kinds of art or writing supplies. A traveling outdoor writing station might not happen for us until next spring, but those of you on the other side of the world might find this idea fun for right now. What about an indoor wagon with a table top for building on one side, and a wagon filled with legos beneath!? Oooh... I think that has some nice winter potential! I could see pulling that wagon right up to the wood stove for play and tucking it out of site at the end of the day. I like that! So, there you have it- a DIY that takes only seconds and is satisfying for all ages.

"a huge bucket full of gratitude" giveaway!

 This blog has grown and shifted many times over the last few years, and it continues to be one of my favorite outlets for both creativity and personal expression. The way that I parent, feed my family, and repurpose everything within reach felt a little lonelier before I started writing here. You get me.  You really do. This community that greets me through email, comments, twitter and now workshops has become a circle of friends that I love and appreciate. Even if you don't write... I know you're here. When I temporarily gave up posting tutorials and diy's to work on my book, I expected everyone to disappear. That's what the "blogging experts" always predict. You proved them wrong! And since you kept showing up... so did I- through thoughts and pictures of my days. Writing posts was my bit of sanctuary amidst the chaos of deadlines. Truly, it kept me focused and sane. And now... as I shared last week, I've found my way back out of the "woods". And so I wanted to acknowledge my gratitude for your steadfast friendship with a gift or two. This is the biggest burlap bucket I make. In fact, I've only made two this size ever! Check out the clothespin on the left for size reference. It's about a foot and a half tall... and a foot wide. That's a big ol' bucket. Right now, as you can see, it's filled with my deep thanks.  I'm sure that you can think of something that needs containing at your place, so I'd like to send it your way. Please leave your name and someway to reach you (email, blog, etc.) in the comment section before Thursday at 9pm EST. I will ship this bucket anywhere on the planet! (I just wish I had more than one.) The randomly selected winner will be announced on Friday. Comments are now closed. Thanks to each of you who shared. Today I'm also grateful for this burst of beautiful weather that is allowing me to write to you in short sleeves outside under the trees. What are you grateful for today?

Your comments filled me up in so many ways... I loved hearing the many different kinds of gratitude we all feel. Thank you!

Congratulations to-

 

Lindsay said...

Hi Maya,
I enjoy your blog so much. Creativity and a quiet peace flow from it. Today, and everyday, I am grateful for my little growing family and the joy they bring, often times in an unexpected way.

Yay, Lindsay! I will contact you to get your mailing address and you'll soon be filling up this bucket!

feathered find

Birds continue to offer endless inspiration... not just in my designs, but in the every day moments of sitings as the come and go. My children are equally delighted by spotting and identifying who's out back or on our walks. My son's endless fascination with flight is not reserved only for airplanes and my daughter is known for her feather magic. If there's a feather to be found, she's certain to be the one to stumble upon it. When my mother and I were working on her crate wall, I discovered this vintage lotto game among her vast game collection. I squealed. Wouldn't you? She gave it to me for whatever might strike my fancy.

Isn't it beautiful!? I thought you'd find some inspiration from these old illustrations, too. I can't decide what to do with it- tuck it away for playing by the fire (deep in winter) when we're missing our feathered friends or display it some how for everyone to enjoy. What would you do?