maya*made

how to: find your makin' mojo

2012-01-27T14:24:00.002-05:00

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

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commitment cards

2012-01-25T13:49:00.000-05:00

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...

make-it party

2012-01-24T14:42:00.002-05:00

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!)

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from california to the new york island

2012-01-23T12:55:00.000-05:00

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!

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jonatha

2012-01-22T22:06:00.000-05:00

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!

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diy with your own woolen moss felt!

2012-01-17T11:29:00.001-05:00

photo by Kate Nutter Lamarre

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!

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diy: wool insoles

2012-01-17T07:41:00.006-05:00

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!

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*UPDATE: Kate has just listed some ready-made insoles in her shop. Go pay her a visit if you want to purchase a custom pair!

snow munchkin

2012-01-16T09:13:00.002-05:00

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!

snow

2012-01-13T10:04:00.001-05:00

Our green winter turned white this morning! Wahoo! Now, I wish all I had to do today was feed the fire, but there are appointments and schedules that need tending. There are windshields to be scraped and slushy roads to be traveled. Winter is gorgeous when you don't have to go anywhere. Boo.

So glad the weekend is almost here. I intend to make soup, bake cookies, play board games, and sew something cozy as soon as possible. Mmmm, doesn't that sound just right? How about you... what do you intend to do with your weekend?

a mother's work

2012-01-12T11:20:00.001-05:00

I really enjoyed the discussion that came out of my last post. I think it leads very nicely into sharing a little bit about the creative work my mother does today. She is still a nursery school teacher throughout most of the year, but when she has time off she comes to us... and her barn down the road, which is shown above in all its winter glory (not this snow-less one, I'm afraid). I've shared about it countless times, but for anyone new to maya*made, I think you'll enjoy grabbing a cup of tea and checking out the photos and links over at flickr barn set or reading through the barn archives. The barn is the first home that she has ever owned. Her dream had always been to live in her very own studio. After years of renting tiny places and having little room for her collections and creative space, this barn became her biggest and greatest canvas over the past four years. So when I spoke about how we can use our homes as our galleries and studios, my mother's journey was at the forefront of my mind. She doesn't have small children surrounding her (at home,at least) anymore. There is finally a little time to actually make art. I've been trying to get her to document her mixed media work and bricolage diy projects for some time, but in the mean time here are a couple of pieces I shot recently. They were created (mostly) this summer in and around grandchildren. I placed them on her stairwell for display. The crew of puppets above seemed like a supportive audience. (That monkey on the right was mine when I was little!)

Not surprisingly, found materials are her constant muse.

I'm in love with each of them and marvel at the ease she has with assembling odd bits and bringing them to life. As you can probably see, I am her biggest fan and loudest cheerleader. And isn't that what we all might hope for as we creatively raise our children?

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Create With Me

2012-01-10T12:03:00.002-05:00

Stampington and Company's,Create With Me, has hit the newsstands with their winter issue. Its focus is on "artistic adventures with children" and features parent/child collaborations. As with all of their publications, the layout is gorgeous and the articles are inspiring. You can read more about it here. I was invited to share my thoughts on mothering, creativity and blogging. My photography was used throughout, and so you may recognize a picture or two.

To the above I'd like to add:
The food we make, the games we play, the clothes we sew, the rooms we lovingly rearrange... they all become our installations and art pieces.

I wrote this article many months ago and haven't thought much about my words since. Seeing them again felt like a little gift... as if I wrote them to myself for just this moment. It's a time of new beginnings and I seem to have a sharpened awareness of where I've been and how I want to move forward as an artist and mother.

The intersection of mothering and making things fascinates me. How we incorporate creativity into daily life and share it with our children looks different for each family... my goodness, it looks different around here each day! But I do believe that one of the most important things we canoffer our family and our self is to unplug, tune in and be present. This gets harder as technology snakes itself into more and more crevices of our homes and the world around us. Smart phones and tablets seem to be sprouting from limbs... and I am no innocent bystander. Not that they don't offer incredible options as tools and resources, but I find myself longing for the simple ways of tech-free parenting. I wrote a little about those early days and my introduction to the blogging world in the Create With Me article. You can read more on flickr here and here.

As a fellow creative and blogger/blog reader, do you ever think about these things too? How do we balance our personal needs for creativity with mothering? Our desire to inspire and engage creatively with our children are often interconnected with our own artistic drive. And I often wonder what the impact of all of this technology (whether it be a blog or even instagram) will have on our collective creative consciousness down the road? I'd love to hear your thoughts...

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a is for art

2012-01-09T14:36:00.000-05:00

Last week's Squam giveaway was filled with such incredible comments. Getting to know who you are and what you're working on this year is really important to me... I'd much rather have a conversation than just hear my own thoughts spinning around. So, thank you for letting me in. As always, there was the common thread of craving space and time for creativity. 2012 sounds like it will be a big year for many of us in trying new ways to ensure that we take care of ourselves. Our whole self. For those of you that are sending your registration in to Squam today- wahoo! For those of you taking steps in new creative directions- fantastic! For all of you- I'm so pleased that you stopped by here at the beginning of your week! Happy Monday!

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A big congratulations to our "a is for art" cup winner:
Anne said...
These are beautiful cups! And "A is for Art" would be a perfect motto to read each day ...

Please get in touch with your mailing info so that we can get that sweet cup into your hands.

rooted stew

2012-01-06T06:48:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I sent out my first maya*mail. It featured Rooted Stew and a promise to soon include it in the eat section of the blog. So here it is, and this is how I described it:

This recipe for my favorite winter stew is not only delicious, but the perfect antidote to the excesses that go hand in hand with the (holiday) season. Humble root vegetables are featured for their ability to nourish and ground us. A steaming bowl literally roots you to your body after a long day of rushing about. Try eating with chopsticks and take one bite at a time before drinking the savory broth. It's a mini meditation in a bowl. Keeping a pot of Rooted Stew in the fridge ensures a balancing meal just when you need it most. An assortment of roots are used, and I would encourage you to experiment with some new ones, especially Burdock. It has a long history in Asian and Native American cultures in both cuisine and for medicinal purposes. Its robust, earthy flavor warms me down to my toes.

Rooted Stew

Ingredients:

a tablespoon or two of olive oil
1 diced onion
2 pressed cloves of garlic
5 cups of scrubbed and chopped roots (choose from: burdock, carrots, daikon, rutabagas, parsnips, turnips, celeriac)
4-6 shitake mushrooms sliced, stems removed
1 tablespoon of chopped or grated fresh ginger (more to taste if you're a ginger lover)
1 piece of kombu (sea vegetable)
1/2 cup tamari
1/4 cup kuzu or cornstarch for thickening
fresh scallions sliced

Make:
Saute onions and garlic in olive oil for several minutes before adding all of the roots. Pour in 7 cups of water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and add the ginger, shitake, kombu, and tamari. Simmer until vegetables are just tender. Around 40 minutes. Add cornstarch or kuzu to 1/2 cup of cool water. Whisk. Add this mixture to the pot and keep cooking until the stew thickens.Serve with rice or alone in a deep bowl. Top with scallions and enjoy!

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I believe we could all use a bowl of Rooted Stew this weekend: to nourish our bodies and remain grounded as we kick-start fresh goals... and follow our January dreams. Here are two links along those lines-

This cookbook I saw at annekata looks wonderful!
Michelle has a fantastic video on how to begin juicing over at Squam's happy, shiny, new blog. So fun to watch, especially because she totally demystifies the process with her sweet self and affordable (thank goodness) juicer.

Be well!

a squam-y giveaway!

2012-01-05T08:34:00.000-05:00

As registration for Squam Art Workshop's draws close, visions of the lake and wooded paths have been surfacing all week. Daydreams about ocean sunrises and strolls along the beach have been warming me as I gathered firewood in the single digit weather we've been having. Squam has played such a tremendous and powerful role in my life. From amazing teaching opportunities and personal transformation to some of the most wonderful relationships I've ever experienced. Making real life connections with maya*made readers is the highlight each time. In fact, I had an incredible email from one of my fall students just this morning... I love keeping those connections growing beyond the classroom. Maybe this is our year! I am honored to be leading stitching and printing workshops during the spring, fall and even by the sea and couldn't feel more blessed.

Thanks to the ever so lovely and generous Squam Goddesses, I get to announce January 9th's registration with a special giveaway from the Squam store! The store is brand new and I love the concept- each month there will be a featured artist who offers a limited edition, handmade item This month you'll find:

"...some beautiful gleena cups and tumblers made especially to celebrate the magic and creativity of the squam community. Whether you fill the large tumbler with a frothy latte or allow yourself a quiet moment of respite when you sip a favorite tea from these lovely porcelain cups, the beauty of this hand made ceramic will make everything sweeter. Asya Palatova lovingly crafts each piece by hand in her gorgeous, light-filled Pawtucket, RI studio. "Gleena," which means "clay" in Russian, was founded in 2002 and is greatly inspired by Asya's childhood in St. Petersburg ". "

And I am happy that I get to offer you one of these beautiful cups... you know how much I appreciate a special cup!! I've been given "a is for art" to pass on to one of you! How perfect is that for manifesting a little more creativity into your daily life?

Please leave comment between now and Saturday at 5pm EST. I will announce the randomly selected winner on Monday morning. Perhaps share something new and exciting that you're are bringing into your life right now.Yes!

Spirit Portrait

2012-01-03T14:44:00.000-05:00

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::breathe::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Writing this post is a good stretch for me. Stepping in front of the lens continues to be one of my challenges, but I've recently found some ease thanks to a new lovely friend.The kind of work I do necessitates having photos handy, so I decided to ask for help from someone I hoped would make the process easier. I scheduled a Spirit Portrait Session with Thea Coughlin. If I had only known, I would have done this years ago!

Thea has the power to quiet our inner critics and heal old self image wounds with her capacity for seeing. The spirit session we shared was far beyond anything I could have imagined.This past fall I was desperately in need of an updated bio photo for various new projects… including the book. I had seen gorgeous shots Thea had taken of other artists and hoped she could do for me what she did for them… but I had my doubts. I was exhausted and depleted after just giving my creative all to my book. I didn’t think a decent photo would be possible, but Thea worked a bit of magic into our shoot. She has a great knowledge of how to illuminate with light and lenses, but her true gift is the ability to first create a safe haven for your soul. She was then able to coax out my true self… my best self. The result was so much more than a great shot or a flattering picture. She photographed that part of me I always hope to share. A significant transformation was set into motion that day and continued when I first saw the images she had captured. It’s as if Thea can see who you are and where you’re headed. I felt like she was shooting my future self as well as the me that was sitting by the lake that day.

I'm so used to taking pictures of what I do... or how I do it. Having photographs of who I am is powerful. I am forever grateful to Thea for her sensitivity, for her ability to truly see, and especially for helping me to grow into my next phase of work and self. I'm excited to share her with all of you... she travels, so don't hesitate to connect with her if you are wanting your own Spirit Portrait Session. And guess what? Thea will be teaching and sharing her gifts at Squam this Spring and Fall! You can read about her class right here. Just something for you to consider as you make decisions about what you want for yourself in this new year.

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january-ish

2012-01-02T12:48:00.001-05:00

So here we go 2012... I'm diving in! I'm sitting here with my new favorite cup*, watching the snow finally arrive, and gearing up for a fresh start. Last year was such a doozy, but I learned a tremendous amount. I get to bring that wisdom with me, thankfully. Here's what I know:

plan and plot, but remember that in the end flexibility is my best friend
self-care is as necessary as oxygen (sleep and exercise- I'm talking to you!)
24 hours in a day will never expand- stop fighting it and enjoy the parameter it creates
coffee was/is not the culprit of a nagging health issue (thank goodness!), sadly wheat is (could be worse!)
the house will not clean itself and neither will anyone else if the expectation isn't there (new chore lists have been made!)
scheduling time with the people we love honors relationships
scheduling creative time honors its worth
stating intentions is the beginning of making dreams happen- write them down, pin them up, speak them freely
practice: listening, meditating, painting, sewing, exercise, baking... they all improve with daily practice
organization will liberate hours from each day

And on that last note, I'll be skipping off to put into place my new (free and not so fancy) calendar system. I printed up 12 blank calendar months and am arranging them over my computer so that I can see the whole year at a glance. Bam! Today I'll transfer dates and sort out new ones as I map out my next year. I'm feeling so January-ish and loving it! Sending my extra energy and motivation through this screen right to you! xo!

* a cup note: I drink a hot beverage multiple times a day. I tend to have have a favorite cup. Sadly my best mug cracked after 12 faithful years, and I've been hunting for its replacement ever since. I think this gorgeous white one comes pretty close, as it fits my two top mug needs: it feels PERFECT in my hands and is pretty enough to make me smile each time I use it. The best part- my good friend Julie made it! She doesn't even know that my husband gave it to me for Christmas, so I can't wait to point her to this post. Anyway, her work is incredible, so if you're on the look out for that perfect cup (or bowl) to drink in the new year- Julia E. Dean is now on Etsy!

2012

2012-01-01T23:11:00.003-05:00

I love the beginning of the week, turning the page on the calendar, and most of all the freshness of a new year. I'm entering 2012 recharged, ready, and really excited-I can't wait to share it with you, too!

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winter postcards # 7

2011-12-30T16:13:00.000-05:00

Winter Postcards: a series of snapshots capturing this magical time of year
Format: Instagram (follow username mayamade for sneak peeks)

Well I think this is it for the winter postcard series... lots of endings and beginnings these days. I just finished disassembling the shelf that I styled for the book cover. I hadn't been able to touch it since September... seemed like good luck keeping it up for a while. Now my mom's barn is back to its usual self, but I do believe that rolling shoe rack/shelf has a bit of a glow... as if it's enjoying its unexpected time in the spotlight. Can you see it, too?

Here's to putting things in order and new beginnings!

winter postcards # 6

2011-12-29T10:31:00.001-05:00

Winter Postcards: a series of snapshots capturing this magical time of year
Format: Instagram (follow username for sneak peeks)

Dear Snow,
We miss you and can't wait for you to arrive!
Sincerely,
your winter friends

p.s. Our sleds are ready!

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winter postcards #5 Charlotte

2011-12-28T10:36:00.004-05:00

Winter Postcards: a series of snapshots capturing this magical time of year
Format: Instagram (follow username for sneak peeks)

My daughter wished for a doll... a cloth doll... the kind Laura Ingall's had. Her name would be Charlotte just like Laura's, and she would have long hair... and arrive on Christmas morning. She had it all planned out. I've only made a couple of dolls (remember Lucie?), but this is just the kind of challenge I love... and also the kind I find myself doing in the wee hours of Christmas eve/morn. These manic midnight making sessions are not destined to be my finest crafting moments, but certainly some of the more memorable ones. I created a quick pattern, drawing inspiration from Erika's dolls. Her woolen hair was the only brown yarn I had and is so thick, I think they're a bit more like dreads. I will work on hair for the next doll... and there will most certainly be another. Charlotte needs a friend. I love the process and would enjoy having a bit more time with the next. And we certainly have enough gorgeous clothes. She fits all of Grandma Bunny's vintage outfits and is sized just right for some very spiffy linen doll clothes I picked up at a Flax garage sale last spring. Isn't that dress perfect? Have you made a doll before? Do you have a favorite pattern? How about clothes? Can you hear the little girl in me coming out? Yes, doll making seems to tap right into my child self.

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winter postcards #4

2011-12-27T09:46:00.000-05:00

Winter Postcards: a series of snapshots capturing this magical time of year
Format: Instagram (follow username mayamade for sneak peeks)

Sandwiched between two very special birthdays (each with their own chocolate cakes!) has been a whirlwind of love, piano playing, and twinkly lights. Fueled by some serious caffeine, the sewing machine whirred into the wee hours of far too many nights. So today... I sit. I listen. I watch. I play. While the holiday and birthday glitter settle- fresh books are cracked opened and new games are set out on the table. This last week of the year might be my favorite one of all. All the hustle comes to a gentle crawl as we settle in for some serious time together without the distractions of our usual schedules.

I also see a rare winter nap by the fire in my future. Yes, I do!

winter postcards #3

2011-12-23T14:19:00.000-05:00

Winter Postcards: a series of snapshots capturing this magical time of year
Format: Instagram (follow username mayamade for sneak peeks)

May your weekend be filled with light...

creativity...

joy...

magic...

and good cheer!

Love and warm wishes to you all!

p.s you can click on any pic for more info

winter postcards #2

2011-12-22T08:02:00.000-05:00

Wishing you warmth, light and a happy Solstice!

Winter Postcards: a series of snapshots capturing this magical time of year
Format: Instagram (follow username mayamade for sneak peeks)

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winter postcards #1

2011-12-21T09:08:00.001-05:00

vintage spool branch and berry holders:: idea and installation by my children

Good morning! Other than longing for a real snow, my family and I are contentedly nestled in for our holidays. We have planned for a rather quiet and cozy winding down of the year... together and home. I will continue to visit with you here, but am bringing back my postcard series from the summer until the new year begins. Hope you enjoy!

Winter Postcards: a series of snapshots capturing this magical time of year
Location: in and around HOME
Format: Instagram (follow username mayamade for sneak peeks)

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wrap it up

2011-12-20T08:56:00.000-05:00

We've always enjoyed creative and green gift wrapping, but last year I had big plans for making drawstring cloth bags for all of our family presents. I gathered up my material that felt festive and cheery. Stacks of red and white scraps and yardage sat on my work table with high hopes of seeing seams and drawstring channels. And there they sat, as slippers, buckets, and the like got sewn. As the big day loomed, I acknowledged that it wasn't to be... but maybe that was for the best. Simply wrapping presents up with those piles of fabric kept my options open. No cutting or sewing allowed me to keep some beautiful yardage that I'd rather save in one piece. It also inspired me to get creative with other materials that I wasn't ready to cut up. Out came vintage napkins and tea towels.. such perfect sizes for wrapping! The children struggled with using only yarn on some of the odd shaped packages. A little tape came to the rescue. Last year worked out so well, that we'll be following suit this week. We'll use the large pieces for big items and fold scraps to size for smaller presents. No scissors! The pile above is a photo taken on Christmas morning 2010... the happy aftermath. Later we rolled up the yarn, saved the tags, and folded the fabric to go back on the shelf. It didn't take long with everyone's help. Below is the after shot- neat and tidy.

I'll be making some more tags like these... they make me happy! Yesterday my daughter and her friend had a wonderful time making little watercolor snowflakes to top presents and just to give.

I helped them punch 2" flakes out of watercolor paper. They added glitter glue after the paint... which diluted the paint, but they didn't care. Glitter is essential.

If you're looking for wrapping options, it really doesn't have to be complicated, nor involve scissors and thread. Napkins, tablecloths, and pieces of fabric are all you really need. Tie it up with ribbons and yarn. Add handmade gift tags and you'll be set! This works for everyone on your giving list, but especially for those presents that stay right at home.

herb gift toppers

2011-12-16T10:50:00.000-05:00

I've been topping some of my gifts with fresh herbs. It looks festive, smells wonderful, and can be put to use in holiday cooking.

Tuck a bundle onto a package wrapped with baker's twine or lace. If you don't have any greens of your own, check your grocery store for fresh rosemary, sage, and thyme- a wonderful and classic combo. The two latter herbs need to be added right before giving, as they'll begin to wilt.

Rosemary is quite sturdy, on the other hand. Tie some to a gift bag for instant cheer. Below is an easy way to wrap with rustic, reusable appeal in three easy steps.

Pull out several strands of jute from each short end of a long burlap rectangle (to create a fringe).
Fold in half lengthwise. Sew up the sides and lock stitches.
Insert a gift and secure with twine and fresh herbs.

Have a wonderful weekend!

squam in the new year

2011-12-15T11:42:00.005-05:00

Today is the launch of all things SQUAM! Please take a look right here... a gorgeous new website will greet you with the announcement of next year's retreats and offerings. It's all incredibly exciting and dreamy! The line up of classes, teachers, and locations is just amazing. I'm honored to be teaching at three of next year's retreats... with workshops that encompass my great loves: printing and sustainable (and soulful) stitching. Crazy wonderful! The experiences and relationships that have grown out of my years at Squam have completely changed my life. No exaggeration. And I'm not alone. The many transformations and connections made on that lake have rippled out into the universe. Making space in our lives for creativity and soul deepening should not be an afterthought. As the world's pace quickens, more of us are recognizing the importance of slowing down, using our hands, listening to our hearts and strengthening our connections face to face. The internet is powerful, but ultimately we need to touch and see one another in person. I would love to meet you... or hug you once more on the shores of Squam Lake. And this year I get so say "even by the sea!"

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pull up a chair

2011-12-13T12:40:00.002-05:00

We're cruising along at a steady pace over here at the Donenfeld ~~hearth~~ headquarters. Not totally on top of my list, but not quite behind either. Today is teacher gift assembly time, and I wasn't sure if I'd have a chance to blog. However, yesterday's heavy post was beckoning for a little cheer to follow. As I gathered my supplies and turned on the carols, I realized what a cozy, cheerful scene it was. I put on the kettle and seriously wished I could invite you over for some tea. I grabbed my camera for the next best thing. We can pretend, can't we?

It's chilly out there, so come on in by the fire. The smell of woodsmoke and cloves fills the air. Chocolate is melting in the oven. There are snowflakes to hang, jars to fill and stars to fold in the crisp light of our little farmhouse windows. I could definitely use your able hands!

Mmmm. And as long as we're fantasizing, wouldn't a winter's nap be perfect too!?

gentle

2011-12-12T13:42:00.002-05:00

The holidays are such a wonderful time to gather with those we love. Joy and celebration are everywhere right now. For any of us who have lost someone close (perhaps someone so dear to us that they were an integral part of our holiday traditions), this month can hold a quiet loneliness. I know this is true for my family. I wanted to honor each of you today that is missing someone you love right now... often as you continue to create a magical season. Maybe there is a friend who is experiencing this December with fresh grieving. A phone call or special card recognizing how hard this month might be for them could be the kindest gift of all. There is great healing that comes from feeling seen... from being connected to others that recognize what we are feeling. So in the hustle and bustle of all of this joy... joy that is real and wonderful... I just wanted to send out some tenderness to those of you that might need a little extra right now.

Be gentle with yourself.

(green) handmade holiday round-up

2011-12-10T11:02:00.003-05:00

I'm bringing out some visual cues to remind you (and me!) of projects and traditions from winter's past. A good idea is a wonderful thing to recycle. Below are some of my favorites from last year:

recipe found here


tutorial found here

how to found here

diy frilled pencils

And here are a plethora of good ones from deeper in the archives!

Above your find some simple decor for setting the scene. Links are from left to right.
Row 1: burlap forest, snow covered pine cones, cranberry wreath
Row 2: rag wreath, newspaper snowflake garland, batting scrap wreath ornament

The following are links for simple gifts you still have plenty of time to make. Once again from left to right.
Row 1: elf slippers, card holders, milk carton cookie houses
Row 2: napkin rings and other security paper ideas, gift bag/boxes, leather leaf cuff
Row 3: wrapping ideas, child's travel pillow, paper whites
Row 4: love letter pillow, travel felt board, envelope purses
Row 5: quick personalized stationery, memory game, last minute treat bags

Happy making and joyful giving to you all!

simple gifts: yule log tray

2011-12-08T11:19:00.003-05:00

I have a new wooden tray. I just made it a few minutes ago and love it! The idea came to me as I gathered firewood to bring inside. I realized that a flat slab from a log would make a lovely rustic centerpiece for holding candles and such. The rounded underside needed a base to make it steady. Fallen branches from our kindling pile looked just right. I collected some supplies and whipped it up. The end result is so pretty that I might just enlist my kids to make some more for giving. That's right... this is an ideal carpentry project for children (or woodworking novices) because there are very few steps and only two simple hand tools are needed.

Supplies:

flat slab of firewood/log
2 branches of similar diameter (around 1")
hand saw
hammer
nails
sandpaper
vegetable oil and rag (optional)

Make

Sand the rough hewn side of the the log just enough to smooth out edges and prevent splintering. I rubbed a little vegetable oil on the surface at this point. Optional, of course.
Saw the branches to equal lengths. Make them both a little longer than the width of the log.
Rest the log on branches and determine the steadiest spot for their placement.
Turn over and nail in place. I found that a single nail in the center of each branch was the most stable spot for attachment.

Done! That was quick, wasn't it?

A dusting of snow on our picnic table looked like a romantic spot for a winter picnic... so I rounded up my candles and pretty greenery along with my camera.

What a perfect centerpiece for any winter celebration!

ease=joy

2011-12-06T12:50:00.006-05:00

What if it wasn't so hard... so tricky... so fancy... so busy... so much? What if December was actually about discovering simple, easy, slow, free? Mmmmmm. Yes. I talk about this each year as a reminder to myself, as well as to you. My mantra for this season is always "simplify". Maybe you're thinking... oh that's easy for you... your life looks so tidy. Well, the reality is my Decembers are just as busy as anyone's... two birthdays, three holidays, recitals, gatherings... you name it, it's on our calendar*. But each year, I try to find at least one new way to scale back. Our count down calendar has been a phenomenal success and perfect example of how EASE is another name for JOY. Thankfully, my children were very flexible about shifting the focus to celebrating new or favorite family traditions each day. How I've worded every activity and set our intention for togetherness has made all the difference. The four of us gather round and truly have fun together. So far, cracking open a gorgeous red pomegranate has been the highlight. Who knew? Red sticky fingers and tons of giggles. I mean it doesn't get much easier! So, with that in mind... I urge you to think about what your family truly needs to make this a memorable season.

p.s. We've also loved our other count down activities which have included:
1-Making our very own snow to welcome in December" with snowflakes found here.
2-Toasting to good cheer- with sparkling cider in wineglasses for everyone.
3-Stuffing dried apricots with chocolate-an easy favorite.
4-Sipping hot cocoa by the fire with candy cane stirrers (we buy these at our health food store).

Easy stuff! Right? I bet you have some too- simple family traditions that make happiness not stress. Please consider sharing one in the comments... I'm sure we'd all love to hear!

I'll be bringing back my simple gift series this week...so stay tuned!

* editor's note: after a funny phone call with a good friend, I'm adding in another slice of my reality!

A ceiling tile in our main bathroom fell to the floor. Yikes! It's still being held in place with duct tape and a piece of cardboard, two weeks later.
I was recruited to sew huge fabric "floats" for my daughter's class play. They need to be done TOMORROW.
My studio floor is so cluttered that there have been two (minor) injuries from tripping in the last 24 hours.
Our stove burners all rusted out simultaneously. Waiting for parts has meant cooking with only one burner sparingly... for a week so far.

So"simplify" it is. Thanks N, for reminding me to keep it real and share the whole story..

news from the winter birds

2011-12-05T11:06:00.002-05:00

I invited my birds to share along in today's post.

December's bare branches don't offer much cover for winter birds. Their new visibility seems strikingly similar to how I feel suddenly... balancing out on a limb for all to see. So far, it's not so scary! Thanks to all of you! Your warm and happy response to my book news has had me dancing for days.

Last week I quietly slipped my newly hatched offering into the sidebar: maya*mail. A big thank you to everyone who has already signed up! I'm so excited to be finding fresh ways to stretch my wings. Here's the plan- each month I'll be sending out a letter written especially for you. Because I live closely with the seasons, I'll be tapping into the natural rhythm of the year for inspiration with either a recipe, tutorial or a personal story. To ensure that you don't miss anything fun and exciting on my blog, I'll always add anything noteworthy... but the main focus will be a sharing that's just for my maya*mail folks. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, than simply sign up below ( the invitation will always remain at the top of my sidebar).

One more little bit of bird news...

Yes, it's true. You can now find me on facebook, too. As many of my friends know, I have resisted for years. It seemed like just another thing to keep track of. Truth is, I'm getting fairly good at managing all of my online nests, and I'm sure I can handle one more. Especially with so many familiar faces stopping by with warm welcomes and... even a few taking me under their wing as I learn the ropes. Find me right here.

it's here- my book!

2011-12-01T13:43:00.005-05:00

I did it! It's been a dream and a goal long before this blog, but because of maya*made and all of you, I am now a published author! My book, Reinvention- Sewing With Rescued Materials, is so intimately about my passion, values and sensibilities. I'm deeply in love with all 28 projects that I designed just for this book. I think you will be too. They are useful, meaningful, and downright beautiful in their aesthetic- simplicity. As you know, I am inspired by the properties and nature of individual materials. I spent this past year surrounded by some of my favorites and am terribly excited that I don't have to keep quiet any longer. It won't hit the shelves until May, but I'll be sharing behind the scenes and sneak peeks until then.

I've been waiting for Amazon to put the book cover up, and today's the day! I can't even pretend to be calm, cool and collected. I almost choked and could barely catch my breath. It's not like I didn't know what it would look like, or even that it was any day now... but still! Oh my- there it was! It's up! And you can pre-order it and everything. Wow! I can't believe I just said that! Maybe once more... for good measure. In fact, I'll shout it from the rooftops!

My book is available for pre-order right here!

wnwn bread pudding

2011-11-30T12:40:00.002-05:00

I had a bread pudding conversation with my brother-in-law over Thanksgiving. He's a tremendous cook who loves bread pudding, but has never enjoyed the recipes he's tried. Hmmm. I don't use a recipe. It's one of those throw-it-all-together dishes that I like to make, and my family loves to eat. Made me think I should share what I do, in case you have a hankering for some good comfort food and some stale bread on hand. In the past, I was the main "heel eater" of the family. I gave up wheat last spring (a whole post in itself!) and the bread ends/heels started piling up. I keep all old bread in a bag in the freezer. Sometimes they turn into bread crumbs and croutons, but mostly I wait until the there is enough to fill a shallow baking dish (approximately 8" square). This lends itself to child participation... or even complete kitchen independence. Always a good thing.

Waste Not Want Not Bread Pudding

Gather bread, thaw if frozen.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Make custard. Beat 4 or 5 eggs into 1 cup of milk.
Mix 1/3 to 1/2 a cup of sweetener (syrup, honey, sugar) and a dash of vanilla.
Rip bread into bite sized pieces and fill baking dish. Pour on custard and let sit for 10 minutes.
Add 1/2 cup or so of mix-ins like dried fruit, chocolate chips, citrus zest... you get the idea. Use a fork to simultaneously mash the bread and mix in the extras. I tend to keep the crust sides down for a lighter appearance. Just a little something that makes it more appealing to my kids.
Bake until golden on top... around 45 minutes. Serve warm.

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I find reinventing leftovers and food bits as exciting as any other repurposing! Do you enjoy clever transformations of the edible variety, too?

security stars

2011-11-29T12:13:00.001-05:00

Last week I fell in love with a star. A paper star. A simple to make and beautiful to behold star. My friend Kathrin made them as a young girl growing up in Germany. She showed me how easy they were, and then we taught all of the children in our daughters' class (see above photo). The ages range from 6-9, and they were each totally successful... just to give you a sense for your own children. Kathrin has a tutorial to follow right here.

There are two changes that we figured out with the experience of making them with so many children. Use a glue stick instead of white glue, except for the last step when you need a stronger bond for holding each half together. Clear glue is nice for that, but good ol' original Elmer's is just fine.

A pair of old scissors (they might get sticky) helps tremendously when pasting the flaps of each star point together. Like so:

I can't stop making them! They come together quickly (in minutes!) and look so impressive. I made a bunch to string as a garland. These were made out of 3" squares cut from security envelopes. The weight is slightly heavier than origami paper and makes them very sturdy. I always love mixing and matching the patterns, and this project truly shows them off.

Now that I've made my garland, I'm not ready to stop. Neither is my daughter. I think I'll cut a bunch of squares of other found paper and keep keep them in a basket with all the supplies needed to make them whenever one of us has a spare minute. They'll make perfect present toppers for everyone on our list!

counting down with a december map

2011-11-28T14:48:00.002-05:00

Since 2008, I've had a blast creating count down/advent calendars out of the unassuming, and quite humble, toilet paper tube. This year we will "roll" out one the three sets to revisit. I'm thinking 2010 strung as a garland. If you'd like to try your hand at one, they're quite fun to make and easy to adapt for plenty of child participation.
2010
2009
2008

The t.p. tubes I've been saving all year will definitely take on some holiday transformations, perhaps as ornaments... I'm in the very fun experimental stage, but will share soon.

Every year we count down to Christmas with a combination of treats, time tickets, and clues. I will be completely honest, I often don't know what it will be until the night before. Sometimes it feels like a mad scramble. This year we're switching things up to simplify life as well as to appreciate living simply during this busy season. Each night and weekend morning my children will find a slip of paper with an activity that celebrates the magic of this month. I am working on my list right now and making sure that each one corresponds accordingly with what I already know of our calendar. For instance, building ginger bread houses will happen on a Sunday vs. a school day with piano lessons. Just common sense, but I'm finding that the process is a bit like mapping out this month that has the potential to overwhelm me. Here's what I've got going on so far... I'm still playing with the dates:

cut paper snowflakes and tape them to the windows
make hot cocoa with candy cane stirrers
bring in evergreen boughs
bake cookies
hang stockings
fold paper stars
string cranberries and popcorn
decorate sugar cookies
gather unused toys to share with others
go tree hunting
Make gingerbread houses
decorate the tree
make edible decorations for the birds and squirrels
read Christmas stories
sing carols
make salt dough ornaments
make a card (or two) and send it to someone special
Daddy's birthday choice
poach pears
roll beeswax candles
have a candlelit evening (and an unplugged night)
roast chestnuts and take a drive into the village to see the lights

So much of what has made it to the list are things we do every year. Much anticipated traditions. I've seen my share of activity advent calendars over the years, but I had no idea what a sense of comfort and rhythm they create for the organizer. My December map! (I can almost here the sound of trumpets!) Are you ready to transition into next month, yet? Here we go...

editor's note: I was waiting all day for my friend Sonia to put up her count down activity list... she has inspired me for years with her wonderful December projects. It's up now, so got take a look here!

NYC

2011-11-28T00:38:00.001-05:00

You may have imagined us having a very simple Thanksgiving down our quiet road. Not at all! We often head down to my husband's family in the the city for a boisterous gathering that is always delicious and quite a departure from our everyday. From watching the sun rise over the east river with a fresh bagel in hand...

to enjoying The High Line with very soft front row seats...

It's fun to shift gears for a while and give our children a taste of a very different lifestyle... with lots of cousins at their side. Hope yours was wonderful weekend, too!

thank you

2011-11-24T06:46:00.000-05:00

For YOU! On this day of giving thanks (here in the states), I want to send out a big hug to each and every one of you.

p.s. a little smile for you in the form of these acorns... or as we've named them "acones".

acorn cap+baby (hemlock?)cone=pure sweetness

simple nature wreath

2011-11-22T11:29:00.001-05:00

Look what I gathered beneath dark clouds. They were wrapped around the branches of one of our locusts and when I yanked, they fell to the ground in one round coil. These wild grapevines were begging to be this year's wreath. I listened to them.

They asked to be tied gently but firmly with garden jute so that they could keep their nice circular shape. The strands of jute invited dried seeds, rose hips, and spiky thistles to be tucked in between the strands. A gorgeous skeleton of a tomatillo husk stuck to the thistles like velcro.

Pine cones were secured between a few vines and it was done. Wow! This was my easiest and most satisfying wreath to date. It might just be the prettiest one, too.

What do you have lying about... whether it be in your recyling bin, scrap basket, or backyard? If you listen to the materials and honor their properties, I bet you'll find a simple and lovely wreath just waiting to be made.

desire to inspire blog tour and a giveaway!

2011-11-21T06:27:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday! I have a treat for us to start this week off,. My dear friend, Christine Mason Miller, has written a new book (her third!), and I'm really happy to be on the book tour. Congratulations Christine! Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World – is a collection of stories, exercises, images, quotes, and anecdotes from twenty extraordinary women, all sharing insights and experiences of how they create a meaningful life and, in turn, make a positive impact on the world.

This list of contributors has me all fired up. Several of them are online friends, a couple I've been honored to spend time with at Squam, and one of them is my spirit sister, Pixie Campbell. Combined with Christine's magic, this is bound to be a beautiful and powerful book.

Each chapter discusses a different aspect of living a passion-fueled life, and this month Christine is offering a 60-Second Snapshot of every chapter as part of her Desire to Inspire Virtual Book Tour. Click here for all her online book tour dates and check her blog for some delicious snippets from all of those beautiful women pictured above.

On today's tour stop Christine shares a taste of Chapter One ~ A Force of Good:

“Most of the time I channel my desire to be a force of good through very tiny pinholes – a moment here, five minutes there – always mindful of how impactful these small opportunities for kindness can be.” ~Desire to Inspire

My desire to be a Force of Good in the world is not only about creating art, sharing business advice, and writing a book such as Desire to Inspire, it is also about being kind to everyone I interact with as I run errands, walk my dog, and run my business. It is about taking good care of my family, and offering encouragement and support to my friends. I am a huge fan of snail mail, expressions of gratitude to strangers, and sincere apologies to soften a conflict.

Desire to Inspire begins shipping next month... perfect timing for gearing up for a fresh new year. Christine is kindly offering one of you a copy as soon as it arrives! ~~Simply leave a comment here before Saturday, November 26th. Leave away for me to contact you, and I'll announce the random winner next Monday morning.~~Good luck!

And the winner is:

Melissa said...

The book sounds amazing! I'd love to curl up with this for some beautiful inspiration.

Congratulations, Melissa!

gratitude reminders

2011-11-19T11:53:00.001-05:00

I cut out the printed leaves with the plan to write on the back of them. As we near Thanksgiving, we always take time to acknowledge what we are grateful for. Writing it down reinforces it for all of us, but this year I thought about creating some prompts- ones that could be read out loud at the dinner table now or any time of year.
Here are some others I've been writing down to go with the two above:
-I am grateful for (each member of the family) especially when he/she _______.
-I appreciate the sun because________.
-I love the moon because__________.
-I'm thankful for this insect and this is why____________.
-I'm grateful to the Earth because_____________.
-I love my body and am grateful that it can______________.
-I'm thankful for my home because_____________.

This is a good start, but I bet you can think of one or two I've missed. If so, please share in the comment section. I've got a few leaves left that need filling! The gratitude bucket I gave you a peek at yesterday is the perfect place to store our thankful reminders.

There's been so much bucket-making action (all over the world!) that I wanted to make a new one, too. I used the patten from the medium round burlap bucket and eliminated handles. I printed two pieces of stiff linen ( formerly a linen blazer) for the outer layer. Linen takes ink so beautifully it makes me weak in the knees! Versacraft stamp ink is my favorite for carved stamps on fabric. It's permanent once it's been heat set. Do an Etsy search under supplies to find the colors you'd like. The interior is just a section from an old drop cloth, a few paint splatters are a reminder of its former job.

I had no idea how much inspiration I'd gain from last weekend's simple walk in the oak forest... thanks for joining me as I followed my "oak arrow".

peek

2011-11-18T09:41:00.001-05:00

Today is full... no time to write about the evolution of my oak stamps. Oh well. I was excited, because I did finish... yay for completion! I'll share details this weekend. Here's a little peek...

Happy Friday!

oak stamps

2011-11-17T11:45:00.000-05:00

Turns out this week is devoted to the oak leaf. I have been wanting to carve leaf stamps for awhile, but had always assumed I'd use one as model and free-hand it. Not what happened. I traced one!

Every leaf is so unique, and this one's "shape" will live on as a design after the original has decomposed in the earth. As I investigated each leaf's details, I studied the complex map of veins reaching out from their centers in a new way. I painted the back of one to enhance the definition of this network of arteries. Still fascinated, I created a rubbing of one of the more delicate leaves.

Whenever I carve a stamp, I transfer my pencil drawing by flipping over the paper onto the carving block and rubbing it with pencil. So, why not do that with a rubbing, too? Double rub!

They look especially nice in a grouping so printing a bit of old fabric might be perfect, and I have another idea too... just need to find some time by the fire tonight to cut them all out.
Note: I used Staedtler's Mastercarve block for these stamps.

wednesday wip

2011-11-16T06:42:00.000-05:00

Leaf experimenting quickly turned into carving... more tomorrow.

I don't often post on Wednesdays anymore, but I just wanted to pop in and send a big hug to all of you that purchased a pattern yesterday... and while I was sleeping! Oh my! Thanks so much... the energy of so many folks sewing and organizing is almost intoxicating. I love it and now am feeling the urge to make some more buckets, myself.
See you tomorrow!

nature buckets

2011-11-15T10:31:00.001-05:00

Bringing the outside in is my favorite way to get ready for the winter season. Sticks, branches, pine cones, nuts, berries, bark... they're all fair game for gathering. After posting yesterday about nature wreaths, I realized that we had to get going before the rain set in for the week. Out came our trusty buckets. I figured we'd leave the pine cones by the wood stove to let them dry and open, and then perhaps work on a project later this week. This photo was ultimately meant for that post, but when I read Soule Mama this morning I realized that today was the day to talk about buckets! Amanda has been busy with my bucket pattern. For nature sorting. Love that! We both have 6 year old girls with big ideas, and I was so happy to see how she created beautiful buckets to help Adelaide organize her inspiration. My daughter still uses her little acorn gather bucket. It's unlined burlap to handle the dirt and sap of pine cones. It has only one handle, but is essentially the small bucket from the nesting bucket pattern. The big one, pictured above, is one of my first buckets, but is very similar to the large size of the nesting buckets. So, if you're going to be doing some gathering... you may want to try your hand at one. The pattern was created for beginning sewers and busy parents- in other words: they're quick to whip up! Thanks Amanda, for your lovely review.

oak

2011-11-14T12:05:00.001-05:00

Nothing like getting out into the woods. If you live near by, the upper gorge trail at Taughannock is worth hiking: right now. Laura goes several times a week and recently gave a great tour here. Yesterday we walked, ran, and rolled in miles of oak leaves. There were so many varieties we couldn't help but gather and share our favorites. Look at the beauty of each step we took!

Some inevitably came home.

To identify...

And to craft with. All of our maples are long gone, but these freshly fallen oak leaves promise a last chance for more leaf crafting.We have our favorite projects: water colored fall leaves and a fall bunting, but it's fun to try out at least one new idea each year. I'm particularly excited to experiment with Jean's technique for doodling on and preserving leaves. And when we're done with leaves, we may move right on to pine cones and other gathered bits with our nature wreath making. I'm loving the deep and subdued hues of November more than ever this year. I hope you get a chance to walk in the woods soon... whatever season it may be in your neighborhood.

11.11.11

2011-11-11T12:32:00.001-05:00

Salud!

At precisely 11:11am and 11 seconds our family celebration began! Green smoothies and cow bell ringing commenced. Here's to the magic of numbers and days! May you have a good one.

intuition

2011-11-10T12:44:00.003-05:00

Investigating new materials necessitates a thoughtful exploration of what works and what does not. And that is exactly what this little woolen pouch became for me in the tiny free moments this week has offered. I have enough things that must get done each day, and having a source for play for maybe 10 minutes here or 20 there has been totally satisfying and just plain fun! Experimenting asks you to make creative choices based on intuition and allows for mistakes along the way. The red wool triangles that had felt (no pun intended) very geometric when I cut them out asked to be something. I turned them into arrow heads at the end of each tuck. The fact that one is a little wonky was just part of me learning how to work with such incredibly thick wool. No easy task. I tried out different widths for the tucks and decided that the thicker ones are my favorites. The thin ones are very tricky to keep even, and I may even rip out the stitches on that wiggly skinny one on the pouches flip side.

When I appliqued the red pieces to the front side, I enjoyed the red stitching on the reverse side, so I mimicked it on one of the arrows here.

I added a zipper so that this "play" could become functional, but discovered that although I've made unlined wool pouches in the past... not such a good idea with this thick stuff. No zipper snagging yet, but I'm positive there will be a stuck zipper issue in the not too faraway future. Live and learn. Experiment and discover.

Trying new things, while listening to my inner voice for guidance, has long been my approach... but these days I'm deepening this practice. I'm getting quieter so that I can better hear the answers. It's touching every facet of my life, not just wool pouches! Instead of waiting for New Year's to make my resolutions, I'm following my intuition and new goals are being achieved simply by living with ears to my heart, instead of lists on paper. I've long felt a shift taking place, but didn't put it into words until this morning's cup of tea. So obvious. So right.

Note: Just as I pushed the publish post button, a light bulb went on... arrows! I made arrows in multiple directions. Follow those heart red arrows! Intuitive choices are always significant,aren't they?

wool experiments

2011-11-08T11:48:00.000-05:00

I've been playing with a new to me kind of wool. It feels like both a luxury and a necessity to take some time to experiment. I had tea with my friend Kate a few weeks ago... you know Woolen Moss Kate, and she showed me the most amazing slippers that she had made out of the wool felt from her very own sheep. I was so impressed and said she must make them an offering in her shop.(And she did... and they're right here!) I was also curious if she had more wool felt that I could see and touch. One thing led to another, and I went home with a sheet of gorgeous natural organic wool felt... from sheep around my freakin' corner! Yay for shepherdesses! I've been oggling it for days. I just couldn't cut into it until I knew what it would be. Well, enough of that! I finally cut out two squares for playing.We all need to work on that "too precious to cut" stuff that holds us back.

I just had to see how it felt on my machine and in my hands and with a rotary cutter. I loved the contrast of red that Kate's slippers had. I love splashes of red with all of my neutrals. I cut up a few triangles from an old red suit and played with pin tucks.

I don't quite know where it's going. And that's the point.

Experimenting- it really is a necessity!

scrumptious chard pesto and some food photo tips

2011-11-07T11:16:00.001-05:00

Hello food loving friends! I am so excited to tell you about our delicious discovery Saturday night- chard can be substituted for basil in pesto! Who knew? Probably YOU, but I hadn't a clue. I've successfully tried other greens before, but nothing has come as close to basil as swiss chard. The funny thing is that I'm not even a big fan of chard. I love all greens, but it's one of the lowest on my list. Not so anymore. So if you're missing the fresh vivid green pesto of summer, just substitute some chard (with the stalks cut) off for basil in your favorite pesto recipe. I added a squeeze of lemon juice and a little extra olive oil.

***

My weekend was all about baking and souping (new and old recipes alike). There were so many opportunities to snap shots of pretty food that it got me thinking about my relationship with my camera and our kitchen. Uninspiring food pictures just make me sad, especially when the recipe is a good one. I've definitely taken my share of poorly photographed meals, but have improved over the years. If you have a blog and like to cook, most likely you've included some food posts. I thought I'd share some of the simple things I do to make the most out of what's on our plates. Let's use Sunday's breakfast as a teaching tool, because I took a rather blah pic, before I got in gear for more enticing one. As a huge popover fan, I had been wanting to try Amy's Dutch Baby every since Amanda blogged about it last week. The time change had me all turned upside down and a super fast recipe was in order for growling tummies. Because I hadn't planned on taking pictures, that puffy Dutch Baby collapsed before I even grabbed my camera.*Sigh*

There were lighting obstacles, as well, so I let everyone serve themselves a slice and then served YOU a slice and ran outside with it. I reached for a tablecloth on my way out the door.

Isn't that final photo a little tastier? With caramelized apples and a dusting of sugar it was devoured instantly. In fact, I might double the recipe next time. So here's a little list of things I do to ensure delicious images:

9 tips for better food photos:

keep your camera in the kitchen
use natural indirect light- set up a tray at a window or bring it outside, but not in direct sunlight (I take almost all of my pics outside when the weather permits)
keep backdrops at the ready- a tablecloth, dishtowel, or favorite piece of fabric ( I love my old cutting board's rustic appeal and it's in many of my shots)
shoot above it, but not directly over it
use simple plates and bowls that don't take away from the food
style a pretty serving and then offer it as seconds to someone in your family
keep your camera hand steady or use a tripod
tweak with any simple photo editing tool if the light isn't just right
upload your photos to your blog in a nice large size... now that it's a delicious picture show it off!

(Instagram is a fun new way to casually share food photos- but I still use most of the same tips above with my phone)
Note: I am not a food blogger, even though I pretend to be some times! I am not a trained photographer and use a fairly basic camera. I just like nice pictures of good food. Between the time change and this post, I may need an early lunch today!

shooting shadow silhouettes

2011-11-04T10:21:00.001-04:00

Taking a walk in the woods is a surefire way to synthesize ideas and sort out new projects in my head. The air is clear and the birds are good company. Inevitably, I come home with a few bits of tangible inspiration- leaves, branches, sprigs of this and that. I find botanical patterns fascinating. To reduce the shapes into simple silhouettes, I use the sun when it's high overhead. I photograph the shadows so that I can incorporate them into stencils, stamps, illustrations and embroidery later on. It's really quite simple. If you're looking for interesting patterns and shapes for your own designs give it a try.

The only tools you'll need are your camera and the sun. This will work most times of the year, but fall stalks and weeds are especially stark and lend themselves to shadows beautifully.

Bet,you can find some interesting materials out your back door, too. Try a neighborhood park to expand your repertoire. This is quiet, meditative work that doesn't take very long, but will slip you into an instant peaceful state. If your children are about, they'll enjoy it too... they are expert foragers, as you know. Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

seasons- the book

2011-11-03T11:49:00.002-04:00

On a beautiful summer day, I opened this utterly captivating children's book called Seasons. My mother had placed it invitingly in a quiet corner by a window. Her good friends had brought it as a gift, knowing that she would appreciate the beautiful design and incredible illustrations by French artist Blexbolex. It captivated all of us, adults and children alike, with each simple, yet evocative page. If you live amidst the seasons, each picture tastes of something familiar. Every page represents an archetypal image of the rhythms of the year and cycles of nature. When we are knee deep in summer or winter, it's often hard to feel anything other then the heat of the dog days or the chill of frozen breath. I lived without seasons for most of my life, so I can't seem to get over the extremes of where I live today- the beauty (and sometimes intensity) of waking up to a first snow or watching an early crocus open. There are just so many "firsts" when there are seasons. I marvel at each of these beginnings as if I've never seen them before. Some I excitedly wait for, others come before I'm ready.

But come they do... and although it may feel like we are just along for nature's ride, we don't have to be a captive audience. Diving into each month with the work and play that represent the turning of the calendar has its thrills. For instance, today we dusted off the ice skates. In November? Why yes, ice skating lessons begin in early November around here. Ice skates made me think of this book, and reminded me that I had yet to share it with you.

Let's peek inside:

When I was looking for a link and some info about the book, I discovered this little video that I think you'll enjoy!

Cat Tale

2011-11-01T13:39:00.003-04:00

I hope you had a wonderful Halloween... we sure did, but I'm grateful that it's only one night out of the year. However, this ~~girl~~ black cat of mine intends to climb back into her fur as often as possible. Note the mask worn with the heavy coat above. She let me know her intention to wear the cat suit all winter long, before I even started cutting out the fleece. This was good information to factor in, along with the knowledge that it was going to be a chilly trick or treating night. So, I should tell you the little details about the suit:
-I traced the body of one of her zipper footie pajamas (because it doesn't get much more comfy than that) and kept in mind the need to wear layers underneath, so added a little extra room around the torso.
-I bought the black fleece on sale when we first moved to the east coast, but hadn't cut into it until now.
-Mitten/paws were decided upon 10 minutes before we left the house- zippity sewing!
-The tail was attached a wee bit low (whoops).
-The mask was made in lieu of face paint because of skin sensitivities.
-The black zipper went missing so we opted for a good ol' button.
-The big brother decided he wasn't too old to go at the last minute, and came up with his final costume 5 minutes before the trick or treating began (traveling salesman!).

It all came together rather quickly once we all got down to it. I was just so relieved that the cat didn't change her mind in the final hour (as so many little ones do). She remained constant. Not sure why I doubted... especially when she shared this story that she wrote while I was sewing on Sunday morning. She declared her "half cat" identity right there on the page.

Here is my interpretation... I corrected some spelling and added some context just to make it readable to all of you, but truly the original is absolutely priceless and totally perfect for me, as is.

True Story

Once upon a time there was a cat. Its name was Hickory (our tabby). And he has been in my life since I was born I have always been (as if) I was half cat. Maybe because I have always had a cat in my family. He has always understood me. I think now I am six almost seven, he is still the best part of my life and I love to read about them (cat stories) if I can!

the end

THE END!!!

YAY

And yes, those are patent leather knee high boots. I know. Amazing! Big thanks to our hand-me- down-fairy, the Big T! I wouldn't be surprised if I found this black cat romping in the snow with Hickory one day soon. For now, she roams the woods as all good country cats do.

happy halloween!

2011-10-31T14:23:00.000-04:00

Hope your day and night are spooktacular!

first snow

2011-10-28T11:22:00.001-04:00

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

2011-10-27T10:55:00.003-04:00

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:

packs a powerful nutritional punch
fairly quick to throw together
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:

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.
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.
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.
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

2011-10-25T12:19:00.001-04:00

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

2011-10-24T10:52:00.001-04:00

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

2011-10-21T12:54:00.001-04:00

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:

Cut off the bottom hems of both shirts.
Cut a straight line across the body of each shirt, directly underneath the sleeves.
Cut one side open of each shirt. If it is a seamed shirt (not all tee’s are), cut along the seam.
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.
Turn the tube right side out.
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!

2011-10-20T11:47:00.002-04:00

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

2011-10-18T12:00:00.001-04:00

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...

2011-10-17T12:10:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-10-14T12:18:00.003-04:00

"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

2011-10-13T12:43:00.001-04:00

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!

2011-10-11T11:13:00.003-04:00

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

2011-10-10T09:09:00.001-04:00

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?

yes

2011-10-07T13:10:00.002-04:00

Suddenly, I've found myself with breathing room. Every time I thought that IT would arrive... something came along that needed my attention. IT being that magic bubble of space that offers a little time to be still. I had never known it to be so elusive, and yet I just couldn't grab hold of it... slippery little whippersnapper! A piece of treasured time fell into my lap, yesterday. For a while I sat on the old slate stones out back with my eyes closed. The air was brisk, but the sun was high, and I lifted my face to it and whispered "hello old friend". At first I thought I was talking to the sun, but then I realized I was talking to ME. Yes. Yes. Yes. Right then and there, I decided on a little welcoming home gift to give myself. I will find a few moments every day to actively seek out random inspiration. Like old times. Not online. Outside. Around my house. In the shadows. Illuminated by light. I would dust off my camera from its job of shooting finished items and let it become an extension of my eyes once again. I thought you might enjoy seeing what's been caught in my lens...

Mmmm. That felt so good! By ~~having~~ making time to see what's right in front of me, I feel like me again. When you give everything to something you love... a new child, an exciting dream, a huge project, eventually you have to find your way back. Back to yourself. Back to your center. Yes. Have a beautiful weekend, friends. I hope these blue skies stretch across the world to wherever you might be!

The Barn Crate Wall

2011-10-05T11:08:00.000-04:00

I've been wanting to share this barn project with you for over a month. It was a spontaneous makeover my mother and I threw together right before she had to return to her teaching job in California. Do you remember those fantastic crates she hauled home from Madison Bouckville? They sat on her front porch until the forecast of Irene intensified, and we had no choice but to bring them in (letting one remain). There's always a need for storage in her little barn, but wall space is hard to come by between the radiators and the many windows. And then the light bulb moment happened. I had never been completely satisfied with the bathroom divider and its many iterations over the last year. You can read more about it here, or just take a quick refresher peek of the previous photos.

So, those crates were configured into a dividing wall. Two vertically and one horizontally across the top.The wooden crates seems to grow right out of the old barn floor. It's sturdier and little less busy then other versions. Still fun and wild, but since this is the first thing you see upon coming upstairs, it's nice to let the eyes have a moment to take everything in.

A little ledge was left on one side. Nice for rotating displays, since the afternoon sun hits it like a spotlight.

One side is wall, and the other... a bank of shelves in her bathroom/closet. We had fun filling it up, but it's still evolving.

See that toilet paper, laugh if you will, but that's my favorite part of the entire makeover! Since this shelf is close to the toilet, we could have continued to just have baskets of tp. While we were pondering this, my mom noted that the top shelf was wobbly. "It needs a little shim..." I said as I wandered over to the studio for something to temporarily do the trick. That's when I spotted the "kill two birds with one stone" (what an awful saying that is!) wooden spool thingy we had gotten together years before.

It formed the perfect "shim" and tp holder! Don't you love those moments? I love "playing" with my mom. STILL.

I sure hope my kids will enjoy playing with me when they grow up, too.

Creative Pilgrimage

2011-10-04T10:35:00.001-04:00

I keep saying I can't wait to share all that I've been up to... and I've just been given the go ahead to announce one the books I've contributed to recently: Creative Pilgrimage!
I was so honored and pleased when Jenny Doh invited me to be a part of her newest book about various art gatherings around the country. You know how much I love to go on about the amazing experience that is Squam Art Workshops. Of course, I would be thrilled to have my words be between the covers of a book that focuses purely on the magic of art retreats. Jenny also asked me to contribute a project. Fantastic! The potential to inspire keeps me constantly motivated. Teaching workshops, writing about creativity, sharing techniques... whether here on my blog or in print, these are the flames that fuel me.

And I'm in quite amazing company, holy! Creative Pilgrimage is filled with some of my favorite artists... a few of which I've been lucky enough to meet and befriend. Jenny has created a video/trailer for the book that you can check out right here. My husband and kids were so excited to see me and hear my name announced on it, and I would be fibbing if I said I wasn't giddy myself. Thank you so much for welcoming me into your book, Jenny! It's now available for pre-order on Amazon, as well.

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Shop Update Reminder!

I'm filling up the shelves in my shop for 12 noon EST today!

caramelized fall topping

2011-10-03T07:47:00.001-04:00

Let's talk waffle toppers, shall we? I know I'm getting back into my old groove when these waffles happen more than once in a single week. I had a crew of breakfast kids on Friday, so something special was in order. Since fall is truly here, Apples are often on hand. I caramelized some with a bit of cinnamon and became an instant superhero.

The next waffle morning was met with total disappointment that the last of the apples had been eaten. Think. Think. Ahh yes, we had a few last pears on our tree. I ran out (in the rain, no less) and had them sauteing in buttery goodness in no time. You, too, can be a fall kitchen super hero with only a few simple ingredients and a frying pan.

Caramelized Fall Topping

Ingredients:

a couple chopped pears or sliced apples
splash of lemon juice
a few tablespoons of butter
a handful of cane sugar
several generous dashes of cinnamon
(a smidge grated ginger if using pears)
a tablespoon or so of apple cider

Make:

Melt butter in heavy frying pan
Add fruit and lemon juice and saute for several minutes
Sprinkle in the rest of the ingredients
Stir until the fruit softens and caramelizes- 5- 10 minutes

The house will smell terrific, and everyone will be begging to know when it's ready. Top off waffles, pancakes or yogurt for breakfast. I'm thinking another batch might need to be made for an evening bowl of vanilla ice!

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The winners of Alphabet Glue will be announced later today at the end of that giveaway post. Check back later to see if you are one of the lucky 5 winners!

sneak peeks and updates!

2011-09-30T07:58:00.001-04:00

How can it already be the last day of September? Well, when you pack a month with out of town guests, school beginnings, art workshops and a fair (and the prep and sewing that precede them), milestone birthdays, and the editing adventures of your first book... well, it does seem to fly by in a blur. October has been nearly glowing beneath the pages in my calendar, and when I turn the page tomorrow I expect I may even here trumpets blowing and glimpse a fireworks display! October is filled with so much excitement: happy and long awaited announcements, my biggest bucket giveaway, and a new pattern... that will be FREE! Oh yes, and there will be my first shop update in far too long. Not a huge one, but
I have several beatiful items that I brought back from the Squam Art Workshops that will be for sale in my etsy shop at noon EST on Tuesday October 4th. If you've ever wanted one of my burlap buckets I'll have three or four with gorgeous typography. I also have one left of the large natural ones that's made from a favorite thrift score- a heavy linen/hemp blend fabric. It's easy care (washable) and would make a great addition to a natural/green nursery. Along with a few garlic sacks, you'll have the makings of some very nice early holiday shopping! There will be other items too... notebooks and banners. These two banners have traveled with me to June and Fall Squam and both times they've hung in my workshops. They have been infused with creative energy and I would like to make them available to someone who not only finds the words inspiring, but wishes to have a little bit of that Squam magic in their home! So have a great fall weekend folks... I'll see you in October!

Alphabet Glue #3 and a giveaway!

2011-09-29T11:20:00.002-04:00

My friend Annie, of Bird and Little Bird, has just published Volume 3 of her e-zine Alphabet Glue. I've looked forward to each issue and am always delighted by how many well thought out activities, projects and printables are packed into one downloadable PDF. Annie's intention is to" inspire kids and their families to engage with the literary world around them." As a mother, special ed. and literacy educator Annie pulls from her own experiences with children, as well as her love for nature, science and craft. Alphabet Glue is a wonderful addition to many different homeschooling paths and is a perfect companion for any family looking to expand their repertoire of "good stuff to do" on rainy days and slowed down weekends.

fabric covered center-stitched books

"There are bookmaking projects, of course, as well printable fiction and non-fiction reading lists to take along on your library adventures. This issue also includes a fun activity to encourage the curiosity of aspiring scientists, and has a special feature on the geography of stories and story mapping as well."

Story buntings, three ways

"Build bridges, make a story graph, follow your favorite story character on the map. Make stickers and beautiful buntings and plans for great writing. Ask questions and look for the answers. Fall is here at last, let's jump into the leaf pile."

Non-fiction question boxes

Inside Volume Three:

A Reading List for Fall

Year of Favorites Reading Calendar

Story Buntings

Question Boxes

Non-Fiction Reading Resources

Fabric Covered Center-Stitched Books

Inspiration Envelopes

Accordion-Fold Sticker Books

Toothpick Bridge Construction

The Geography of Stories:

"You are Here" Reading List

Ants Go Marching Story Map

Story Excitement Charts

Traditional Story Maps

I'm happy to announce that Annie would love to send some of you a free copy... because she's nice that way, and also because she feels that all of you are too! maya*made readers are bright, thoughtful and sensitive folks. Of course, I know this, but I felt proud way when I heard her say it, too. Five of you bright, thoughtful and sensitive readers will receive a free copy of the latest issue of Alphabet Glue! Five! Thanks Annie! Now, if you can't wait or want to send a copy to a friend, they're only $4, so jump over and pick one up right here. To enter in the giveaway simply leave a comment with your email address before Sunday at 5pm EST. Perhaps share a favorite fall book... We love the Brambly Hedge series and just re-read Autumn Story the other day. Good luck friends! I'll announce the winners on Monday morning.
*all photos via Alphabet Glue

And the winners are:
-Ziezo said...Thanks for the give away! Would be great to do these activities with my 3 little 'readers'.

-Emily Proudfoot said...
What a lovely 'zine! My kids would be delighted ~ and speaking of kids - my favorite fall children's book right now is "Zen Ghosts" by Jon Muth. His illustrations just put me over the moon every time...happy fall!

-Ms. Knitsalot said...
I just read Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf today to 2nd grade students in the library. Thanks for the giveaway - sounds excellent!

- nest full of eggs said...oh, my children love books ~ so please enter me ! thanks !!

- PeaceMama said...
this is great! if i don't win, i most definitely want to check it out! we love so many fall books, but top on the list right now is The Apple Pie that Papa Baked. for me, i still love Go Down Moses, and The Bear in particular, by Faulkner for the description of hunting in the autumn.

Congratulations to all of you!

spirit boxes part 2

2011-09-27T12:06:00.002-04:00

Here is a little taste of the day at Sugar House and teaching how to make Spirit Boxes. Read part 1 here. The classroom was filled with materials that were ripe with meaning... dictionaries and maps mingled with perfect odds and ends. I loved seeing bits of my collections nestled in with the special pieces each person was invited to bring.

In the morning I led a guided meditation to discover our perfect fantasy studio. With those thoughts fresh, everyone got to work making tool boxes to hold our favorite pens, brushes, etc. We warmed up, got messy, and began the process of opening. Everyone shared from their stash and encouraged one another. I felt so blessed to have Corrine return to take a workshop with me again! She warmed up the room with her generous spirit, which can only be matched by her endless creativity (and great bear hugs!).

Here's her fantastic invention: the vintage spool "latch" on her box.

Kathy's quiet, lovely ways always pulled me in like a magnet. Above she creates a pattern with an old wooden Indian block (that she brought!). This paper would soon cover her tool box. And below Deedee focuses intently... she had the most beautiful collection of rusty found objects from her desert walks. She radiated the wild California Country she treasure hunts in. I feel so fortunate to have spent such rich time with this amazing group of women. I felt it then and am reminded how much I loved each one of them as I look through these photos, now. I'm so grateful I remembered to take some... it's not always easy when caught up in the moment.

Here are several close shots (some without the maker's beautiful faces... only so that you can look deeper inside "their box). Honestly, they need to be checked out in person along with the narrative of each artist. There is so much to SEE and FEEL within each frame... and often along the floors and walls of each BOX. But here's a glimpse...

Nicole and her Dragonfly spirit melded right into the woods...

Lovely Heather held her waterfall in her hands as her bird took wing...

Kim's egg like opening beckons... a peek into her cabinet of curiosities illustrates her keen eye for the most intriguing images and found papers... ever!

Oh Emily, filled with sisterhood (now and then) with a deep knowing of what is a house and where is home... (with her very own "house" fabric printed by spoonflower, of course!)

And Lissa, who honored the very best of the RE words from my old dilapidated dictionary with her animal totems shining fiercely. Yes, Lissa FIERCELY... that hare knows just where it's going. Return, Redeem, Restore, Renew, Remind...
Truth seekers, risk takers, and beauty makers! Every. One . Of. Them!

spirit boxes part 1

2011-09-26T14:34:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday friends! Before too much time rolls by, I want to share my latest class offering with you. I taught two different classes at Squam Art Workshops: one old and one new. Botanical Printing has long been a favorite and one I'm always excited for. I had a wonderful little group this year, but wasn't so good with my camera! So, I'm putting in a call to all students to please send me any pics you'd like to share, because your work was stunning (and the most complex, to date)! Thanks! Luckily, I've posted loads of photos and words in the past, so lovely readers... you can check them out here and here.

My newest class,Spirit Boxes, merged some of my favorite elements of teaching into one very special day. We transformed recycled and everyday objects, while simulaneously bringing thought and attention to our inner lives. What a dynamic combination it was! After our warm up exercise (more on that tomorrow), the focus was to create pieces that represented our secret wishes or intentions within the framework of dream-like shadow box. All of the materials used were found and/or recycled. We gathered in the Sugar House, which also is the camp's nature center. It was an unbelievably perfect setting. In fact, it felt as if we had shrunk and stepped into our very own classroom "shadow box". My demo spirit box features my favorite arched opening. I made it long before I arrived at Squam and knew where I'd be teaching. Take a look at the doorway to our sweet cabin classroom and then look below. Isn't that wild synchronicity? Squam magic is always afoot! Tomorrow I'll share the amazing work that went on in this Sugar House. Click on the the photo below for details on this little box- Nester.

Autumn

2011-09-23T10:39:00.000-04:00

Fall is here! Going off to the woods last week, and feeling the chill, helped me to get into the right mindset. Now, I'm ready to embrace the woodsmoke, pumpkin pie, and leaf collecting. My boots are out and my hats are at the ready! As I'm still digesting all that was Squam Art Workshops and the big birthday I returned to... I thought I'd share a bit of what's firing me up on this Equinox. Here's my little love list for you to peruse over the weekend:

This hooded tunic tutorial looks just right, doesn't it?
This would be perfect for honoring a section of any favorite tree that's fallen: DIY log table.
The last line from Kelly's "barn nostalgia" post says it all.
I've long admired Liane of enhabiten and finally got to meet her sweet and soulful self at last June's Squam Art Fest. I was super excited to see her interview on Design*Sponge. Go see what's in her toolbox!
These incredible stories that I listened to on the ride to and from New Hampshire. HIGHLY recommended.
Kate's wrap sweater looks like Fall's best friend, wouldn't you say?
Cal's tunic. I'm living in it, and here's a shot of lovely (and tall) Jonatha and me both wearing ours last week. These were made by Cal, but the instructions are in her fabulous book.

Several folks at Squam asked about my wooden pendent (that I'm wearing). It was made by the wildly talented Lisa Jordan of lil fish studios. She has some incredible "just blogged" about new pieces that should be landing in her shop this afternoon.
After this photo was taken I noticed that one of my buckets (sold at the fair the night before) happened to to be walking up the steps. Didn't know that it slipped into the picture until I got home. Sweet! I only have a couple items left after the sale, but they should be making their way into my shop by next week.

Happy Fall! Happy Weekend!

flying

2011-09-23T09:52:00.001-04:00

Thank you all for your birth*day wishes for my ~~boy~~ teenager! I just wanted to share a few words and pictures from what can only be described as transformational... for both child and parents.

Giving our son the opportunity to live out a dream and literally fly above his everyday world was the perfect right of passage.

above our beloved Taughannock Falls

I thought that I would be terrified and paralyzed left on the ground. I was so wrong. The sight of him in such a place of strength and joy was beyond anything I had anticipated. Bliss.

My brave husband was tucked into the tiny backseat, the pilot sat beside him, but for most of the flight... that boy of mine FLEW!! Helping to give birth to your child's dream is powerful medicine, indeed!

*Note: This was a Discovery Flight (could it have been more aptly named?) with the East Hill Flying club. Read about it here.
Julie left an amazing comment in the last post about Harris Hill Soaring Center, and we will be investigating it further. Thank you Julie!

wings

2011-09-21T09:29:00.000-04:00

Thirteen years ago my first child came into the world. From his very first moments he began teaching me lessons I didn't even know I had to learn. This boy of ours continues to be one of our greatest teachers. I'm so grateful for his brilliance, enthusiasm, curiosity, and sensitivity. Embarking on raising a teen feels a bit like those early days of parenting when the world looked so new and we desperately hoped that we'd get it right. Luckily, he can talk now... and let us know what he needs.

Today we will celebrate his birth with his favorite chocolate cake (that's in the oven!) and honor his growth by letting him fly... literally. He has been passionate about flight and planes since he was two. His walls are covered with air crafts. He speaks a language that only pilots truly understand. Today, if the weather holds out, that airplane-lover will get into a cockpit of a 4 seater that is not parked in a museum, but on a real runway. With the assistance of the pilot, he'll fly over our town and the lake he knows so well. Oh sweet boy... we give you your wings! Happy Birthday!

soul connections

2011-09-20T14:03:00.001-04:00

Pixie+Little Maya+me= BIG love

Squam Art Workshops provides so much more than creative growth. It is vehicle for spiritual awakening and a greenhouse for nourishing life-long connections. The folks that choose to enter the woods come from varied backgrounds, and yet we all share a desire to shed our earthly skins and show up with hearts wide open. The dynamic this creates is hard to articulate but can be recognized by the radiant smiles and warm bear hugs that envelope you all day long walking on the trails and entering each classroom.

This was my fourth trip to Squam, and it just keeps getting fuller and better! The friendships that have blossomed there year after year have grown deep roots. New loves are found around every bend in the wooded paths. I am quite definitely HOME when I sit on the dock surrounded by my sisters. I want to thank Elizabeth, the Squam Goddess, for not only being a pioneer and creating such a sacred space, but having the innate gift to quietly match "cabin mates" that bond for life. I was blessed to room with Pixie Campbell once more, and am forever grateful. We go deep, we laugh hard, and believe that we were separated at birth... thankfully we've been re-united. This year we shared an amazing little cabin perched above the lake with Jen Lee, the sweet and wise storyteller. I have much to learn from each of them and love that there lessons are available to all of you, as well.
-Pixie's first Soulodge was an integral part of the end of my summer and I highly recommend the next session.
-Jen Lee's Finding you Voice came home with me in my suitcase and I can't wait to dig in.
But there are so many insanely wonderful women that have entered my life through Squam. I know you'll appreciate them too. So look to my side bar in the ENJOY section for their links. More on the classes I taught coming up!

touch down

2011-09-19T13:44:00.000-04:00

Landing. Re-entry. I returned from New Hampshire last night, and I'm doing my best to regroup softly. It was a big week. Huge. It seems that my experience of Squam Art Workshops gets richer and deeper each time. How blessedly amazing is that!? Finding the words in this state of exhaustion and bliss is too hard. So let's try again tomorrow, shall we? Until then... I send you hopes for sweetness in the week ahead. If you were one of the lovelies that were lakeside with me, know that I'm missing you so much... I wish you gentleness and grounding.

picking and printing

2011-09-13T08:40:00.001-04:00

Last night we went to the farm so that I could gather armfuls of flowers for my botanical printing class. The first of the fall raspberries were in and it blossomed into a gorgeous and delicious way to spend our last evening together before we all depart. My son is off on his own outdoor adventure this week and the packing for our separate journeys has been monumental. But I'm almost there! My last bit of making happened in a flurry last night and these printed linen sachets are now filled with lavender. I downloaded some perfect inspiration for the road, and now I'm off to fly through the last little details. Can't wait to see some of you soon!

planning, plotting, and packing

2011-09-12T12:50:00.001-04:00

You, my friends, are my pause today. Deep thanks! Sitting down to say hello with my very large ~~vat~~ of coffee (yes, caffeine is back!) will possibly be the only time I'm still all day. As exciting as it is to venture off into the wilds without my clan... my, does it take a lot of sensitive and strategic planning. The lists run off pages and onto envelopes and the backs of receipts. I gather them all into my "ready, set, go notebook"... which sounds much less ominous then my previous name for it: "the departure notebook". It's a special journal that I keep my master lists for each time I travel to Squam Art Workshops. It includes everything I need for teaching, vending and most importantly... what needs to happen to ready my family for when the house manager, head chef, nurse, therapist, librarian, house cleaner (hmm... not always the best one), and chauffeur go on leave. Luckily my husband takes on these roles with ease, and my children are growing so capable... but you better believe the fridge is stocked and there are multiple charts at the front door! The quiet gift to all of this plotting and planning? There is a deeper appreciation for the little things that I do each day. I bet if we all wrote down the varied things we manage and do in a single week, there would be a collective WOWZA! What superheroes and powerhouses we all are!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Below you'll find a small sampling of my sewing for the art fair on Saturday night. Since everything I make is one of a kind, documentation feels so important. In the feverish pitch of last minute this and thats, it sometimes gets overlooked. Once again, may I praise the ease and convenience of my dear helper- Instagram and my trusty iphone! I'll be posting photos directly to twitter when not blogging them this week... I want to bring YOU with me! And if you live anywhere near Holderness, New Hampshire please do come by for an introduction and a hug. I'd love the opportunity for us to meet and for you to see the beauty of Squam Lake for yourself... and if you're in the market for some repurposed coffee sacks, I'll have dozens and dozens of GOOD wares!

philosophical friday

2011-09-09T11:43:00.003-04:00

Yesterday took me by surprise. As much as I missed my children, I was very ready to get to work on that second day back to school. Nope. Flooding closed all roads, and schools were canceled for our entire region. Really? Really. The skies were clear when we woke up, so I was shocked and they were disappointed beyond belief. It was a grouchy, grumpy morning. For all of us! Time to head outside.

Oh that's better- just what we needed! And here's what I learned... when life gets a little stormy, put on your boots and jump in the puddles. Why not embrace it as this little splasher did so well! (couldn't get her out of that puddle)

Yup that's metaphor #1 for today.

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My second lesson came in the afternoon as I watched my daughter's newly achieved prowess on two wheels. I'm so darn proud of her! She had been wanting to take off her training wheels for far too long, but couldn't get to that next step. Knowing this, her best friend lent us a strider with these famous words "it'll only take ya 3 days!" I wasn't exactly skeptical, but didn't want to set my daughter's expectations to high.

Well, these no pedal balance bikes are miraculous balance teachers! They are a bit pricey for the short amount of time you'll use one, so I was happy to borrow it. And guess what? She was ready to take off her training wheels on day 2 with the strider! After a week of practice, she is now officially a biker! Holy cow!

So, metaphor #2:
If you're ready to take off your "training wheels" (so to speak), don't hesitate in finding the right tools to help you meet your goal. Hmmm. That's all for my philosophical Friday, folks! Off to catch up on the time ~~lost~~ well spent yesterday!

photos via instragram and my shaky hand as I chased beside her!

transitions

2011-09-07T13:21:00.001-04:00

Oh, what a hush. It's so very quiet here today in my empty house. It was wise to take the last few days to be with my family. And now- Squam sewing is going strong. It's so good to have a focus , or else I'd feel too much like this swing. But I'm hustling and bustling, and it's wonderful to be checking things off of my list again. I'll show you what I've got up my sleeve the moment it's ready. Hope you're settling into your own week.. and if your life has switched rhythms recently- may the transition be gentle and smooth.

If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies. ~Author Unknown

day's end

2011-09-02T09:56:00.002-04:00

This photo was taken yesterday. As the sun began to set, the very last rays illuminated the cosmos out front. This is one of my favorite times of day, especially when it's warm enough to be outside with bare feet and short sleeves. I've taken to sitting on the front porch as the sun goes down. I love watching the sun disappear over the horizon. It only takes a few moments and is easy to miss. When I lived on the West coast, I'd watch that firy ball set into the sea and listen for the "sizzle". Out here, it slips down over a field and into the earth... much more of a warm sigh or exhalation. Watching the day turn into night... sometimes I witness it alone- with the evening's soundtrack (dishes clanking, piano practicing, and my favorite voices) filtering through the screen door. Other times, I find myself with someone warm on my lap or walking down the road with a tall boy or my sweet man. Always pausing. Endlessly admiring.

Of course, lovely sunsets will not end with summer, but I know that these quiet moments will be harder to find. Schedules are about to shift. I will be taking some time to watch the last few sunsets of summer vacation with my family and our dearest friends. See you all back here next Wednesday!

September!

2011-09-01T08:34:00.000-04:00

A new month... and with it comes:

My first born turning thirteen. 13!
School days and the promise of a familiar rhythm.
A trip to New Hampshire to see my family and then teach at my first Fall Squam.
Lots of sewing- buckets, pouches and such to bring to the Squam Art Fair on 9/17.
Plums and pears from our own trees. It's our biggest crop yet, and we're all itching to get the ladder out, but they need just a little more time. In the meantime we dream of favorites: pear upside down cake, poached pears, pear and ginger galettes, plum cobbler, plum jam, and of course plumple sauce!
Apples. Apples. Apples. To the orchards we will go!
A new pattern (finally!) for later on in the month... when it gets just a bit cooler!
Maybe a chance to wear my birthday boots! Trying to be patient.
Continued editing of The Book. Still pinch myself now and then.
T*I*M*E* (when I return from NH) to create and share my process with you, something I've missed dearly.
And did I mention that thirteenth birthday?! I'd better not get started. This milestone definitely influenced Monday's post.

And you? What do you see when you turn the calendar page?

the sandbox

2011-08-31T10:31:00.001-04:00

Yesterday we relocated the sandbox and filled it with fresh sand. It was on my to do list for an embarrassingly long time. I'm so grateful for the strong back of my son who carried and dumped the 50lb. bags. I figured it was now or never, as the baby in the house might not be interested for much longer. I'm so pleased she still loves it! We felt like we were on a tropical island all afternoon. I know those walnut trees look nothing like palm trees, but imagination is a beautiful thing...

We love sand so much! It creates such a rich learning environment for young children and provides open-ended, unstructured and unlimited possibilities for learning through play. If you have any space at all in your yard, a sandbox is worth making. It takes very little skill to make a very functional one. My husband made this one years ago with 6 untreated 2x8's, a drill and some sandpaper. It's seen a lot of weather and still going strong! The two top pieces add bracing and structure while making a nice spot for grown-up seating or a counter for working.

We've always loved turning clementine crates into little stove tops for sand cakes. Yesterday my daughter flipped over the crate and focused on the little holes at the bottom. She poured,poked and arranged flowers and sticks for an incredibly long time.

Just another reminder of how much satisfaction is found in simplicity.

classics

2011-08-30T08:47:00.000-04:00

We've just moved on to marbles...

And blocks and tracks...

Using books for engineering inspiration...

Never underestimate the power of simple and classic toys to capture the imagination of children. They have the ability to bridge age gaps, genders,and play preferences. Something I'm especially grateful for in this moment! Hickory Cat doesn't seem impressed one bit...

melancholy monday

2011-08-29T09:04:00.002-04:00

Good morning friends!
Hope today finds you dry, safe and well. Although the sun is shining brightly right now, yesterday's storm kept us cozy inside with a pot of soup and a cake in the oven... a definite taste of the cooler months ahead. Summer is coming to a close.We said goodbye to my mother after her long and wonderful stay. Heartbreaking for each of us. And now I get ready to say goodbye to the long leisurely mornings for my children and all of the other dreamy, slow qualities of this season. This is my last full week of having them home with me, and I intend to soak it up.
This weekend I found myself:

staring at their happy bare toes and sun-kissed shoulders

and

inhaling their tousled hair scented with the perfume of days spent outdoors

I'm etching into memory how they look and smell and feel in my arms right this moment, because come October we cover up to keep warm. The next time I'll see my children so wild and free, they will be that much bigger. Oh, the ache that comes from watching a life unfold. A longing to slow it down. Please. This photo captures so much for me that I struggle to find the words... I think it's that feeling we all get when we observe someone we love while they are unaware. The full depth of our love washes over us for a moment like a big sigh.

And this gorgeous bouquet? It's the last one my mother picked at the farm... beautiful just like her. I think I'll head over to the barn and scoop it up for my own kitchen table before the petals droop too much.

Oh, the bittersweetness of a life full of love. I DO feel very blessed even (or maybe especially) in the midst of my melancholy Monday.
Ah, I think I just figured out the title to this morning's post...
xox,
Maya

summer postcards #16

2011-08-25T07:16:00.000-04:00

We arrived when the lights were just clicking on.

Such a contrast to our usual days. And nights.

Wouldn't be summer without a trip to the fair!

for the love of jacks

2011-08-23T06:18:00.000-04:00

My grandmother was an amazing jacks player. She taught me how to play on the smooth floor of her nursery school one summer and I brought the game back home to my neighborhood. I taught all the girls on my block. That was our year of serious jack tournaments and many long hours scraping our hands on the pavement. Yesterday I introduced jacks to my daughter. It was a little early, but I had a feeling she would love it... and I couldn't wait! We do that with our childhood faves... introduce them at the first sign of possibility... because we're ready. It was windy and cool outside so we sat in the sun at the bottom of the stairs. She took to it right away. It's a challenge for those little hands, but she is so determined. She's made it to "threesies" and will be practicing again today, no doubt.

This is an old fashioned game of skill that certainly shouldn't be forgotten. Did you play as a child? Have you taught your children, yet? I would say 8 or 9 would be an ideal age to start... but my 6 1/2 year old seems to be bitten by the jacks bug, so earlier is possible. Traditional metal jacks are the way to go. We got these at a little store in our village, but amazon seems to have a few sets, just can't vouch for them since I haven't seen them in person.

I know what we'll be doing today!

crate-full

2011-08-22T10:13:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday friends! Popping in to show you just why I was so excited about those crates my mother brought back from Madison Bouckville. There are a lot of them, no? I love to stack crates for shelves... these are already built as shelves! They were selling them for so little that she filled the back of her tiny pickup truck. She didn't get much else... this was the gold. We've been cleaning them off and looking for new ways to get organized over at the barn. Who doesn't need more shelves?

The typography is, of course, what I love most. It's clue to the past. The history of these crates is steeped in a local wool slipper business that I found fascinating. You can read about it right here. My mom discovered some old writing in one of them... someone's notes scrawled in pencil. I ran my fingers over the indented lines trying to transport myself back to 1919, if only for a moment. It was the same time of year as right now... wonder if the person who wrote it felt the fall chill in the air like I do today... maybe they did and hoped for more slipper sales!

My mom also picked up a few very old cigar boxes. They're striking aren't they?

And I had had one big wish... a large frying pan for all the cooking this bountiful season inspires. Thanks mom, it's a beauty!

Madison Bouckville

2011-08-19T09:26:00.001-04:00

While I was thrifting zippers, my mother was thrifting at Madison Bouckville, our favorite annual antique extravaganza. I wasn't able to go with her this year, but she called me frequently and sent photos so that I felt semi-transported to those fields of vintage heaven. I had put in two requests: wooden crates and a large cast iron frying pan. At the end of the day, her little pick up truck reminded me of a peddler's wagon pulling up in front of the house... we all went racing out to see what treasures she had hauled.

I'll share more after I take some pics, but here's a peek. The crates... oh, they were even better than any I could have dreamed up!

I'm sending you all some good *thrifting*rescuing*finding* mojo for the weekend ahead!

pencils and zippers

2011-08-18T12:40:00.001-04:00

I know a little girl who is getting excited about fall... she's so READY for pencil sharpening season to arrive. So today we began the process of gently letting summer go... just a tiny bit since I'm not ready! All morning she sharpened. And sharpened. Then she stuffed her old pencil case with fresh and pointy pencils. I sewed my daughter this case during my recycled zipper pouch craze last spring. Getting it ready for a new school year made me think of pouches again, so we made a trip to Sew Green, our local fabric re-use shop, to check for old zippers.

Score! Would you take a look at what was in one $5 bag? Although I'm quite happy with any used zippers, cotton twill tape with sturdy metal hardware in neutral colors equals perfection in my book! The pink and purple were happily (and quickly) snatched up by my counting assistant.

Total tally: 40 zippers!! One of the zippers was longer than me! Wonder what I'll do with that one? Have you had any good thrifting scores recently?

summer postcards #15 birthday wishes

2011-08-17T08:28:00.001-04:00

Today my sister turns one year older... she's such a wonderful mother, loving woman and as gorgeous inside as out. She is also... STILL... my first baby girl! Happy Birthday!

If you were here, we would greet you with banners and laughter...

bouquets of just picked flowers...

and bowl upon bowl of fresh summer goodness! Missing you so much... especially today! So grateful for this virtual world that can bridge oceans miles instantly!

Geography for Children and a New Map

2011-08-16T11:18:00.004-04:00

My mother scored a gorgeous vintage school map of the state of New York. Last week she hung it up in her barn's downstairs bedroom, where my children sleep when they stay over. We were all so excited, and it got me thinking about the role maps have played in my life.

My sense of the world, and even the United States, was fuzzy until I met my husband, a map aficionado. I had always been a good student, but without the constant visual of maps, my sense of location wasn't my strength. He changed all that when he handed my a Rand McNalley Road Atlas and invited me to be the navigator on what turned out to be many trips across the country... up and down the coasts, and even a wild trek from Montreal to BC. Nothing beats traveling, with map in hand (a GPS is not same!,) to really get a sense of place. I believe the next best thing is to have maps, globes, and atlases handy. Having them accessible is an invitation for exploration. Children have an innate fascination with maps, globes and other children around the world. Maybe this is why geography is one of the oldest sciences. It asks the most basic question "where am I and what's over there?". This morning I gathered a little list of things we've enjoyed in our home. This is by no means a comprehensive list, just what I put together from doing a quick stroll around the house glancing at walls, checking bookshelves and looking in the game cabinet. We get lots of our resources used, so they may not be perfectly up to date but are accurate and do the trick.

-Peters Projection World Map Peters - Laminated Ours hangs in our art corner where the children spend tons of time.
"All the countries of the world are represented at true size and true proportion. This is one of the few commercially available maps that is fair to all peoples. Most maps drastically enlarge the size of the Northern hemisphere countries and diminish the size of the Southern hemisphere countries. This traditional bias leads most people to overestimate the importance of the developed nations based on their inflated appearance"
-Melissa & Doug's License Plate Game 2098
-Floor puzzles of the world and our country are always popular... we have several.
-Map placemats- we love educational placemats at snack time.
-GEOGRAPHY: This is a favorite road trip game once a child has a general knowledge of reading and geography. Start with any place in the world-- "Camaroon", for example. The next person has to think of a place that begins with the last letter of "Camaroon," such as "New York." Whoever goes next needs a place that starts with an K. You may not use the same place twice in a game--and it has to be a real place.

A few book suggestions:

Bread, Bread, Bread any and all of Anne Morris' series Around the World
Children Just Like Me
My World- From the Seven Continents to The Seven Seas, From Katmandu to Kalamazoo
Me on the Map
Mapping Penny's World
DK First Atlas
National Geographic World Atlas for Young Explorers

I'm sure there are many more favorites out there, so I invite you to share your own! And if you are interested in a vintage school map search ebay or Etsty... they are growing in popularity so the prices seem to be going up, but sometimes a bargain is to be had. Good luck!

back!

2011-08-15T09:05:00.000-04:00

I hadn't planned on abandoning my virtual home for most of last week, but suddenly it was just time and I've learned to trust when reserves are low, something must go. I'm so fortunate that my mother took me (and my daughter) under her wing while I replenished myself. Good food and laughter truly work wonders. I've also been fed by lots of mini trips to the lake. Water is my favorite element. Dropping my son off at sailing camp in the early mornings became a special ritual all week long.

My daughter and I made sure to dip in our toes, collect smooth stones and admire the jewels that the sun created along the lake's surface.

These smooth lake stones are the very ones that my children used for creating pendants... stone jewels at their wilderness camp.

With a primitive handmade tool constructed from barbed wire and a stick, they slowly, patiently rolled that drill between their palms until a hole was born. Love this! I want to make one too. On my quest to find out more about primitive hand tools, I discovered this amazing site which I can't wait to explore more, and I thought you might enjoy too.
Happy Monday! I'm back!
p.s. That top photo is my favorite house on our road.

The Rhythm of Family is here (and a give away!)

2011-08-09T10:03:00.002-04:00

Today is the official release date of Amanda Blake Soule's third book, The Rhythm of Family. It was lovingly created with her partner Steve and four children (now five!) chronicling their family's seasonal discoveries, whether it be in the kitchen or amidst the wide open spaces of their home in Maine. I know I'm not the only one in love with Amanda's gentle, thoughtful ways. She has inspired a new generation of families to open their eyes and heart to nature based learning and living... and pioneered an online community that spreads far and wide. Yes, Amanda is a very special woman, and I was honored (in the deepest sense of the word) when she invited me to contribute my Nature Stamps to this new book. I first experimented with pod printing exactly, I mean to the day, two years ago. I blogged about it here. And then experimented some more right here. By the time Amanda contacted me, I was deep in nature printing mode and she thought it would translate beautifully to the book she was working on. And here it is!

See those red hearts? They are the secret print of a walnut half. Living surrounded by black walnut trees, it was inevitable that we discover their magic centers. When I sent Amanda the printing samples for the book, I also gathered together a kit of pods and shells for the Soule children to explore some nature stamping on their own.

I was thinking more in terms of giving the kids an activity during Amanda's full day, then adding to the book... but I have been pleasantly surprised to see poppy prints peeking out from several other projects throughout the pages.

Amanda sent me an advanced copy, and I've read it from cover to cover. It is truly my favorite of all three of her wonderful books. The photography is stunning and some of her very best. The activities and recipes are ALL ones that my family will enjoy. The essays and thoughts shared by both Steve and Amanda are wise, thought provoking and beautiful. I know that living in a similar region to the Soule family makes this kind of seasonal living very accessible to us, but The Rhythm of Family will inspire you to live more connected to the earth and your family where ever you may call home. And of course, Amanda didn't send just one copy... she sent two. She knows just how much I love giving away books! Thank you Amanda, Steve and all of the sweet Soule clan! Please leave a comment in this post between now and Thursday 8pm EST. I'll select a random winner and announce it on Friday. Don't forget to leave a trail back to you (i.e. email address, blog link, etc.). Yesterday, I shared how much we love picking blueberries and peaches in early August, I'd love to hear how you celebrate this time of year in your part of the world.

Comments are now closed. Thanks so much for joining in!

And the winner is:

MamaWestWind said...
I would LOVE a copy of this book! It looks beautiful. I have her first book and I treasure it. We enjoy our evening rains here in the SW. It's monsoon season and we love watching the storms roll in. Big dark clouds in an endless blue sky. It's beautiful.Thanks!
Becca
Congratulations Becca! Please contact me with your mailing address and I'll ship your new copy of The Rhythm of Family off to you!

fruitful (with a few postcards, too!)

2011-08-08T11:42:00.001-04:00

Peaches. Blueberries. Filling buckets of them with my favorite people in the world at my side... now THAT was a good weekend!

We followed the radar and picked fruit in between storms for a perfect balance of fruit and puddle dancing!

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

I did Instagram our process, so here are a few fruity postcards too...

Our counters, freezer and fridge are loaded! It feels so good to start the week off in abundance. May you have a full and wonderful week, as well. If your kitchen (and family) are calling our for fruit adventures, I encourage you to explore the U-pick farms in your area. Check here for lists of pick your own farms all OVER THE WORLD!

summer postcards #14 wild flowers

2011-08-05T10:38:00.000-04:00

I love watching the changes along our country road as the wildflowers sense the gentle shifting of August's light. Each variety only has a few weeks to shine. They stand tall and proud amidst the chorus of cicadas... serenading all day long. If you happen to get out to the country this weekend, don't forget to admire the wildflowers... sometimes the journey is as lovely as the destination.