5 minute pillow therapy

My mother sent several vintage quilt blocks with the sewing machines. They were each pieced with wonderful bits of unusual fabric, but this one was my favorite. Bark cloth with green pastures and happy cows, orange flowers dancing across a turquoise sky background, and even an overalled farmer happily working... what's not to love? My desire for warm weather might be influencing me here, but look at those thoughtful little stitches. I am certain that the person that held the needle would want me to  treasure it and put it to use.

I had some scraps of  cotton that were already just the right size for an envelope backing. No cutting was even needed. A few pins and a couple of seams... 5 minutes later and we have a new pillow for our sun/playroom. Even the current falling snow can't dampen the bright happy spring feeling this little cushion holds.

I've been so overwhelmingly busy and, of course, got sick. What a combo! Sewing this up was the perfect way for me to transition back to a place of balance. Whether it's a little sewing project or preparing a special meal, recognizing what creative projects bring us satisfaction (at any given moment) can be as powerful as a mini therapy session. Have you been making anything lately that brought some healing?

rust-free pins

Wasn't yesterday's globe hack fun!? I had such a good time reading through your responses with my mom. The umbrella stand is feeling mighty proud about how much it was favored... but the way things get moved around in the barn might mean that every base will have a turn. We'll see...

Today's post is all about resourcefulness and ingenuity. Two words that make me utterly happy. Knowing this about me, my sweet friend Kathrin crafted this beautiful pincushion. She's letting me share its secret with you! Coffee grinds! It's filled with dry, used coffee grinds!! They keep your pins and needles rust free. Who knew? Certainly not me. This might not be a new concept to some of you... I've since discovered it has a long history. Maybe your grandmother or even great grandmother saved the morning grinds for just this purpose. My little cushion was lovingly stitched by hand. It has a nice, solid weight and the smell is divine. Dried grinds have a rich, but delicate, aroma that's quite intoxicating to a coffee lover.


A perfect gift! My pins are so happy! Kathrin, of course, thought of my coffeesack pincushions. So, I've stopped tossing my grinds into the compost, as I formulate a plan for keeping them tucked into the loose weave of burlap. Perhaps a slipcover... hmm. In the meantime, thank you so much Kathrin... and when she's ready (no hurry, K.) I'll be sharing more. Kathrin does amazing hand-work with vintage textiles. You're going to love it!

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An on another note: Sam, from Inklore, has a wonderful series running on printers and their source for inspiration. Please visit me over there today for a little behind the scenes on what inspires some of my carved images. Thanks, so much for including me, Sam!!
-inklore
-Inspiration... printed with maya*made
-inspiration... printed series

sunday sewing

I hope your weekend was a relaxing one. Mine was full of play... and work that felt like play. Friday was my first day to get some sewing done... and I had used it to go pick flowers, as you may recall. I was so grateful when my husband offered to take the children out on Sunday and give me some time to get back in my burlap groove. I took my cutting board out to the picnic table and set to work to the sound of singing birds and our neighbors crowing roosters (they crow all day long!) If you've tried your hand at deconstructing a coffee sack, you'll understand how nice it is to be able to cut outside... less mess... lots of lovely jute scraps for those singing birds to soften their nest with, too. I'm hoping to have a mini shop update soon... my summer reality is all about slowing down, but I'm excited to put some new things on the shelves. I've had burlap pillows on my mind for months. It always feels so good to get an idea out of your head and make it real. I love how this first one turned out! Perfect for lounging on the deck, but just at home in my living room.

My favorite little detail is on the back. Jute loops fasten hand-covered linen buttons to keep everything in its place.

I have several works all cut and ready to be constructed... I'll share as soon at they're done. Happy Monday!

little things

Happy April! Hope you haven't gotten into too much mischief. My son has so many plans for foolery today... he's so excited that he already whispered to me all of his tricks. Now, I have to keep quiet... I almost spilled the beans when I first wrote this post and his Dad definitely reads this blog. Shhh. Suffice it to say, he set the alarm so that he could get a jump start on his tricks! Ten is the perfect age for April Fool's Day!

Instead of having a huge shop update, I've decided to add a little each day for the next week or so. I really enjoyed making Love Letter pillows for a special friend and thought that others might enjoy this sweet smelling lavender pillows too.
I modified the shape a tad and stuffed them with buckwheat hulls so that they could double as warming pillows. Each one has a recycled felt heart pocket. Perfect for tucking in a love note to a special little someone. The back side is monogrammed with a letter of your choosing. It will be up in the afternoon (nap time). I'm also adding a bunch of coffee sack pincushions...

My favorite part of these little bits of repurposing is selecting the typography.
I had way too much fun taking words apart to make new ones or just the simple act of selecting letters/numerals and shapes that I find interesting.

It's been so wonderful hearing all of the enthusiasm around the Gather Bucket! I will definitely make a couple to sell in the shop, but I was also curious what you thought of this next idea: a Gather Bucket Kit. I'm thinking it would include pre-cut pieces of the burlap base, pocket, handles, and stamped patch.. and of course, simple instructions for putting it all together. I couldn't possibly make enough buckets for all of you, but making kits that you could work on, maybe even with a child... might be a way to get us all collecting bits of nature together. I'd love to hear your feedback so that I can get a jump on creating it over the spring break (my upcoming blogging break). And just so you know, I'm working on a list of resource books for your little naturalists. Look for it on Thursday when I announce the new owner of the first Gather Bucket...

mystery box unveiled

I'd like to give another big thanks to everyone who participated in my first give-away! Christine, of the winning number, let me know that her box just arrived in the mail...so I am free to share the contents with you. I included a couple of little things that were designed by me and something vintage. Here's what she received:


1. A nature collecting bucket with a removable handle... you know how much I encourage collecting sticks and stones! Of course, it can also just organize little things.


2. A pin cushion with leftover fabric from this project.


3. A hand-painted stone doll inspired by the print that just won Christine a prize here.


4. One of my favorite vintage aprons...probably made by a local farmer's wife in the 40's/50's.



I love making things to give...so you can count on more give-aways of the hand-made variety coming up soon!

the goose hatched!!!

Well...it quietly happened on Monday morning. Kelly Moreland (pictured above), founder and owner, opened the doors to the brand new location of her very popular children's resale shop, Mama Goose. There had been several weeks when the little Goose was closed as it transitioned over to the greatly expanded new site. The regular customers didn't need a huge grand opening announcement...they'd been hovering around the front doors for days with many "when, oh when will you open?!" So, this initial soft opening had quite a turn out. I stopped in on Tuesday...not as a designer, but as a shopper. My growing nine year old needed new shorts...and with Mama Goose's expansion, comes more stock in older children's clothing...hurray! There was a constant (moving) line at the check out...
I loved watching the expressions on everyone's face when they walked in through the front doors...total amazement... it's an incredible transformation, if I do say so myself! The windows, which had been covered during the entire "make-over", were flooded with sunshine. It's quite a thrill seeing some of my little touches incorporated into every corner. In the following shot of the tween section, note the bunting in the window and the floor cushions. Underneath the window benches, made from recycled crates, are galvanized locker bins filled with chapter books and modern light fixture was a craigslist find. you can click on any picture for a close-up.



I even got immediate great feedback on the baby wall ...from a mother who was so grateful to be able to put her infant in a safe spot adjacent to her, as she shopped. Her baby gave the best compliment of all...she didn't want to stop spinning those wooden shapes or touching the sensory frames!
Kelly is such a visionary, and we worked so well together as we put the new design into effect. She is definitely my favorite brainstorming partner, and I feel a bit wistful as this project comes to a close. Might need to call you, Kelly, when I choose colors for my studio...how can I ever look at paint chips without you, again!? Helping to design the new Mama Goose has bee a turning point in my creative life, and I'm thrilled to have helped someone make their dream a reality! Congratulations, Kelly!

welcome to june!

Oh happy June! I'm a summer girl (July b-day), so I just love this time of year...flowers blooming, gardens growing, water splashing, popsicles melting!

It was all about that this weekend, with a few projects completed in between. Pin cushions are my new favorite thing and I made a little chocolate/aqua set that I will divide up as tiny gifts to a few friends. A few of you local readers are wondering if it might be you...maybe:)


I also finally finished up my daughter's dress deconstructed from an old T-shirt. Click here to see its beginnings. She loved it from the get go and has been wearing it so much that I never got around to the last touches. I had been unhappy with the neckline from the beginning and ended up ripping it out...caution: jersey and a seam ripper are not good friends! I created casing in a lightweight quilter's cotton and threaded a narrow piece of elastic through it. It slips right over her head, but still holds a nice crew neckline. Elastic feels like the perfect solution to working with jersey without a serger. Then I added coordinating pockets with a little rickrack and it's done. I'm happy with it and feel like I have a good dress pattern to springboard off of. I'll be rummaging through the t-shirt drawers this week!

wip it up

Thanks for stopping in...you can share my little coffee break with me, and then I'm off to another very full day. I have so many projects that are almost completed (work in progress= WIP ) and one too many a late night tucked under my belt... caffeine has become a necessity! My family can tell how I'm feeling in the morning by what beverage I choose. Most mornings it's my favorite black tea...but when they hear the coffee beans grinding, they give me a little room until I've had my cup of "perky mama"! These oversized clothespins are for Mama Goose...did you notice that favorite shade of green, yet again? I am also making the Goose several pegboard organizing "walls"(similar to my family art corner clipboards) and a baby activity wall. I'll share these with you when they are installed. Here's a peak at some of the materials for the baby wall...local wood hand-shaped, by an artisan at our local farmer's market. I am very proud of myself for getting comfortable with a drill!
"Where are your children while you're off making things?" you might ask. Well, most things happen in the wee hours of the night...thus the coffee! I've always needed a little less sleep than most, and I do love that midnight hour when the house is quiet. We've also been really enjoying working with modeling beeswax. It's a great for all ages and portable. Beeswax isn't messy like playdough, so it can come right into the sewing room!
Leave it on a dish in the sun so that it warms up and becomes pliable, otherwise it will feel hard and be discouraging to little fingers. When it's soft, beeswax is sensual and hard to resist: twist it, roll it, and shape it. Don't forget to smell it either...yum! You can buy beeswax blocks on-line at Magic Cabin.

Sometimes when my to do list is very long, I run off in the opposite direction and make something spontaneous and purely for my own pleasure! I've been admiring all of the pincushions on the flikr pin cushions pool and wanted to try my own. I'm sure there are patterns and tutorials, but I just went for it . I used recycled fabric from my scrap basket and stuffed it with wool. Now I'm addicted! Better go finish my other projects so that I can make more pin cushions!

Squat Dots

As Mama Goose enters the last phase, I am beginning the delivery of items I designed for the store. I had a photo shoot with some of the "squat dots" yesterday afternoon. I made a total of four and might make more if the store loves them as much as my children have. These kid poufs are the perfect size for floor play and lounging. I can sit on them easily and comfortably, too! They're stuffed with recycled felted wool, which gives them a nice weight and density...along with all of the other wonderful properties of wool: natural fiber, retains its shape, repels odors and dust mites, etc. Kelly picked out the fabric and I had fun mixing and matching. Of all of the things I've been working on, these Squat Dots might just be my favorite. I can't wait to dig into my stash of fabric to make some for my house...I'm thinking assorted sizes!

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store opening soon!

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, I'm assisting the owner of a local children's re-sale shop with the design of her new and expanded store, Mama Goose. It's such a surreal experience to see something in 3-D that had only been on paper before. Look forward to some sneak peeks in the next week or two. Here are some little projects I've been working on from my home studio. At a recent auction we picked up these amazing mid-century modern chairs. They were dirty and covered in peeling paint. Thanks to some help from Kelly's amazingly talented staff at Mama Goose, these chairs are about to take on a whole new life...sitting in prominent parts of the store. Over the weekend I made cushions with fabric from reprodepot and now I wish I could keep them all. Here's one visiting my living room:

I've been designing magnets for a large galvanized steel play wall that will be part of a playspace for the 5 and under set that shops at the store. I went for simple wooden letters that I sanded, oiled, and adhered strips of magnets to the back.

I got some wonderful help from Gunther, of Wild Apples. He's a master woodworker and toymaker extraordinaire! He used the Mama Goose's icon (of a hip mama with her baby in a carrier) and created a 10 inch silhouette on thick wood...cut into three pieces.

The next stage is really fun: I'm turning them into magnetic, mix-and- match, dress-up geese.
I had had this idea months ago, but didn't know how I could ever manufacture it. Thanks to Gunther, they're going to be a delight to share with all of the children that come through the store each day. I'll post more pictures when they're complete.

done!

These huge floor cushions have been hanging out in my studio for almost two months. I made them for Mama Goose's new location and they will be leaving my home very soon. Photo shoot time! The fabric is this really beautiful green that is not being done justice in the inside pictures. It came from a locally owned fabric outlet, Jolee's, that carries upholstering fabric samples and end bolts. I had always envisioned them with a handle, but was scared to do that last step. Sometimes when I complete something, and am happy with it, I get an attitude of "don't mess with it, you'll jinx it"...well, today I messed with it! I had made the strip for the handle weeks ago, and it remained (somewhat forlorn looking) draped over my sewing chair until this morning. I added the handles and took the pillows out and about for a photo shoot. The handles are amazing!! I can carry all four of these huge (2x2 ft.) cushions with one hand. I love the handles. They would be so great in a playroom or wherever you feel like carrying them.


Doesn't this look like an inviting reading nook?