gift bags on creativebug

It's the count down to Christmas, and if you haven't started wrapping your gifts- it's time to start thinking about it! I have a great new class that was just released on Creativebug. I show you how to make two kinds of burlap bags- a boxed edge stand up tote and a frayed edge bag that features weaving. Both elevate the gifts your giving and are quick and satisfying. Bonus- they cost nothing (or close to that!). They also double any gift you give because they are re-usable. Whip up several at a time and put the wrapping paper away! You can check it out right here.*

*I'm an affiliate with Creativebug, so if you sign up by linking over from here, I receive a little "something".  Thanks so much!

Sew Green field trip

 This week's stitchers have all been with me for numerous summers. They each now have their own  machines and all are quite passionate about sewing. Taking our annual field trip to Sew Green was high on all of our priority lists.  I love how my eager young crew is always welcomed in with enthusiasm. They carry and wear in bags, purses, and clothing they've made in past years and are always so proud when asked about them. All of their purchases were tidily bundled in a fabric scrap- just tempting them to do a happy balancing act as we left, ready to grab our thread and get to work.

But wait! We forgot about the stuff a sack bins- we almost missed the opportunity for foraging for fabric treasures in odd sizes and assortments. So much fun! If you're ever in Ithaca you must visit  Sew Green.

 Sew Good!

mini-crowns

A little Sunday evening post was in order to tell you about our new happy head wear. It began last week when Maya used a toilet paper tube as her prompt of the day for her Frivolous Project. I couldn't resist! In 10 minutes I had made and photographed this definitely frivolous cat hat. 

So fun, right? Our "serious party animal" seemed to make a lot of people smile on Instagram. So I made a second.

This weekend my daughter and some friends wanted to get in on the action. "Pet crowns" were the initial goal, but they changed gears once we added some metallic paints to the mix. Royal crowns of their very own were whipped up. With a hole punch and elastic thread, these work beautifully for people. What a fantastic party hat- or just what's needed to feel like a queen for the day. Because they're miniature, these have a "cool" factor that makes them a little more sophisticated then a typical paper crown. Important to keep in mind for 10 year olds. Elastic thread is the key to them feeling "barely there" and being able to sit jauntily on the side of your head.

The sky's the limit to the design possibilities. We just used a few supplies and were totally satisfied.

Mini-Crowns

 

Need:

• Toilet paper tube
• Scissors
• Washi tape
• Hole punch
• Elastic thread
• Metallic paint
• Paint brush

Make:

1. Cut 1/4 of the tube off. Use the rest.
2. Slice shapes out of the top. Classic crown triangles or fringe have been our only designs so far (we really need to branch out!) Fringe can be wrapped around a pencil to create the curl effect on the top or bottom of the crown.
3. Decorate with paint and tape or whatever strikes your fancy. Let Dry.
4. Punch two holes on opposites sides from each other.
5. Knot elastic thread through one hole. Try crown on pull the thread to the other side to gauge the length you'll need for your own comfort. Cut and tie the thread to other hole.
6. Slip your crown on… your Majesty!

barn table lamp

 We are spending a ton of time with my mom at the barn. Once again she is transforming the space and coming up with innovative projects using what she's got on hand from her fascinating collection of  retro and rescued pieces. She had bought several vintage factory molds a while back. She found them visually exciting and wanted to display them or put them to use some how.  And so she did! Two are strung with wire and suspended from the ceiling. Another was retrofitted onto a stool as an end table with benefits.

 step 1: find the perfect stool

 step 2: cut a piece of masonite to size and screw to bottom

Step 3: place mold on top of stool

Note the fabulous cup holders and perfect base for a lamp!

Step 4: Set up a lamp with interesting lighting components like a cage light and an old metal basket.

 

Leave it to my mom!

rescued container garden

My mom has arrived for the summer, and we're reveling in the magic she brings to our days. "Grandma's barn" has come to life once again with good food, fun projects, constant art and old fashioned play… all of our favorites. 

When she realized that there was still time to plant vegetables, my resourceful mama rounded up repurposed planters to create a container garden on the deck... hoping to evade the deer that forage in the woods out back.   An oversized antique funnel (great drainage!)  in an umbrella stand houses basil… 

  A vintage washtub holds a tomato, a cucumber and a zucchini plant…

 Out in the original barn trough chives and mint (that the deer disdain) come back every year... now they're joined by jalapeño peppers.

 This old mailbox turned on its side is the perfect deep spot for potatoes!

 Chicken feeders, that flank each deck post, now grow herbs and nasturtiums.

No need to go to a nursery and buy expensive planters... there are lots of possibilities at flea markets and tag sales if you're willing to rescue and reuse.

the simple things

The Simple Things is a beautiful UK based magazine, and I'm so happy to have one of my projects featured in its latest issue. Soon it will be time to hang the clothes on the line, and nothing is handier than one of these burlap peg bags.  And for those of you non-sewers, I'm putting them on my list for my next shop update... along with stamped pouches, since it seems like those are clear necessities for many of you!

Here's how The Simple Things describes itself:

It’s about slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and making simple food for friendly gatherings. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage in thrift shops, and decorate our home with the plunder.

And we like to think that the small things we do will make a difference in the long run – whether that’s making, upcycling, growing, cooking, entertaining, escaping or relaxing.

Perfect, right!? You can view some of this issue right here.

Have a fabulous start to your week, my friends!

heart on your sleeve

I created these heart sleeves for the winter issue of Glitter and Grunge- a new *in print* Zine produced by Mindy Tsonas. It's a swift little project that will keep you or someone you love cozy and makes a perfect Valentine's Day gift too. You can find the instructions and lots more within the pages of G & G, but if you've ever worked with felted sweaters... it's pretty self-explanatory...

A large heart is placed on the top of the hand... to wear your heart on your sleeve, of course.  A tinier one is placed on the opposite hand- in the center of your palm. You never know when you'll need an extra handful of love... to offer someone or to give yourself. So nice to have it "handy"!

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 I've been doing some early spring cleaning here at maya*made. A new header, and Published page were long over due, so was a streamlined sidebar. So good to start the week fresh and check off something that's been on my to-do list for an embarrassingly long time. Do you have something that you keep putting on the back-burner? Here's a little epiphany I had, as I tweaked and straightened up my site... whatever we keep putting off looms larger the longer it sits waiting for us. Maybe it really won't be so hard, or take so long, or be so trickly once we tackle it. Hope you manage to cross off a good one this week, too!

xox

Maya

handcrafted napkin rings

A happy package arrived in the mail recently. Stampington's ninth volume of HandCrafted. It's a compilation of over 250 of their favorite crafting ideas from all over their magazines. I was pleasantly surprised to discover one of my  repurposed diy's was on pages 36-38. It's always exciting to be published, but especially when you don't know until it lands in your mailbox! Yip!

I've always loved this one... it combines recycling (fabric selvedge and cardboard tubes)with the promotion of using cloth napkins. Double win! It was a great reminder that I want to make new napkin rings for our holiday meals.

If you can't be sure of your guest list and don't want to fuss with initials... why not use numbers like the ones below. Remember these? Security envelope patterns (like these), vintage wallpaper, old maps, children's artwork are all great sources for covering the tubes rings for table top readiness!

So pretty! Obviously, I love an excuse to go gathering fall's treasures...

monday making

I just made a couple of more leather scrap inspired items. Buckets! Steadily, a small line of lovingly crafted items are accumulating for my shop. The making of them is pure pleasure. Is it the slow and deliberate way I'm creating? I often make things in assembly line fashion, but these are one at a time... evolving as they go. Perhaps it's the act of transforming old favorites into something with a new twist. Who knows...

Inspired by function and beautiful materials, their simplicity just works for me. I'm happy to start my week at my sewing machine. I've found that if I commit to something on a Monday, I often make an effort to keep it up throughout the week. This potentially works for everything- from exercise to creativity. Something about fresh starts that just keep me going! Crossing my fingers that I'll get a "run" in today! Hope you have a productive Monday, too! 

p.s. There's a new post up at Honoring Hope if you missed it last week...

windows

So many good things are keeping me busy these days, but when I have a window, you can bet you'll find me playing with my leather scraps. The small pieces inform the direction of each unique project. The stitching I'm doing is essentially patchwork, but I prefer to think of it as creating "windows" for the leather to shine through. The contrast of textures really appeals to me. Here's one more completed pouch. This leather has the same rich color as the horse chestnuts falling from our tree. And can you believe I had a vintage metal zipper that matched?!

 I broke two universal needles in a row, so success really does depend on the weight of leather you're working with. Switching out to a leather needle was the solution.

This pouch and several more will be available next week when I do my first shop update in a good long while.

more leather

I'm continuing my experimentation with leather. It's really working for me...

Each component of this zippered pouch was rescued. From lining to zipper. The process of transforming discards into something useful is always satisfying, but do you know what I find super exciting? To see how refined I can make it. It all began with burlap... discovering how to make a rustic sack look crisp and modern set me on fire.  It still has that effect on me, but leather is definitely my new love. It offers just the polished detail I was looking for.

Still simple, but classic and modern too...  and from scraps, no less. That's how I get my kicks! I've got several more in progress sitting by my sewing machine. Yes! And just in case you're curious... a universal needle is still all I'm using. I love my Pfaff!

upcycled pouch::creativebug

I am so excited to announce my latest online workshop with creativebug!

This upcycled pouch has to be one of my favorite projects ever, and I'm positive you're going to feel the same way about it. They're reinvented out of Tyvek mailers and inspire total customization. Look at the three samples above... each one is totally unique, no? Make them in any size, shape, or color... and print to suit your mood and style. The options are truly limitless... you'll find you can't stop stitching them!

 Last summer I taught this workshop at Teahouse Art Studio and loved showing even the novice sewists how to install a zipper by hand. Everyone was thrilled at what they could create without even a sewing machine! Now I can teach YOU... even if you're half way across the world! That makes me incredibly happy! I love how creativebug makes it possible for us to "hang out together in your home"... just add paint and a zipper or two!

You can now sign up for one workshop at a time (a la carte)... the upcycled pouch is only $9.95! This is a sweet deal- and I can't wait for you to start zipping up a bunch of pouches for all of your little necessities... and couple for your friends too! Want to watch the video intro (where I tell you all about it)?  Click here.

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