garden wish flags

It was a full weekend with perfect weather and many hours in the garden. Memorial Day Weekend is the traditional time to get all of your plants and seeds in the ground in our region. It always seems like such a hustle, but somehow we manage each year. Our garden may not look like one of Martha's, but it feeds us all summer long and teaches our children where dinner comes from. I have learned a lot about gardening with little ones over the years and hope to jot down some tips soon. Today I want to share our latest addition to our vegetable patch: Wish Flags. I really wanted to create a new family tradition centered around our summer growing season. The nature swatches were still fresh in my mind...
So today we brought out the fabric markers and crayons. I cut up 8x10 pieces of cotton.

Together we talked about what our plants would need to thrive. Individually, and in collaboration, we created flags to hang on our garden fence that represented our hopes and wishes for our little seedlings.
There were lots of suns and raindrops... "good" garden insects and worms. Of course, a warning to all slugs had to be included. The conversation was fantastic as we sat at the picnic table all drawing together.

We've never had such an in depth discussion about plant life. I had to run and cut more fabric several times, because no one wanted to stop! After completion, I heat set each one with the iron... then zigzagged the rectangles to a long ribbon. I didn't worry about tidiness, just speed. The gardeners were waiting...

They raced down to the garden and we strung them up on the fence.

If you're planting this summer, I can't recommend this more! These flags are happy, thoughtful and represent our family beautifully.

Note: All of that time spent at our picnic benches drawing (on a Monday)...well, of course we had to do the family edition of Bench Monday! So much more fun together!
1... 2... 3... JUMP!
Have a great start to your week!

hot day, cold dinner

We're eating dinner outside again! We've had two days in a row of nearly 90 degrees! Phew! Because it's still May, the evening air cools down quickly. It's wonderful to have a breezy meal at the picnic table, rather than in a hot kitchen. Sometimes I'll prepare dinner in the morning, so that I'm not stuck at the stove at 5pm. This is the same salad I served to my printing class for lunch on the barn deck. A one bowl meal my entire family is excited about! I've been making variations of it since I managed a vegan restaurant in Marin County (California) 17 years ago. Did I just say 17? Is that possible!? Well, I guess I can honestly tell you that it's tried and true!

Cold Miso Noodles with Asparagus

Ingredients

• soba (buckwheat) or udon noodles
• favorite vegetable in season (tonight we had asparagus from a farm down the road)
• cubes of baked tofu
• carrot matchsticks
• mung bean sprouts
• chopped green onions (or chives)
• miso cream sauce- recipe follows

Make

• Prepare noodles according to package directions. Add fave vegetable in the last minute of boiling to blanch it. Drain and run under cold water to prevent overcooking.
• Add all other ingredients and pour on miso cream to taste.

Miso Cream Sauce
Blend on high speed:

• 4 heaping tablespoons white miso
  
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons rice vingar
• zest of fresh ginger and a clove of garlic
  
• 1 1/2 cups water

any leftover sauce can be diluted with a little more vinegar and used to dress salad greens.

I'll be back on Tuesday (Monday is Memorial day in the states)... hope your weekend is all that you want and need it to be!

thrifting season

They've begun: garage sales, auctions, flea markets! I try to be good, but remember that I am daughter to the Garage Sale Queen! It's in my genes. No choice, I say. I am rather selective and really only go to a handful a year. Sunday I had a field day at a flea market a couple of miles away from my house. The theme seemed to be Robin's egg blue and organization.
Little sewing drawers...


40's tablecloth, pitchers, paper sorting shelf, wooden boxes..

and my dream vintage sewing machine!

Love that light... the bulb still works!


It even came with the original manual and attachments.

This will go down as one my best scores, ever! Are you a thrifter, too? What's one of your favorite treasures that you've picked up at a sale?

barn workshop

The printing workshop on Saturday was so much fun, and the feedback I got from my participants was really enthusiastic. The out of towners all ended up having last minute cancellations. This gave me an opportunity to completely focus on Jacki and Pat. Thank you both for being such wonderful students! A big hug to Pat for lending me her camera for a few shots. Yes, I forgot my camera's memory card, sadly. Neither of them had ever tried freezer paper stenciling and each had totally different approaches. It was fascinating to be in the role of observer. Seeing through new eyes is always a good thing. We began with a couple of simple silhouettes.

Pat had brought some of her water color paintings and paper cuts for inspiration. Her two lovely pieces are on the left. Jacki used to live in Japan, and I had set aside one of my favorite books on Japanese design from the barn’s library for her. Her two lovely pieces are on the right. Didn't they both do an amazing job? I had several readers question what to do with these little test swatches.
Here are some ideas:

-Fold over the top to create a channel and feed a ribbon through each one to make a bunting. How perfect for personalizing a bedroom. Think construction vehicles for the truck lover… wildflowers for the future botanists!
-Quilt squares
-Framed
-Center panel of a pillow
-Sachets
-Pocket on a tote

Jacki stayed on to learn some techniques for adding complexity, details, and multiple colors. Here’s the t-shirt she came up with for her son. I loooove it! Isn’t that one fantastic little red car?
I’ve decided that I will be holding classes regularly at the barn. It’s such a fabulous space to work in.

Setting a rejuvenating scene for these busy mothers was just as pleasurable for me as teaching a new skill!
Imagine…
-Stepping outside of your regular routine for several hours and escaping to a studio filled with inspiration and every tool and supply imaginable.
-Learning something new with a teacher at your side, ready to answer any questions.
-Listening to lovely music.
-Spending creative time with other fascinating people.
-Having a delicious meal prepared for you while you work (play!).

Stay tuned for future barn workshops… Attention all women/mothers needing time and space to reclaim their creative selves!

bench monday

Happy Bench Monday! I made it! I couldn't last week... almost didn't today. In the setting sun of the barn's backyard, I jumped on a bench with my mother's parasol and one of her vintage sarongs.
The elderly couple next door were peeking through their window. Again. They were watching the last time, too! I wonder what they think of those crazy barn women... always taking pictures of themselves standing on something!? If they would only look through the growing flickr pool, they'd see that hundreds of people, children (and even chickens) all over the world are now jumping on benches every Monday. Maybe then those mystified neighbors would understand. Maybe not.

and the winners are...

Good Morning! Thanks so much for participating in the Boomerang! Give away! It was really fun to introduce something new to many of you. There are so many wonderful bits of inspiration in the blogosphere and so little time. Some of my favorite sites offer a little rotating spot of goodness up in the right hand corner of their blogs. It's nice to have a reference from someone you enjoy, so I'm going to give it a try with a new category called Enjoy!. Let me know what you think.
And on to the five winners...
-Corene
-Mrs. Twigg
-Gina
-Nancy Walters- thanks for leaving your info in the comment section
-Pascale

Congratulations! Please send me your current e-mail info, and I will pass it on the great gang at Boomerang! They will contact you with instructions for your free download.Thanks again everyone for joining in, and if that's not your name up there... I still encourage you to give them a try this summer. Are you planning a trip with children some time soon? I just wanted to remind you of my travel gear post from last July. Our children's sleep masks have been used countless times since I wrote that tutorial and have become our most valuable travel tool.

Happy Monday!

almost...

I've been focused on readying myself for my upcoming classes. This year marks the beginning of my teaching career... to adults rather than young children. It feels right. You all have helped me tremendously. Thank you so much! You've taught me with your questions, your ideas, and your enthusiasm. Now it's time to put it all into practice... face to face and in real time. How exciting that I'll be meeting some of you soon. I've been preparing a bunch of materials and simple swatches for my printing on fabric class this Saturday and also in June.
Here are a couple of them that I photographed early this morning after a day of rain.I was so happy to wake up to blue skies, so were the birds- they gave me such a concert as I pinned the swatches to the line. I've also been preparing my bucket patterns. The round bucket has been tweaked to perfection for my Coffee Sack Hack class. I'm hoping to get several patterns into my shop mid June! I know how many have been waiting to hear this news! I can't believe Squam Art Workshops is right around the corner. I've been waiting for months... and now it's almost here. The thought of spending four summer days in a pristine setting, surrounded by creativity and joy sounds like a reoccurring dream I've had my entire life. Is this for real? I'm so grateful to Elizabeth MacCrellish for creating and organizing a retreat that encapsulates so many of our fantasies. It's not too late to register... I wish you could ALL join me. What a phenomenal crafting extravaganza that would be! Elizabeth sent me this new video to give a taste of what it will be like... see you on Monday!

Boomerang! Giveaway

image courtesy of Boomerang!

I'm so thrilled to host today's give-away! Boomerang! has been quietly impacting the lives of children and their families for decades, and it's my pleasure to introduce it to you. If you're lucky enough to already be familiar with them, you might be pleasantly surprised by their brand new website and blog. What is Boomerang!? It's been described as NPR for children and has won numerous awards. It's an audio extravaganza for children 6-12 years old, but grown-ups and teens have been known to hang off every word, as well. Each one hour segment comes as a CD or can be downloaded directly to your computer. Every episode is packed with stories, news, jokes and all the information curious kids want to know. You can check out some favorite episodes here... to get an idea of what I mean.

Boomerang! has generously offered to give away a free downloadable episode to: FIVE of you!! The timing couldn't be better... as summer rolls in, travel time with kids looms large. An educational program that engages everyone... is portable... and doesn't involve a screen... YES! To be entered in the drawing leave a comment here between now and Sunday, May 17th 6pm EST. I'll announce the winners on Monday. You don't need to have a child: your nieces and nephews, neighbors, best friend's kids... they'll thank you.

p.s. I am promoting them so whole-heartedly for my own pleasure, not for any monetary gains. In other words: I just think Boomerang! is wonderful!

first aid... for your hair

Having a hair emergency? Slide in a First Aid Pin for all of your bad hair day woes.

Oh, I had to squeeze a little light and silly stuff in today! I've had band aid/first aid type accessories on the brain ever since I received a comment about my cuff looking like a bandage. It was meant to be negative feedback, but I tend to have a sense of humor about these things. The more I thought about it, the more I really liked the concept. Thank you Anonymous commenter for your wonderful inspiration! Of course, classic symbols like crosses came to mind and these little clips were born. They were quick to make, using a button kit and a little hand stenciling. I'm feeling awfully clever and giggle every time I look in the mirror. I made another one in black on linen for someone attending my printing workshop at the barn this weekend. It's an image she uses frequently in her work and I think it will get a chuckle out of her, as well.

Stop by tomorrow... I'm hosting a fantastic give-away you won't want to miss!

lilacs and love

Thank you so much for your sensitive comments and loving thoughts. Although my heart truly healed long ago, my memories of my miscarriage and the dark days following it are quite vivid. Losses of mothers and motherhood are so often only whispered about. I wanted to give it a voice in hopes that others might feel less isolated. Thanks for bravely joining in the conversation... I strung this LOVE in my blossoming lilacs just for you! See you tomorrow with my usual fare!

forget-me-not

This post is for everyone who's Mother's Day is bittersweet: for those who have lost a mother, a child, or some other nurturing spirit. Six years ago, on a dark and cold January morning, I lost my baby during our second trimester. We buried her in the loosened soil of a future flower bed that I had readied during the previous fall. We decided it would be our memory garden. Months passed. Healing had begun. Spring marched in with all of its blossoming and grandeur. And then May brought a little miracle. I was talking to a good friend on the phone and we both remember this moment so well... it was Mother's Day. I had not been able to look out the window at our memory garden easily... so it had been a few weeks. Of course, this would be the day I would need and want to. A little gasp escaped my lips... there was a perfect mound of clustered little blue flowers growing in a very special spot. Forget-Me-Nots. What beautiful twinkling stars. These magical little flowers have a tendency to self seed and show up in unexpected places... but this was truly a gift from Mother Earth, herself. At least, that is what we believe. Every Mother's Day, when the Forget-Me-Nots are in bloom, I am reminded of this lesson of the cycles of life... the circle of nature... the potential for growth...
Love to you all,
Maya

H2O sling

I pre-ordered Betz White's most recent book, Sewing Green, and have been waiting for that little window to make something( you know, when I'm not rolling newspaper)! There are 25 projects, but this one was perfect for right now. I'm always calling out to my son, "don't forget your water bottle!"... and then, inevitably, I forget my own! I'm trying to walk or hike a couple of times a week, and as it gets warmer, I need my water with me.
This little carrier was fairly quick to whip up and the directions were perfect. The second and third ones will be really fast sewing... I have a feeling I'm going to get some special requests from my children, so you'll probably see more of these. The only thing I adjusted was the bottom circle, which calls for the contrasting liner fabric, but I kept the exterior uniform. I also added a pocket for my cell phone. If I'm walking, I'm usually without children... which means I like to stay connected.

I used a scrap of fabric from my buckets and an old dish cloth from Dwell (Target) for the liner and my pussy willow stamp found a wonderful canvas.The metal rings I had on hand were a little smaller than called for, but better than jumping in the car for new ones. Thanks Betz! Can't wait to make something else from Sewing Green. I have so many slips of paper filling up this book.
Hope you all get outside this weekend and enjoy SPRING... and don't forget your water bottle!

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Happy Mother's Day to you, as well!

spirals and whimsy

Newspaper is one of my favorite materials to create with. It's readily available for free (check out any cafe at closing time), it's versatile, and its typography give everything an instant graphic sensibility. Knowing of this fondness, my husband brought home the above trivet a couple of months ago. Artisans from the Women's Multipurpose Coop in the Philippines made this amazing hot plate out of coils of newspaper. It has not moved from the center of our dining room table. I love it and find myself staring at the spirals as we eat, talk, and create. You can buy your own here: Ten Thousand Villages. Last night, as we were clearing the table, I found that I could not look at the spirals for another minute without trying it myself. I grabbed a sheet of newspaper and started rolling it to create a coil.

It felt so good to make something spontaneously, but this coiling is not as easy as it looks. The women that create these have very strong and dexterous fingers, I am sure! Even if mine wasn't as lovely as theirs, I was happy to have tried something new.

After carrying one around in my pocket all morning, I decided I needed to wear it. I put aside all of the should dos and ran to my sewing machine. I really did run! I rarely make something on a whim... for myself. I stitched up a little linen cuff. The linen is crisp white with a rustic open weave. I got a linen sampler from Namolio a while back, and this was my first time breaking into it. I felt like I was sneaking a piece of chocolate... it was that delicious!

I attached my little spiral with thread and created a button out of a shell from our Sanibel trip. I love it. My new summer accessory!

It's no more than a piece of fabric, some newspaper, and a little shell. And yet, it encompasses: whimsy, spontaneity, inspiration... lovely words to wear, don't you think?

traditions

You know how sentimental I am. I'm sure it doesn't surprise you how much I appreciate creating and keeping traditions with my family. Our Mother's Day ritual remains basically the same, but the details keeps evolving. It's one of the only days out of the year that I sleep in. I've never been a late sleeper, so I don't mind that it happens infrequently... makes it that much more special when it happens. While I bury myself under the covers, my husband and the children tiptoe downstairs and prepare a breakfast of my choosing to bring up to me on a tray. Ahhh! I can barely wait... so I set the tray myself the night before. Some how this seems to add to their excitement and takes one less step out of the equation for my husband... as he supervises baking popovers , flower picking, and card making. This is the popover recipe that we always use. Perfect for the kids and long enough for me to really fall back asleep! All of these activities take a blissful hour or so, and then I'm greeted by the proudest and happiest faces.

We're so fortunate that each Mother's Day seems to be the weekend that the apple blossoms are peaking. We often take a short walk through a stretch of antique apple trees up the road from our house. The smell is heavenly, and it never ceases to make me feel like I've entered paradise. I had a light bulb moment yesterday. What if we went to one of our favorite apple orchards with a picnic... sandwiches and lemonade under a canopy of pink blossoms... sounds lovely, doesn't it?

We stopped by to see how the trees were coming along on our way home from town today. The pear trees were exploding with white flowers... but the pink apple blossoms were just beginning. I bet by Sunday they'll be ready!

I'd love to hear about your traditions...

happy monday!

Happy Bench Monday! I'm joining in the fun! Suddenly there are an amazing amount of women jumping on benches (or upturned buckets) with their camera timer buttons on. For the last several Mondays a rapidly growing flickr group, "Bench Monday", has been captivating me. It's so deceptively simple: a self portrait of feet standing on a platform... but each photo tells such a story. Check it out when you have the chance... maybe you'll jump on a bench, too!
The above photo tells a little bit about about my weekend. I'm holding a bucket that I made for my Anatomy of a Coffee Sack workshop on Sunday. My lovely participant, and wonderful friend, Pat has such a beautifully written post about it that I think I'll just send you right over to read it... and to see her fantastic bucket. Thanks Pat! I learned so much from you, yesterday! She, not only took the class, but was also my pattern tester. Yes, bucket patterns are slowly in the the works!.

Within that bucket, I'm holding is the most recent issue of Artful Blogging.

I've been waiting for weeks to see it and finally got a hold of a copy when it hit the news stands on Friday. Some of you have already seen it and have left me such sweet comments. A belated, but heartfelt "thank you" to each of you! Artful Blogging is so much more than a magazine. It's a gorgeous pictorial guide and companion to some of the amazing art/craft/food blogs we all admire so. I can't tell you how grateful and humbled I am to be included in their impressive line-up. I keep pinching myself. This is the stuff of dreams... and has got to be one of the most exciting moments of the last year for me! I'm beginning to feel that anything is possible if you believe in yourself. Really!

It's also nice to have an editor that believes in you, too! A special thanks to the very thoughtful and kind Christen Olivarez... I couldn't have asked for more.

So have a great Monday and don't forget to find a bench!

pussy willows

I've been dreaming about pussy willows lately. Touching their furry paws makes me feel like a child. Having them in my home reminds me of spring outside. They don't shout and parade around like the other blooms of the season... they gently emerge and whisper "hello". They would almost appear shy, but those tall confident stems stand far too proudly to be timid. I love them! So, pussy willows would have to be my next stamp, wouldn't they?

I was interrupted many times before I finally completed this stamp... but in the end, I still feel that carving is my meditation and way of connecting with the subject I choose. (edit: Thanks Patricia and Sonia for pointing me over to Geninne's new video on how she carves her stamps. She is so extraordinary, that I found myself unable to tear my eyes from the screen!) I'm not sure what I will do with my pussy willows... maybe some journals or linen and lavender sachets. I'm still pondering, but I do know that I will incorporate the perfect compliment to my new stamp. This gorgeous pussy willow fabric. Michelle Engel Bencsko is such a gifted textile designer, and all of her prints delight me. This is one of my new favorites, printed on a blend of cotton/linen.

I can't mention Michelle without telling you about her new amazing venture, an organic textile company: Cloud9 Fabrics. Beautiful and exciting!

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I wish you a Happy May Day and beautiful weekend (and so does my May fairy)!