sponsor give-away: Cloud9 Fabrics

I have such a wonderful treat for us today!! Cloud9 Fabrics' latest line of delicious organic fabric, Beyond the Sea, has arrived!  Just in time for spring and summer sewing! Here's what they have to say about it:
This gorgeous second collection adds a wee touch of maturity yet maintains playful charm. Designer, Michelle Engel Bencsko continues to pull reference from nature and the whimsical side of life. With a little nod to Bobby Darin and the mod days of yore, the ever-popular seashore theme is at once idealized and abstracted and can be put to any number of uses. Great for nurseries and all things babies, but also clothing, home decor and accessories.

 Beyond the Sea is due to start shipping any day now- should be in shops by early next week. Here's a  list of their stockists, so you can choose where to purchase it. Might I add, that one of our other lovely sponsors, Modern Organic Fabrics, will be carrying it soon. Cloud9 is working on opening up a web shop to offer quilt kits and swatch sets. In the meantime, swatch sampler sets are available from their Big Cartel shop.

 love this bunting quilt!

On to the give-away! To celebrate this arrival, Cloud9 Fabrics is offering a full set of fat quarters: all 10 patterns (7 prints, 3 solids) to one of you!!

  Oh my, that's a lot of incredible organic fabric to play with! Just think of what you could be creating with that delicious stack!  Please leave a comment (with your contact info) between now and Tuesday April 13 at 5 pm EST. I'll announce the winner on Wednesday morning.  Good luck, friends!

fix-it friday #1

 

Good morning! It's Friday... and you know what that means! Today we officially start our celebration of  the humble act of repair. To understand why an entire day of the week is now dedicated to fixing things read this first post.  Many of you already wield a hammer with confidence, others find that a needle and thread are your repair tools of choice. Wonderful. All skill levels are welcome here. And I'm terribly sorry if you've come thinking that this would be the Maya fix-it show, filled with ME telling YOU how to to transform your home. I'm not that handy... yet! I plan on learning new tricks with and from all of you. Sometimes, I'll share my fix, other times I'll feature one of your fixes. Let's get warmed up with a project I completed over the week. If  you see how I could have done it differently, by all means jump in with a suggestion. Then we'll get to the fun part: your F.I.F's in the comment section!

 The Bottomless Drawer

 

I tackled the task of fixing a broken drawer under my son's captain bed. Glamorous first project. Nope, but so satisfying because it was on my list for an embarrassingly long time! Background: My grandfather built his own house and all the furniture in it. He built all of my beds growing up... and they all had built in drawers underneath. Such an efficient use of space! I certainly didn't know how to build a bed with drawers for my son, so we bought one when he turned three (didn't sleep in it for years,but that's another story). It was a good bed, but he had the habit of leaving the drawers open. Last year, we discovered that the drawer by his head was jammed shut.After careful examination (and a confession) we found that he had stepped into it one morning and cracked through the bottom board. The only way to open the drawer ever again was to rip out the base.

 

The drawer gathered dust against the wall and a pit of library books filled up in the hole under the bed!  (Yes, over due fines increased.)

Repair:

 

• The original bottom piece was so surprisingly thin and flimsy. I was shocked how long it had lasted. My grandfather would have been appalled by the shoddy use of materials. I took it to Lowe's for a replacement piece. Because of the grooves that it had to slide into, it needed to be very thin and yet still strong. Only one option available: super thin masonite, so I had it cut to size. Do you know that most places will cut your wood to your specifications? So nice to eliminate one step from a project. 
• I slid the piece into the drawer and staple gunned the back rim to keep it in place. The original had been stapled there too, so I just followed suit. This was a first mistake, but I didn't know it yet.

• The next day, the drawer was jammed again... the new piece had fallen out from the weight of my son's clothes.
• The staples had pulled out, I should had used longer ones. The drawer sat empty and bottomless in his room again!
• Undaunted, I decided to use very thin, but long nails and my favorite glue: Gorilla Glue.

• It worked! It feels totally sturdy. My son has his drawer back. Library books can't hide any longer!

 Now, let's go see what you've all been up to! Please share your: thoughts, repairs, favorite tools, or handy fix-it tips in the comment section. If you have a blog, I encourage you to post about it and share your link. Some of you already left your links in comments throughout the week, you may want to add them to today's post to make sure you get the visitor's you deserve! 

 p.s. Don't be shy, we're doing this together.

Resources you may find interesting:

-BeJane- #1 DIY home site for women- projects

When you get past the flashy homepage, there's lots of great stuff here.

 Dare to Repair- A Do it Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home  

 Have a great weekend and be sure to stop back for a wonderful give-away!

how to make an aqua scope

Read the exciting story, here, about how and why we made these underwater viewers. If you already have, then you know how extremely useful an aqua scope can be! I'm sure they're also fun for simple observations, as well.

Aqua Scope

Materials:

• plastic yogurt container
• clear plastic from a plastic bag, food wrap, or shower curtain
• 
  
• rubber bands
• x-acto knife

Make:

1. Cut out the bottom of the container with an x-acto knife. Scissors will only crack the plastic. This should be done by and adult... and done with care.
2. Stretch plastic over the cut out bottom and hold it in place with two rubber bands. Make sure that it is secured tightly. 
3. Cut away any excess plastic.
4. Of possible interest: we didn't have any plastic wrap in the house, so I ran upstairs to the shower and snipped off a segment from the clear shower curtain liner! Because of our well water's high iron and mineral content, there were water deposits all over it making it useless for seeing through. Luckily, I remembered that vinegar cuts right through iron sediment and we were able to spiff up our plastic!

Take your aqua viewer down to a pond, lake, or creek and observe life underwater in a whole new way. Submerge the plastic covered bottom into the water and place your eyes into the container. Of course, if your glasses slip in first, you'll know how to find them!

creek tale

 bark boat, one of a huge fleet from this week

When we were looking for a home in the country, we hoped for a creek running through it. A bubbling brook seemed to complete our romantic notions of rural life. We got our wish! Our creek(s) have been a magical part of every season over the last 9 years. Water and children go together. In fact, we hosted "creek life" science programs during our homeschooling years. Even now, at the first sign of spring, kids start arriving at our place for playdates creek-dates with tall boots and a change of clothes. This past week was gorgeous, and I've spent  every day  guiding children of mixed ages (and comfort levels with raw nature)out in the wilds of our land. (and taking thousands of photos!)

 through the meadow to the forest

The trail through the woods is beautiful, but rugged: roots and logs to climb over and under... sharp brambles of wild roses and raspberries line the trail and reach out to snag you when you're not looking.

 daughter with dad last weekend

There's a tiny, but  muddy, creek to ford before you get to the main one... and then the adventures really begin! Yesterday we had our biggest "adventure" yet. Settle in...  I have a tale to tell!
The day was hot. Over 80 degrees! My son and his buddy (referred to as Buddy from here on) went running through the woods in search of thrills and getting wet.

 I followed along with my daughter and her little friend at a slower pace.We crossed the log bridge and scrambled along the slippery bank, walking straight through the water at times.

I could feel how frigid the creek was through my boots. This time of year is not meant for swimming in fresh water... too cold, but a little splashing is harmless. By the time we reached the boys, they had made it to a little swimming hole and jumped in. They were soaked to the skin and ecstatic, triumphant in their success at getting as wet as possible. We cheered for them, but I told them, "one more jump and you're running back for dry clothes... immediately." I said this calmly with a smile. I knew it was cold, but they were fine and having so much fun. I'll never forget that next moment. They jumped.

 My son slipped under. When he came up he screamed... not from the cold... "my glasses!!" They were gone... sunk to the bottom of waist-deep water, churned to a deep brown from so much splashing. Panic. He couldn't see well enough to search. Buddy started looking frantically. "Stay right there girls," I said and waded in. The water felt like needles as it poured over the top of my boots and seeped up my thighs. I tried to see the floor of the creek bed. Nothing. I reached my hand down to the bottom and fumbled over rocks in vain. Once the water hit my chest, I knew it was far too cold for those boys to be in any longer. All of this only lasted a matter of minutes, but that was long enough to start having visions of hypothermia. I ordered the boys out of the water and through the short cut. "Run!Run! Get out of those wet clothes!" I yelled as I carried the girls across a shallower section. As we did our own running, more like shivery sloshing on my part, I thought about the price of this loss. My son had his old pair of glasses as a back up... not great, but ok until we could get to the optometrist. The cost of replacing both the lenses and frames kept making little cash register cha-ching sounds in my brain. We had to go back. We had to at least LOOK, calmly and in dry clothes, for those glasses.But we needed a device to see under the water. Not goggles. Putting our faces in was out of the question. We needed an aqua scope!! I had been meaning to make one with the kids for years. I shared my idea with the girls as we wound our way home and we all felt happier just knowing there was a plan. By the time we gathered at the picnic table (warm and dry) with our supplies, the panic had turned to purpose... and science. I've never experienced children working together with so much passion, motivation, and concentration. They were making something useful, worthwhile... and they knew it.  Together, the boys made two improvised aqua scopes with materials on hand. I did the sharp cutting. I wasn't in the mood for accidents. The girls were right at their big brothers' sides, both wearing that universal expression of total admiration that younger siblings all seem to share.

 A tutorial will follow this post...everyone needs an aqua scope! We returned to the scene with our water devices. The boys were thrilled when they first looked through their scopes...with cries of "these are amazing!" and "they really work!".

 But even though they could now see to the bottom, no glasses. And then... could it be... maybe? Both went back in deeper to confirm.

 YES!! Buddy, or shall we say Hero as we called him for the rest of the day, dove down and retrieved the glasses!! Elation! Followed by more dry clothes, grilled cheese sandwiches, and celebration smoothies!

A new chapter to add to our list of creek stories...

sunrise::heartrise

My husband and I watched the sun rise through the trees this morning. We stood beneath the flowering Magnolia. Just the two of us... and a choir of a thousand birds. After 11 years of parenting and almost 14 years of marriage, you'd think we'd have it all figured out. Not yet... but we do know this:  the gift of time is priceless. Not just to our children, but to one another. Even if it means setting the alarm clock for a date at dawn...

barn bits

One of my favorite things to do at my mother's barn is poke around the studio and peek into drawers. Most of them hold beautiful art supplies that she's collected as meticulously as her vintage treasures, but sometimes I stumble upon something else. This little drawer was totally intriguing, especially to that fix-it side of me. My mother loves when others appreciate her finds, so shall we peek together?

Look at all of those varied bits of wire! I love how some are wound on chunky spools, the top copper one on a scrap of wood, and there's even some on good ol' cardboard. I think what I enjoy most of all is the subtle palette of this group.

Most of the drawer was filled with little boxes. There were multiples of most them. When my mother goes to a garage sale of an elderly person, she heads directly to their tools and workshop supplies. I love the graphics on each box! Let's see what they hold...

Tacks, screws, safety pins... all common sites in most home repair/tool kits, but their age gives them a sense of mystique somehow, don' t you think? My favorite item of the entire drawer are those "Domes of Silence" in the top left corner. First of all, that name is fabulous... but what's even better (in my humble opinion)? That smiling woman with a hammer! Collections that may also be utilized hold a special place in my heart. I realized that most of my personal collections are focused on supplies and tools. I don't even think of them as collections because I use them, but they are still groupings of similar objects; be they fabric, yarn, or hammers (yes, I have a few!). What kinds of tools or supplies do you collect?

NikNakNan

Now and then, I must remind you to stop back at my mom's shop-- NikNakNan. She's a added some great vintage industrial items, like that sweet little fan and THOSE BINS, and more! She's also been up to some clever repurposing again. In the top right photo, she took a vintage marching band sheet music holder and attached it to a weathered wooden cone. Now, it's the perfect spot for photos, postcards,etc. Adding magnets to an old washboard transforms it into an interesting message board. My mother sees metal and thinks magnets... look at this old film reel case!  I love how she reinvents... and sometimes an item comes with a suggestion for transformation, but she let's you decide.

Like this, "The top of this old grocery store scale weighs in as cool industrial decor. Nicely weathered patina. Faded graphic numbers. Add an "S" hook or two and hang a dish towel, pot holders, coffee cups or some pots and pans. How would you make it your own?"

Do give her shop a visit, and later on I'll take you to the barn for a little peek into some of her collections... it's been far too long since we've had you over! But right now, I hear my waffle iron calling. Spring break means I have more kids than usual at my house for most of this week. I thought that last night's sleep-over would mean that everyone (children) would sleep in today. Not so... I hear the giggling through the floor boards as I quickly type this post. I better get crackin' (eggs)!

There once was a weekend...

that was filled with my favorite things:  family, home and gorgeous spring weather!

There was hooping...

 There were new leaves (and long walks in our woods)...

 There was reading in a "secret" forest house...

 There was yard work with a great helper who charged 50 cents a mulch load (fastest 6 barrow-fulls ever!)...

 There were surprisingly early (Magnolia) blossoms...

 There were simple traditions like these (and like this , oh and this too!)...

I hope your weekend was filled with some of  your favorite things, too!

sponsor spotlight: Modern Organic Fabrics

Good morning! I'm so happy to introduce our newest sponsor: Modern Organic Fabrics, your source for earth friendly fabrics and patterns. I love fabric. LOVE. I even dream about fabric sometimes. Really! So Modern Organic Fabrics is like a fabulous dream come true... all organic, all beautiful, and delivered to my doorstep with a little click. I know that you're aware of  the reasons for making organic choices about food, but is it really so important for fabric? YES!

Here's what  Melanie O'Brien of  Modern Organic Fabrics has to say,
"Why organic?
::Good for the Earth: Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxins and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture.
::Good for the farmers: The growing of conventional cotton uses harmful chemicals and pesticides that can cause serious health conditions for the Farming Community.
::Good for you: Organic cotton is free of chlorine, sodium hydroxide and formaldehyde, which can be present in conventional cotton fabrics. "
.

I've sewn with a lot of organic fabrics and, in my opinion, the higher quality is tangible... both to the touch and energetically. Melanie O'Brien, the woman behind the shop, has made it easy to find fabulous colors, patterns, and different weights all in one place. Who knew there were so many organic jersey choices? If you're looking for a new pattern, she stocks quite few and even reviews them! And if you've been admiring Cloud9Fabrics, another very special sponsor up in the sidebar (hi Michelle!), Modern Organic Fabrics stocks them. too! Wouldn't the set below, aptly called Sunny Meadow, be so perfect to stitch into something for spring?!

I've got my eye on this next bunch for summer picnics, because I've always had a weakness for red gingham and little polka dots.

I could go on showing you my faves, but why don't you hop on over and explore. There's something for everyone.... with new stuff on the way! Thanks Melanie, I'm so thrilled that you're here!
Shop
Blog

Fix-It Friday

I'm excited to introduce a new feature to maya*made: Fix-It Friday. Each week I will repair or mend something around my home and will showcase the process here. It may be sewing the ripped section of my old couch's slipcover or something a little more complicated with power tools... a little venture out of my comfort zone is always a good thing. The goal is to bring attention to the lost art of fixing, rather than discarding.  Repair is a creative form in its own right, but has been forgotten by our throw-away society. When I first read Platform 21's Repair Manifesto, I cheered!

Isn't that wonderful!? I was raised with this philosophy, but had never seen it written down.  You can download your own copy right here. I urge you to read it in its entirety, but this sentence moved me the most:
"Every time we repair something, we add to its potential, its history, its soul, and its inherent beauty."


Well, fixing that broken toaster just became a bit of poetry. Darning an old sock turned the mender into an artist! Project 21 ended in August of last year, but their site is filled with wonderful ideas and so worth visiting. I found them last fall through The Improvised Life, one of my favorite blogs.
 
So, let's try out this plan together. I'll tell you about my weekly project: success or not and maybe a little about the process each Friday. I encourage you to join me and share your "fixes" (big or small) in Friday's comment section. If you have a blog, maybe you'd like to post the details about your own repair there. Please link to it so that throughout the weekend we can all visit with one another.  I'm certain we'll learn a thing or two, let alone find inspiration for living a more resourceful and meaningful life. There is a tremendous amount of satisfaction in doing something yourself.  Repairs can be figured out with how-to manuals, Google searches, YouTube videos, or maybe a handy friend. Don't forget to include your children, they are always ready to jump in and be helpers.What a wonderful message we'll be teaching our friends and family.
  
Some items do need a specialist. An entire generation of tradespeople have lost their livelihood because of our disposable society. Please include supporting your local cobbler, tailor, scissor sharpener (you get the idea!) as one of your F.I.F contributions. Let's celebrate the art of fixing together!  Can you feel my excitement?! I'm off to the hardware store with the kids... we're ready to begin!

crocus wisdom

Hi friends! I thought I'd be back with a few surprises for my shop update, but I had forgotten how long it takes to list things on Etsy. I could keep going... but why? There is always tomorrow and the next day... but RIGHT NOW it's almost 80 degrees! Crazy! I just came in from sipping a glass of lemonade... barefoot in the grass. I even did a sunshine dance!! So the shop update is live and in full swing... HUGE thanks to those of you who were waiting with quick clicking fingertips. And now... the crocuses are calling me to come back outside and soak in the warmth of this new month!

Happy April!

We've made it to April! Blue skies have returned with the birds, and sunshine is headed our way in full force! It's time for fresh starts and spring organizing. Please stop by my shop today at 2pm EST for a little update.You'll find new buckets... I made a linen swallow one, too! I'll be adding  lots of printed goods including some lovely dish towels like the one blowing on my clothesline above. More details coming up!