February

Ahh! You know how much I love when a new month is on Monday- so fresh and good!

The above picture is from February 1st- three years ago. I remember just how fragile I felt as I carried those stitched paper map hearts into ithacamade for a February window installation. Giant heart maps- I was holding every metaphor with a death grip in those days. My internal GPS seemed to have worked- and I found my way. Happy February- I'm blowing a kiss to all of your tender hearts.

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I announced the winner of the feather banner and Hope, Make, Heal on instagram just now. Congratulations @artytarsh! There will be more instagram giveaways coming soon. But for those of you not on instagram- I heard your messages and will find a way to include you, too in the future! 

stamping stencils

 Playing with stamps and small stencils. We're nearing Valentine's Day and heart shapes inspire me this way… remember this?

heart day

Happy Valentine's Day friends! We are snowed in... again! Looks like a good day for popcorn, movies and sledding. If you get maya*mail... I've slipped in a couple of printables for you.

Hope your day is filled with love and WARMTH!

another feathered heart

A continuation of yesterday...

 I tried it! Smoother paper, thin printer paper as the stencil and two toned overlapping inks. They both please me, but I think this one...

has stolen my heart!

heart stencil and stamps

This is a little Valentine project that has been on my mind... so I put it into action. Any stamps will do. Feathers are just my favorites... still. 

 I tried a little overlapping of the prints to really get the shape of the heart. I liked the effect. Using card stock for the template might be too thick. Water color paper softens the prints and gives some nice texture. I think I'll try smooth paper as a base and printer paper as the template next. 

The end result and more on this soon... experimentation is a good for the "heart".

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

heart punch

Happy February! Happy Monday!

This time of year my heart (punch) gets a work out. It's a simple tool that gets a lot of of mileage because it  transforms paper into love effortlessly. It's fabulous for children's artwork and especially helpful for the many Valentine's they often give to their friends and classmates. Remember these? So easy. 

But what's making me really happy are these mini heart maps (see my big ones here from last year) and my new LOVE BIRDS! I punched out an old road map with special places and color copied a bird guide.

Aren't they wonderful? Just right for cards and collaging! Maybe I need to make a lovebird bunting of all of those Buntings (birds)! If you don't have a heart punch in your tool box, I highly recommend taking a trip to your closest craft store. And if you do have one? What hearts have you been punching?

snow bubbles

We were so inspired by these frozen bubble photos last month, but our brutal temps left before we could give it a try. Instead of waiting for the perfect icy magic conditions, we ran out during a recent flurry and just began blowing little crystal globes into the air. Turns out that the mingling of snowflakes and bubbles dancing together is pure enchantment no matter what!

So we bought little valentine bubble wands for everyone in my daughter's class (at Michael's) and are working on love notes /winter instructions to go with them. If you're looking for a fun Valentine's gift (and you live in the arctic, like us)... consider something with hearts and bubbles for sure!

my valentine

 I am the luckiest mama in the universe! I tell my children this everyday. And who wouldn't feel that way when given this folded origami heart... en español? Might just be the sweetest Valentine card I've ever received! 

May all of our hearts be full and strong today and everyday!

chocolate*cupcakes

What could be better? Yesterday was a day that needed a little something special. I had committed to making over 2 dozen cupcakes for a school event, and the timing was perfect. By afternoon, the house smelled heavenly and my daughter and I had so much fun decorating. Piping on the frosting made it extra thrilling, if not messy. I added more milk to the recipe linked below to create a lighter and fluffier consistency that was just right.

 I'm not so big on candy... so you can you imagine how over the moon my little girl was when she saw that I had pink and purple sugary decorations for the top! Must break my own rules some of the time... keeps things exciting.


How do you like my food photography trick for a dark winter afternoon? I ran outside with the plate and let the snow be a natural light reflector!

I'm pretty sure I've linked it before, but just in case... the is the best chocolate/cupcake recipe EVER!  It's the original Hershey's Deep Dark Chocolate Cake that we've been making in my family ever since I was a tiny girl. It's the ultimate birthday cake and makes divine little cupcakes, too. I double the  chocolate buttercream frosting recipe that comes with it and often use Ghiradelli cocoa instead.

I was a professional baker during my college years. This recipe became the foundation for many variations of double and triple layer chocolate cakes. Here are the two simple favorites that sold out instantly:

-Chocolate Raspberry Bliss- In between each layer, spread raspberry preserves on top of the frosting. Top off the entire cake with fresh raspberries.

-Mocha Madness- Add a bit of espresso to taste to the frosting. It's one little step, but completely transforms it something more sophisticated. Decorate with chocolate covered espresso beans.

***Have a sweet day!***

love delivery

I handed over 10 red, white, and pink map hearts to Ithacamade today. What could be happier than a window filled with big Valentines? Maybe a smiling dear friend (Jan of silk oak fame) stringing up all that love!

Hope your weekend is LOVE-ly!

photo taken by Jan

Valentine

If you've been spending time with me here at maya*made for at least a year, you might remember how much attention I put into Valentine's Day. Stitching hearts out of maps is nothing new... last February there was this mended map heart, and I've even woven map hearts. Below is a list of links filled with  inspiration for this upcoming month of love. I have such an interesting history with this little holiday. One that dates back to before I was even born. Someday soon I must share it with you.

• stitched half-heart
• Valentine doily coaster
• tiny love
• miniature heart garland
• bucket of kisses
• DIY heart stamps for children
• Valentine's Day round up

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happy hour/doily coaster

I've often told you much I enjoy launching into Mondays full throttle... love those fresh starts. Well, by Friday afternoon, I'm often limping into the home stretch. I'm beat. Since I don't want to welcome my weekend with a whimper, I have a little ritual. Yes, it includes caffeine. But it's also about creating a special moment of celebration and honoring the completion of a full week. I make a special drink and sit to enjoy it. It's my version of hot happy hour. My children often join me with a frothy milk steamer or cocoa. The last few Fridays have seen a repeat of chai mocha lattes. I used to drink them in a Santa Cruz cafe back in college (anyone recall that coffee spot in the old big white house on the corner near the Bagelry? Dying to remember its name!)...  and have started making them myself with my little froth friend... it feels like a super treat. Almost makes me feel 19 again, but not quite!

So whatever your special hot beverage is ((herbal)tea, chai, cappucino), pour a mug this afternoon and know that I will be raising mine to yours with a big "SALUD!"

What's the little coaster under that dotty mug? Just a quick last minute Valentine's Day present for someone special. This time of year begs for all things sweet, red, and doilified. I've been wanting to try stenciling with paper doilies for a while, and this seemed like a good project to test it out. Fast, fun and easy... some of my 3 faves! The linen is an especially nice thick weave from a pair of trousers and the bottom layer is red wool suiting*.

  Doily Coaster

Need:

• 4" paper doily
• scotch tape
• textile paint
• foam brush
• 5"x5" square of linen
• "                  " wool
• "                  " batting
• pinking shears
• freezer paper
• thread
• iron

Make:

1. Sandwich batting between wool and linen. Sew around the entire perimeter using the edge of the foot as a guide for seam allowance. Trim off excess with pinking shears.
2. Tape doily to center of the linen side. Cut out a circle from freezer paper slightly larger than the edge of the doily. Center it around the doily evenly and iron in place.
3. Apply paint with a gentle touch. Allow to dry.
4. Peel off freezer paper and then work on the doily. It may have pieces that stick and uneven bits of paint. Use a toothpick to help take off tiny pieces of paper and to add extra dabs of paint where needed.
5. It will not be perfect... which we all know makes it just right. Place a cloth over the paint and heat set it with a hot iron.
6. Pour your hot mug of cheer and set it on your coaster.

Have a great weekend and stop back on Monday for the beginning of a week long "LOVE giveaway".


*My wool and linen projects use found materials: linen clothing, wool suiting and blankets. They are easily rescued from thrift stores and tag sales.

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paper stitched half heart

Happy Monday! Are you ready for a new week? I thought I'd start us out with a sweet little iteration of Friday's stitched half heart. Paper. Same instructions, but one heart is made with patterned paper (a map was used here), and the other is blank.  When that blank heart is opened, a perfect spot is revealed for penning a secret love message. Simple and good, no?

how to: stiched half heart

Here's some more of what came out of this weeks heart play. These little stitched ones are incredibly quick and very satisfying for using up bits from the scrap basket. They make wonderful gift toppers and look beautiful hanging from a delicate branch. Make them into a vertical garland by attaching several together or tie them to a string for a horizontal bunting. Machine sewn or hand stitched, they're fun and versatile. Bet you can't stop making them once you start!

Fold fabric in half to cut out hearts free-hand. For light-weight and shifty fabrics, I recommend ironing them to a piece of freezer paper first. Just remember to use old scissors not your best fabric shears or the paper will dull the blade. I loved using the creased hem of an old curtain I've been using up for many projects.

Use the first heart as the template for cutting out the second, so that they match.

Open them each and place right side to right side.

Stitch down the center fold.



Fold each heart onto itself and sew down the center with a decorative stitch that catches both sides- zig zag or feather work well. Snip off the excess thread at the bottom, but keep the ones on top for hanging...or keep adding hearts with a little room between the two and then hang.

Have a loving and creative weekend!

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the best medicine

Yesterday's fabric scrap hearts inspired so many things. Not having any idea of what they would be, gave me that "freedom to explore" that always turns into something wonderful.  As I started to play, people I love began to float into my mind...  one with a new grandbaby to love, another with a birthday to celebrate, and then someone with a newly broken heart. It was that broken heart that led me to stitch the symbol above. After all, love really is the best medicine. I will share more of my heart sewing tomorrow. I know so many in need of a "healing heart" right now, that I'm off to sew a few more before my little window disappears. xox

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