blossoming

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

~Anais Nin

Oh, I love that quote so much! I've staggered my paper whites so that they will be in varying stages of growth throughout the winter. Observing their process is always fascinating. For the first week... nothing. Then little tendrils unfurl at the base of the bulb as their roots begin... getting ready, gaining strength, holding tight. I still wait... and then, as if they can't hold back any longer, their shoots extend... stretching and reaching... and they can't be stopped. Their long green stems soar towards the ceiling and burst into bloom.

And that is my ode to winter blossoming... in honor of  Squam Art Workshops, which has just opened for registration. If this is an opportunity you've been considering, I urge you to take the leap... to grow and stretch! Such fabulous teachers and so many amazing classes! Many I wish I could take myself. But then again,  I'm SO EXCITED about the workshops I'm teaching! I find myself daydreaming, making lists, and generally aching for the day I set foot on the shore of Squam Lake once more. Can't wait to discover who I'll be meeting this year! Is it you? Maybe...

on the ledge

I thought I'd share a few new spots at my mother's barn this week. You're always so appreciative, which adds to the fun! Every time she visits there's a little tweak or twist. As handy as my mother is with tools, she's been intimidated about striking a nail into the pristine walls of the only home she's ever owned. Her solution-  the ever popular ledge. With a narrow little shelf she can rotate her collection of art and highlight little curiosities at the same time. A blank wall in the bathroom was the perfect width for very special ledge-a prized artifact from the original barn. Charles Clapp, the gentleman who built the barn in 1880's, had his workshop in the upstairs right where my mother's bedroom is today. The picture below was taken when my then 7 year old son and I first laid  eyes upon the original structure. The barn was newly on the market and still stood perched on cement blocks.

I'll never forget climbing  the narrow winding staircase that used to be the only way up to the second floor. Swallows swooped in and out of the next room- the hay loft. The March sun was streaming in on a workbench and there were assorted shelves and ledges everywhere underneath the cherry paneled pitched ceiling. One narrow shelf was curiously riddled with holes. This enchanted little workshop, built over a hundred years before and then surely forgotten for many decades, was the space that captivated me most about the barn.  I knew my mother would feel the same way. Once the two of them met: the barn and my mother... magic truly happened. (If you're a new friend, you may want to visit the barn flickr set, here.) As you know, she transformed it entirely, but never once stopped respecting and honoring the original building. Charles' workbench was saved and now resides in the shed.

Here is the ledge dotted with holes that held his tools well over a century ago. An artifact, indeed. Here it is today!



Now, I'm wanting a little ledge of my own... a historic tale to go with it isn't necessary, but wouldn't that be nice.

The Magic Garden

During the studio session I spoke of yesterday, I had a nagging sensation about that odd little garden with pink grass taking shape in the white box. When my daughter added a quirky bunny creature (made from a stamp-a-face rubber stamp set) the feeling of familiarity grew stronger. Then it hit me, with a big "Hello and how are you!"  I can't say those words without breaking into song ala Paula and Carol, two of my girlhood favorites from the 70's/80's children's show:  The Magic Garden. My daughter asked if it was a real song, and  I realized that I could probably share the original version with her!  I often forget how clicking a few keys can now transport my nostalgic soul back in time. I hadn't thought I'd ever see these "friends" again... and there they were just as bright and shiny (and pony-tailed) as I remembered in this video.  Here's a peek for you:

How exciting to share them with my children! The Magic Garden was NYC based show, so you might not have the same reunion-feeling I had upon viewing it, but maybe there's a favorite song or show from your own childhood? Please share. Have you done a search? Oh, do!

Note: this post is especially for my aunt who lovingly reads each blog entry... the same way that she lovingly watched every episode of The Magic Garden with me during our summers.

give-away winner of An Awesome Book of Thanks

Thanks for all of your enthusiastic comments about the  Dallas Clayton's books. I am certainly grateful to Dallas for sending two my way: one for me and one for YOU!
Congratulations goes out to:
eatmoresmores
"What a great book! I'm all for anything to teach more appreciation in myself and my children."

Please contact me with your mailing address and I'll send it your way!

improvisational collaborations

One of the goals for my mother's visit was to have some intergenerational studio time. My daughter doesn't take well to pre-conceived projects and crafts, preferring an open-ended process that she has complete control over. She's happiest making art that is inspired by the materials in front of her or by what she is currently passionate about. I've learned to never say "would you like to make such and such..."

Knowing this, my mother spread out bunches of material on the work table, turned up the music and invited us to dig into: 

• bowls of scrap paper: both found and leftover slices from her paper cutter
• colored pencils and oil pastels
• scissors of all kinds
• paste
• plastic animals and toys
• old photos
• little recycled white boxes 
• rubber stamps and ink

We all got busy. My mother and I both reached for the boxes, while the littlest in the group investigated the animals and small strips of paper.

When she saw the below box that her grandmother was working, the temptation to join in was too great. Can you blame her? We were PLAYING! There were no rules.

I had no idea where I was going, so when she jumped in to direct me... all of my answers were YES!

And then  "puppet pieces" were made for my mother to use in their shared box.


Collaborating with someone small is always satisfying. The inner-critic must remain silent. Before you know it your childlike tendencies are slipping between the cracks and fresh inspiration is generating freely. This is different "work" than an adult-lead making session, where the child helps and has input, but the outcome has already been determined. That is a valuable kind of collaborating in its own right, but today I'm talking about connecting with your child through play and spontaneity with varied materials resulting in an unknown outcome. Give it a try... I'm certain you'll be delighted.

review and give-away: An Awesome Book of Thanks

Children's author, Dallas Clayton, has just published his second awesome book. I remember being a little skeptical about his first book... who was this quirky guy and what was all the blogosphere commotion about? When he contacted me about promoting the second, An Awesome Book of Thanks, I decided it was time to find out. While checking the book's website, my 12 year old came and stood over my shoulder. "What IS that book and who IS that guy, mom?" Exactly. We were both intrigued and ended up sitting side by side reading a generous excerpt from An Awesome Book of Thanks out loud together.You can too, right here. We laughed, pointed out funny and sweet details to each other, and discussed the very thoughtful message beneath the whimsy. And then... we unanimously clicked on an excerpt of his first book, as well. It had been many years since my son and I had read a picture book aloud together, let alone two.  It was a memorable moment. It was an AWESOME moment.


We wrote back to Dallas together and asked him to yes, please send us a review copy. A few days later my son and I presented it to our family as a December count-down activity. We all took turns reading a page aloud. A family read along! Everyone loved it! In fact, the kids were found reading it together first thing the next morning... spurred on by my newest reader who has devoured it many times over since.

Dallas wrote and self-published his first book for his son about believing in your dreams no matter how big and never giving up.  It's filled with a wonderful, simple message and illustrated with Dallas' unique drawings. This next book is illustrated in the same Seussical style, with more funny rhymes that celebrate gratitude along the way. I don't know which is more inspiring:  the books, this young father pursuing his dreams while teaching others to do the same, or his new mission brought on by his literary success in self-publishing. Dallas gives one book away for each book he sells... to schools, to hospitals, to children where ever he goes. And in keeping with his generosity, he has sent me a signed copy to give to one of  you. We ALL enjoyed An Awesome Book of Thanks, so I'm delighted to send out such a sweet gift. Seems like a perfect way to ring in the New Year... giving thanks! Please leave a comment in this post before Thursday at 9pm EST. I'll announce the random winner on Friday morning. Thanks Dallas, and to all of you~ have an AWESOME day!

2011

Dear friends,
I'm a bit torn in half this morning:  aching for the leisurely mornings of the holidays, but excited to find a rhythm again. Are you in the same boat? Making lists, admiring a brand new calendar, working on resolutions. It's exciting, but it kind of makes me want to go crawl under the warm covers again... well, only a small part of me. Mostly, I'm raring to go! In fact, I got up super early to BEGIN. Raisin cinnamon rolls are a currently baking in the oven, and it's only 7 am... so it's off to a good start, I'd say. My morning baking goal was to have the aroma travel up the stairs to ease my sleepy children back into a weekday schedule. Wish me luck!

Right now, I'm sitting at my desk with a cup of hot tea and the last remaining minutes of silence before the day breaks. The blank January page stares at me from the calendar hanging on the wall. I may not have begun transferring in dates yet,  but I  know some wonderful things that are in store a few months down the line. It almost feels like the June and September pages are fluttering beneath the rest. Maybe that's because I will be returning to Squam Art Workshops and teaching at both the Spring and Fall sessions!  My last two experiences at this amazing art retreat have been some of the highlights of each year. You've heard me go on about it both here and here... you've probably read other raves from both teachers and attendees.  There is a reason. Magic happens on Squam Lake. Lives transform at SAW. It's true. Go see what wonderful new offerings Elizabeth has gathered for 2011. If  you've been tempted before, maybe this is your year. I get giddy just thinking that we might have an opportunity to meet in "real time"!

So, I begin the New Year already anticipating magic... how wonderful is that? I'm also dreaming of new found inspiration, risking my wings outstretched, and hoping for balance along the way. And I invite you to join me right here so that we may dream, risk, and hope together! 
With all my love and wishes for a beautiful year,
Maya

diy: frilled pencils

There have been several crafting sessions this week up in the barn studio, with 3 generations of makers collaborating and having fun. One of our favorite projects was these festive pencils that are sure to add a bit of flare to any list making for the New Year.

 Inspired by these pencils my mother had seen at Anthropologie, we decided to make our own. We enhanced them a bit, by making the erasers accessible. Not sure why anyone would want to have a pencil without an eraser! We used bits from my mom's paper collection, but this would be a perfect way to use up scraps of wrapping paper you might have leftover from last weekend. Below my mom "frills" her pencil topper.

 Instead of using one piece of paper and twisting it over the eraser, like the originals, we cut frilled toppers and had fun mixing and matching patterns and colors. Young children can create these with only a little assistance, and the 8+ crowd can make them on their own. Great party favors... or a party activity in itself!

Frilled Pencils

Need:

• pencils
• colorful paper scraps (tissue paper is the most successful, but any thin paper will work)
• glue stick
• standard scissors
• hand paper shredding scissors (optional)
• ribbons (optional)

Make:

1. Cut a piece of paper to be the length of your pencil (but not over the eraser) and the width of a little bit more than it takes to wrap around once.
2. Apply glue stick to the length of one end of the paper and adhere it smoothly down the pencil.
3. Keep adding glue and wrapping around. 
4. Cut your topper: use a coordinating strip of paper that's approximately 2 inches wide. Cut fringe along one side or use shredding scissors like we did with these paper flowers.
5. Glue the frill around the top leaving the eraser hidden but available.Let dry before sharpening.

For my daughter's ribbon adorned birthday pencil, I just wrapped and glued... wrapped and glued from the top spiraling down. A twist of a wire pom pom garland was the final touch.  Isn't it fun to transform something so commonly used? Pencils are part of our everyday... but these are anything from ho hum.

Who knows what this upcoming year will hold? But I intend to greet each new day with a smile and the hope for its potential. Not always an easy task, but a stash of these happy little pencils are sure to keep my spirit bright when I write down my daily "to dos".

Wishing you all a joyful and creative start to 2011! 

six!

 The best Christmas gift we ever received arrived 5 weeks earlier than expected... a little over six years ago! Has it really been so long since our determined, creative, silly, and oh so sweet girl surprised us with her holiday birth? I'm  grateful for each day that we've shared together, and as much as I'd love her to stay little, I'm so very proud of the many ways she has grown. Having a birthday this time of year makes for a lot of celebrating... and adds so much extra magic to the season.

My favorite annual gift to my daughter is also a gift to me. The week following her birthday is filled with quiet time together. All of my big projects and work are put aside, there are plenty of leftovers in the fridge, and  lots of extra hands to help around the house... I'm all hers. So right now: we're writing stories, doing lots of art together and many chapters are being read out loud... to me! When I think back to my own childhood, it's not the things I remember so much as the special moments of my mother close at my side.

I'll share some of the pencils we've been working on tomorrow...

frozen feathers

Hello!  Time sure flew by this weekend... I hope yours was a good one, and that everyone celebrating had a wonderful holiday! Ours was filled with lovely extremes: quiet and wild, slow and busy, full and peaceful. Most memorable were the special gifts that had nothing to do with what was wrapped under the tree: from grandma's many delicious meals to the bliss of having my husband home with us all day long from last Friday into the New Year! And let's not forget the two silly children, giddy with excitement, who kept us all entertained. During a momentary lull on the afternoon of Christmas day, I crept upstairs for a (rare) winter's nap. It wasn't long before my husband gently woke me up to say that I'd better throw on some boots and grab my camera. In the blink of an eye a magical mist had swept over the meadow and enveloped the woods.  He knows me well... who needs sleep?

The mist had clung to each branch and then turned to ice. It cloaked everything in sight with frozen feathers, which reminded me of Margie's Canadian weather, of late.


I didn't catch it at its peak, but it was still quite awesome, don't you think? I did arrive in time for a tremendous thundering of flapping wings, as hundreds of Christmas geese burst through a shroud of gauzy clouds and honked what I took to be their holiday greeting.

I quickly tried in vain to capture them on video for my family who was tucked in by the wood stove... and for all of you, too! I am most definitely a novice film maker.  I don't blame you one bit if you giggle (or wince) as  the camera goes wild when I stumbled from craning my head too far backwards. Needless to say, this may give you a taste of the flying frenzy I witnessed, just multiply it by about 20!

You can also peek in at several photos from the weekend right here on my flickr stream. We're enjoying this sweet and slow last week of the year... you, too?

warm wishes

Just a little Thank You! Your loving visits have been such a special part of this year. Wishing you joy and magic today and every day! See you next week... let's ease into 2011 together!
oxo,
maya

winter barn

Hello winter and welcome. We loved yesterday's dusting, but feel free to drop a little more snow our way this week.Your freezing temps are always easier to bare when we're blanketed in white and there's cozy baking going on. Here are some scenes from yesterday at my mom's barn... our kitchen away from home!



Please join me later today (after 2pm EST) over at Apartment Therapy's re-nest, where I'll share my Green Resolution for the New Year.

happy

As my family and I spiral in towards the center of  the holiday festivities, life has taken on a lovely blur. I usually get overwhelmed trying to do EVERYTHING... and do it all well, for that matter. Not this year. I've given myself permission to enjoy the ride and not constantly be in the driver's seat. My daily practices attempts at mindfulness this fall really set the tone for how I choose to greet each moment. My hope is to hold onto this awareness in the new year when I have lots of big projects lined up.
In the meantime, here's a list of what's making me super happy right now:
~My mother returning to the barn just in time for Christmas! And my sweet husband driving into the wee hours of the night to get her when her original flight was CANCELLED.

~Counting down the days "easy style"... lots of treasure hunts and spontaneous games behind each door has made for very little prep and silly nights.
~Knitting and sewing by the fire as we wait for snow. I've been making more wool coil spirals for ornaments, to adorn hats(shhh!), and top gifts. My daughter finally changed from pink to blue wool.  Hickory Cat... just keeping us company seems to suit him fine.

~Learning how to get the surprising mothball smell out of my thrifted sweater dress just in time for a holiday party!  How? White vinegar and sunshine/fresh air (thanks to tweeting friends).
~The Solstice lunar eclipse! Here's some info and tips.
~And lastly... our most savored new tradition: candy cane whipped cream in hot cocoa, on waffles, with chai, or just by the spoonful! You really have to try it... really! December will never be the same.

 And what's making you super happy right now?

Silk Oak Winner!

Good morning friends! Hope your weekend is filled with magic and love... sweep those stress bugs under the rug with the dust bunnies and go enjoy yourself!

Congratulations to the Silk Oak Raven winner:
Mandy
"I love everything about Silk Oak.
Thanks for hosting the giveaway."

Please send me your mailing info so that Jan can send you your goodies! Happy holidays!

spicy chocolate bark

Every year I do a big baking day for sharing with teachers and friends. It's an all day affair. Multiple treats. Fun... but my, does it wipe me out. My sister in-law inspired me to switch it up this year and try a simplified version. Of course, my ears perked up to "SIMPLE". Her advice: one sophisticated and memorable confection. Just one. Sounded good to me. Sometimes you need the objectivity of someone you trust to pull you out of a rut. She recommended her rich and spicy bittersweet bark. I modified it a bit, but it's incredible and far too addicting, nonetheless. The sweet, tart cranberries offset the fire from the chili and salt on the pepitas, but there remains a complex heat after each bite... leaving you wanting more. Oh mercy, it's so good! The original recipe calls for roasting raw pepitas(pumpkin seeds) with salt and cayenne and using dried cherries. I made it even simpler by purchasing  pepitas already spiced in the bulk section of our co-op. These Spicy Pepitas are available on line and just happen to be a part of my cousin's nut and dried fruit business: Tierra Farm. It's a fantastic company with wonderful practices/products, and I'd give them a shout out even if I hadn't known the owner my whole life!
 So do you want to make the easiest and most unforgettable treat ever?

Spicy Chocolate Bark

~Melt two bags of bittersweet chocolate chips (Ghiradelli) on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Slide it into a warm oven until it looks like this:

~Spread with a spatula until smooth and even.
~Sprinkle with spicy pepitas and dried cranberries or chopped dried cherries. I dusted a corner with cinnamon to experiment with a full Mexican flavor. Delicious!
~Chill for two hours in the fridge and then break into bite sized pieces.
Wash hands well so that there isn't any remaining cayenne or chili left.

If you want to roast your own pepitas, make sure that they are raw. Toss a handful into a heavy skillet with a little olive oil. Watch carefully to ensure that they don't burn. (3-4 minutes). Turn of heat and sprinkle with salt and cayenne to taste.

Note: much to the disappointment of my daughter this is too spicy for her, and she wants you to know that this is not really a little kid treat. As I said... "sophisticated". I give you my word that she is not being deprived of holiday sweets, but she's definitely missing our usual peppermint bark (we always make Martha's recipe, but this triple layer via Amanda looks pretty darn good), so maybe a small batch of some other kind of bark will happen next week. In the meantime, these are being packaged up with some other goodies for the wonderful grown-ups in our life!

sponsor give away: Silk Oak

Are you feeling festive? It's time for the second give-away of the week! I really love have some of my local peeps as sponsors, and today's give-away is from none other than Ithaca's celebrated silk screen company: Silk Oak! Owner, Jan, believes in "growing a business that nurtures our families and strengthens our community, while working every day to show respect and concern for the earth".
 Here's a little bit about their process:
"We hand silkscreen our original designs on a variety of media, primarily organic cotton clothing, with a focus on made in the U.S., sweatshop free. We love color, cool design and the hands on feel of our traditional, low tech process. For each color in a design, a separate screen is used, registered by eye and printed by hand, so that each garment is slightly different from all the others. We use water soluble, environmentally friendly dyes that form a permanent bond with the fabric. Our process is safe for us and safe for the consumer, resulting in a garment with a soft feel, vibrant color and easy washability."- Silk Oak

Jan enjoyed offering a family set  for her last giveaway so much that she's doing it again! Featuring another of my favorite images, the mischievous raven, Silk Oak is generously offering one lucky winner the following:
-parent hoodie #1 (the fitted pullover version)
-parent hoodie #2 (the roomier zip version)
-baby onsie
-child longsleeve T

 That's one of each pictured above... not kidding! The winner picks the sizes and gets to outfit a bunch of happy folks. How fun is that!? Please leave a comment between now and Friday at 9 pm EST. I'll announce the random winner on Saturday morning. And please do give Silk Oak a visit. I believe you'll find some fantastic last minute gifts for everyone on your list. Good luck everyone!
Etsy
website

Art Kit winner!

A big thanks to reCREATE for all of the wonderful work they do. For more info on reCREATE and their mission to make creativity and conservation meet check here.
 And the winner of two of their Art Kits is...
Jenny-
"Oh I've been eyeing those! I was thinking of making my kids' friends my own recreated craft kits for Christmas, but time has not allowed. :( I'd love one for our house and for inspiration!"

Congratulations, Jenny! Please send me your mailing info (mayaluna(at)yahoo(dot)com and I'll forward it to Donna at reCREATE! 

simple gifts: oat floats... or oatmeal "sachets"

During my first winter on the east coast I discovered the damage that an extremely cold and dry climate can do to your skin. Yikes! I combat our chapped and itchy skin with all kinds of balms and salve, but my favorite remedy is an oat bath. It smells delicious, feels so soothing and is quite miraculous. We made bunches of oat sachets for giving this year. These oat floats make a great addition to a gift basket and a perfect stocking stuffer. I love that they're inexpensive, simple and fast to make... but most of all they make skin soft and happy! I took some pictures to show you how we do it, but it's a basic concept open for your own interpretation. Filling each sachet is a great job for a small helper. Be prepared for scattered oats, but a little mess makes everything a bit more fun, but you know that already. Not a sewer? I bet you could gather oats into the center of a circle of muslin and cinch with a string... make sure it's tied tightly!

Oat Floats

Need: 

• muslin
• wool or cotton string
• organic oats (pulverized a bit in a blender or food processor)
• sewing machine
• pinking shears

Make:

1. Take a long strip of muslin and fold it over lengthwise.
2. Sew compartments all along the folded strip, keeping a channel between each one for snipping them apart. See photo below in window.
3. Fill each compartment with a few tablespoons of oats
4. Slice through each channel with pinking sheers to separate.
5. Fold over top and pin with a loop of string.
6. Sew top shut.

 These should be added to a warm bath and can be used as creamy sponge during the soak. My kids love it and so do I! Compost when done. We're filling up "holiday buckets" with these, felted soap, and something yummy I'll share next time.

The soap was created without any instructions... just ready hands, a pot of warm water, my friend's handmade soap, and wool roving (mostly from Kate's sheep!). A bit wonky, but very fun.

sponsor give away: reCREATE Art Kits

Happy Monday! Hope you had a festive weekend. We're in the thick of making, frolicking and general merriment around here, and I wanted to pass on some of that magic to you this week. I'll be sharing some of our projects and offering a few give-aways to boot! The first up comes from our top sponsor: reCREATE! They will send one lucky reader two of their Art Kits. These art kits make me so happy... here's how they are described:
"We work with businesses to collect things they don't want, that we think have value in the creative process, and we use those materials to make our reCREATIONS.   These are not mass produced kits, but rather, one of a kind activites packaged up for your creative enjoyment.   Our kits are meant to help you explore a hands-on, tactile art experience, as a family."
   
Fantastic! Incorporating recycled goods into our crafting is a sustainable practice worth teaching early. It fosters ecological awareness and hones cleverness as we look at materials with a keen eye for their multiple uses. Doesn't that sound like the perfect gift to give our children?  ReCREATE will send two kits ready for making. Here's the selection the winner will get to choose from, and you can read more about them right here:

Please leave a comment by Tuesday at 9pm EST. The random winner will be announced on Wednesday morning. Good luck!