One Golden Apple

Sparkling Hard Cider Sale

2011-12-18T19:48:00.000-08:00

I am so very happy to announce that our hard cidermaking business is up and running. We are now selling in a few local places and are gearing up for more. If you live in out area of Western Mass (specifically the Northampton/Hadley/Amherst area) then come on by this coming thursday for our very first barn sale. Here are the details:

When: Thursday, December 22, 2011 from 4-8pm
Where: Our Fermentation Barn
295 River Drive (that's route 47)
Hadley, MA

We are 4.1 miles north of route 9, on the right.

What: We are selling bottles of our delicious sparkling hard cider and having a wee tasting too.

1 bottle (750ml.) for $12
2 bottles for $22
3 bottles for $30
and a full case (12 bottles) for $108

Come and taste what we have pressed and fermented. We would love to see you and anyone you know. Spread the word.

For more information go to our website:
carr's ciderhouse

Crafting for The Today Show

2011-12-11T11:42:00.001-08:00

This week has been filled with intensive crafting for a Family Fun segment on The Today Show that is coming up (next week, I think). One of the Top Editors is heading down to New York to show off the different things you can make with your kids for the holidays and I am making those things. I have to say, it has been a great week of crafty fun. I became practically addicted to making these Tree Placecard Holders. It was a good thing, because I had to personalize them for the host's children and various other children that will be on the show. Harry ended up making one yesterday as an ornament gift for a pal of his.

I don't know if I have ever linked to Family Fun for crafts. I love working for them and I think it is a great magazine for families. If you haven't seen it before, you should pick one up sometime. And, it only costs about $10 a year to boot!

Despite my work as a crafter, I don't craft with my kids as much as I would like. I am embarrassed to think about all of the times I have said (possibly sharply) not to touch what i am in the middle of styling for the magazine. But now it is the holiday season and all of that changes. We have things to make! I set my kids up and we craft a ton and I couldn't be happier. I'm not sure why we don't make gifts for people we love all year long. It feels so good at so many levels.

Gift Idea!!!
If you need a good holiday gift that kids can make, head over to my other blog Improv Diary for a decorative wooden spoon idea. And it involves a wood burner, so your kids will love it!

Thank you

2011-11-24T06:37:00.001-08:00

I can't begin to thank the people in my life enough for who they are and how they deeply affect my life. I wanted to start making a list of names but knew there would be people I would neglect to put down and it wouldn't be because I am not thankful for them. So, you know who you are. I hope you feel from me my deep gratitude for the blessing of your place in my life. I really hope you do.

I am, at this moment, baking a huge apple pie. Pumpkin is done. Going for a run soon. Playing an enormous game of Capture the Flag with many families and that should simply be the biggest blast ever. Going to our dear Catherine and Michael's for a feast that will be too delicious to describe, I'm sure. It is sunny. We pressed 300 gallons of cider on Monday. Ava and Harry and Jonny are amazing. Things are really good and I am so freakin' thankful.

Now, before I start to cry, or something, please head over to Pacing the Panic Room to see Ryan Marshal's beautiful video of our apple press in action. It is short and truly worth your time. He is crazy talented and inspired. In case you don't read his whole post, here is another link that will bring you to Kinfolk magazine, where Ryan wrote and article and contributed the same video. It is a magazine devoted to celebrating small gatherings and is lovely,

Have a great day and wear loose fitting clothes!

Tutorial alert

2011-11-09T20:10:00.000-08:00

Hey, did you know that I just posted a new tutorial over on my other blog, Improv Diary? Well, I did. AND, I even made a little video as part of it so you might really understand how to "draw" with thread on your machine. Let me know if it is helpful, if you are so inclined.

It is a canvas project envelope, based on a regular paper 9 x 12 envelope. You can read all about it here.

Pork Belly

2011-11-08T09:34:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am posting about a roast pork belly I made for a picnic up at our cider barn on Sunday. I have to admit I am torn about posting these shots because they are diametrically opposed to what I just posted over on Improv Diary. Head over after this and you'll see what I mean. I am not heartless, just for the record. I feel good about raising pigs to feed my family and friends for many many reasons, but it isn't without its complications.

I have never made a pork belly before so I read a lot before doing it and followed the directions I found here. I did the slow first, hot second version and it was AMAZING!. You may have heard this cut called Pork Layer Cake before, and here is the reason:

The lean meat is at the bottom, then comes a thick layer of fat, then atop the whole thing is the skin all crispy and crunchy. The fat might seem like a bit much, looking at it running off the table (the dog was underneath being bathed in and licking up the treasure) but even I ate it and that sort of thing usually revolts me. This was so NOT revolting. It was sooooo good.

I cut it up into squares and folks stuffed it into a baguette with a sweet vinegar slaw, mayo, hot sauce, and pickled beans and radish. It was insane. I don't have a picture of a fixed sandwich - sorry. I don't know why I didn't think to snap one. Duh.

We also had our first press day of the season with our whole new cider press set up. New and improved. It went off without a hitch and our relief and joy was great. Everyone went home with some fresh cider and much too full bellies.

This is me pulling the lever that operates the apple elevator. They fall into the grinder above the press and then fall in a heap at the bootom of that plastic tube.

Here is the ground apples on top of the press cloth.

We wrap the press cloth around the ground apples like an envelope.

We do it 6-7 times on press racks all in a stack like this. Then it gets pushed into the press and smooshed.

The juice runs through a tube into a container outside the barn. We were doing a small run, so it was into a 50 gallon drum with a liner.

Last year fermented cider under snow.

A very cute boy eating a pork belly sandwich.

my girl

2011-10-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

I have a 12 year old daughter named Ava, as many of you know. Since she is my kid, you might not believe that I am unbiased when I say she is pretty flippin' amazing, and of course, you shouldn't. I am wildly biased but I know it is true. She recently started a blog to share her art and creative life. She is also a devoted writer and sometimes we get a glimpse of those stories on her blog. I wanted to invite you all to go have a peek at Popcorn Cadence. She, like most of us who put our work out into the world, loves comments, so don't be shy. Pass it along to young friends you have that might be interested.

Mason Jar Pendants

2011-10-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

I use mason jars a lot, and I know I am not alone in the world now or back in the day. We drink out of them, burn candles in them, dip paint brushes in them, and preserve food in them. They are just so darn useful and they are pretty. So yesterday, we made them into pendant lights for our dinner table and I couldn't be happier (well, I could be a little happier with the cords they dangle from, but the kit was given to us out of my Mom's attic, so...)

Our IKEA pendants were beginning to break and look yucky so we switched it our for this. Nice, huh!

Currently, there is a different sized jar on each light, but my husband prefers the little half pint jars. They can be switched out by unscrewing the lids, and then screwing different jars on. Maybe I'll even tint some for fun.

Right now, we are using a piece of cardboard that I cut a hole in for the lid, but we will swapping them out with actual mason jar lids that are drilled today or tomorrow (or in a few years). I keep checking the cardboard, and it isn't hot at all. Still, just in case.

This really could not have been easier. And, I LOVE IT!

pretty pink cashmere cardi

2011-09-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

Did you read the article in today's Times about women and coffee consumption and depression? I did, with a cup of coffee in hand and a smile on my face.

For those of you who haven't had a chance to look at Debra Immergut's and my new blog, Improv Diary, head over for a very easy tutorial on making the above cardigan. It took me 15 minutes to make out of something I simply never would have worn otherwise. It is very pink and pretty.

two bits of news

2011-09-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

I have two fun things for you to look at today, if you have a minute. The first is over at Sew Mama Sew, where I am a guest blogger and have posted a great little hooded tunic project for you to make. You can even see me modeling as a coy little riding hood type, only with more "facial character", if you know what I mean. Oh well. Age smage.

The other things is this: Debra Immergut- my pal and co-author and senior editor at Family Fun Magazine (so often she is my boss too)- and I have started up a new blog called Improv Diary. It is really new and just has a few posts currently, but keep checking in. It will be a great extension of our forthcoming book with Storey, called Improv Sewing: 101 Fast and Fearless Projects (May 2012). We will post thoughts and tutorials and things we like that express our love of the improvised and the creativity that comes from freeing yourself up to work with what you've got. And, Debra is a great writer and simply a pleasure to read.

I actually HEART polymer clay

2011-09-20T06:57:00.000-07:00

As a Family Fun Magazine craft developer, I have had plenty of opportunities to handle all of the crafting superstars- pom poms, pipe cleaners, puffy paint, felt and craft foam (I do not heart craft foam). The material I have been most surprised about loving, however, is polymer clay- brands like FIMO and Sculpey, you know the stuff. It is so easy to make cool things out of it and if you have an extractor fan, you can ignore the fact that it is a plastic and probably not actually a good thing for the air quality of your home when your baking it (or outside, when it is extracted). So, ignoring that successfully, I would like to show you this lovely cuff I made. I also made a little itty bitty pendant for my boy to wear at school so when he is sad (and he has been sad) he can look at the back where it says, "we love you". He says it looks like I bought it at a store. Charmer.

Wrist Cuff Tutorial

What you'll need:

- polymer clay in a color you like

- a rubber stamp you like a lot too

- acrylic paint

- foam brush or paint brush

- cloth or paper towel

- oven

Directions:

1. Take a chunk of polymer clay from the pack and roll it out with a rolling pin or jar. You want it to be pretty thin to achieve the flexibility needed for a cuff. Let's say, 1/8". I worked atop parchment paper so it was really easy to lift it off when the time came.

Stamp it with your chosen rubber stamp so the details are all there. If you don't like the imprint, re-do it.

2. Measure your wrist and then cut the clay so it will wrap around your wrist and leave about 3/4". I used a ruler and a craft knife for a nice clean line.

3. Gently peel the rectangle off the parchment so the shape doesn't get deformed and wrap it around a toilet paper tube. Gently press it so it is secure-ish against the cardboard.

4. Following the manufacturer's instructions, bake your cuff. I took mine out a few minutes early to ensure it stayed nice and flexible.

5. When it is done and cool, apply acrylic paint all over the stamped area and then wipe off excess so it just stays in the impressions.

Isn't that really nice? It would be fantastic with stamps all over it so there is a lot of contrast, but I really like my umbrella stamp so I used that today. Make them for all your gals!

Back to School Pencil Case

2011-09-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

I have always thought that the best thing about starting school are the new school supplies. I'm sure I'm not alone. Right before the start of the year, Ava had her 12th birthday party and since she only wanted to have 4 kids I thought it would be fun to make the goody bags more functional than years past. And, since the theme of her party was "Japanese cute", these little binder pencil cases were perfect. I swear they didn't take long, and besides, Ava helped me and we got to really hang out before she headed off to middle school. So. Much. Fun. Ava drew the little cute characters and I cut and sewed them up.

Tutorial

back to school pencil cases

What you'll need:

- cotton canvas

- velcro

- vinyl

- contrasting thread

- grommets (and a grommet setter)

- some art

Directions:

1) Cut your pieces.

Canvas: 5" x 8"

Vinyl: 8" x 10", then fold in half

Velcro: 7.5" x 1/2" (I cut a 1" width in half the long way)

Canvas strip: 1" x 8", the press in half long wise

2) Fold the vinyl in half, sandwiching the little piece of art in the middle. Smooth out any bubbles and insert cut edge of vinyl into the canvas strip that has been pressed in half. One side of the velcro strip (it doesn't matter if it is the loops or the fuzzy side) will be sewn onto the back of the canvas strip.
note: I find pins get in the way, so I am just careful and sew this together without them.

3) Topstitch along the perimeter of the canvas strip with a small zig zag, being sure to grab the velcro into the stitch.

4) Sew the velco onto an 8" side of the backing canvas in the same manner, then press the velco sides together so they are secure.

5) Using a zig zag stitch and starting at an edge with velco, sew around the three raw sides of the pouch. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and the end.

Set your machine to a straight stretch stitch (it's a utility stitch that goes forward twice, back once, forward twice, etc.)It makes a nice bold line. Stitch right along the edge of the zig zag on the first side, about 3/4" from the closed 8" edge (this will allow space for grommets, and then back up along the edge of the zig zag on the other side. This reinforced line will make it so pencil tips don't get stuck in the zig zag stitching. The zig zag makes it unnecessary to hem, which, as you might already know, I am all about avoiding.

6) Add grommets following the manufacturers directions. They are very easy to do and the whole kit for setting them costs only a few dollars. You will need a hammer. Don't be scared off. You'll want to find loads of ways to use them because they are really quite handy.

The kids loved them and everyone got their favorite animal. We filled them with paper covered pencils (made by Ava), japanese erasers (of course), and little paper wind spinners that had their names stamped on them (Ava made them with a circle paper punch and stamps and then we sewed them together in the blink of an eye).

wedding aprons

2011-08-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked to create some aprons for the wedding of my kid's PE teacher. He is a special kind of fella and really quite a gifted educator- more environmental education than jumping jacks- and he and his gal needed them to wear while they were handing out pie to all of the guests as they arrived. Love that! He wanted some swooping swallows and hearts on the chest and a pocket for whatever one might need it for. He also wanted a shawl with the same motif for his Granny. All together, 6 aprons and the shawl. I decided to use linen and keep them very raw and they really turned out lovely, if I do say so myself.

I thought I'd share how to make them so you can have one too.

What you'll need:
* an apron to copy
* a 1/2 yard of linen or other fabric of your choosing- anything will work
* another contrasting fabric- I used jersey cotton
* embroidery floss and needle
* contrasting thread for your machine
*an iron

Directions:

1) Fold the apron you will be tracing in half lengthwise and align the fold with your folded fabric. Use chalk to trace the shape of the apron and cut out.

2. Using chalk or disappearing ink, draw or stencil your shapes to be reverse appliqued onto the desired spot. I chose the breast of the apron.

3. Cut a piece of fabric large enough to back the chalked shapes. Pin to the back of the apron.

4. Thread an embroidery needle with a length of embroidery thread. I like to work with an arms length or so to keep it manageable. Tie a knot at the end and pull a stitch from the back of the apron to the front. Continue with a running stitch around the entire shape, ending with a knot to secure the thread on the backside of the apron.

5. To create the reverse applique, use a sharp tipped pair of scissors (embroidery scissors are perfect), and carefully cut the top layer of fabric away, about 1/16" from the embroidery thread. Cut excess backing fabric off.

6. To finish the apron, I chose not to hem or tape the edges, but thought I'd leave the edges raw. To minimize raveling (though I did want some), I sewed around the perimeter of the apron shape a few times, allowing my lines to meander a bit.

I sewed about 6 lines across the top like this.

7. Cut a 2" wide strip of linen fabric that is long enough to go around your neck and keep the apron top falling around the collar bones. It should still be able to slip over your head without being too loose. Next, fold the strip in half lengthwise and press with a hot iron. Sew a zig zag stitch along the open edges.

8. Pin the raw ends in place so the are on the front of the apron (again, show off those raw edges!). Stitch a box with one or two diagonals for strength/

9. The waist ties are also 2" wide strips. Make them long enough to reach from your sides and tie in a bow. This is really up to you and how much fabric you have. Use your scraps if you can. I left the edges raw, of course, and zig zagged along the edges before attaching to the apron.

10. To attach ties, pin them in place where the bib panel meets the straight apron bottom. This will be obvious. Use zig zag or straight stitches- whichever you prefer (I changed it up on different aprons because I am like that) to attach the ties to the front of the apron. Just be sure to backtack so they are nice and secure.

11. Want a pocket? Yes, they are good to have. I forgot to write down my dimensions, but I rememebr them being about 7.5" x 11". Again, do what you like. Before pinning it in place, run some stitched lines or zig zags along the open edge of the pocket. Or, even better, use a selvage edge that has a nice soft fuzzy fray that is won't ravel anymore.

Center the pocket in position, pin to secure, and zig zag along the raw edges to attach it to the apron front. Next run a straight stitch (I used a strong double straight stretch stitch) 1/8" in from the zig zag. That pocket isn't going anywhere.

Look, there is my use of the selvage along the top of the pocket. Isn't that nice?

Bettering a bag

2011-08-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

Ava, my daughter, is a huge fan of the Japanese animation genius Hayao Miyazaki and most things from the fantastic Studio Ghibli. If you are a parent of a young child, My Neighbor Totoro is a wonderful film of his to start with, and older kids and their adults will love Spirited Away and a long list of others. Ava might be annoyed that I have not listed them all, to show my true respect for his work, but you can go a- looking yourself because I want to show you what she recently made of a birthday present we gave her, which will show respect enough.

I can brag about Ava easily because she is such a creative person and her art is so darn good. You'll agree without even knowing her. Brag, brag, brag. With a big trip to Ireland on the horizon (we just got back. Amazing. More on that another time) we thought it would be good for her to have a proper art bag to carry her materials around from castle, to priory, to Abbey. I found a plain canvas messenger bag at a local store and after she unwrapped it, we went up to the studio to make it hers. She embellished it with, of course, a Totoro, using the freezer paper stencil technique. Here is how it works:

What you'll need:
- a canvas bag
- freezer paper
- craft knife
- pencil
- fabric paint or acrylic paint
-iron

Directions:

so plain!

1) Draw a design on the paper side of your freezer paper- Ava free handed this, but you could grab an image off the net or from a book or something and trace it.
2) Cut out the main shape. We used a craft knife, but scissors might work, depending on the design. As you can see, there are lots of details on Totoro's body, but Ava wanted his main body shape to be grey, so she first cut this out and then pressed it with a hot iron to the canvas. When she was satisfied with the freezer paper being securely in place, she painted that open space and then let it dry in the sun.

3) Meanwhile, she cut out the details or Totoro's body.

She wanted Totoro's head and ears to remain grey, so the next piece she pressed to the DRY painted body, was the following piece. This protected that painted area but allowed the belly to show, and cut the facial features so paint could be applied there too.

She also ironed on the little belly marks so the places beneath them would remain grey after the belly was painted yellow. It looked like this before the paint was applied.

4) Paint was applied, taking care not to let it seep under the freezer paper. Brushing from the paper in towards the area to be painted is a good technique to ensure crisp lines.

Now, this is an awesome bag. She carried it all over Ireland this summer filled with sketch books, pens, and watercolors where she sat on ruined Abbeys and castles to draw and paint. Fun!

of cucumbers and cast iron

2011-07-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

July is a great month for me because it means camping and eating from the garden. This year it also means cucumbers because we put in a few pickling cuke plants and now I dread our greenhouse a little bit because I know I will have to deal with the quantity. If you have a garden, then you know what i mean. So, I've been making dill pickles in a large crock- they just stopped fermenting yesterday and they are soooo good, and canning dills and bread and butters, and the crazy quantity of tongue of fire beans from the field.

It is so hot here in July and it has mostly made me feel like running in the opposite direction of the canning pot for years, but we have worked it out this year. Check it out. A big burner with our enormous cast iron cauldron will hold about 12 quarts of pickles. Is that awesome or what?

All of this food in need of canning was waiting for us when we got back from our annual camping trip on Cape Cod, which was practically perfect- sun, swimming, rope swings, fishing, ocean, clean pond swimming, fried fish and ice cream, and our dearest pals. And, cooking things in cast iron. We brought some of our bacon ends and they had such a huge layer of white fat around them that they left a nice deep pool of lard in the pan. Uh, waste not, want not- make pizza dough doughnuts and fill them with raspberry jam, then go to food heaven. This is nothing like the story my husband tells of being on a two week canoe trip in Canada without enough food. He would have hour long daydreams about things he would cook up when he got home that would be so good, like frying the stuck remains in the oatmeal pot. He said it just wasn't as good as he imagined it in the end. Well, I didn't have the highest hopes for the pizza dough we never ended up wrapping around hot dogs but as I brought it a little fermenty from the warming cooler and droppped strips in the fat, I was encouraged by how much it puffed up.

Can't you just smell that?

Dough goes in.

Well...

Our friend Ben came up with a whole business plan for selling these- Ben's Biegnet

A perfect food for Harry- anything to deliver jam to his mouth.

I really do think these would be just as yummy in the kitchen and were not elevated to such a high status due to the fresh air and smokey fire- though that was pretty great.

Things in the shop...finally!

2011-07-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

Happy summer, everyone. It might not feel particularly lazy, but summer is different and great regardless. I love having the kids kicking around. They are definitely getting a dose of the lazy and I am happy for it. We did get to go to heaven on earth, aka Block Island, where we rode our bikes a ton, went clamming and fishing, paddle boarded, kayaked, fished, threw rocks at rocks in the ocean, ATE seafood, drank wine, sailed, swam, browned up, and even more than that. All in a week. It was a true vacation and came only days after the shoot for the book wrapped up, so it was perfectly timed. The shoot was really good and I am waiting with bated breath to see some of the pages.

In the meantime, I am loading up the etsy shop, so go have a look. I have been wanting to for over a year, so I'm glad to have some movement in that direction. This is what is in there, or will be soon as I get a chance to list them.

The model was wee, but these things fit all sorts of body types- swear. I'd love to hear your feedback, if you've got a minute.

ready to shoot

2011-05-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

If I posted pictures today, it would be of a sink full of dirty dishes, a tractor covered in white clay dust, and a studio filled with 101 sewing projects in white tissue paper strewn in a semi-organized way across the floor. I am in the throes of preparing for this book to be photographed. I was also hired to style the book, thank goodness, so I am organizing outfits, surfaces, shoes, and props for the 10 days we have scheduled to shoot it. It has been great fun throughout, despite the overwhelming qualities that are and always have been leaking out all over the place. And this part- the photo shoot- is, for me, the culminating event of the creative work. I guess the real culminating event will be when I unwrap that first book, but that isn't until next spring, so I'd rather not think about it.

Debra, my rockin' writin' co-author and I are thrilled with the design/art team- they are the women of our wish list for this stage. Carolyn Ekhert, the art director behind the beauty of the magazine Wondertime (now defunct...sad) was hired a few weeks ago at Storey (yay!...not sad) and will be designing the book, and she was just as into our first choice of photographers- and managed to get her- Alexandra Grablewski. It is going to be such a nice book! Pinch me! And then feed me and clean my house!

running in barefeet

2011-05-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

About a year ago I, well, lost a little weight and then started running. I know, usually the running comes first, but running hurt too much before the pounds came off so for me, it came second. I remember swearing to my running pal after an early attempt, that I simply hated it and she could count on me never running with her again. I honestly don't know what changed in me, but I LOVE IT now. I mean really love it. So, after a year of running in some very old runners with a hole worn by the heel, I decided it was time to get new shoes which is a huge step for me because I hate spending money and have really gotten away from buying new things. Shoes need to be new. Well, running shoes do.

I bought these! They are barefoot running shoes but without those individuated toes and they are amazing. My legs are killing me as I build back up to my regular distance because totally different muscles are used when your foot strikes in the barefoot running position. I am hoping that I continue to love them- I hope the ache starts to go away soon. They are flippin' cute though, are they not?

I like to run in a little skirt and plan on making one that isn't black spandex really soon. Maybe I'll teach y'all how to make one, if you're interested. Stay tuned. xo

mushrooms for mother's day

2011-05-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again- morels. More-Ls. Mrrrrrrrelles. And what a crop! You won't have to look back too far to see the last time I posted about this gift of plenty. We are lucky enough to have MANY dead or dying apples trees in the old part of our orchard and that is where these little fun guys (ha) like to grow. And some did GROW.

That was in Jonny's big hand!

This is where the fairies live, apparently.

Harry's prize find.

Ava found about 2 pounds!

Earthy.

Perfectly timed with the first asparagus...

And some newly fermented cider...

Perennial mushroom and friend.

The man knows how to cook.

And if you could know what that tasted like! Oh my word! We had it with pasta, of course.

Now, that is how to spend Mother's Day, right? Thank you, lucky stars. xo.

real quick

2011-05-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

I will be at the Twist Spring Fair tonight and all day tomorrow. Please come and see me. If you tell me that you read about it on this blog, then I'll give you prize if you buy something too! Wouldn't that be a hoot.

Here are a few things that you might find waiting for you:

And while I'm inviting you places, you can also come to hear my band play at the Common School Auction tomorrow night. Here is a link for that. If you want to come, I have a couple tickets to give away, so contact me. Free food and wine and a little rock and roll.The Common School Auction

The Spring Aaaah...

2011-04-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

Oh, what a bit of spring can do. That is what my girl sang in her role as Mrs. Beaver, in her school play of Narnia a couple weeks ago. She was able to have so much fun as the comic relief of the story and she really did rock it, if I can be so bold and braggy. She was also the stern Mrs. Macready who ran the children's uncle's museum home, and she wore the gray wig and no-nonsense attitude believably. Not being a big ham in public, generally speaking, I was bursting with amazement and pride as she owned her roles and beamed with confidence.

She should have teeth to go with the beaver tail you can't see, but this was a dress rehearsal and it didn't happen. Doesn't she looked chuffed? You should have heard the cockney accent. Alright, I'm done kvelling.

I was talking about spring. Every year I am taken by how the promise of warmth and leaves and growth changes the way I look at the world. Really, it is like an instant attitude changer and it is one of the many reasons I do love living in New England, where there is no mistake which season we are in. This year we started the garden nice and early in our greenhouse (That feels great. We usually are way behind schedule due to laziness or something) and we hope to have a nice Berkshire Boar coming to visit our pigs next week. You know what that means? PIGLETS!! Now, that it something I can't wait to see.

watercolors to go

2011-04-05T06:03:00.000-07:00

Every winter my dear friend Catherine Newman gives my kids the most inspired gifts- both handmade and boughten. Last year she gave Ava a fantastic book called An Illustrated Life, a book about illustrated journaling and sketchbooking and it was a huge source of inspiration for her. When I get her permission, I will post some things she has been working on, but for now I will share with you a little gift that I am currently making for her as she fills her personal sketchbook with beautiful and funny and original work of her own. There was an idea for this in the book that an artist shared that I have changed a bit but it will allow her to carry water colors with her and as long as she can find some water (usually not difficult) she can transform her black line drawings into something even more spectacular. And, it's easy, to boot.

What you'll need:

a metal tin (I used a tin that a pair of scissors came in, which was a perfect fit for the "fantastix") polymer clay (sculpey or fimo- go for the soft type).
tubes of watercolors (I went for the cheap type from Michael's for this first try but you could use fancy ones)
Coloring tools such as "fantastix", which are inexpensive and you can find at any art or craft store. They are basically pens without the ink. The body is filled with a sponge that holds water so you fill it with water and then can use it with the water colors without having a jar of water for your paintbrush. You could even watercolor in the car!
White metal paint OR a piece of white plastic cut from a tofu or yogurt container that is large enough to fill (or mostly fill) the top of the tin (this is for mixing colors- you want white for that).
A tube of lip balm (you'll see why).

How to make it:

Take one pack of white polymer clay and break in half. Roll each half into a snake as long as your tin.

Smoosh them so they are flattened along both long sides and then take your lip balm and press 6 wells into each smooshed snake of clay (use the top of the lip balm that is flat).

2. Follow the manufacturer's directions and bake the clay inside of the tin. After this cools, you can fill the wells with paint.

3. Fill the wells with paint. Tap the whole thing to flatten the paint into the wells, or use something (like a paintbrush) to flatten it. Allow this to dry and it will be ready to use.

4. Paint the top of the lid with white metal paint or glue in a piece of white plastic to provide a white area to mix colors.

5. Now it is ready to go. If you need to, tie a piece of string or use a rubberband to keep the lid secure.

If you can't find a long tin like this one, you could always just carry the color sticks in your pencil/pen bag.

hitting "send"

2011-02-14T08:15:00.000-08:00

I just took a walk where I concentrated on standing up really tall- stretching my spine and opening my chest. The snow was deep and my dog was joyful and I was talking a walk. Because I had some time to. Because my sewing machine is switched off. Because Debra (my pal and co-author) is getting all 101 projects into the "finals" folder right now. Because we are sending the manuscript for our book today.

I had to write a little today right here. I don't keep a journal. I can barely keep my breath, these days. I just worked harder than I have ever in my whole entire life worked and I am feeling good. I'm not actually done, as only half of the finals are done, but the biggest push is over. Storey will have the manuscript in their virtual hands today and I took a walk (and mucked the pig pen, but that was not nearly as picturesque, nor was it a thoughtful time).

On my walk I thought about the creative process, as I have been pondering a lot lately. I don't think I had any idea how big an undertaking this book would be, but as I developed and made the 101 sewing projects that I would want to have in a book with my very own name right on the front, I eventually came to see what it meant. Do you know how in Chinese Checkers you sometimes make these fantastic moves where you go backwards and forwards and jump, jump, jump and then you get to your final spot all happy and smug and someone points out that you could have jumped once and gotten to the same place? Well, where is the fun in that? I have found that sometimes I need the crazy circuitous route to figure out just how simple something can be. I actually had that experience quite a few times while developing these projects. I hope the end result is a simple project that has a big payoff.

So, I got to stand up straight and get warm this morning. Now I will go sew in that inevitable posture. I will not work for 12 hours today. I will be smiling.

And, here is something to look at. My boy in his Valentine's cashmere sweater I upcycled and remade to fit him. Yummy boy. I'll tell you how its done soon.

silly

100 Friends

2010-11-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

I have this fantastic cousin (second cousin or 1st cousin once removed- does anyone know how that works?)named Marc Gold who just came to stay with me for the first time ever. It was probably the first time I have ever hung out with him without a whole family event going on and it was one of those moments where you realize that you have just made a connection that will have a really meaningful impact on your life. I could easily start telling stories about him and his life choices, and the multitude of funny things that he's experienced that were so funny and well told that I could probably re-tell them and they would still be funny. You might not know me, but that isn't my strong suit. I'm one of those people who accidentally tells the punchline before the joke. Anyway,I want everyone to know about his work and I hope you will follow the link to his website.

He is a world traveler and altruist. He is a one man show providing people in need with what he raises through his project called The 100 Friends Project For the past 22 years, he has been travelling to a wide variety of countries distributing funds for people who are in great need and some organizations that help them. Sometimes his work is pure charity- he will literally hand someone some cash to help them live through a winter, or he might buy someone a bike so she can get to school or work. Sometimes he sets people up with something that will give them more opportunities to better their situation or follow a dream. He pays the tuition for a poor village girl's education, or buys medicine that helps to save a life (sometimes that might only cost him a dollar- no kidding). He contributes a bigger sum annually to a place called the Center For Children's Happiness that helps the children who were living in the garbage dumps of Phnom Penh- he says he can see lives transformed in a short time. He builds schools, libraries, and community centers. He gives micro grants to folks so they can start businesses. He only asks for people to pay it forward and he has amazing stories about that aspect alone.

He raises money by holding fundraisers here in the States. I just held one for him last Friday, where he told stories and had a slideshow. He also has had some documentaries made on the work he is doing, which you can find on his website.

This man and his organization are the real deal. He raises money and gives the money out where he can. He is well connected and has a large network of people in many many communities that he can trust to help him decide where his money might do good work. I hope you find his work interesting and might give him a bit to help him do it. He has told me what $5 can actually do and it is astounding.

ring

2010-08-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

I recently finished up work on a feature for Family Fun about New Craft Products on the market and the gal who tests them for the mag- ME! Trying to get over my vanity (read: not in love with the pictures of me)I invite you all to check out the September issue and see the projects I created for the piece- there are some good ones! One thing I tested was the new Mod Podge Dimensional Magic, which is a 3D glaze that you use like resin, only it isn't toxic and tricky. I liked it a lot and made some rings for my sister-in-law and myself. Here's the tute. Easy and satisfying with great results!

What you'll need:
-ring blanks with a bezel (I actually got these at Michael's Crafts and they claim to be lead free, so...)
-fabric
-embroidery thread and needle
-Mod Podge Dimensional Magic (in stores now, I believe)
-Mod podge

What to do:
1) Cut a piece of pretty fabric to fit into the bezel cup thingy.

2) Stitch your initial or a design on it with contrasting embroidery thread.
3) Use mod podge to stick the fabric to the bezel. It should fit snuggly and have no wrinkles.

4) Rig something up so you can make your ring stand up and have a flat top. This is important for the next step. You also will need to leave the ring to dry without moving it for a few hours, so be sure it's in a good place out of direct sun and dust.
5) With the application tip of the Dimensional Magic pointing down, fill the bezel. To avoid making bubbles, try to make a continuous stream. Fill to top of bezel so it domes slightly. If there are bubbles, wet your finger and touch it to the bubble. It should pop.

6) After the gluey stuff is dry (a few hours) you may need to apply another thin layer as the stuff sometimes sinks when it dries.

A book!

2010-08-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

Enough with the hints and announcements of big news to be announced! Enough, already! I am so very excited to tell everyone that I have been offered (and you better believe I have accepted) a book deal from the fantastic Storey Publishing. Do check out all of the great books they have published because if you are here, then you probably lean towards the kind of lifestyle that Storey publishes books about- DIY and the love of making stuff. When I looked through the shelves in their office I realized that my husband and I have tons of books they have published- from animal care and carpentry to food and crafting. They are a creative bunch with a keen vision and I really couldn't be happier to be working with them. They are located in the MassMoca complex so going to meet with them means a visit to an excellent museum in the hills of Western Mass. It isn't that I don't love going to NYC, but I do love the less hectic drive and destination of North Adams on most days.

So, you must be wondering, just what kind of book is this going to be? Well, I think it is the book most people who sew or dream of sewing want. It will have 101 projects that you can make in anywhere from 15 minutes to a day. So you can whip up a cool and creative gift right before heading to the party or you can set aside an afternoon or two to make something quite substantial- like a quilt or throw rug or a new fancy frock. On top of that great promise, what you make will be super original because I am going to explain how to embellish simple fabric and add interesting and unusual elements to really put you name on the piece. I love designer fabrics (so much) but I do feel like they limit how original you can make something. Of course, all of the projects can use whatever gorgeous fabric you want, I'll just show you how to transform cheap muslin and canvas and decorate other fabrics to make them stand up on their own.

So, I have been a busy gal- lots of first run sewing going on in the steamy studio. It is tricky to find time to post here, but I will be giving sneak peeks of projects that will be included in the book, and tutorials on extra projects that you might like.

fortune cookies

2010-07-22T05:28:00.001-07:00

Uh, it seems that someone working in a fortune cookie factory reads my blog. Really, I am so excited for every comment but when I google translate some of them, they are like this:
Can impart knowledge, wisdom can not. Each person must be his own.

and this:

Happiness is not everything, people have a responsibility.

They don't seem to actually relate at all to my crafting and posting and I do wonder what the story is. My daughter loves it anyway, though sometimes when I hit translate I hope it isn't porn (and it has been).

camp

2010-07-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

Our annual camping trip to Cape Cod with our dearest friends was last week and it was great. The amount of relief I felt when we pulled in to the same site we have been at for years now was nearly overwhelming. It's a spot where all the regular routine we can get mired down in vanishes (replaced by another routine, but the change is refreshing, indeed)and we can just smell the woods and the smoke and sing and eat and swim and laugh and debate and bike ride and scooter and wonder if today will be a day that we will successfully poop (tmi? sorry).

Food: Probably the biggest consideration when planning our trip and we have gotten it down to a science. Of course we eat out for the fried seafood need, but at the site we also eat seafood purchased at a nearby fish shop and cook it over the fire in foil packets- oh yum! But my favorite meal for it's decadence and ritual is Raclette night. Apparently there is a Raclette cheese shortage right now, so says the cheese girl at Whole Foods, so we brought Morbier this year instead and it was soooooooooooo good. We stick the wedge of cheese on a log next to the flames of the campfire and allow the fire side of it to melt.

Meanwhile, we boil new potatoes and set out little cornichon pickles and olives.

So, melted cheese all over the spuds with the sharp olive and cornichons and wine and we are truly happy campers- happy campers who anticipate the dreaded cheese ball that inevitably forms in our bellies. Totally worth it.

Market Produce Bags

2010-06-28T12:18:00.000-07:00

We can buy just about anything we need for cheap, cheap, cheap- I know. But still, if you have to get in the car or have it sent in the mail and you have 20 minutes and some muslin, why not get off the computer and just make these? We all know it will be satisfying, and if your sewing machine is working well, it will be easy and fun. Ok, enough of my preaching, since if you are here, then you are the choir.

These muslin produce bags can be whipped up very fast, but if you want to spend an extra 5-10 minutes, you can also make them super cute by doing a little thread drawing.

Here's the tute:

What you'll need:
muslin
thread
cotton string or ribbon
chalk

1) Cut a piece of muslin to your desired size. I made this bag big for bunches of chard and leeks. It measured 13" x 19".
2) Create the cord case (where the drawstring will be) by folding the top edge over a half inch and pressing.

3) Fold over again and make a case that is at least 1" wide and press with iron.

4) On the right side of one side of the bag, draw a design with chalk. Using a straight stitch, stitch the design on the bag. I went around the design 3 times so it really has a hand drawn look to it.

5) Fold bag so the right sides are together and sew up the 2 sides (one is a fold, which is intentional because it allows for an unbroken cord casing). I used the kind if stitch that is a combination of straight stitch and zig zag. It sews a seam and seals an edge so it won't fray. Look here:

6) Attach a safety pin to the end of your cord and push it through the casing. Knot the ends together. All done!

the kids love to sew!

2010-06-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Just finished my second week of art camp, this week being "Super Crafty". It was a ton of fun and the kids were truly into the projects, which, of course, makes me easy and happy. The best day was Wednesday, when we did sewing projects. They were unstoppable and didn't even want to take our mid-morning popcorn break. They worked straight through until lunch time on the most adorable and varied collection of stuffies. Some finished more quickly and got busy on hair elastic decorations, bracelets, and even a hat made from a felted sweater that turned out beautifully.

If you are interested in knowing how to make the bracelets, head here- I developed and made these for Family Fun last year and they are so pretty and easy to do.

What you'll need:
felted wool sweaters
paper and pencils
scissors
embroidery thread and blunt needles (we used tapestry needles)
pins
chalk

1) Draw your design on a piece of paper. I told them to keep everything simple and to avoid small arms and digits since they are tricky to sew and stuff by hand and still have them be the way you meant them to be. I encouraged them to think of their stuffies as really cute pillows. A couple kids chose to add felt arms and legs that weren't stuffed and they looked fantastic. Also, many kids tend to draw things that are smallish when given a regular sheet of paper. Encourage them to use at least half of the sheet- it just makes it easier.
2) Cut 2 pieces of wool that are a little bigger than the cut out pattern. Turn them so the right sides are together and pin the pattern to one side so it doesn't shift. Trace around the pattern with the chalk, remove the pattern piece, re-pin, and cut the pattern.
3) Remove the pins again and use felt and buttons to create the face and other details on one of the pieces- be sure to stitch them to the "right" side (the side you would wear out if wearing the sweater). If adding felt arms and legs, cut them out but don't stitch them on yet. When you sew up the stuffie, they will be sewn into the seam.
4) When you are ready to sew up the body, turn right sides together and pin in place. If you are adding arms and legs, sandwich them in place so they are facing in between the 2 "right" sides. The edges should touch the edges of the body so they will be stitched into the seam. Knot the end of the embroidery thread and use a running stitch all the way around the body, leaving a gap of a few inches for stuffing.
5) Turn right side out and stuff with fluffy filling- polyfill, wool, cotton balls. Stitch the hole up.
Cute!

Next time, a whole week of sewing projects.

Printmaking- Part 2

2010-06-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

Despite my planning and testing, the silk screens were not the most successful things in this printmaking camp so far. I bought cheap embroidery hoops and it was very tricky to get the fabric stretched tight enough. The girls seemed a little discouraged at first by the results but, I swear, they really began to embrace the imperfections and the feeling was contagious. Today we made stencils out of vinyl sheets and then the girls made furoshiki gift wrap on muslin. Now, this was successful and everyone had fun and loved the results.

And they made little cinch sacks too. Cute!

We also printed on muslin with hot beeswax this morning. I used my vinyl stencil to apply the wax and some of the girls used cookie cutters and the cake decorating tips to stamp the hot wax on. I think it worked, but we will see when it comes out of the dye bath tomorrow. The beeswax smelled so good simmering in the double boiler but the tips and cutters sure got hot.

At the end of the morning, one friend headed out the door to California with a pile of handmade postcards to send back this direction. Here are Ava's:

These were made by using the foam stamp cube we made on Monday.

Printmaking- Part 1

2010-06-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

It was a good morning. I had 5 girls sitting at a table ready to go, and there is nothing like that. They were eager and willing to try new things. We started off by designing silk screens that they used drawing fluid to create. Each one was totally different from the others and they are all going to be super cool. Tomorrow we will apply screen filler and pull our first prints.

We moved on from the silk screen to making foam stamp blocks. This was so much fun and I love what the girls did. Pretty much everyone stuck to a theme for their blocks- fruit, shapes, cute animals, etc.

This is what you'll need to make them:
- self-adhesive craft foam
-pencils and paper
-craft knives and scissors
-stamp pads

And, this is how you do it:

1) Design the stamps on paper, with a pencil. When you have something you like, press it pencil drawing to the foam and rub the back so it transfers onto the foam.
2) Cut out the shape with scissors or a craft knife.

3) Peel the paper backing and stick to the block. They stick really well.

4) Stamp away!

Here are the blocks they made and some of the things they did with them:

And, this afternoon, my 5 year old sat right down and got busy too.

summertime

2010-06-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

Since my kids are now out of school, it is officially summer around here. I think it is going to mean something a little different this summer, as my work projects have increased 10 fold, but we will be getting a great start tomorrow when I begin teaching an art camp in my barn for some fantastic kids. There are 2 weeks planned- Printmaking this week and a Super Crafty free for all next week. My oldest girl will be attending both, which makes this the best possible thing for me to be doing, and my young feller will be dropping by with his babysitter to have a go with the projects too. We are starting with making silk screens tomorrow and moving on to stamp carving, monoprinting, foam stamp making, stenciling, and sun printing- and applying them all sorts of ways. I think it will be a blast.

And, because they are the picture of summer, I will show you a pair of flip flops I dolled up for Ava for graduation night- the older half of her class was graduating (thank God she isn't leaving elementary school just yet)! I made them to match the dress I made for her, but I don't have a decent picture of it (the dress)so I will post it some other time.

They are made by simply wrapping strips of jersey cotton around gluey flip flop straps. I made the flower by cutting out squares and petal shapes and layer them with the size graduating from small to large, sewed it so it puckered up, then sewed it to the shoe. Really, it took 10 minutes and they were more comfortable and cute than before.

I know I have not been posting lately but I do plan to post all about the upcoming art camp projects- so do stop by soon.

xo

the gals wanted skirts

2010-05-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to say that Twist was super fun and successful for me. It seems like everyone wanted a new skirt for the warm weather and, well, WOW, how fun is it to see folks walk away with something I made? I've been thinking about which direction to go lately with the whole making clothes thing, and though I'm still not sure, I do know that selling to retail stores seems to make zero sense for someone like me. First, I can't see how I could charge enough to make any money at all, and second, you miss out on what I just described above. I like to talk to people and see them loving something I made. Is that vanity? Probably- and I admit it. But it's more than that too, though I can't quite name it. Now, I just need to decide how many shows I want to do and if I can spend the time needed to build up inventory when I have so many other projects going that require a lot. I'm open to anyone's thoughts. See, I just want more comments- because I'm vain!

Anyhoo, I had a new set-up at Twist which was a vast improvement to the last time, but still needs some tweaking. I decided to make a sign after hearing that it would cost $100 to have one printed! Yea, right. A roll of freezer paper, the font from my business cards (and blog banner), some canvas and some paint was all it required and it was done in an hour or so. A good reminder that i should assume I can make it first, then head further out in the world if I need help. This is what I did:

1) I printed full page letters in my font.
2) I traced said letters onto a long piece of freezer paper so they spelled out "one golden apple".
3) I cut letters out of freezer paper with a craft knife.
4) I ironed freezer paper to white canvas.
5) I applied paint where those cut letters were stuck, let it dry, and peeled off the freezer paper. Perfect!
6) I painted my logo with a paintbrush and freezer paper stenciled the apple on the tree.
7) I machine stitched around the periphery in a meandering sort of way, as I am wont to do.

time to sew

2010-05-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

Although I have been sort of insane with preparations for Twist, I have loved sewing late into the night and for so many hours at a time. I actually find it easier to find inspiration with both hours of making things behind me and with the promise of more hours to come. I never find it boring, though sometimes I make stupid mistakes when I get a bit sleepy- really stupid mistakes. I had a few nights of only a few hours of sleep in a row and was very impressed with myself for feeling pretty ok, and then last night my body flipped me the bird and I slept for no less than 12 hours! Any parents out there remember the last time they did that? Me neither. Then I went to band practice tonight and my voice was super rough, though not in that good Lucinda Williams way, and I thought that maybe I'm really not as young as I perceive myself to be (because I'm not) and that I better take care or things will easily head south (as some things may have done already, if you know what I mean).

In short, I love having time to sew or make anything. It has been so sunny and hot and there is a mockingbird who sings through the night, and the flowers on the autumn olive are so sweet smelling, as are the lilacs, and things are looking pretty dang bright. I have good news to share with you next week. I know I keep saying there is news a-coming, but I can almost announce it now, so just letting you know that I can almost tell you something helps me manage my unabashed excitement.

Come to Twist! Buy something pretty. Oh, and have a look at another reason why Spring is so completely fabulous. You saw them last year, these morels from under our old trees. They are so photogenic that here they are again this year. Again, we ate them on toasts with herbed goat cheese and I could have cried they were so good.

Spring Twist Fair

2010-05-02T12:47:00.000-07:00

I have simply been too busy to blog about anything, but I do want everyone around to remember that next weekend, May 7-8 is the Twist Fair and I will be showing and selling there. I sure hope you will come on by and say hello. Skirts were the most popular item last time, so I have focused on them- besides, everyone wants a new skirt in the spring- but I will have some dresses, table runners, and other bits and bobs too. I'll try to post a few teasers. xo

spring flower table runner

2010-04-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

Now that I have allowed fusible webbing into my sewing life, I really can just throw the pins out- never liked them anyway. Nothing ever stayed in position and I always pricked my finger. I hate pricking my finger so much that I'd rather have blood drawn from my veins any day over having my finger pricked. But, Wonder Under, my fusible webbing of choice, helped me make this pretty appliqued table runner lickety split- sans blood, sweat, or tears.

I fused the "wonder under" to the back of some fabric, drew flowers on the paper side of the "wonder under", cut them out, then pressed them onto my linen with a hot iron. From there, sewing with my feed dog down, I was able to free motion scribble around the edge of the fabric without the flower annoyingly changing position. It was fun, fast, and I am in love with the results. I'm going to make a bunch of these for Twist.

umbrella skirt

2010-04-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

Ah, what a gorgeous day we had. After the kids gorged themselves on Easter basket loot, they ran around (and around) and I got a chance to do a little sewing. And this is one of the things I made. The fabric came from a blousey tunic I purchased at the Salvation Army recently. It is a drapey jersey in a great color with little dots that reminded me of raindrops. I haven't made any new silk screens lately, and though I was tempted to just cut something from freezer paper, I decided to use the last of my drawing fluid to make this image of an umbrella- perfect for the raindrops, right?

I'm not posting a tutorial, but if you are interested in learning how to make a similar skirt and a silkscreen using the drawing fluid method, look at this post, and these for directions on both the skirt making and the silk screen methods. Both are really easy and very satisfying- really, very!

Here is a closer look, or, another angle:

This will be going to TWIST.

a new direction

2010-03-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

Ah, spring. What is it about being able to smell the earth that makes me feel like anything is possible? Well, just in time, because I'm ready to dive deeper into things I really love to do and I'd rather have that "anything is possible" feeling than trepidation- uh, duh! So, here it is: I'm in my studio, I have the TWIST Fair to look forward to, a very large project is on the brink of actually existing (it will rock my world but mum is the word right now, and no, it is not a new baby), and I'm just generally feeling like tidying up my career path. Family Fun provides me with loads of space and opportunity to develop kid's crafts so I think it is time to treat One Golden Apple here as my home for sharing my sewing inspiration, projects , and products. Maybe a kid's craft will be thrown into the mix now and then. Sometimes they are too much fun not to share.

Enter the spring green wool jersey dress with a little touch of smocking on the front.

I am dying of how pretty this fabric is. It is a lightweight jersey- soft, soft, soft- and that green! I don't know where this dress is headed. It might go to my Etsy shop, or Twist, or maybe live in my own closet. I've been branching out from my beloved jersey, however, and my "New Line" of skirts and dresses will include some crisp stretch poplin, stretch lawn, and printed woven fabrics. Stay tuned. As I start to step up production and documentation, this is where you'll be able to hear about it and see it. There will still be tutorials and maybe even a giveaway soon.

the (almost) unbearable lightness of skiing

2010-03-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

I went skiing. I had an epiphany of sorts as my legs burned and I skied through it. Even for those of you who know me, you might not know what a huge part of my life skiing filled when I was growing up. Since leaving home, skiing has been infrequent and since living in Ireland and then here on the East Coast, 12 years passed with only one small minute on the slopes when Ava was 4 (and I brought Jonny to the top of the mountain for the view and then he actually stopped talking to me for a couple days since he wasn't actually ready for it- being his first ever time skiing). My bad.

Maybe my profound experience on the mountain last week has more to do with who I am as a mama than the actual act of skiing, though I think it was probably a combo deal. First, there is nothing else that can duplicate the feeling of flying and that is what skiing , at it's best, feels like to me. Then, there was the small fact that I was skiing alone- no kids- with a dear friend who was my perfect ski mate and that was all I was meant to be doing. I had no other responsibilities. No other things pulling me in any way. I was free to ski. It actually felt like a retreat and I realized that I would take it over a spa ANY DAY!

The epiphany then? Simple. I need to ski more, or, find other ways to play that make me feel like a kid again- free and easy and strong. It sounds so easy, but I am a conflicted sort of person. I always want to be with my children and husband. I don't like to miss out and I love to be with them. I also really need a healthy dose of solitude for happiness but rarely get or take it. I could easily complain about the money, which is most certainly a factor (skiing can be expensive, we all know), but it has been more of an inability to find my own space to play so fully that is to blame.

This is a ramble, but the reason I decided to post these thoughts is because I did wonder- last Thursday as I rode up the lift with aching teeth from the cold wind hitting my permagrin- what do other dedicated mothers do to relax and recharge and get needed space from the beautiful intensity and demands of a family? What do you do?

my studio...mine, mine, mine!

2010-03-03T04:50:00.000-08:00

For all the reasons to feel fortunate in my life, the thing that is sort of unbelievable still and capturing my imagination most is my newly finished studio in the upstairs of the cider barn. I mean, someone pinch me! Space. Organization. Possibility. The crafting I do for Family Fun has always been at my kitchen table- which has been fine, but hard sometimes since it is in our shared space in our small home. When I brewed up the idea to begin teaching crafting and sewing classes in my dream space, my ridiculously handy man made it happen. The electrical and plumbing will go in soon and the biz will begin. For now, I have moved my supplies up there and have started organizing and scheming.

Are you wondering about the TV in the first shot? Ok, so the floor paint drying coincided with my perennial late winter panic attack about not moving my body enough. I got a dance exercise video out of the library, hauled the TV upstairs and danced for a half hour that first night. I am fully aware of what a dork I am. It was fun, just the same.

The other thing I am obsessing about this week is the beautiful fact that I am going skiing with my kick ass girlfriend Tanya. I skied A LOT as a kid in California, but have not found a way to reincorporate it back into my low budget life here on the East Coast. I have been longing for it- especially since the Olympics. I'm going tomorrow! Wooooooo! Tanya will kick my butt out there, I'm sure, but I don't care.

More pictures of the moved-in studio to come, plus a schedule of classes for kids and adults. Hope to see folks at my place soon!

sewn lampshade tutorial

2010-02-22T12:51:00.000-08:00

Last year I tried to make a freezer paper stencil on a plain white lampshade I use in my living room. It didn't turn out well but I lived with it for a year- as you do- and today I finally changed it. Much better. And, of course, it was super easy and took less than an hour to make.

What you need:
-lampshade you are covering
-desired fabric (I used canvas)
-chalk pencil
-contrasting thread
-mod podge or spray adhesive

1) Using a chalk pencil, draw a line along the bottom edge of the lampshade, while rolling it along the fabric. I started at the seam in the lampshade and stopped when I got back to the seam. Make sense? Do the same with the top edge of the lampshade.

2) Cut out the shape. I cut the piece about a half inch bigger all around so I could roll the edges over the top and bottom of the lampshade easily.

I used a contrasting thread to stitch my design. If you've never tried free motion sewing, this is a great project to start with because it is small. Put up the feed dog on your machine and "draw" your design in thread.

3) I used Mod Podge to adhere the fabric to the lampshade, though I'm sure there are other things that would be suitable (spray adhesive?). I spread the mod podge all over the lampshade in a thin layer so it wouldn't seep through the fabric then positioned one edge of the fabric on the glue and began to press it in place.

4) After I got the fabric pressed all over the lampshade, I had to trim some extra fabric away to make it look pretty and finished. I then brushed more mod podge along the bottom and top edges and rolled the fabric around the edge and pressed. It stuck pretty fast and easy.

Voila!

two swallows skirt

2010-02-01T08:09:00.000-08:00

I just made this gently a-lined skirt out of the softest pink jersey fabric scrap I had. It is for a 6/7 year old, though I wish it were for me. I thought I would describe just how easy and quick (honestly) it is to whip up a skirt- and only slightly easier for a child's size, so this tutorial is really for making ANY jersey skirt.

1) Fold a piece of jersey so the grain line is running vertically and the right sides are together. Mark the center of the top edge.

2) I used a pair of size 6/7 stretchy pants to determine the waist size for this skirt and centered it on the top edge of the fabric. I added an extra inch on either side and marked the fabric.

3)I decided how long I wanted the skirt to be, marked along the side edges, then drew a line from the waist marking to the bottom edge marking. Because I was using a scrap, the angle of the a-line was determined by the amount of fabric I had. This skirt is on the straighter side of a-line, if you know what i mean.

NOTE: If you are accounting for big sexy hips and booty and like a little extra room, make the angle bigger. The straighter, the more body hugging (which is nice too).

4) Cut from the waistline to the bottom edge. I like using a rotary cutter and a long straight edge, but if you don't have these things, mark the line between the 2 points, and cut. I make a little snip at the bottom edge then fold the fabric in half so my other cut from top to bottom is identical.

Then, while folded, cut the bottom edge. I make a gentle slope up from the center to the edge, so the center is about a half inch longer than the sides.

5) Open fold so the 2 layers of the skirt are still right side to right side and sew the side seams up. With jersey fabric, it is important to use a stretch stitch if the fabric is going to stretch a lot when wearing- kid's play skirts are a good example of this. My machine has a small selection of stretch stitches, and I prefer the one that goes forward 2 and back 1. Zig Zag stitches are also stretchy, and most machines have them.

6) Next comes the Fold Over Elastic- order it online in a million colors from here. I don't know what I did before using this stuff. It is the best! I sew it on using a zig zag stitch usually in the same color as the FOE. First, turn your skirt right side out. Then, fold the FOE over the place where the side seam meets the waistline. I anchor it there with a few stitches, back and forth. The trick to a good fold-over elastic waistband is pulling it before you start to sew- be sure your needle is IN the fabric before you pull. I pull and stitch about 5 inches before re-adjusting my hand and pulling it tightly again. Angry Chicken has a really great tutorial video you should watch first.

7) There are so many ways to make this skirt just right for the one who will be wearing it. You can add decorative machine stitches along the bottom edge. Top stitch a tricot over the seams (I always do. It makes them flat and extra pretty. For this skirt, I used the freezer paper technique to add some swooping swallows. I simply drew the shape I wanted to cut on some Reynold's Freezer Paper, cut them out with a craft knife, then ironed them in place on the fabric. Using a foam brush, I painted over the fabric shapes with fabric paint. Being a hasty crafter, I rip off the freezer paper immediately- I have to know immediately how it looks. The prudent crafter waits until it is dry so there are no accidents. OH, and it is MUY IMPORTANTE to put a piece of paper or freezer paper behind the fabric in case paint bleeds through.

Valentine pendants

2010-01-29T14:35:00.000-08:00

It is now a tradition to give my kids homemade valentine t-shirts every year, and though I will surely make them again this year, I also tried these shell bead pendants for the occasion. Pretty cute. Super fun and easy.

I started with these plain shell beads:

1) I applied collage pauge (same stuff as mod podge) to one side of the bead, and then stuck some things on that sealant that I had cut from pretty paper.
2)I then coated the top of the paper with more of the sealant.
3) When the sealant dried, I applied the paper glaze. Like I said in my last entry, the glaze has great surface tension and creates a nice dome without pouring over the edge of the pendant. Here is a picture of me doing this using a button as a pendant blank (which also works great):

It took a few days to dry but the result were really nice. I think the kids will love them. I intend to shower the love on all my darlings. I know it's a Hallmark holiday and all, but I do love it.

pretty penny

2010-01-29T07:38:00.000-08:00

I recently tried my hand at resin jewelry, thinking I would make some things for holiday gifts. The results were mixed, but mostly because I was so excited to try it out that I didn't spend much time on the art I was covering. Resin is an epoxy and it needs to be done in a well ventilated place. That alone makes me want to not do it again, but when done right, really pretty things can happen.

So this week, I gave Aileen's Paper Glaze a try, as the bottle claimed to "create a hard, non-tacky glass-like finish". Well, since that's what resin does, and this is non-toxic and requires no mixing, it is very attractive. Instead of buying the pretty blanks off ETSY again (a little pricey, blah, blah, blah)I tried a few other things as the pendant blank- a shiny penny, a shell bead, and some buttons. The only one that is done is the penny and it is GORGEOUS! Ava has already decided that it is the craft for her 11th birthday (which is in August)and I made a couple Valentine themed shell beads that I will share when they are ready. I simply cut a piece of pretty paper and sealed it with, not mod podge, but this other stuff I'm testing out called Collage Pauge (also by Aileen's). When that dried I applied the Paper Glaze. It has a pointy tip and the glaze is very viscous so a nice dome formed without pouring over the edge. I bought some bails at the craft store and super glued them to the back. Here's the back:

a little album

2010-01-25T06:50:00.000-08:00

I had pages of pictures left over from the "Let's Find Letter Treasure" piece I did for Family Fun this past autumn (too bad you can't see all the pictures in the article, because they were gorgeous)so I cut them out and made this altoid tin album. You will notice the kids are holding cameras in every picture, but Steven Vote took such luscious and amazing photos, I had to find a way to display even these photocopied versions I didn't end up using when I styled the crafts.

I don't actually love altoid mints, but I do love the tins, so sometimes I end up buying some. This project is super fast- especially if you have wallet sized pictures on hand that need an album- and all materials are from the recycle bin, so that's good.

I cut a piece of Trader Joe's paper bag (with their nice graphics who needs store bought paper) stamped it with the letters spelling "US" and Mod Podged it to the top of the tin. To finish the edge, I put down more Mod Podge and wrapped it with baker's string.

The accordion that holds the pictures inside the tin was made from the paper bag too. I simply cut a strip that would fit in the tin then made folds back and forth to make the accordion- of course, those folds were measured to fit width-wise. If you have loads of pictures to put in, you can glue strips together to make them really long. I used double sided tape to stick the pictures on, as well as to attach the end of the accordion book to the inside of the tin. You'll see that I snipped the corners too. I found that it made it easier to unfold the pages from the tin- and I do like how it looks!

Fundraiser for Haiti in the Bay Area

2010-01-22T07:39:00.000-08:00

If you are so fortunate to live in the San Francisco Bay area and you are looking for a way to contribute to the relief effort for Haiti, take a look at the following invitation and book your spot as soon as you can for a benefit supper my amazing sister is putting on. She decided to do this last Sunday (as in 6 days ago) and by Wednesday, she had to move from her original Muir Beach Community Center location to the fantastic Cavallo Point at Fort Baker, in Sausalito (which the chef so generously donated, along with the full use of kitchen and staff!). Every bit of the food and wine is being donated from local producers- from Niman Ranch meat, Strauss Creamery Ice Cream, to oysters, chocolate, and vegetables. She is stunned and is expecting the full 70 people limit to be filled any day (so hurry!). She was intending to put on a cozy and thoughtful evening and it has turned pretty fancy, but I think it is great. People were hearing about her idea through the grapevine and food and wine donations came pouring in unsolicited- people really want to do something and this is good and right. There will also be some great speakers at the event.

She originally listed the ticket price fairly low ($50) because she wanted to make sure people could swing it. I hope those who can will dig a bit deeper.

The benefit will donate 100% of the proceeds to Partners in Health and DG Educational Services Haiti Project.

Here is a link to the invitation:
http://www.pingg.com/rsvp/m26ypxn5v5kygev27

what can we do?

2010-01-21T07:14:00.000-08:00

I have been fretting and wondering what I could do about helping people in Haiti get the things they need. I realized that if I sat here continuing to feel helpless, I wasn't going to actually help one person and that simply talking about how horrible the situation is and how devastated I am by the imagery and stories of people terrified and sad and helpless and thirsty, wasn't going to be helpful at all either. So, until I come up with a better plan, I am going to stock my Etsy site and donate to Partners in Heath when I make sales. Maybe I will be more innovative with a little more thought and come up with a better way, since I don't have a zillion people reading this blog or anything, but for now I hope you'll spread the word to folks looking for handmade clothing who might want to buy something with the knowledge that I will donate the money to an organization helping Haitians.

a year

2010-01-03T18:06:00.000-08:00

A year ago today I wrote my first One Golden Apple entry and posted it. Why not? Nothing to lose. Right. In fact, I feel like with it I have gained a sort of momentum that either simply coincides with the most creative boom of a year, or actually propelled me into it. Either way, I like having a place to come and write things down, and I especially like to have people out in the world respond to those musings. It is friendly and fun and, for me, propelling. Picture a hand stitched helicopter fueled by the hand made and words (maybe not so easy to picture, but I'm not erasing that).

This year I turned, ahem, 40! I bought a new sewing machine that I didn't intend to buy and swore on the way home, as I was coming up with ways to explain my purchase to my husband, that I would make it work for me. It has! Designing clothes turns out to be unbelievably fun and rewarding and my career is definitely being shaped by the work I do with it. This year I also managed to finally form a band (25 years building up courage for that) and I honestly can't believe how much fun it is. What the hell was I waiting for? My work with Family Fun is still a blast and now all of these things (except the rock-n-roll) are coalescing into an amazing project I can't wait to share in a super loud voice (I'll tell all as soon as I can).

So, it has been a good year. I hope my old and new friends will continue to read and share ideas with me.

Blah, blah, blah. Words, words, words. What is a crafty blog without a picture of something crafty- like a half of a pig being butchered or a skirt or something? I stitched some pretty designs on linen and wrapped them around votive holders and mason jars as gifts to some friends. They turned out just the way I hoped they would, so a picture was taken.

cheer

2009-12-30T18:17:00.000-08:00

Ah, it's been good! I'm not sure what is different, but I really feel like we have had ample time to have a blast over this holiday vacation. There was loads of time to make our prezzies, cold cold temperatures to provide a daily dose of skating on the pond, and, well, a very large ham to ensure that no one went hungry- for many many meals and between 2 households we ate and ate fresh roasted ham in many ways (I think the tacos were my favorite, but no surprise there).

We were pleased with how our gifts turned out for sweet young friends, so take a look.

For Birdy, we made a story starter kit- inspired by all the excellent work that my friend over at Red Bird Crafts has been doing with her story stones and discs. It looks like this:

How does it work? Easy. Roll a handful of dice that have a different image on each side. We made 6- a character die, 3 object dice, a weather die, and a place die.
Then we made cardstock discs that had all of those images on the dice (I traced a ton of 1" circles on a piece of paper and Ava drew all the pictures. Then we used that as a master to photocopy as many sheets as we wanted. I have a craft punch that cut the circles out easy-peasy).

After you roll the dice, you find the images rolled and glue them to the top of your story page. the idea is that the storyteller will incorporate the pictures into the story she is spinning.

I wish I could share some of the things she has written since getting the kit. There is nothing better than giving someone a gift and watching them love it. Nothing!

Jonny and Ava created some excellent personalized mad libs for Ben- about their school, the various places we have gone on vacations together, and even a bonus mad lib on beavers. And now here is another example of my gal's supremely thoughtful and gorgeous artwork (and now we will rename this blog "One Kvelling Apple").

Lard

2009-12-16T07:10:00.000-08:00

From fairy ornaments to lard...what? I don't think I have ever mentioned the pigs we raised this year in the front field, this being a crafty sort of forum, but all five left for the slaughterhouse and came back as pork this week and they deserve the stage. Now, if you are a vegetarian who is squeamish or sad when it comes to this sort of thing, you should probably head off, but if pork belly and lard pique your interest, then get a load of this:

We rendered about 9 gallons of lard! Well, I took the pictures, being in a particularly sensitive state currently, but my man and dear friends were slick with it.

What will we do with all this lard, you ask? Fry eggs, make pastry, confit something or other, grease machinery, sweat down vegetables for soup in it, and make toffee, apparently. Jonny made this before he left this morning as a gift for his boss. And, yes, it was really good.

One pig came back unbutchered and we got a half and our friend got the other so the two fellows could have the butchering experience. We have a butcher block thanks to our friend Timothy and the weather has been good and cold, so the cider barn was the venue.

Cute butcher!

Ham, weighing in around 25 pounds!

Pork belly being cured. Hello bacon!

We've been eating our share of pork this week, and though I remember our piggies quite fondly (they are wonderful animals, really)I must say, this is the best pork I have ever eaten and I feel incredibly fortunate to know exactly where it came from.

And if you live nearby, we have some for sale still.

ornament swap

2009-12-03T07:31:00.000-08:00

Despite the flu still being an annoying house guest, Ava, Harry and I had a chance to make our ornaments for the Crafty Crow Annual Ornament Swap. This year's theme is Fairy Tales, which is great luck for us since we love to make these little lovelies every year. We had a "great crafty mess"- Ava's appropriate description- on the kitchen table of fabric scraps, buttons, feathers, acorn caps, wool roving, and wool felt. Starting with an old fashioned clothespin (also called a doll pin, fancy that) and some tacky glue, it is impossible not to make something ridiculously cute.

We made her tutu by taking a long strip of crinoline and sewing a basting stitch along the top edge. Then we simply pulled the crinoline along the stitch and it bunched up and we tied it on with the ends of the thread. Easy peasy. We did the same with fabric strips too, as you'll see in some other examples. We put a couple dots of glue to secure the skirts in place, as well. The fabric tops and dresses are simply wrapped around the clothespin and secured with a dot of glue.

You can see we just glued the wings on in the back too. And can you guess how we attached the wool hair and acorn cap?

Front and back of this felt sweetie. The mark that makes her nose was part of the wood. I like it!

Fabulous, dahling!

Harry's Superhero fairy. This was all he could muster the energy for, then he dragged his tired sick self over to the sofa. And, no, we will not be sending his germy hero to some unsuspecting child, not that he ever intended to in the first place.

Alright, that's it. I couldn't choose which ones to show, so you got all of them.

machine doodles

2009-12-01T19:15:00.000-08:00

My lovely mom is having a birthday tomorrow. We are never together this time of year since she lives all the way out in California, but I do think it would be nice to give her a big birthday dinner party sometime- the kind where she is forbidden to clean up. She's the kind of mom who sends me cards every week telling me how proud she is of me and how much she's thinking of me. She is super stylish and sometimes I feel like the stuff I make might not suit that style, but I think she might like the stitching I've been playing around with a lot lately and only had to ditch the botanicals and replace them with something geometric. This is a scarf made from my new favorite material- wool jersey.

Stitching like this is super fun and I love how it looks. It's nice to take something plain and make it fancy. I've been making neck scarves- maybe they are kerchiefs?- which I think are sexy and fun. A quick gift for all the last minute makers of things.

Happy Birthday Mom! I love you too!

a great weekend

2009-11-15T18:04:00.000-08:00

Whew! What a weekend of crafty goodness! The Twist Fair was really amazing and though I was whipped from standing in a 2 square foot space for so many hours, and though my hair was a frizzy mop after ducking under my table to get in and out of that space, I couldn't be more pleased. I got to talk to tons of sweet and curious people, be surrounded by inspired folks with many talents, and see people happy to walk away with something I made. I pretty much sold out, got a couple special orders, and have 3 pages of email addresses to contact when my studio is open and ready for classes.

Here is a picture of my table right before the doors opened on Friday night:

Jam packed! It was hard to notice the dresses, which were my favorite pieces. Here is a wool jersey dress

and a reverse applique dress.

I was so happy about the interest in swapping and came home with some amazingly lovely things from:

http://www.rachelkgarceau.blogspot.com/

This isn't the piece I came home with. I got 2 wee cups with very cool full body silhouettes of Rachel sitting, etched on the side. Love them!

This T-shirt from Mary at Moth Written Arabic. It says "breakfast", in case you didn't know, and her designs are simple and funny and all have the Arabic descriptions or messages on them.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/mothwritten

I wanted one of these and will get one eventually, I will.

http://www.donnabelledesigns.com/

I don't have a picture of the ring I swapped a skirt for, but go to this site to see her lovely stuff. It was made out of little gear parts of an old SLR camera. It looks like a flower, though sort of industrial. An industrial flower. I love it!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/windfall?page=2

Thanks to everyone who came to see me! I'll be putting a few things in my etsy shop this week and making more stock before the holidays.

twist

2009-11-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

This is where I will be on Friday and Saturday. It looks like there will be a ton of lovely stuff for sale. Come. Visit me!

apples

2009-10-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

Though our new trees are still young, small, and not making fruit, we had the opportunity to pick a few bins of apples at the orchard which our friends Terry and Sarah tend. Another perfect autumn day and would you get a load of them apples!

Pick me!

You've met the cookie monster, well, here is our apple monster (and cookie monster).

Pay no attention to the state of her ragged fingers! Maybe you can't see it with the picture this small. Oy!

They are Empires and they are perfect and sweet and juicy. In a moment of pork-on-the-mind, Jonny actually thought we might give some of these to our pigs. Uh-uh, they can eat the drops, I want to press these babes. I want to drink them sweet and hard.

Apples seem to make me happy in a way that no other piece of fruit does. How did they get so dang pretty!

another happy birthday

2009-10-09T18:52:00.000-07:00

We are heading out tomorrow for a birthday party "camping" trip for my almost 5 year old lad. Despite how he is at least a full head taller than any other kid in his class, his asking me if I was "desperately tired" today when we were leaving the food store, or his beautiful new letter making skills, he is still my babe. Cliche, I know, I know. But when he laughs, it is still that toddler laugh that he is probably going to lose any minute now, and when he sleeps he seems so small and soft. Oooh, I love him! He actually turns 5 on Sunday, but I am having a moment now while the cake is in the oven (same cake that Ava had, only he wants his to say "If it weren't for you meddling kids..." on top) so I'll share.

Unlike Ava's full week of prep work and fun before her birthday, I only even started making lists today for Harry's. We are going to a State forest to run around in the woods, canoe in the lake, pretend we are in a Scooby Doo story (apparently), hit a pinata, then build ourselves a campfire and roast hot dogs and marshmallows. It will be great. I am hoping to have some sort of great woodsy game inspiration before noon tomorrow, so if anyone has a killer idea, let me know. He only wanted a few kids, which I was totally pleased about (but strangely had to keep biting my tongue about asking if he wanted to invite this or that friend).

Last week we gathered acorns and made these, and I thought it would be a great party craft- simple and super cute.

They are very easy to make. Simply gather some acorns, draw on a sweet face (Harry's is on the right) and knot a necklace string to the stem and secure with a dot of craft glue. I took off the cap on the above girl with hair, glued a bit of wool roving to the acorn top, then glued the cap back on. I even got to give her a haircut, which was very satisfying.

Happy weekend!

bird print

2009-10-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

If you are a certain friend coming for a birthday dinner tonight, please read this tomorrow. Really, Catherine, go look at Red Bird Crafts or something, because I'm posting your present. Bye!

Last night I finished the silk screen that I wanted to use on a table runner for my friend's lovely new table- it's too pretty for a table cloth. The design is so pretty and though I would love to take full artistic credit for it, I must admit I sort of lifted the idea from a children's book. In fact, if you can tell me which book it came from, I will silk screen it on a t-shirt for you. It's not obscure, so someone should come across it sooner or later.

I swear it wrinkled from the time I ironed it to when I carried it down the stairs to photograph it.

Since the silk screen was out and ready, I grabbed a couple other things to print. This is a girl's upcycled skirt I made last night:

And this is on the edge of a wool scarf cut from the extra wool knit I made a woman's skirt out of last night- more on that later, because I am in love with this new wool fabric I picked up yesterday at this warehouse fabric place called Osgoods near me in Springfield.

Subtle. Maybe too subtle?

more on silk screening

2009-10-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

I have been sewing up a storm lately, Twist Fair being a little more than a month away. Last week I had a great run of upcycled children's clothing that I will reverse applique, silk screen, or use decorative stitching to adorn. Here is a tunic I made that has decorative stitches around the edges in a contrasting thread. The shirt was originally a large men's shirt.

I'm thinking a well placed panda would make this Ava's dream shirt. So, with her help, one was designed.

Now, my opinion about silk screening. There are several ways to make a screen, but I have been having the most fun using drawing fluid with original art. All that you need to do is draw your design on the screen fabric with a pencil then use a fine paint brush to apply the drawing fluid. In the panda image above, the black ink shows where that drawing fluid was applied. After that dries, you apply screen filler with a squeegee. After that dries, you run cold water over the screen to wash away the drawing fluid which will then be your screen design- easy! The process is super satisfying.

Like I said in my last post about silk screening, I like to do this on the cheap, so I experimented with using organza fabric from the fabric store and an embroidery hoop. It worked great and was WAY less expensive. I do like using the speedball drawing fluid and the screen filler, though I have heard of people using mod podge for screen filler before. Maybe another time.

These are the bottles of stuff to use.

This is the screen after the drawing fluid is washed away. I will probably tape it where the white is visible so no ink goes through.

And this is some teeny tiny writing I made on a wee embroidery hooped screen that I may use to make clothing labels.

in the woods

2009-09-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

Saturday was glorious! Perfectly autumnal with a beckoning breeze and cool enough to delight in the sunny warmth on your back. We hopped into the canoe and went paddling in the pond we live on. We saw loads of turtles and even ate the last of the summers blueberries that clung to the nearly leafless bushes. On the way home we stopped off to take a walk in the woods- well, we wanted the kids to explore while we found a sunny patch to kick back in. That even worked for about 10 minutes but then the idea of hide-n-seek took hold of Ava and there was no changing her whine (I mean her mind). Once we were up and about, I was glad to be moving and after the way-too-easy-to-find-the-hiding-kids game, Ava and I got to building this:

We've had fun making these tree sculptures before, but usually we make them between 2 branches in a tree with little twigs. This was supersized and really fun to make. All the materials were scattered about on the ground around us, and we only needed to break a few dead branches to make them wedge nicely. We decorated with the fallen yellow leaves by wrapping them and poking their stems through the leaf like this:

So, what makes this so much fun? I'm not sure. I think it might be that we are working on some big project together, where art is usually solitary. The materials are beautiful, we are in the woods, it smells good... We love to make all sorts of art and joy can be found in many ways, but being there together with sticks and leaves and sun and without any agenda, well, that sort of fun is second to none.

from the bottom up

2009-09-11T07:10:00.000-07:00

Ground has been broken! Above the cider fermentation room in the barn out front, I hope lots of creative juice will be flowing in what is being built as Sparrow Grass Crafts- a craft space for children, teens, and adults. How I dream about this studio with its organized shelves, clean work surfaces, and its near proximity to my home, but how it actually isn't in my home. I will hold a variety of classes in addition to having a dedicated space to develop and craft for Family Fun, which will be beyond words amazing.

The barn is built, but the ascending staircase is not, so here is Harry in a 4 foot deep footing hole we dug one misty summer day. Harry worked and worked with us, and when Ava caught wind of the depth of the hole, she jumped from her curled up reading position and she wanted a turn going in it like him. Maybe it's a little mean, but we made her dig for 5 minutes before we let her. The girl is an esthete, not a laborer. She works with her fingers and mind, not her hands and muscles. Do we want her to show more interest in gardening with us and helping with the never ending list of building projects we have going? Yes, yes we do. It is looking like she will not come to it naturally but there are some great skills to be learned, not to mention the awesome quality time our family will have together. But, alas, she curls up with a book, writes a story, or creates her art- all fantastic! I don't mean to complain. We do find it tricky, the balance of forcing her to help and allowing her to do the work she is drawn towards. I think we just picture our family all doing things together.

Maybe I am not naturally a working type gal either, but I can't imagine hiring others to do work for us, and I have simply the handiest husband on the planet so I figure if I want it done faster, I need to make time to help. What it does for me- the hammering and power sawing and climbing of ladders- is give me alternate feelings of being a total bad ass and an absolutely incompetent and delicate flower with no upper body strength. Power tools are definitely good for making one feel powerful. Wow, can I cut a piece of wood faaaast! I like that Harry watches me do these things- that is worth a lot, so he doesn't get some kooky idea that tools aren't for girls, or something.

In the meantime, the decks are now screwed on and the door will be cut soon so I can get to organizing the piles out of the way to make it my studio. My studio. Sigh.

oatcakes

2009-09-04T06:36:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'll start blogging on oats and how delicious they are. It is true, I do love the humble oat. I think it began while living in San Francisco because there was a little bakery in my neighborhood called "101 Carl" that made oat scones we all treasured and planned our weekends around. I still haven't replicated that recipe so if anyone out there knows it...

There was this Australian man who came to W.W.O.O.F (Willing Workers On Organic Farms - i.e. volunteer for food and board and precious organic farming wisdom) on our farm in Ireland who only ate raw foods. It just so happened that the day before he came to stay, we had gotten our bulk order from the health food company and had a 25 kilo bag of oats sitting in the corner of our kitchen. We were shocked by what 25 kilos looked like and wondered what we were going to do with all those oats before "Mr. H" came. In the week he was staying with us, I think he went through half of it because he ONLY ate raw oats, raw almonds, raw honey, and water. No delicious meal I prepared could lure him away from his special diet (which I was totally annoyed by), but we were coming to the end of our lives having w.w.o.o.fers. Everything was becoming annoying about these interlopers that , of course, I had invited to stay. I thought he was slightly crazy then (maybe he was), but of course, I pretty much feed my family that same meal most mornings, so it goes to show ya...... I could also write a blog about the weird things that happened while having wwoofers, but I digress.

My dear friend Timothy always brings us boxes of culinary delights when he comes to visit and last week, along with about 10 pounds of alpine cheeses, he brought us a box of Northern Irish oatcakes which were so delicious and gone in a half second. I think I successfully replicated them and now I will share them with you. Oh, I did give them a little protein and flavor boost by adding almonds. Add the sugar quantity to taste. I like them both ways. They are coarse and gooo-oood.

Ingredients:

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup raw almonds

3 Tablespoons of butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 to 1/4 cup brown sugar (not packed)

1/8 teaspoon of baking soda

1/4 cup water

Preheat oven to 350.

1) Grind the oats and almonds in a food processor, blender, or in a jar with a hand blender (which is how I do it since I don't have either of the other tools). They should look like this,

ground to a meal. If you are working in a food processor, add butter and blend to incorporate, then add the salt, soda, and sugar, pulse a few times to incorporate. Add the water and pulse until you get a dough ball. If you are not using a food processor, pour oat and almond meal into a large bowl, add the butter and rub it in with your fingertips until it is incorporated. Add salt, soda, and sugar and stir to mix. Add the water and stir until the dough comes together.

3) Turn dough out onto a floured work surface and roll to 1/4" thickness. Press and mend any cracks with your fingers. Cut with biscuit cutters and place on baking sheet (no need to grease).

4) Bake for 10 minutes, keeping a watch full eye near the end. You don't want them to get too brown. Turn off oven, and leave the oat cakes in there with the door ajar while the oven cools. This will ensure that they are nice and crisp. If your oven runs hot and they have gotten brown quickly, remove them from the oven to cool.

Serve with slices of cheddar or hand them to your kids in place of cookies.

They would also be great with little currants mixed into the dough. I'll try that next time.

to school, to school, little ones

2009-09-03T06:44:00.000-07:00

Wow, was that August, or what? I am happy to say that we went away, had serious beach time, it was hot and slow (at times), and I had a super exciting project that gave me valid reason to have some 7 hour days at my sewing machine- it was awesome! And today I dropped 2 happy kids off at school and my list suddenly started glowing and making beeping noises. Might as well start with something fun and long overdue. Since I have been sewing up a storm, I have a ton of things I would like to share, but I am going to start back a ways with a small and satisfying project to do with the little ones (or for them as a gift).

Stickers! Oh, beloved stickers! I don't know a kid who can get enough of them, so of course, making them yourself is a great alternative to going out and spending hard earned cash on something that gets stuck on front of a t-shirt and thrown in the wash, only to be destroyed after such a brief moment in the sun. They are so easy to make and I think they are better.

I made Ava a letter writing kit for her birthday and these are the ones I made for that:

I used a sweet piece of scrapbooking paper, applied the adhesive to the back, then cut them with a craft punch when the glue was dry.

Here are some more that couldn't fit in the little tin. The girl being pulled up by the balloon is a photocopy of Ava's art.

Here's how to do it:

You'll need:

-white glue

-white vinegar

-paint brush (the sponge ones work well)

-decorative paper or artwork

-craft punch and/or scissors

1) Mix a glue to vinegar in a 2:1 ratio. So, that would be 2 Tablespoons of glue to 1 Tablespoon of vinegar. This will be enough for a few sheets of scrapbook paper.

2) Paint glue mixture onto the backside of the paper. Make it a thin layer and when it is pretty dry come back and do another layer if it seems you didn't get great coverage.

3) When dry, cut into desired sticker shapes.

4) To use, dampen glue with damp sponge or wet finger and stick in place.

Ava is using hers to seal envelopes and they look great!

Amy Butler Cabo Halter

2009-08-10T12:55:00.001-07:00

Last year my friend Catherine and I both made black sundresses from the Amy Butler pattern "Cabo Halter"- I think they are favorites to us both. This year I had a go using the pattern more literally, but still extended the length to make it a dress. It fits nice and snugly beneath the boobs so no bra needed-love that! I think I may add a little layer ruffly thing to the bottom to add a couple more inches. I left the edge unhemmed and zigzagged it, which I like, but think the extra couple inches will make it better overall. It is really comfortable, though it has to come on and off over my head since the only zipper I had wasn't long enough.

Birthday Craft- Part 2

2009-08-07T07:16:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder if I will be constantly moved by and in awe of my kids as they power through all the developmental milestones and persist on doing things in their own unique way. Will I get pangs of crazy love as they are posing indifference when they get out of the car to go to the school dance, professing their knowledge of some injustice taking place in the world like it began the moment they read about it? I guess I know I will. And as we made our way through the week before Ava's birthday - a birthday she had strong and clear ideas about - I had to step back and watch this great kid as she designed and planned the things we would make and do for her friends. Her grace and humor is not lost on me. Or, at least, it wasn't then. Like I said before, she is so capable now and all the things we did ended up feeling like a fabulous opportunity to connect. So, what may have felt like a huge time commitment in past years (when I was driven by my ideals and maybe too ambitious) just felt like fun.

I am happy for any opportunity to sew but was glad for the enthusiastic assistants as we made 10 little fat quarter totes for the goody bags. Ava matched the fabric with the friend (or sibling) and we whipped them in less than a couple hours - Ava at the machine sometimes, Harry on the pedal sometimes, but only me on the iron (I imagine she could be taught, but I am scared about burns). It was much more fun than driving to the store and Ava and Harry felt pretty proud afterwards.

They had a pretty notebook and pencil inside and extra room for the pinata loot.

What can I say? We all have apples on our minds around here.

New in the Shop

2009-08-04T12:54:00.000-07:00

Take a quick look in my Etsy shop to see a couple new skirts I just added. The brown one has 2 layers of the softest micro rib jersey ever and is made with four panels. The green one is a one layer skirt with reverse applique, and is 2 panels.

And then, if you have another minute, read about Ava's Birthday party. I just posted about that too!

Party Craft - Part One

2009-08-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

Ava's 10th Birthday party was GREAT!!! We had so much fun getting ready for it and then it was so very sweet; we had just a super time with our guests. I love Ava's friends and they are easy to plan a party for. It threatened rain, as usual, but there was plenty of time to jump around on the trampoline, smash a pinata, eat loads of good food, and make this spectacular craft. I had a feeling it would go well, but was so happy when I watched everyone busy busy busy- the 4 year olds to the 45 year olds - crafting away. I chose a craft that was pretty open-ended in terms of creativity, but which had a specific direction to move in (so no one would feel frustrated or unsure of what to do). I showed them an example that I made, then let them loose. The only real instruction given was to draw their shapes on the backsides of the decorative paper so they would know what they were cutting out.

The craft? They simply made paper collages on wood and each one was so different and each one was beautiful - from the Pokemon design to the abstract. Oh, and I should say that this craft was inspired by these - gorgeous, huh?

drying

Ava's- oooh!

Mine - surprise! It's an apple!

Harry's - good use of that glittery black paper, don't you think?

These are to hang on the wall. I'm going to hang all 3 of ours together.

What you'll need:

-6" square pieces of plywood

-sandpaper

-decorative paper

-pencils

-scissors

-mod podge

-foam brushes or paint brushes

Here are the directions:

1) Either cut up a piece of plywood into 6"x6" squares, or get something pre-cut at the craft store. Sand as needed.

2) Provide a big variety of decorative paper, scissors, pencils, mod podge, and brushes. I didn't direct anyone, but I think the wood looks really pretty if it's exposed, so you may want to say that to your crew before they cover the whole piece of wood. Just my preference, though there were some beautiful ones the kids made where the paper was totally covering the wood.

3) Design your art and lay out papers on the board until it is how you want it to be. Layering paper is encouraged!

3) Remove paper shapes and apply a thick base layer of Mod Podge on the wood..

4) Place your design pieces on the mod Podge, smoothing bubbles out with your finger. Glue down any layered pieces with more Mod Podge.

5) Apply an even layer of Mod Podge on top of everything to seal, with strokes aligned in the same direction. It goes on white and dries clear. The younger kids were a little worried.

6) If you want, you can use fine sandpaper to smooth out anything rough after first layer dries, then apply another thin layer.

It was sooooooo much fun! The kids were really happy with their final pieces of art.

The cake

2009-08-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

I have always loved making birthday cakes. They are so decadent and special and you can make them so pretty. I have, however, had varied success on the actual yumminess factor, though they may look impressive with flowers and ganache and all that. I have been getting steadily better over the years and it is mostly due to my clear understanding that one should NOT decrease fat or sugar in attempts to make it somehow more healthy. I even use the dreaded cake flour sometimes, if a recipe that looks really good calls for it.

This year, for Ava's Birthday party, she requested a coconut cake and , let me tell ya, I found a humdinger (I never use that word, but really, this cake was soooooo good). I got the recipe from Martha Stewart Baking. It is a cake that uses shredded coconut as well as coconut milk (I actually used unsweetened coconut, and it was perfect). The frosting was a vanilla bean butter cream. Oh, and between the layers was a yummy lemony gooey spread. I don't know what to call it because it isn't a curd (no eggs, lots of cornstarch), which Ava finds "metallic" tasting. It was moist and coconutty and way sweeter than I usually go, but then my cakes are never this good, so, point taken. I will make this cake again!

The party was so much fun. Exactly what we hoped for. I will post some pics of the kids busy busy busy crafting. The project suited the group well and even the parents got in on the action.

a decade

2009-08-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

My girl is 10 today. A whole decade of watching this fabulous person be herself. She was so small, so curly and blond, and always so sweet. She is now such a strong person, so full of ideas and the need to create, explore, and be silly. She is easy to know and those of you who know her, know her well. She loves being a kid and I'm so glad she is in no rush to be older.

We both have always loved getting ready for her birthday, and this year she is so darn capable, I had all sorts of help and we did a ton of fun things together to prepare for her party, which is tomorrow. Check back soon for pictures of our crafts and pinata and all the other good birthday things.

a new bag in the shop

2009-07-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

A quick wee post to let anyone interested know that I have finally added a new item to my etsy shop. It is a super soft and sturdy purse made from upcycled t-shirts and part of a cotton shower curtain that I cut off so the rest would fit on my shower. That may not sound appealing, but it looks great and I'm really happy with the colors and the design.

camping

2009-07-24T21:01:00.000-07:00

Every time we go camping, which really just seems to be for this annual trip to Cape Cod, I remember what a perfect vacation it is for my family. So, maybe it's true that I can be a bit of a nag when it comes to jobs around the house. And, maybe it's even true that I find all the work to do around the house more than a little distracting, even when I have every intention to hang out and play with the kids, and swear in my mind that nothing is more important at that moment. Yeah. Well, then there is camping. A vacation for the slob at heart, in my book (though the folks camping next to us had a perfect campsite with a container of Clorox wipes on the picnic table and really lovely votive candles scattered about here and there. The wipes spoke volumes about how different their home looks from mine, but I digress). A vacation for really hanging out with each other in rain or shine, and lucky for us, we had both. We camp right on a kettle pond that no one else seems to ever go to. We eat tons of seafood. We ride bikes. The kids draw and draw and we all swim and swim. So now, the pictures. I must. I can't help it. So, if you don't know me or care to see my vacation pictures, thanks for reading this much. I will keep it to the highlights. Swear.

I LOVE the Beach...

Our guess was whale intestines.

Some of us raced the waves more successfully than others, but the rain levelled the playing field.

So, every year we camp with our dear friends and if there is one thing our families are good at doing together, it is eating. Now, remember, I didn't say backpacking. This is car camping!

Oh the things you can cook over an open fire if you have a roll of foil! Striped Sea Bass with garlic, lemon, and butter. Heaven. Especially since I am not a lover of...

I know, I know. I really want to love it though.

Packet perfection. Summer squash with garlic and herbs.

And the last day, which was spent playing Bananagrams, swimming, and loafing around, we made these in the pie irons:

That brown stuff on the side is the chocolate oozing out.

And, although I have no pictures of our traditional camp dinner, I must insist all you campers try it out- Raclette with boiled potatoes. We heat the raclette on a stick over the fire and scrape the melted parts onto salted boiled potatoes. A glass of red wine and some cornichon and you are in heaven (while the children gag over the smell and eat their hot dogs). Aah! I love vacation.

of fisher-price and show tunes

2009-07-19T20:01:00.000-07:00

A few years back we were having dinner over at some friends, and Jimmy had just moved his stereo out of his study and into the living room. He was spinning vinyl all night. When we got in the car, Ava, then 6, asked me what those super big CDs were. Boy! She had never seen a record player before. Never heard music through the click and scratch of the needle. I don't even think that we need to be all retro to appreciate the beauty of playing your favorite album on a record player. There really is something nice to setting it up and watching the thing spin. Just a couple of years ago some other dear friends got a record player and though the ipod is generally on in that house, when the kids want to spin some tunes, they do, and it's sort of an activity in and of itself. Everyone is drawn to it and music you would normally avoid on your playlist just sounds better. I can even tolerate holiday music on a record player, but sort of try to avoid it otherwise (humbug?).

Sooooo, there is this awesome free table that I actively try to avoid at the magazine. I have a problem. We have too many books because of it. But, it is right next to the craft room and sometimes I simply get drawn over against my will. Well, good thing, because look what I scored! Mint!

So, after the kids had an evening of using it as a spinning art thing that makes cool marker rainbow circles on paper plates, I took them to the Salvation Army and we chose one album to see if it would actually play music. Well, it did. Perfectly. Now, all we have to listen to is this:

It seemed like the best choice at the time. Help me!

We are heading off for our annual Cape Cod camping trip. The forecast is for some big 'ol weather. Today's beautiful weather has made me feel quite optimistic for a sudden change. I figure optimism can't hurt.

simple pleasures

2009-07-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

I just had my upper wisdom teeth yanked (gross!) and although I have a gauze packed mouth, I have a moment and am trying to look back on the summery beauty that made us all smile this morning and made me get my camera out and feel just how good things are. And actually, the extraction wasn't such a big deal. I didn't even have time to figure out how to turn the volume up on my ipod before he got the first one out.

The kid's summer breakfast of choice around here is blended muesli, and if you have never made it, I really think you might want to. It can be filled with lots of stuff or super simple like the one we made this morning. Oats, almonds, and yogurt are blended together and then it is topped with fresh berries and a little agave syrup. We planted a bunch of berries about 4 years ago and they produce all summer long. The kids pick off and on throughout the day and, dang, do I feel great about it. I don't mean to be one of those bloggers that paint the picture of a sweet and perfect life, but really, when we pick berries in our own backyard, boy, do I feel like everything is just perfect- simple, sweet, bountiful, and even slow.

We are all dwarfed by the summer growth of the canes.

I have a hand blender. I just stick the wand right into the container and blend away.

Mmmmmmm!

Oh, it's the kids, not the berries at all. Silly me.

crafting for the man

2009-07-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

Just like with buying gifts, I have a way harder time making things for the guys in my life. I've got me a pretty manly man and the things I tend to make are pretty femme, so I often feel a bit stymied. Even the toe nail polish wearing guys feel tricky to me. Of course, I would put my own little boy in a tight capped sleeved tee with a rainbow unicorn, so I don't think it's totally coming from some standard or aesthetic I have set. Well, some of my most dear friends are men, so I have got to learn to bend and stretch. I started this week with my most beloved cider-obsessed man. An upcycled reverse applique golden bottle of apple cider with a machine appliqued apple adorning it. And, well, he seems to love it! At least I think so, as he doesn't really say too much. Next is a birthday present for a dear one. Any suggestions?

summer sewing

2009-07-09T12:02:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why I thought summer was going to feel hazy and lazy and full of lots of space for biking instead of driving and all of that. I guess I am an optimist- I watch the doughnut, not the hole, as Ava would sing- but still! I would love to be posting all of the things I have been making lately, but finding the time to upload photos, blah blah blah. I have exactly one minute to write then head off to pick up my kids at our friends house and head off to swim lessons, so I'll get on with it. I have been busy sewing, and it has been super fun. Here's my favorite thing I've recently made: A reverse applique wrist cuff. Just thought I'd share.

Oh, and just because maybe I can be a minute late, I would like to quickly proselytize about buying from small human owned business instead of those BIG BOX stores. My story: My beloved Janome Sewist sewing machine was having it's first little issue and my thread was getting hung up somehow. I actually took my machine apart to see if I could figure out the problem, but since I know nothing about machines, I couldn't. I took it down to Newman's Sewing Machines in West Springfield, where I bought it, and they looked in the bobbin area, found a bent part, rebuilt it, put it back in, adjusted some things, gave me a 15 minute tutorial on various things my machine does, and sent me on my way. All of this for exactly $0! My kids happily spun around on the rotating chairs for 45 minutes, and I felt so glad I wasn't dealing with someone at, say, some unnamed large fabric and sewing store, with employees who are underpaid and low from all the sizing they must sniff. So glad!

The end of school

2009-06-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of summer vacation for my kids! Not only does it seem super early, but it also feels like spring. I say that without an iota of complaining. It's lovely! This year for teacher gifts I had the kids make silk screens again and we printed on cloth produce bags. They turned out so nice and the kids and teachers seemed pleased. I have some extra for us and I will be trying out fabric produce bags for the very first time. Seems like a good idea.

Harry's: the ubiquitous rocket ship with the unusual addition of a flower floating next to it. Ava's: 3 little pigs repeated, about to eat a flower.

Have I mentioned that we have 5 little pigs living in our front field right now? Ava swore she wouldn't even look at them for the first 2 hours we owned them, fearing the love she would feel in her tender heart. Then 2 hours was up and off she went into the pen, asking if I thought it a bad idea for her to name them. She answered her own question and does love them and is coming around to the fate of these lovely creatures- at least she doesn't show how completely pissed she is that we would even consider eating them. Her former nursery teacher and friend of mine compares her to Fern. True. Harry, on the other hand, informs any guest that the pigs will be killed, and in no uncertain terms.

Happy summer!

The way childhood looks to me

2009-06-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

I don't have a great long term memory. It is spotty and random and does not make for great storytelling when my kids ask me to regale them with stories of my youth. They have their Papa for that, luckily. He remembers every itty bitty thing. Most of the memories I do have are photo assisted. Grainy, strangely colored snapshots of days on the beach, in the woods, on my street riding a bike- this is what I remember childhood looking like. Those photos are colored in the palette of nostalgia for me and I didn't even realize it until I was told about a website called Poladroid ! After a simple download, I was able to drop in some photos of my kids and their friends and they were instantly growing up in the 1970s.

Oh, and here is my album cover head shot (joking). Maybe we can just go in with modern day photo shop and rub out those lines on my aged forehead.

Mother's Day Mushroom

2009-05-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

It has been a very busy couple of weeks for me. There was our school's super fun auction (Where my personnel-hemorrhaging band played after much hand wringing [me] and practice [us]. And successfully, might I add. I had way too much fun!) and a big craft styling job for Family Fun's Back-to-School clothing feature which you will have to check out in Septmber because there are some really awesome projects in it. I was left utterly exhausted. Bed at 7:15 one night and basically the walking dead for many days. So, the pictures I want to share of the opening of BIG spring in my life are a little dated now, but too yummy and fun to not document.

Above is a photo of a morel mushroom. They sprout up around Mother's Day in old orchards and lucky, lucky me, I've got one of those! They are so delicious that my entire family ignores all of the beautiful, shiny poison ivy leaves, marches right through them, and even weaves their hands past the perilous plants to snare these craggly fungi with abandon. Ok, maybe I am shouting at everyone a little to be more careful, not to rub their eyes (for heaven's sake!), and to try a little harder not to trip into the biggest patch of P.I. they can find (my poor 4 year old tripper...I mean, trooper). My kids wouldn't actually even try to eat a mushroom, but they do like to hunt for them!

Our friend Terry and Harry on the hunt.

Little brainy looking things, aren't they?

Just because apple blooms are pretty and smell divine.

The best part about going to the orchard - a (slow) ride in the truck bed!

Catherine's legs sealed with plastic bags and duct tape. I can report that she did NOT get poison ivy. Maybe I got a little.

Pasta with morels, goat cheese, and asparagus from the farmer across the road. The table wasn't silent, but we didn't really talk either. Well, the kids did, but only Ava's mushroom loving friend Ben was actually eating what we were eating.

This is another example of why I love living here. Just when you think you really can't take another day of winter, spring comes. With gifts.

simple silk screening with kids (or not)

2009-05-02T06:09:00.000-07:00

Now that I've discovered that silk screening is one of my favorite things to do, I am busy figuring out how to do it on the cheap. Buying a pre-stretched frame is simply out of the question, them being about $25 a pop. I've stretched the screen fabric over a frame used for stretching canvas (which worked well), and I imagine that using a thrift store frame would be equally handy. Yesterday, with a whole afternoon unplanned and stretching out before us, I was hoping to intoduce my kids to the joys of screen printing, but, alas, had no frame of any obvious sort around the house. While rifling through stuff in the basement I spied a scrap of foam core - Why not? I cut a frame out of it and stapled screen fabric to it. We had so much fun and Ava and Harry were amazed by the results. Here is a step-by-step tutorial. I really encourage you to give it a go. It is so so satisfying.

Materials:

-foam core

-contact paper (shelf liner)

-sharpie pen

-craft knife

-12xx silk screen fabric (you can get this online or at an art store)

-screen printing inks (also at the art store)

-squeegee

-stapler

-masking tape

-plastic spoon or tongue depressor

Directions:

1) Cut a frame out of a piece of foam core. You can make this any size, just be sure that your squeegee can fit. Staple screen printing fabric so it is really tight. This takes some fiddling and pulling but it isn't hard to do.

2) Have your child draw a really simple image onto the paper side of the contact paper. You cut it out with a craft knife.

3) Peel the paper backing off the contact paper and carefully stick it to the underside of the screen (that would be the flat side facing the table) positioning it so it is centered in the window. Smooth out any bubbles and be sure that it is flat against the screen , especially by the design cuts. This will keep the ink where it is supposed to be.

On the inking side (the side with the foamcore frame on top) tape the window with masking tape so no ink can escape out the sides.

4) Now you are ready to print. Gather t-shirts, blank cards, paper and whatever you want to print onto. You can make about 20 prints before the contact paper wants to start peeling away. If you are using t-shirts, put a piece of cardboard or paper between the layers because the ink will bleed through.

5) Put a couple spoonfuls of ink on one side of the image and then pull the ink across the screen with the squeegee. Be sure that the ink went into all the design spaces. You can pull the ink across a couple times, but don't do it too many times or the image will look a little blurry, not crisp.

You can see here that the ink hasn't filled all the design space, so she will have to pull more ink across.

6) Lift the screen off the print and hang print to dry. Repeat process over and over again. Make stationary, posters, napkins, placemats, shirts, flags, etc. When done with image (really done, as you will be throwing it away with this method), remove from the screen, wash the ink off the screen thoroughly and save for another image another time. We used the same frame and screen for Harry's design after Ava was finished.

Here are some cards the kids made.

and some t-shirts, too!

Note: I have posted more about silk screening so if you're interested, check out October 5th post.

the good stuff

2009-04-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was testing projects from a kid's book on being an "eco hero" for work. The book had plenty of interesting 'green' facts, motivating reasons to change your lifestyle, and practical ways of doing things to be healthier and greener. One of the projects had natural food dye as an ingredient in a play dough, so off I went to Whole Foods to purchase some. Yikes!!! 3 little vials for $20! What?! Who would...!? Why are they...?! The colors were very pretty, like easter eggs only maybe a little brighter. Now, the idea of naturally colored playdough is really in line with my philosophy, so I'm not sure why I've never thought to make them before. I don't want my darlings eating artificial colors - I mean, where do they go once they are in there? I see nothing blue coming out the far end, right? Turns out (after a little tinkering), making natural playdough can be simple and beautiful AND CHEAP! Here is a recipe:

1 cup flour

1 cup brightly colored juice (blueberry, cherry, pomengranate, grape, etc.)

1/4 cup salt

1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Put all ingredients in a pot and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the dough comes together. This only takes a few minutes. When cool enough to handle, squish and knead until smooth. Voila. Store in a container in the fridge.

A lovely yellow can be made by using the recipe above, replacing the juice with water, and adding a teaspoon of ground turmeric.

Update: I just made a chocolatey brown using, you guessed it, cocoa. Follow the turmeric version, but add 4 Tablespoons of cocoa in the turmeric's place. It smells good, looks just like cookie dough for your young pretend bakers, but is too salty to eat! A great addition to the above palette.

What's not to feel good about when you hand this over to those little lovelies?

My Linen Bag

2009-04-08T21:19:00.000-07:00

I am excited to share this bag because I LOVE IT! I've been thinking of a bag like this for a while now, with some fabulous Japanese sewing book in the back of my mind as inspiration. It is a tote with some angles and my new silk screen design and sturdy over stitching in a turquoisey blue. Here, see what I mean.

I kept the selvage edge as it came, frayed but unable to fray any further, with a red thread running across. How could I hide it!?

And the straps are roughly stitched in an intentional sort of way, adding what I think is an interesting detail, but also makes this bag so easy to make without a pattern or fuss, not to mention making it strong and sturdy.

I think I have come to sewing in the right era. The art of designing things is more fluid and open ended- sort of an anything goes philosophy. My dear friend's mother, who has a beautiful and magical touch with the things she makes, says that what you sew should be able to be worn inside out because it should be that well finished. That is the era she was reared in with her sewing machine or needle and thread. I would have run away screaming, it is so diametrically opposed to how I am able and willing to do things. I want things finished nicely, I do, but my self-imposed rules are quite a bit different. I like raw edges. I like my stitching to show. I like to take what could be a mistake and turn into into a cool detail. I am not always successful with what might be a willy nilly approach, but when it works, even I love it. The rest is chalked up to the learning process, which has it's good points. I do love to sew!

I am going to make some more bags like this one and sell them in my ETSY shop. Just click on My Etsy Shop above and see what I have there. I am always making new things, so keep checking.

I am thrilled to announce that The Crafty Crow is posting my Spring Birdy project, as seen in my last posting. I hope it is my first of many on that fabulous site. Let me know what you think of the tutorial and if it is clear.

One Golden Apple

Sparkling Hard Cider Sale

Crafting for The Today Show

Thank you

Tutorial alert

Pork Belly

my girl

Mason Jar Pendants

pretty pink cashmere cardi

two bits of news

I actually *HEART* polymer clay

Back to School Pencil Case

wedding aprons

Bettering a bag

of cucumbers and cast iron

Things in the shop...finally!

ready to shoot

running in barefeet

mushrooms for mother's day

real quick

The Spring Aaaah...

watercolors to go

hitting "send"

100 Friends

ring

A book!

fortune cookies

camp

Market Produce Bags

the kids love to sew!

Printmaking- Part 2

Printmaking- Part 1

summertime

the gals wanted skirts

time to sew

Spring Twist Fair

spring flower table runner

umbrella skirt

a new direction

the (almost) unbearable lightness of skiing

my studio...mine, mine, mine!

sewn lampshade tutorial

two swallows skirt

Valentine pendants

pretty penny

a little album

Fundraiser for Haiti in the Bay Area

what can we do?

a year

cheer

Lard

ornament swap

machine doodles

a great weekend

twist

apples

another happy birthday

bird print

more on silk screening

in the woods

from the bottom up

oatcakes

to school, to school, little ones

Amy Butler Cabo Halter

Birthday Craft- Part 2

New in the Shop

Party Craft - Part One

The cake

a decade

a new bag in the shop

camping

of fisher-price and show tunes

simple pleasures

crafting for the man

summer sewing

The end of school

The way childhood looks to me

Mother's Day Mushroom

simple silk screening with kids (or not)

the good stuff

I actually HEART polymer clay