March

The winds whipped up last night, shaking the windows and howling out as they circled around the house. At dawn, the world seemed to be swept clean as I headed off to yoga. My teacher spoke of the importance of having an anchor when a storm blows in. It's a message I know well, but I smiled sheepishly from my mat because I'm always grateful for a little kick in the pants reminder. You see, February is typically my challenging month.  It's been a little more than four years since my life turned upside down- I truly feel wonderful most days, but these deep wounds are always tender at anniversaries, don't you think?  I chose to slow down internet-wise for a little while to allow for some quiet. And some yoga. And breathing. And smoothies. And making stuff. All of my favorites.

I didn't even realize I was anchoring when the winds began to blow a few weeks ago...  I just do so naturally and automatically now. This is a direct result of having a tool kit for survival at the ready. 

I'm amazed that Hope, Make, Heal continues to be my very own guidebook, and I so hope it helps some of you. There are three crafts up on the Well and Good site directly from the pages that might just be the something you could use right now, including the instructions for making the Survival Satchel below that I love so much!

So happy to March forward with you... into the wind we go!

book reading and craft night

Just a quick local announcement! I'll be reading, crafting, selling and signing at the end of the month, and I'd love you to come if you're somewhere close by. Below are the details:

Join local author, Maya Pagán Donenfeld, for a book reading

and craft night! There will be opportunities to share and talk about meaningful making and coping with loss and then create items directly from or inspired by Hope, Make, Heal.

When: Thursday, February 25^th

Time: 6:30-8:30pm

Where: Dolce Delight

1080 Danby Road Ithaca

This event is free and open to the public. A small donation is suggested to cover costs of the materials provided.

February

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

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

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

thankful leaf hearts

 I love the beginning of November! The doorway to the holiday season opens, and it's like an old friend welcoming you into a cozy home filled with the scents of soup on the stove and pie in the oven. Decorating with nature is at its peak, as I forage for as much as I can find on the forest floor before it's covered in snow.  I gather up my dried leaves, line up my squash and pumpkins and scatter pinecones and acorns everywhere. Maybe I was a squirrel in another life!

My latest bit of creative fun began with a sharpie pen and then incorporated a heart punch and a few pressed maple leaves.

 I think "thankful leaves and leaf hearts" will be tucked into every corner of my house this month!

milkweed and fairy weaving

 Milkweed grows rampant in the field on the southern side of our house. It's a fall tradition to collect their pods and blow the seeds out into the field. We make wishes, dandelion style, as they float through the air. I took one home and really examined the seeds.  They reminded me of tiny dancers… or little fairies with silk limbs.

Silk… threads…fiber… this inspired me to pick up a needle and some silver floss.

And experiment. And improvise. What would a fairy use for a loom? Perhaps a milkweed pod!

This was my first attempt… as inspiration struck, but there is an entire field to forage for more pods. 

leaves and sticks

This three day weekend was a stunner! The trees were on fire and the sky was a deep blue, so wherever you happened to be there were constant ooooh and ahhhhhs. My son and I created a pretty little video as he drove down dirt roads and I pointed my camera up through the open sunroof towards the canopy of leaves above.

You can view it on histogram here.

The time I have for creativity ebbs and flows… these days I only find moments in the in-between. I'm always looking for new ways to squeeze in a little bit of the magic that happens when there are no expectations or needed outcomes. 

All of the driftwood, gathered at the lake a few weeks back, sits in a basket next to paint and brushes near my kitchen counter. My children have repeatedly caught me standing at the sink with stick and paint brush in hand. Finish the dishes. Paint a stick. Funny little routine, but it's feeding me. Nourishing that part of my soul that loves playing. These "sticks"… they seem to have something special going on. I'm guessing it's their simplicity and the happiness I find in painting them.

 I thought I'd share in case, you find that spontaneous little creative bursts fulfill you too. Sticks, stones, leaves and some paint kept near the sink- easy. Inviting (for everyone). A total win!

weavers

 

Last week was filled with lots of needles and thread, but my favorite part of camp was watching these girls weave with t-shirt scraps. I had been wanting to try a hula hoop rug project (spotted many of them on Pinterest) for such a long time. The original tutorial is impossible to access, so I used this one from my buddy Anne over at Flax and Twine. She used her son's finger knitting for a gorgeous result! However we stuck with recycled-'shirts cut into long strips for weaving and loops for creating the "spokes". 

 The cutting was their least favorite part, but they did love the leftover t-shirt parts… discarded hems morphed into necklaces, sleeves into kerchiefs and the upper torso became vests! By week's end I found myself helping to do lots of the strip cutting so they could get on with the weaving. 

The colors and patterns that they chose were such perfect representations of each of them. This was the ongoing work that they would come back to in between other projects, but I also would reserve a some time for just weaving to music. Jazz, piano solos or my daughter's Colbie Calliet pandora station were all in rotation depending on what mood I hoped to foster at any given moment.

 

They went home with the skills to complete their rugs, and I can't wait to show you at least that middle one, when my daughter is done. We need to make another trip this week to the thrift store. About a dozen t-shirts are needed for this project. So worth it too… look at how stunning they are already!

I plan on making one for myself, now! It's a great project to take to the lake. I even think it would make for wonderful work in the winter while watching movies or sitting by the fire… but let's not go there yet. August has only just begun!

birds, trees and toast

The above "indigo" bunting was dyed and hand stitched by a 10 year old who had never sewn before, but had a burning desire to make a bird. Amazing right?! Thread and needle were not going to be part of the first week of camp, but everyone got the itch to work with their beautiful blue fabric. Next week the entire focus is sewing and a bit of weaving. I'm fired up and ready for teaching some brand new projects- like this nature weaving in a Y stick.

I'm also trying to figure out if there is any way we can use parts of the giant white pine that landed on our barn/garage earlier this week in a freak storm. It was quite traumatic, since my daughter and I were standing at the back door watching the rain pour down and the winds pick up when it came crashing down a few feet away. We were extremely lucky, and now are looking for ways to celebrate such a special tree that we looked at each day from our dining room window for the last 14 years. 

An hour after it fell, the sun had returned and the mail carrier drove up with my copy of Pixie Lighthorse's brand new book- Prayers of Honoring. The timing couldn't have been more perfect, as there was a blessing called "Honoring the Forces of Nature" on page 33. Pixie's wisdom has been a guiding force in my life since the first day we met and it's wonderful to have a volume of her words to reach for when looking for meaning and ways to recognize important moments in life. 

 And now it's time to start the weekend with my current favorite meal- avocado toast. I love it for breakfast, lunch or dinner! I know it's the current urban trend, but there's a reason- perfect deliciousness! There are so many variations- but they all start with a good piece of bread and a ripe avo. This is actually gluten-free- but I am eating wheat again now and then.  I take a sliver of garlic and rub it over the warm toast. A little drizzle of olive oil comes next. Mash avocado directly onto toast and layer it with whatever's on hand. Heirloom tomatoes here, but the other day it was topped with shaved radishes, and goat cheese. Finish it up with coarse salt and fresh pepper.

Have a super weekend, friends!

how to make simple earrings

Happy first day of Spring!! It's snowing again, but I believe the cold days are numbered (please!). I have some hopeful girls making more spring earrings as I type. Trading beads and designing their jewelry is the latest obsession around here. My daughter is happy to show you in pictures just how easy they are to make. 

You will need these supplies:

• needle nose pliers
• wire cutters
• beads or charms
• headpins
• earring hooks

HOW TO:

Thread beads onto headpin.

Snip off excess wire if your head pin is long(they come in various sizes) and save the discarded wire for other jewelry projects. You'll need enough wire to twist a loop at the top.

Using pliers bend top into a loop.

It will look like this.

Make a pair.

Open the loop on the earring hook.

Connect beads to hook. Slide them on to hook from the opposite side that you just opened.

Pinch the hook opening closed.

viola!

There is no limit to the design possibilities with this simple technique. My ten year old daughter and her friends could make these by the thousands… the only limit is their allowance! Find supplies at your local bead stores, Michael's and Jo-ann's. 

creativity camp summer 2015

 There may still be snow on the ground, but the birds woke me up this morning… the vernal equinox is upon us, and summer dreams are not far behind. Time for planning some adventures! I am so happy to announce that Creativity Camp is returning this summer in full force! I will be directing three fun filled weeks for local girls 9-12 years old.

 

Each session will have a specific theme, but the focus throughout everyday will be building self-confidence and awareness through self-expression and the learning of new skills. My passion for art will merge with my background in education and psychology to inspire and encourage this magical time in our young girls' development of self and their creativity. 

 Camp will be held in an 1850's country farmhouse, nestled on 5 acres of meadow, creeks, and woods. Visualize improvised studio-space under a canopy of 200-year-old walnut trees with plenty of opportunities for running in the field, dancing in the back meadow or gathering blackcaps by the hedgerow.

 

 July 13-17

rock*paper*scissors will be a week long immersion of inside/outside crafting following the rhythm of each day’s weather forecast. We will use our beautiful meadow to work with natural dyes and paints, "Goldsworthy" art installations, nature costumes, found materials transformed into jewelry and sculptures, miniature shelters for woodland creatures and maybe a fairy or two! When the temperature soars or a summer storm rolls in, we’ll turn to working with the abundance of paper in need of rescuing in everyone's house. Painting, printing, stamping, stitching, gluing, cutting, bookbinding… all will be explored!  We’ll even add some creative writing into the mix. The last day will feature a showcase of everyone's work for parents to enjoy.

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July 27-31

stitch*craft will focus on basic hand sewing techniques and an intro to sewing machine skills. Projects that have immediate use for the maker are very exciting and inspiring. We will learn how to repurpose favorite clothing and fabric into new items that celebrate each girl’s unique design sense… from bling to au naturel and everything in between. Weaving, embroidery and fabric printing will be incorporated into our week together- culminating in a showcase on the last day for parents.

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August 3-7

stitch*craft 2 is for girls with sewing machine experience, who want to take their skills to the next level. Everyone will choose several projects to complete throughout the week from our extensive craft/sewing library. They will get familiar with reading patterns/instructions while increasing their sewing techniques repertoire. These new skills boost confidence and strengthen passion for their craft. Embroidery, applique and fabric printing will be incorporated into our week together- culminating in a showcase on the last day for parents.

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If this sounds like a good fit for your daughter, please let me know soon so that I can reserve a spot for her and send you more details. mayaluna(at)yahoo(dot)com

 Can't wait for summer to get here!

calling in spring

The steady drip of snow melting off rooftops has joined the chorus of birds singing their return. While  still buried, we are aching for color and I think my daughter has come up with a solution. She and her friends have discovered how much fun it is to create earrings with beads and headpins- and have been on a making frenzy. I believe all of the bright and sparkly supplies are extra enticing while the world is still white. 

 

A display space for all of her creations was needed, so out came another embroidery hoop. She picked out happy spring fabric and got to work organizing.

 This hoop of baubles sings "happy spring!" doesn't it?

The sun is returning to us for sure!