SouleMama

I heart film #3

I'm not ready to say it's the end of the season yet, but this is my little goodbye ode to the end of August - a la old school film. It's been a really good month. 

Enjoy, and thanks for sharing in some of our August journeys!

Simple Gifts to Stitch

Earlier this summer, I received a copy of the new book Simple Gifts to Stitch: 30 Elegant and Easy Projects by Jocelyn Worall. There are some wonderful home and baby sewing projects in here for varying skill levels, as well as some helpful sewing tips (and my favorite - a glossary of fabric terms). There are a few projects in here I think I'll try in the future - particularly around holiday gift-making time. But right away, the first project that grabbed my attention was the Pintucked Table Runner. Something about pintucks pleases me to no end. I can't explain it - but the same thing goes for pleats and gathers. Strange, I know.

The pattern called for linen, but I didn't have enough linen to make a runner the length I wanted, so I went for some crisp shirting fabric I had on hand, and used muslin as the backing. I'm pleased with how it turned out - the directions were easy to follow and it worked well with the fabric substitution too.

Ah, pintucks, how I love thee.

making butter

Our produce share for the week. Such bounty and color at this point in the season - it's beautiful. And so bittersweet, too, as I know it's a sign of the end. Among our greens and oranges and reds - in the center - is some raw milk. Ezra, in particular, is a fan of the idea of raw milk, as much as I'm in love with the idea of knowing the name of the cow from which our milk comes. This milk comes from Dulsie, the Mama cow we see each week. We talk a lot on the ride to and fro the farm about Dulsie and the milk she gives. And all the many things that her milk becomes.

After we made cheese at the farm earlier in the summer, Ezra was most interested in making some butter. From Dulsie's milk. And finally - finally, today we did.

We got some instructions from the farm, but checked here online too. Really, though, it was pretty simple - skim the cream off the top, shake (a lot), drain, shake (a lot more), rinse, form into a shape. So simple that I've been wondering all day how it is that I've made it 30 years in this life without making my own butter. I'm so glad we did so today.

Once we started and I knew how much Ezra was loving the whole thing, I realized we needed something really special to put this butter upon. So out to our blueberry bushes we went, and returned in to the kitchen for some blueberry muffin making.

So good. So very, very good. So good that it prompted one of my near-daily visits to the real estate websites to search for Maine farms for sale (I can't help myself). Nothing quite right for us, though - not yet, anyway. And so, for the time being, I'll gladly take our local milk when we can get it, make it into whatever my little ones prefer (yogurt next?), and treasure the whole thing. And of course, give our thanks to Dulsie, the cow.

mei tai, revisited

How about a little flashback today? A revisit to the Mei Tai I made - originally posted two years ago - before Adelaide was born (my boys look sooo little!). I did use the mei tai quite a bit when she was first born - it was super snuggly to hold her right to my chest in (I'm getting teary just thinking about it now - I can still smell that newborn hair. Two years, really?). Somewhere along the way, I fell back into my old comfort standby slings - the New Native Carrier, and well, the Maya Wrap, and then the Moby Wrap (did you know I'm a bit of a sling junkie? I am) - while the Mei Tai sat in waiting. This summer it's seen a bit of a resurgence as my little babe has discovered both her love for the rabbits on the fabric as much as her love for the back carry that this one is so good for.

The carrier has held up surprisingly well for the two years it's been in semi-frequent use, particularly considering there was no pattern but a lot of guesswork involved in making it.  Meg of Montessori by Hand now has a Mei Tai pattern available, which would have made making one much easier - I seem to remember some serious brain stretching in figuring out how to put it together.

She loves being in this - "Back! Sling!" she demands, and who can resist, really? It's such a convenient way to carry her - with arms free to carry all the other things I need to carry (um, a lot), I've been schlepping her to the beach in this, or going for walks with it, picking berries, or just getting things done around the house while she snuggles in, and sometimes falls asleep. Her new preference for the back-carry has led to this book being read daily once again - A Ride on Mother's Back - one I can nearly read from memory now, -it's been such a family favorite since Calvin was a little sling baby himself.

Papa carries her in this one too - and truth be told, it's her preferred napping place. On Papa's back - It's a pretty good spot right there. As she gets older, her time in the sling is less and less, so I'm grateful and try to savor all the little moments she asks for a sling snuggle. They're some of my favorite Mama moments.

something new

You've seen little peeks of this, but now I'm excited to share with you this project that is very near and dear to my crafting heart. It's a project that stemmed from my love of vintage patterns. I'm drawn to these for many reasons - the way in which it doesn't involve buying something new; the classic styles of the past that I love; and in general, I think - the connection to the past. I think a lot about the past of these little crispy-papered patterns - who might have made them before and when, who might have worn the results, and even who designed them. Which leads to all sorts of thought about clothing and gender and well, I told you I thought about them a lot. I'll spare you from going on (and on).

So from all that thinking came this series of little quilts - each inspired by a different vintage pattern, and each made entirely of vintage materials (right down to the thread). The foundation of each piece is an old quilt that was in disrepair beyond any other kind of use (seen in the photo above, on the 'back' of the quilt). Each piece - though quite different from one another-  has an embroidered dress as the central theme. I've been using the full spectrum of treasured vintage bits and bobs I have, including pieces of (unwearable) old dresses. I've worked on them slowly but steadily in the past few months - it's been one of those projects that sometimes has me bolting upright in the middle of the night with an idea. Love that.

This is the first of the quilts that I've framed. I'm not entirely convinced this is the framing solution I love, so I'm still thinking about other options (I'd love to use old and found large frames, but for all my thrifting luck, frames just don't seem to appear). These little quilts will be in a gallery show I'll be having in April of 2008, at Edith & Edna - to coincide with the release of the book. It's going to be a busy - and fun - spring!

what i love : coastal cruises, and fabric shops

I love the rare car ride alone with my love, on our way to other errands. Made all the better when it's along the coast. (It just about makes up for missed overnight getaway dates.) The uninterrupted talking (that invariably results in talking about how much we miss the kids), the silence, the music, the laughter. It's all very, very good.

The drive is made all the better by the impromptu stops along the way. Particularly for those involving a sign with FABRIC on it. Yeah, must stop at those. On this particular day, we found a lovely and old, but new-to-me fabric shop, Alewives near Damariscotta (hello Rhea! Lovely to meet you!). I'm far too shy to have taken pictures in the store, but I will tell you I was so pleased to see their selection include some of my favorites - Freshcut, Amy Butler, Heather Ross, and Joel Dewberry. It was a treat to find somewhat-locally what I've only admired or purchased online before.

All very good indeed.

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend...

recently thrifted

It's been a while since I've shared any thrifting finds. Despite the many yard sales, it all seems to slow down for me late in the summer - when our weekends get consumed with doing all the summer things we want to squeeze in. But there was a little thrifting this week that resulted in these little treasures I'm about to share with you.

First up, my now-very favorite vintage boys shirt that I've worn for, um, let's see - three days in a row now. Nice. I can't tell you why I love it so, or why it makes me want to wear my hair in a ponytail, but it does, and I do.

Some vintage fabric goodness. Not sure what this will be - but I do love those colors. A lot.

And a hat for my little ones, specifically for Ezra, who I knew would love it so. And yes - one more kids hat means one more mama skirt. Rock on.

A vintage bird skirt I adore.

And last. Oh, the best for last. This log cabin - with it's red centers and truly varied assortment of fabric and old clothing is just beautiful. My heart always breaks a little when I find one of these old beautiful pieces of art stashed in a corner or under a table, undervalued and unappreciated, dirty and dingy at a thrift shop or yard sale, and away from it's family of origin.  Ah, but now it's home, washed up, and on the back of my couch where it will keep this little family cozy - and very happy, too.

{Oh! And don't forget, the One in Ten auction ends today!}

all dressed up and...

Our family vacation in the woods was intended to be sandwiched between two (yes, two!) adult date nights. Both required clothes other than those I wear to the beach (what? huh? a bathing suit over my wrap around vintage skirt won't work for your black tie wedding? Hmph). It's a challenge I rose to with the help of (a visit to my girlfriend's closet and...) once again - Amy's Bend-the-Rules clutch. Is it possible to have a clutch for all seasons and all outfits? Perhaps that isn't necessary, but I appear to be headed that way anyway.

First up - the afternoon wedding clutch. I snuck into (can you 'sneak' on yourself? Hmn.) my to-be-saved-for-future-recovering-efforts stash of the yummy Joel Dewberry, and lined it with brown and cream polka dots, because polka dots are where it's at (says I, who knows nothing about where 'it's' really at). The clutch worked great - the wedding was lovely, reception fun, and much dancing ensued. (And the babes had a great time with Grammie and Grampie, staying up hours past bedtime, which what you're supposed to do when Mama and Papa aren't around.) Good times, on Date A.

And then, clutch #2 for Date B, with one of my favorite vintage fabric finds ever (I know, I say that a lot). Sadly, though, this clutch did not see it's proper due. Date B - our first overnight getaway sans kids in a ridiculously long time (in other words: six and a half years!), - was canceled. What are the chances that our usually-very-healthy family would all be so sick on the morning before our much anticipated (by us and our babes) solo overnight? Hmnn...I suspect a conspiracy.

This shot has nothing to do with anything, really, except I was actually holding the clutch and attempting a shot of it. My new camera is a little heavy for my classic arms-outstretched-self-portrait - as charming as those may be (ahem) - so this is what I get most of the time now - a total miss. But that wallpaper? That's what I want to show you. Isn't it fab? It's in my mother-in-law's house and I love it so (she is so going to laugh at me when she sees this photo here, Hi Judy!). I kind of want to wrap myself up in it. No, really if you could wrap up in wallpaper, I'd pick this one. Clearly, I need to get out more. I'm trying, but as you now know - date night is jinxed. It's a very good thing I love cozying up with those little ones so much. I really do.

also inspired by green

Of course, I'm not the only one inspired by all the green.

Moss is most definitely the perfect bedding of all for those tired little fairies. And a good pillow for the big ones who wait patiently for their arrival while at camp.

And back at home, the green leaves from a trail walk provide just the right inspiration for my littles to rush home and paint what they see.

inspired by green

Just a couple of steps north to DownEast (yes, DownEast is truly is NorthEast), and the landscape is ever so slightly different than what's outside my own door. Just enough so that I noticed throughout our week, and marveled at the color - the rich lush moss, and all the green.

I might be particularly noticing this right now, as I've been spending a lot of time visiting The Art of Embroidery again. This book amazes me - full of beautiful inspiration from nature and then the translation to art and craft through embroidery.

There's a bit of embroidery instruction included in the book, but I think it's best use is as a beautiful reminder of the inspiration that really is all around us - everywhere. Grass, moss, fern, leaves. Everywhere and Anywhere. It's there.

and a little more green today from my flickr favorites:
into the woods
spirals
leaves
bouquets from above
ground floor
the forest floor

home

Oh, that was so good. We were incredibly blessed by good company, wonderful (mosquito and black fly -free) weather, and beautiful sunsets every evening. There was fishing morning noon and night, canoe paddles on the silent lake (the boys' favorite being the one in the rain), bald eagles overhead, late nights with little ones falling asleep around the campfire, and plenty of s'mores, wine, and camp food to go around. Ignoring the bad-drinking water induced sickness that put a big kink in our end-of-the-week plans (ugh. not good), it really was a blissful week.

We all came home with pitch covered hands and feet, tired but happy bodies, and new ideas. Energy. Inspiration. Connection. Oh, and laundry. Lots and lots of laundry. And now I find my emotions wavering between Ezra's longing cry of, "I miss the hammock at camp!" to Adelaide's dancing on her tiptoes saying gleefully, "Home!" over and over. Perhaps a bit of both.

I hope your week was nice, too. It's wonderful to be back in this space, and I'm happy to be home to see the one in ten auction up and live (yay, eireann!). My little smock set is here, along with many more beautiful things for a very important cause. It all ends in four days, so don't forget to take a peek.

packing up, heading out

I spent a bit of time in my studio tidying up and playing with my camera yesterday. Even though my work time has been only occasional this month, I still spend at least a few minutes here at the end of the day - writing a blog post, straightening, staring at fabric (no, really), or checking in on the works-in-progress piles that aren't making much progress. No worries - the season will change soon, and I'll be cozied up in there getting lots done. For now, though, there are beaches to visit, and woods to play in.

Which is just what we're going to do for the next week. We'll be in the woods, by the campfire, and in the boat as much as we can. The kids have been counting down the days till this vacation for so long, and I'm right there with them (they packed their bags last Monday). Last night, I gathered my embroidery suitcase (still as jumbled as ever, it's just moved to a bigger case!), and pile of books - and have every intention of abandoning them if that's the way things go. Though, I do think a little embroidery at the end of the dock sounds quite nice. Or a book in the hammock. Oh, I can't wait.

I'll be back in this space on the 20th. Be well, friends!

at the farm

Much of the way we measure and talk about the passage of time with our little ones is by seasons - it seems so much more tangible to them than calendar months and years. They're fully aware of how humid it feels, or how blue the blueberries are now, or how the evenings might feel cooler. The fact that it's just turned 'August'? That doesn't mean anything. The fact that the mosquitoes are gone? That does. A different measure of time.

And so it was that on the drive to the farm this week, Ezra slowly put it together that the season is changing a tiny bit - that the harvest is fully in swing; that most of the things planted in the spring are coming to fruition; and that yes - this means that vegetable gardening will soon pause for the winter and eventually even, we will stop going to the farm to pick up our weekly CSA share.

He was crushed. It hadn't occurred to me that he thought we would be going there once a week forever. He was eventually comforted by the repeated counting out of how many more weeks we likely have before the season is over. And since it's more than 'five' - his standard for a lot - we're okay for now. And then, there's next season to look forward to, when he'll be old enough to attend farm camp here with his brother - just one fall and winter between that exciting time for him.

In past years, we've always been part of a CSA where we share pick up responsibilities with neighboring families - easing the driving burden on us all. But this year - with the decision to let our own vegetable garden go for the year - we joined a CSA just a bit closer that we could pick up at and visit each week. While considering the driving impact that decision entails, it feels more than balanced out by what we've gained. Each and every week - in a comfortable rhythm - we make our small trek for food. The kids gather the canvas bags, we walk the path to the farm - stopping along the way to say hello to the cow, the pigs, the ducks, the chicks, the bunnies, and whatever butterflies may be in the flower garden, and we journey in to get our vegetables. There's much routine we have in the measuring (which miss Adelaide loves), the counting (Calvin's expertise), and the selection of *just* the right eggs (always Ezra's job) - all very important details.

There are very few outings (for me, anyway) that are easy with three young children and just one adult. The beach, the woods, and the farm - those are easy, and fun, and wonderful. The hardest part is always the leaving. No one ever wants to leave.

Thankfully, the leaving is always softened by the anticipation of getting our food home...and on the table.

Dinner from the farm? One of those measures of the season we're so very grateful for.

what i love :: backyard blankets, and what goes on them

Often, just as fun as a summer outing to the beach, is the everyday kind of outing to the backyard. The kind of lazy summer afternoons that involve: chapter after swing/snack/sandbox/bike ride-interrupted-chapter of what is surely our most-read family book (thank you dear Amy and family for this beautiful Lizbeth Zwerger version); blocks brought outside to construct a log cabin 'for gram to live in right next to our house'; dolls brought out to nap in the sun, but only after a little lullabye; and the ultimate treat of the first of the backyard blueberry season.
Oh, yes. This is good. 

number two

Thank you for all your kind thoughts and allergy advice for Ezra yesterday - he's doing just fine, and asking every few hours to go back to the ER where the chocolate milk and Lawrence Welk flow freely. Let's hope that's not the case.

So, book number 2 is in the works! I've been working on it for a few months now, but I've been a little shy to mention here. Considering the first one isn't even published yet, I hardly expect anyone to get as excited as I about it. But excited, I am! During the writing of The Creative Family, I had this other book project that kept coming to mind and just wouldn't go away. Dang those ideas that stick. As it worked out, Shambhala/Trumpeter was interested and we began working on the development of book 2 this spring. I'm so pleased to be working with them again, and so pleased (an understatement) to be writing another book (this one will be out in early 2009) - it feels wonderful to keep the writing momentum going. This one is a bit different from The Creative Family in that it's a tried-and-true, project-based craft book. But it's also full of some of my other loves - thrifting, family projects, and a little bit of history. I'm having lots of fun - alone and with the kids - writing and making for this one. But it also means there's a lot of crafting going on around here that I just can't show you yet. So far, there seems to be no shortage of words from me (good god, I can go on, can't I?), so I fully expect blogging to continue as it always does. Except for those crunch weeks (first deadline is in November)when we'll call upon my trusty and adorable sidekick for some SoulePapa blogging once again! I can't wait for that!

This second book will include much more photography than the first - a challenge I'm both excited and intimidated by. So, what to do when feeling slightly inadequate and nervous about the job? Well, buy better and bigger gear, of course (hee). Let me introduce you to my new appendage - the Nikon D80 (in this photo - with the snazzy 18 - 200mm VR lens that I'm gaga over - Vibration Reduction, how brilliant is that?). I've been thinking and researching and saving for a while now to replace my D50, and yesterday was finally the day. Yay! There's going to be a little bit of a learning curve while I figure this one out, but it's got all the comfort of the Nikons I'm familiar with. Which is a very good thing...because my favorite little subjects don't sit still and wait for very long. Gotta love 'em up (and snap) while you can.

oh, bother

A few things we learned this weekend:

1. My little Winnie-the-Pooh book lover learned a little bit about a bees nest. Kicking said nest - or rather - "tapping it gently with my foot" is probably not such a good idea.

2. Next, and rather quickly, we learned that Ezra is highly allergic to bees, or rather "Yellow jackets!" as he has corrected all of us (and the nurses and doctors) repeatedly.

3. Mama learned - for the third time in one year - that having a separate pediatric emergency room is a brilliant idea. Ingenious, actually, and I'm eternally grateful for it and the people who work there. Really - I love it there. Well, you know what I mean.

4. A wonder to his swollen-shut eyes, Ezra learned all about flat-screen TV's (apparently the education I'm providing him is lacking in important things like this). And the remote that was handed to him by the nurse upon entering our room? Like gold to my little guy. What more does one need? (besides some benadryl and epinephrin.)

5. He also gained an new idol in the "hospital music show man," a.k.a. Lawrence Welk (to whom he's "rocking out" to in the photo above). Our friend Lawrence now ranks right up there with G. Love and Jimi Hendrix in Ezra's book. That's cool.

6. I learned that we needed a new go-everywhere-with-us-all-the-time bag to hold our latest accessory - the epi pen. And yes, that's the culprit insect embroidered on the bag. Luckily Ezra shares my twisted sense of humor - he requested the yellow jacket be put there. He still thinks they're pretty cool - "You just never can tell with bees".

Oh, and Hi Portland! Thanks, Justin - for the really lovely article in today's Portland Press Herald, and to Jack for the beautiful photographs (and for letting me ogle his camera)! And, Welcome! - to anyone who might be here for the first time!

what i love :: girlfriends...

...and hot summer nights, watermelon in a thrifted pyrex bowl, vintage skirts and handmade skirts, the river (with only a mild amount of trespassing involved - because the water belongs to us all), a bald eagle sighting, cabernet sauvignon, tzatziki and pita, ice cream, and much laughter. All in one beautiful evening.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend!

cue: "It's-a-small-world-afterall...."

Our beach day turned into a beach night. Once I was packed and ready for the beach, I turned around behind me to see that my little ones were deeply engrossed in play. Together. When all three babes are engrossed in play together, well, you just don't mess with that. So the beach plan was quickly abandoned for making popsicles at home, and building forts in the shade of our backyard with bed sheets. A perfect back up plan for this very-tired-anyway Mama. And then, to the beach we went with Papa at the end of the day. Because it's always sooooooo much easier with two parents. And - there was this little detail of an emergency replacement shot I needed for the book. So with film and digital cameras in hand, picnic dinner packed, and 'new' beach bag full - we headed to one of our favorite spots in the world, at the best time of day. Because sunset at the beach in Maine? Really, now. Amazing. I snapped a bunch of photos - I got just the one I need - and we frolicked and ate, and we played and caught crabs, and splashed and swam. And my sweet Mama and sister and niece joined us. It was a very nice night.

And then our night was made even more pleasant by a very literal crossing-of-paths with a blog reader - here in Maine on vacation. We had a lovely evening with Lila, Kathleen, and Jerry - a beautiful family with whom we quickly connected - our kids played marvelously, and we chatted comfortably. When we left the beach - well after dark - I was grateful for our chance meeting, and full of the feeling of the relative 'smallness' of the world we live in. I was reminded that this is one of the things I love most about blogging. In a world that can sometimes feel big, and often dark and negative (and that's without reading the news), the blog 'community' makes it seem just a little bit smaller, friendlier, and well, nicer, if that makes any sense at all. Whether or not we've met, or emailed, or even whether or not you've even commented before is inconsequential - simply by reading, you are a participant in this forum that brings people together. And despite our many geographical or circumstantial distances and differences - we really do all share so very much in common. I'm dreadfully (as in, months) behind on answering emails that I really want to answer (an organizational and time management skill I completely lack), but you know, I feel the same way about them as I do our little beach visit last night - so grateful.

Thank you for all of your kind comments this week, and thanks for reading, friends. Have a lovely weekend.

beach bags

The beginning of August (really?)- by now I think I could pack our beach bags in my sleep. Not that they really ever get unpacked, but you know, sometimes it's nice to have a fresh towel. And lunch. All the essentials are here - everything from bandaids and calendula just in case there's a scraped knee to something to read just in case there's a quiet moment; from the ever-important rollable beach blanket to the carabeeners that keep all these bags together and help this Mama schlep all the stuff four people will need at the beach - with a babe in the sling to boot. Every square inch in that bag is accounted for. Our 10 year old gigantic LL Bean tote bag - one of many in our home - has accompanied us on many a boat, beach, and camping trip (like many Mainer's, I'd guess - I don't remember actually buying any of them. They just appear. and then they multiply). While this one may have worn handles and stained-on canvas, I know it still has many more trips to go. Especially with the new applique pick-me-up it got last night. Want to do your own? select fabric. apply ultra hold Heat N Bond. cut desired shapes. peel off backing. iron on. voila. no sewing required.

The sun is up, and so are my little ones. To the beach we go!

her one word sentence

Adelaide - in her summer explosion of words - has just started stringing words together. Mostly they're of the two-word variety,such as "Mama do", or more likely, "ME do!" (with a foot stomp or two for emphasis). But last week we heard her first sentence of sorts, and it couldn't have brought a bigger smile to all of us. We had just arrived home, tired and happily spent from a long day at the beach. Everyone was scattered about the house and busy with their 'work' - we were each alone, but together - a rare, quiet and blissful moment of peaceful transition for all of us. Calvin was on the sunporch making an elaborate set-up of surfers and sea creatures with Playmobil. Ezra was digging through the recycling bin for some cardboard to make yet another cardboard fiddle to add to his collection. And I had just sat down on the couch with some embroidery in hand. I watched as Adelaide walked up to Calvin, watched him for a minute (hands clutched behind her back, and rocking on her heels), and then asked him, 'chamakin?'. When Calvin answered her with the plans for his surf set up, I realized she had said, "Whatcha Makin?" - What are you making? She then moved onto Ezra, who gave his answer without pause from his work, and then to me with the same. She sat with me for a few minutes, lending a hand pulling the embroidery floss as she loves to do, and then she crawled down off the couch and marched (yes, marched) to the art cabinet. A minute later, she was at the drawing table with a piece of paper, some markers and a glue stick, about to embark on something. I gave her a moment to get settled and asked, "What are you doing, Adelaide?" She answered, 'Makin'".

"Chamakin?" Love that.