Progressive Pioneer

MamaViews: Katie, Editor of Simple Organic

Today Katie Fox is chatting with us about being green, nurturing stewardship in your kids, and pursuing your dreams.  She's the editor of Simple Organic, so has a bit of experience with balancing a family, home and work; she touches a bit on that as well.  Good advice for anyone, no matter what you're trying to balance, because inevitably we all end up with so much on our plates!  Welcome, Katie!

I love the term "creation care" that you use.  How has your faith impacted the "greening" of your lifestyle?  Did one prompt or increase the other or did you see a relationship only after the fact? 
It's hard for me to separate these two in my head (my faith and my commitment to green living).  I was raised in the Catholic church, and some of my most fundamental values were instilled as part of church teaching: for example, stewardship and social justice issues.  My parents were environmentally responsible way back before the green trend  became popular, and that really impacted me.    As an adult, I made the decision to join the Protestant church, and while it is now the best fit for me, I really struggled at first (and sometimes still do) with  the incongruity that often exists between the Evangelical Christian church and the lack of concern for the Earth, to steward it and care for it.  It is unfortunate that environmentalism has been such a politicized issue because I truly believe that we are all called to "creation care" -  that, in fact, it is one of our main jobs as humans.  For this reason, I am so glad to see that the green movement has become more mainstream, but there is still a long way to go.  I think churches should be spearheading efforts to care for and steward the planet.  That would be pretty cool!
You have a secret dream to write books some day (me too!).  What do you want to write about and what are you doing to nurture that dream?

Oh, that's a tough question!  What do I want to write about?  Lots of things: novels for junior high age kids.  A memoir.  Essays for magazines.  Devotional and theological material.  Right now I am in a writer's group that meets every other week, and it's a wonderful group of women.  It helps keep me accountable to be writing other material besides what I write for Simple Organic.  But I appreciate the discipline of writing for SO; as a writer it is a very good practice to have deadlines.  I can't always wait for inspiration to strike.  That's a good thing.

You mentioned that your parents had a big influence on you "being green before green was cool."  What are some of the things that made a particular impact on you?  How do you think parents can teach their children stewardship of the earth and their bodies without seeming preachy?

I grew up in the suburbs of Houston and there was no curbside recycling back then.  My parents collected the items for recycling and drove them into town to a city recycling center every few weeks.  It was a huge haul; it filled up the whole trunk of our Buick LeSabre!   I don't know anyone else who did that at the time.  My father also volunteered for the Sierra Club.  Both of my parents are people of very high integrity and they always put actions behind their words; observing the efforts they expended to live out what they believed was very powerful for me. 

I think parents must be the models of what they hope to teach their children (eeek - sometimes a scary thought!).  My daughter is almost three and she now has a basic understanding of recycling.  It's stuff that can be changed into other stuff!  She loves to help take out the recycling with me, and she always tries to distinguish between what is compostable, what is trash, and what can be recycled.  I haven't tried to teach her these things; she has simply learned them as part of our daily life.  She is also learning about food as she "helps" with our garden.  It's a good start.  

What sorts of things (these can be surprising facts, or emotional, spiritual, nutritional ideas etc.) did you learn as you searched for solutions to your thyroid disease?  What is the major difference between your approach to health now and before the diagnosis?

Well, not to sound too cynical, but one of the first things I learned is that traditional mainstream medicine really has no idea how to deal with thyroid issues, especially in women.  In the beginning of my thyroid disease, I was prescribed a very common drug that all mainstream MDs usually prescribe first.  When it wasn't helping, I was told - more than once - that I must be depressed (I wasn't). Unfortunately, I have learned that this is an all-too-common experience.  At the time, I shared the traditional mainstream approach to health and medicine (which is not true health care but actually disease management!).  But out of desperation I began to do my own research and realized how intricately the endocrine system is connected to the rest of the body, as well as the mind and spirit. 

As I began making dietary and lifestyle changes, I started to experience healing, but there was still something missing.  It took a long time to find a doctor who knew to look beyond the basic lab results, and address my whole entire person.  I am still struggling with health issues, but now I have a great doctor (actually, she's a P.A.) and a wonderful nutritionist who understand that symptoms can't be treated in isolation, but that everything is interconnected.  Now we use a lot of herbal and natural remedies, as well as looking at nutrition and lifestyle issues for healing.  Medicines and drugs are a rare and last resort, although right now I do have to take thyroid hormone everyday.  Hopefully not forever.

You create such great content for Simple Organic and keep the rest of us organized, in line and inspired; what are your tips for moms trying to juggle working from home while also doing the work of running a home?

I am probably the last person who should answer this question!  Honestly, I am not good at this.  When I focus on one thing, something else always seems to suffer, whether it's the clean laundry piling up on the couch for three days or the dust bunnies multiplying under my nose.  It helps that I have a very supportive husband who wants me to pursue my dreams, and so we schedule in time each week when I leave the house with my laptop and go out to write, and he has daddy-daughter time. 

Meal planning is pretty crucial, too - when I don't do it, we all suffer.  But we clean the house on a "need-to-clean" basis, which usually means people are coming over and the toilet needs to be scrubbed before they show up!  Then we all pitch in and clean like mad. Luckily, we enjoy having people over often, so it never gets TOO too dirty.  :)  I always remember that Erma Bombeck quote: "Cleaning the house while the children are growing is like shoveling snow while it's still snowing."  It's so true.  My house will be clean someday...but for now, I try not to stress about it too much.

Thanks for visiting with us Katie, keep in touch!

MamaViews: Nicole from Gidget Goes Home

It's so fun to have Nicole here this morning (she's a fellow Simple Organic contributor).  And so exciting because she just recently adopted a little boy!!  So sweet of her to take some time to chat with us with such exciting stuff going on at home.  I think you'll enjoy her thoughts on finding contentment, her journey to becoming green and striking a good life balance.  Welcome, Nicole! Surf Mamas is such a rad idea!  I think it's so important for moms to connect and build community.  How did you come up with idea and put it all together? 

Thanks! The ironic thing is that I actually started brainstorming and building it when I was living in Colorado, knowing that I'd be coming back to California soon. I learned to surf in high school with a girlfriend and then throughout college had a couple of other girl surf buddies. But I knew that coming back to San Diego county I wouldn't really have a crew to surf with, plus, now I was a mother so I had a kid to worry about too! My husband and I occasionally would trade off surfing, but I really love to surf with other girls. I'd heard of groups who swapped babysitting for surf time but there wasn't one that I knew of in Southern California. After I got started, I realized how cool it would be to have the community open to women all over the world. It's grown simply by word of mouth (and google) and we've got groups forming all over the place now which is really neat. I really wanted a community where like-minded women would be encouraged to get out and be active and also be able to form connections with other moms.

I really like the subtitle of your blog, "Finding contentment in daily life."  This is so important, but so easy to miss; we can go through a whole day without enjoying the little things that are what really make life enjoyable.  How do you remind yourself to do just that, to find contentment in daily life?

I wish I could say it was second nature for me at this point, but honestly, it's simply a daily choice. For one thing, I try to focus on being thankful for the life I have and the journey God has our family on. Another thing I have learned is to really try to be present in reality. When I was younger I would waste so many thoughts on crazy daydreams, or more recently on circumstances I'd like to change. Now I really endeavor to enjoy the place I'm in. I still dream about the future, but I wrap those dreams in prayer now, committing them to the Lord. I love being a homemaker and I'm learning to recognize all the sweet little things throughout the day as I seek contentment, too. It's so exciting that you're adopting!  What have you learned along the journey that has surprised you?  What advice would you give other couples considering adoption?

Since it has taken me so long to actually answer your questions Amy, :) the truth is we have actually adopted now!! Our son is three weeks old, and he came home with us at four days old. It's been an amazing whirlwind of a journey for us, especially the last few weeks. What has surprised me most has been how my heart has changed from simply wanting another child for our family (after struggling with some infertility despite one biological child) to really having a heart for adoption. I'm so thankful to have been put on this path. I've been stretched and taken outside of my comfort zone in a really good way, and have become a more compassionate person overall. One piece of advice would be to talk to other adoptive families. That has been a huge encouragement and education for us. I look forward to getting to know more adoptive families whether in person or in the blogosphere over the years. 

You mentioned that cloth diapers were the beginning of your "green journey."  What was the motivation to switch?  Has there been a domino effect, of sorts?

Yes, when my daughter was about nine months old, a friend started to share her research with me. I literally knew nothing about cloth diapers, but the more I started to look into them, the more I loved them-- the cost effectiveness, the eco-factor and of course the cute look. :) Both cloth diapering and my research on personal care products was what really started the "domino effect." The more I researched, the more I wanted to learn, and the more my mind was open to toxins and the consequences our choices have on the environment and on our families, the more changes I made. It's been a gradual process, and that's what I try to convey to others, that baby steps toward "greenness" and more natural living really do make a difference. 

I find that something else always suffers when I craft, usually the housework!  You do a lot of crafting and creating; how do you balance that with "regular life?"

Something usually suffers for me, too. Often housework, sometimes my sleep, and sometimes my personal interaction time with my husband. So I try to work in short segments of time. The best thing for me is to have a little nook set up (I call it my "studio" or "sewing room" but right now it's just a section of my room}. That way I can leave projects out and can work on them for even just a few minutes at a time. I have a special basket of scraps that my daughter loves to look through and pick out pieces "to sew." She'll often sit on my lap with me while I'm at the sewing machine which I love. I hope to get in more of a routine where I do bits of sewing throughout the week so I can get my etsy shop up and really running soon. As my daughter gets older, I can't wait to do more crafts and artwork with her- try new mediums and really raise a "creative family" as SouleMama would say.

Thanks so much for visiting, Nicole; keep in touch!

MamaViews: Katie from Kitchen Stewardship

I invited all the talented, fascinating women that also contribute to Simple Organic to have a turn in the MamaViews series.  I was so happy that they all accepted!  Katie is our first interviewee and I think you'll love her take on mothering, eating, consciousness and becoming green one baby step at a time.  It's been such a treat to get to know these wonderful women through our association at Simple Organic and I'm looking forward to introducing them all to you! When did you start being a "kitchen steward?"  What was the transition like for you and for your family? 
I've always been a conservative person, "green" at heart if you will, and I've always had a strong faith, so I think understanding that God calls us to be good stewards of all our resources just came naturally and was part of my person as I matured and gained more adult responsibilities.  The term "Kitchen Stewardship" happened in my mind sometime after my son was born.  Pregnancy and parenthood are impressive motivators to suddenly become an amateur nutritionist.  However, my ideas about nutrition have evolved as the years have gone by (my son is about to turn five), and I've slowly grown more eco-conscious as well. 
I really made big changes after reading Real Food by Nina Planck and Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon Morell a little over a year ago.  (I got to interview them both last month!)  I only read them to prepare to write a book called Kitchen Stewardship, but I had stumbled across a field of totally new information for me.  At first, I was totally overwhelmed.  I stood in front of the milk at the grocery store and didn't know what to buy!  Then I realized that my own philosophy of baby steps was the only way to go, and I made one change at a time.  Sometimes my husband still thinks I'm crazy, and my son asks, "Where is all the cereal?" every so often, but overall we're so much healthier than before "the big shift" and I feel good about what I'm putting on the table.

You have all sorts of great tips about getting started (and the Monday Missions!).  What do you think are a few easy, but impactful first "baby steps" that someone could implement?

At first I just wanted to give up myself and scream, "Everybody out of the pool!"  But you can't just stop eating or breathing the air.  You have to put on your non-organic jammies every night and sleep on your offgassing mattress and not let the stress of thinking about all that kill you before the toxins do!   Step one is to allow yourself to celebrate small successes.  Realize that doing one thing better today than yesterday is exactly what you want to be doing. 
The "baby steps" all depend on where you are starting.  If you're still drinking three diet sodas every day, that's where you start. If you're already cooking with lots of whole foods but want to go farther, I would recommend homemade yogurt, chicken stock, and cleaning supplies, because they all save money AND the earth AND protect or improve your bodily health.  A pretty basic three things to start with that aren't stressful at all are using real butter, eating whole eggs (no egg white omelets, please!), and eating more beans and legumes, preferably cooked from dry. 

I offer my Top 10 Kitchen Stewardship Habits and actually listed out all the baby steps I took in my own household in one year - it's a crazy list!
I really like the idea of kitchen stewardship, the idea that "working in our kitchens, like everything we do, is an opportunity to love God and serve our families."  How does your faith influence your choices in the kitchen and what sort of religious/scriptural/spiritual support do you find for your choices?

It's all rooted in faith.  Since God is the giver of all these good gifts: my family's health, the earth, my money and time to spend with my loved ones, taking good care of them all is my responsibility as a faithful person.  In Genesis God's first two commands were "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it."  Not conquer, but subdue, often interpreted as "steward."  To be a good steward is to realize that nothing we have is ours, but it's all on loan from our Creator.  We need to only use what we need and try to leave the earth a better place for our children. 

1 Corinthians 6:19 instructs us to treat our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit - I don't think we should fill our temples with junk food! I also believe that Christ sanctified the body by becoming flesh, and He glorified its worth by allowing Himself to be broken for our sins.  If His mortal body could be used for the salvation of the world, shouldn’t ours at least be respected enough to be honored and kept healthy by our choices? In the same sense, Christ teaches us to let go of our earthly bodies and trust in the promise of Heaven. We must be stewards, but not fanatics.

For those wanting to learn more, what books (or other sources) do you recommend?

Just wait until I write mine!  Just kidding.  Real Food by Nina Planck is 100% the place to start, then maybe The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.  They're very accessible and only a tiny bit overwhelming.  Inspired by Planck's work and the tome, Nourishing Traditions, there is a whole network of "Real Food" bloggers who can help you find recipes and sources for eating healthier.  If you want to balance frugality and eco-consciousness, too, you have to come to me.  ;)

In being a more conscious and conscientious steward in the kitchen, do you find that there is a snowball or domino effect that draws those types of habits and thinking into other parts of your life as well?  What other benefits have you seen in yourself and your family from being a steward of the kitchen?

Again, it's just part of my personality to be a "saver" and very frugal, so that and a renewed desire for simplicity that has certainly grown out of our quest for more traditional food means that almost every decision I make is a "stewardship" decision.

Random benefits of the Kitchen Stewardship lifestyle for me include: certain budgetary reductions, especially in cleaners and convenience foods; my kids know what a farm looks like and where food comes from (for example, my toddler daughter recognizes "garlic" and "dough" but can't identify the "microwave"); and I have met new friends through real food searching.Katie, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and resources; I have so much great information to dig into now!!

MamaViews: Donna of Banned From Baby Showers

I'm so excited to have Donna with us today.  I found her blog via my pregnant sister-in-law who found her site to be a treasure trove of information.  One thing that I love about Donna, and I hope she won't mind me saying so, is that she's this wonderful combination of Texas cowgirl and passionate birth advocate.  This is so awesome!  Natural birth doesn't have to be a "crunchy" thing; every woman, no matter her style, or niche in society should have a natural, healthy birth!  It makes me really happy to see all sorts of women awakening to the benefits of natural birth.  Donna gives some wonderful, thoughtful answers today; I think you'll really enjoy her perspective. The title of your blog “Banned From Baby Showers” is so intriguing.  You mention that you think that baby showers tend not to treat birth with reverence, and thus, you chose not to participate in them.  Why do you think the cultural ritual of baby showers exists as it does and what would you recommend to women looking for a different way to welcome babies into the world? 

I saved this question for last, which is funny since it's the first question!  You are a wonderful interviewer, Amy.  Your questions are thought-provoking and bring to life what someone is doing and how others can apply it in their lives. 

I have never really given thought to the solution to the American Baby Shower.  It is such a nice gesture to buy things for a mother-to-be.  We all know people that are having their 3^rd girl and are having another baby shower.  What could you possibly need?!  Baby showers seem more like a solicitation of gifts to many of us --  me included.  But that is not why I do not attend baby showers.

Welcoming a new baby into a family is the most reverent event a family can experience.  Baby showers are usually filled with awful birth stories, laughing about inductions and c-sections, and horror stories about bloody, blistered nipples.  They even make games centered around these topics.  You've probably played the candy bar/concentration game that when the “epidural” cards match up, you get a package of Lifesavers.  (I always get the Lifesavers and I refuse to eat them.)  Baby showers are the manifestation of all the mis-information out there.  I always want to turn it into a childbirth class, in which it falls on deaf ears.   I can't keep my mouth shut, I'd like to keep my friends, and frankly, people are happier not knowing why they should care about how their baby gets here.  It's easier to not take responsibility when it comes to giving birth.

The solution?  I don't know.  How do we bring the c-section down from 33% (in North Texas it's 50%!)?  It's all become such a part of our culture and the majority of Americans do not realize the significance of these numbers for the health of mothers and babies and the effects on the cost of healthcare. 

When I have had friends or students that are having an unmedicated birth, they are concerned about the discussion at their showers.  Some have politely stated that they would only like positive, uplifting stories to be shared.  Same with the games.  This is not 7^th grade.  We do not have to make fun of bodily functions to talk about how the body works.  It should be treated with a reverence and respect for how our Heavenly Father created us as women.  Medicine rarely improves upon this process of labor and birth and usually does more harm.

Speak up and let your wishes be known about what kind of shower you'd like to have.  And if this is your 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th baby, treat it as a welcoming of this new life instead of a gift-giving affair.  The atmosphere will automatically be more respectful, and you might even have better attendance!

You describe yourself as an all-American girl; bleached hair, country music, the works.  Yet, your approach to birth and parenting is less mainstream.  Do you find yourself straddling two worlds or are you seeing more “crossover,” with otherwise “mainstream” women seeking out what are normally thought of as “alternative” birth options?

Amy, I have to tell you, it's not just country music, but Tim McGraw!  I am quite the fan, to say the least!   I love America and I love living in Texas!  But as a state and as a nation, we are so unbelievably turned around when it comes to maternity care.   There is this built-in trust in the medical establishment and we forget to think for ourselves and ask questions.

Over the last couple of years, I am happy to report that I am seeing more “crossover,” between “mainstream” and “alternative.” There have been several birth movies come out in the last couple of years (“The Business of Being Born,” “Orgasmic Birth,” “Pregnant in America” “Born in the U.S.A.”) which have contributed heavily to couples being more informed about maternity care.  In these movies, we see birth as it truly is – in and out of the hospital – and most people have never seen real birth.  Our views are so distorted by the media where birth is nearly always a life and death situation.  These birth movies have given women hope and inspiration.  Birth does matter.  It matters on every level of who we are and how we parent our babies. 

The progression seems to go something like this:  Watch a birth movie.  Enroll in a natural birth class.  Possibly change care providers/locations who support natural birth. Have an amazing birth.  Breastfeed.  Start cloth diapering and making your own baby food.  Wear your baby in a sling.  Co-sleep or bedshare.  Before you know it, you have gone from “mainstream” to “crunchy” without even realizing it!

My focus as a natural childbirth educator is to reach the mainstream and help them understand that this is not about being “crunchy” or alternative.  It's simply about doing what we, as women, are made to do.  Our bodies are amazing, and to numb the experience of childbirth is a shame.  We avoid drugs throughout the pregnancy and load up in labor.  It doesn't make sense.  “Mainstream.”  “Alternative.” “Crunchy.”  How about just “Woman.”

  How did you come to be a birth advocate?  What is the story behind your activism?

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I was all about the drugs.  I didn't want to know anything.  I was terrified of giving birth.  I had absolute confidence in my doctor – he does this everyday and I've never done this.  I read the standard “What to Expect When You're Expecting” and “Your Pregnancy Week by Week.”  I took the hospital class which prepared me to be a good patient.  I had the classic American birth.  Epidural, every intervention under the sun, fetal distress from the whole ordeal, and barely escaped a c-section with the help of my sister-in-law who happened to be a doula. 

Between my first and second babies, I learned a lot!  I had friends that were giving birth without medication and having these amazing experiences.   I started reading better books (!!) and took a Bradley class.  I gave birth without intervention or medication with the second birth and it was truly a transformative experience.  I did this thing that everyone said I couldn't do!  I wanted to tell everyone I met, “Hey, I gave birth without medication.  You can do it too!”

I had a water birth at home with our third baby, and it was after that when I just knew I had to do something with this passion.  Birth is just amazing and women spend their whole pregnancy fearing that day instead of embracing it.  I hope that my enthusiasm rubs off on my students.  Yes, birth is hard.  I am the first one to admit that, but you come out stronger on the other side.  I've seen relationships fostered through the hard work of preparing for labor and self-confidence and self-esteem blossom in so many women.  I want this for all women.  Ultimately, what's good for mom is good for baby.

My latest form of activism is starting the Tarrant County Birth Network, a chapter of BirthNetwork National, with two other birth professionals in the Fort Worth area.  It is a non-profit organization that promotes Mother-Friendly care based on the CIMS (Coalition for Improving Maternity Services) guidelines.  It will serve as a resource, both online and within the community, where expectant couples can get evidence-based information and connect with the care providers that provide Mother-Friendly care.

  What do you think are the three most important things a pregnant woman can do to prepare for her best birth?

I have a saying.  Anyone who reads my blog is familiar with it:  Education and a supportive birth team are the keys to a happy, unmedicated birth.  

1. I think it is crucial that a couple take an out-of-hospital class, whether it's Bradley, Hypnobirthing, Birthing From Within, etc.  Hospital educators have their hands tied when it comes to the information they can give you.  They prepare you to be a good patient, but you don't really get the full story on the risks of inductions, fetal monitoring, epidurals, c-sections, etc.
2. Practice the relaxation you are taught in class.  This is awkward, no doubt.  Do you want to practice in the privacy of your home when it's just the two of you, or when you're in labor and the nurses and midwife are watching you?!  Even if the mother wants it absolutely quiet (there's no way to know how she'll be), she will go to those relaxing places in her mind in labor.  It also helps build confidence in your body and your ability to relax.  Imaging yourself relaxing in labor, during pregnancy, is very beneficial.
3. Hire care providers that see birth as a natural process.  A lot of doctors will tell their clients “I'll do whatever you want me to do,” with the clause, “as long as everything is going ok.”  I'm not really happy with that answer.  There's no reason to think the natural process can't take care of itself.  Dr. Bradley's attitude sums it up best:  The doctor or midwife should act as a “lifeguard” -- observing but not interfering.  He expected his couples to be trained in normality, and he was trained in abnormality.  His c-section rate was 3%.  Birth is hard enough with a supportive birth team cheering you on.  It's nearly impossible when you are surrounded by people who don't believe in your abilities to birth your baby. There is no room for fear in the birth place.

 

Can you give us a list of your favorite birth education and preparation books?  Maybe even some attachment parenting books, too.  Any that you think are crucial for moms to read.

I do have a list that I give my couples.  It's very simple, really. 

Dr. William Sears is the author that started me on this path of natural birth, breastfeeding, and attachment parenting.  Anything he has written I highly recommend. 

Anything by Ina Mae Gaskin, CPM, will build confidence in this process.  Her approach to birth is so sensual and exciting.  You cannot read her material and fear birth. 

What kind of Bradley teacher would I be if I didn't mention “Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way ” by Susan McCutcheon?  I usually tell my students that if they are only going to read one book, this is it. 

“Mind over Labor ” by Carl Jones is a great little book with lots of relaxation exercises that make it easier to practice.  His commentary is also inspiring. 

Another book I recently stumbled upon is “25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power .”  It is a book and CD set.  The artwork is amazing.  You can have your partner read to you, or you can pop in the CD and have it read to you.  Again, embracing of the birth experience -- left with feelings of excitement and not fear.

A subscription to Mothering Magazine is a must.

My 3 books I recommend for a library after having a baby: 

1)      The Baby Book by Dr. William Sears

2)      The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding – La Leche League

3)      Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child by Zand, Rountree, and Walton

Donna, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and so much great information with us today.  Keep in touch!  

MamaViews: Jenny of Dancing Elephant Studio

A good friend of Jenny's suggested I consider her for a MamaView, and I'm so glad she did!  What a treasure trove of beautiful work and inspiring thoughts her website is.  And just after "meeting" her I saw her picture book on display at our local library.  Check it out if you haven't already, it's wonderful.  I love the chance this series has given me to get to know mamas of sorts of different stripes; so many talented, thoughtful, passionate women out there!  I hope you enjoy getting to know Jenny as much as I did.
You seem very aware of the process of acquiring experiences that influence your art.  Tell us about a few key experiences that have influenced you creatively.

Hmm. Let's see...
Childhood memories. My first picture book, My Travelin' Eye , is one story from my little years, but there are also many other bits of stories recorded in the details of the pictures. Sneaking personal things into my books adds another layer of excitement and interest for me in creating them. There is so much stored in our memories. I love doing timed journal writings about my childhood because I rediscover so many things.

Traveling. It fuels my artist soul! Plus, I'm always up for an adventure: a road trip in the SW or months in SE Asia, a bombardment of eye-candy that fills my 'idea bank', a people watcher's heaven, and a place my spirit feels at home. The inspiration for my first trip to Nepal was to make art with kids in villages. A project we did together, along with several sketchbooks from Nepal and India over some years, planted the seed for my next picture book, Same, Same but Different (due out next year with Henry Holt). I also see influences in my personal art, visually, in layers-upon-layers of textures and elements, juxtaposing subject matter, and in color palettes; in content, it comes out in a more abstract, spiritual way.

And Nature. Living in the mountains, homesteading, gardening, sitting by the river, walking in tall pines, and especially extended time in the wilderness -- 5-10 days at a time sleeping under the stars with no distractions. I can't say exactly how this influences my work, but it must. Maybe in sensitivity and subtleties. I just know it affects my whole being in a powerful way.
You seem to have had a lot of encouragement from family, teachers and friends in your creative pursuits.  What advice would you give to parents who want to nurture their own children's creativity?

My parents were/are my biggest cheerleaders. I'm sure that's why I cheer so much for my daughter. My dad had read us The Little Engine That Could countless times throughout my life, and my mom stayed up late with me (ignoring bed times) so I could finish elaborate, "extra-credit" art projects. My parents weren't artists, but these 2 basic, yet powerful things, helped me on my path as an artist: cheering for and believing in me. I think this is also why I never once thought I couldn't or wouldn't be an artist.

What I didn't have, that I'm happy my daughter will have naturally, is to be surrounded with art and artists of all kinds, healing arts, too... We are really excited to home school, too, so we can nurture her in these ways.
How has becoming a mother changed you as an artist?  What have you learned about your creative self through this role?

Well, I've only been a mama for 10 short months now...it's ALWAYS changing!...so it will be interesting to answer this question to myself again in 6 months or a year from now and so on...first, I will say time has been the biggest change, that is, lack of time, to create. Nothing could have prepared me for this. I will be honest, it's REALLY challenging. (But, I can see how it does keep getting easier.) I am a full-time mama and part-time artist, working in all the little cracks-n-crevices of naps and nighttime. Every day is different so I am learning to surrender to each day, however it unfolds, because mostly, I just feel so happy to be with my daughter. She is teaching me so much! 

I am mostly illustrating these days. I somehow managed to finish a picture book this year (with the loving support of my husband)! Being a mama has also made me realize even more that writing and illustrating children's books is what I'm supposed to be doing. It's what makes me the happiest. And Tulsi is the best inspiration yet! 

As far as my personal art...I've been seeing how this year (and here on out) is an experience like traveling, that is so full to the rim of new experiences, imagery, emotions, and growth. I have painted so many paintings in my head this year...and it's ok if they remain in my head for now. No judgments. I'm confident that if I'm patient, when time presents itself, they will come to life. So, aside from my book and illustration work, I'm appreciating this time for what it is, sacred and priceless.

I've also learned to be gentle with myself. To be more patient. That sleep is essential to a mama, even more than art sometimes. And I'm learning to seize small moments, get back into my sketchbooks, record ideas now for later, that may fly away if I don't, and, to work fast.
You certainly seem like a progressive pioneer to me; do you think so too?  In what ways?

Has anyone ever commented on your mothering or offered advice that immediately caused your core to tighten up and propel you to stand taller and stronger in a defensive-Mama-bear-

protecting-her-cubs-sort-of-reflex? Oui, that was a mouthful! I have actually come to appreciate these moments (although at first, they bothered me) because they challenge me and confirm my instincts. Motherhood is a sisterhood, yet we still all have to find our own way, make our own mistakes, create our own rhythm. 

Immediately when I learned I was pregnant, I thought about what resonated with me on this new path. We had our daughter, Tulsi, with midwives because, in my mind, that was the only way I envisioned it -- thru pregnancy, labor and birth. And it was the most beautiful and powerful experience in my life. In my travels in Nepal and India, I prefer to spend time in small villages. The simple tribal life, in-tune with nature, feels most comfortable to me, which is why we live the way we do. I specifically remember all the mothers with their babies wrapped against their chests or backs, nestled so close throughout the day as they worked at home or in the fields. It made sense to me then and does even more now. I also remember the day my husband brought me to the mountains where we now live. That was 8 years ago. It was remote, magical, and the most beautiful place on earth in my eyes. (Still is.) I asked him in that moment, "How do I do this? How do I quit my comfy corporate job to live here and do my art?" "You are a manifester," he answered. "You'll figure it out." Lucky for me, I got to do it with him. 

We are building a sweet homestead in the mountains. I maybe get into a car once every 7-10 days. We live in a one-room, 750 sq ft house which naturally calls for "less stuff" and demands creativity. I love that we don't own a tv and that we all sleep together. We are vegetarians and grow our own food, which has to be the most exciting thing in the world to us, along with being parents. It's awesome to know that someday Tulsi will flourish on this food, but for now, she is thriving on my milk. The best thing about our little life is that we get to spend so much of time together since my husband works for himself, too. 

Your definition definitely resonated with me as soon as I read it!...in my art, lifestyle, and being a mama. It's what I keep striving for. I feel like we have such a blessed life, but also, it is a life we are actively choosing. Not that it's better than anyone else's, but I think it's the best one for us. Still, we are always trying to simplify more and let go of some ways for others that feel more real to us. Your site is such a great space to share and grow with other mamas. Thank you so much, Amy, and I loved reading your thoughts on BLOOM! YOU ARE SO INSPIRING!
As an illustrator you must have your eyes out for exceptional picture books.  What are some of your very favorites?

Can you think of a tougher question?!  I'll start with some of my favorite authors and illustrator: M. Sasek, Margaret Wise Brown, Brian Wildsmith, Leo Leonni, Dr. Seuss, Winsor McCay, Clement Hurd, Richard Scarry, Sara Fanelli, Calef Brown, Giselle Potter, Maira Kalman, Peter Sis... I have a big library of picture books, but my list of books to add is much bigger. Just to name a few really special ones in my collection: The Little Red Fish by Taeeun Yoo, Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett, and The Sound of Colors by Jimmy Liao.

Jenny, thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us.  I've now got a new list of books to pick up at the library and added fuel for our dream of real homesteading some day!  Keep in touch!

MamaViews: Jean of The Artful Parent

I'm so excited to have Jean here today, sharing her ideas and insights about creating art with children.  Her blog is a treasure trove of great ideas for art projects and raising creative kids.  In fact, she may have inspired a potential toddler art group with a friend and I for this summer!

Aside from more creative children, what benefits do you see from living in a creativity-rich environment?

Oh, so many benefits! The foremost being that it’s FUN! Fun and beautiful and enriching.

Art is not just an end in itself, but also a way to explore and learn about the world around you. About color, observation, and cause and effect, for example. The same is true for other creative endeavors as well.

Being creative involves making something new. Whether you draw, paint, sew, cook, build, dance, or sing you are bringing something new into the world that wasn’t there before. And that is just so exciting! It’s a way of sharing yourself with the world and also of exploring what you are about.

Do you find it easy to create alongside your daughter and to feel somewhat fulfilled by the act of creation, or do you find that you need to carve out your own time and space for mama-creating?

This is something I struggle with. I would like to feel fulfilled by creating alongside my daughter, and sometimes I do, but I really value having my own time and space to create. I am a quiet-seeking introvert who thinks and works best when I have plenty of mental and physical space. And space like that is rare when you have young kids, especially if one of them is a rambunctious extrovert! 

I love exploring art alongside Maia, though. I am fulfilled in a different way by facilitating art experiences for her (and sometimes for the art group). I love observing her interactions with art activities and art materials and watching her change and grow and learn over time.

What books can you recommend for parents wanting to develop a more creative environment for their little ones?

I’m a book junky so it’s hard for me to limit myself. But I’d say my favorites are those that promote open-ended art exploration and that really seem to get the magic and creativity of childhood:

Scribble Art: Independent Creative Art Experiences for Children by MaryAnn Kohl (or anything else by her!) for so many fun art activities

Young at Art: Teaching Toddlers Self-Expression, Problem-Solving Skills, and an Appreciation for Art  by Susan Striker for the developmental stages of drawing, painting, etc

The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections  by Amanda Soule for a wonderful outlook on life and ideas to infuse everyday family life with creativity

Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Activities To Do in the Garden by Sharon Lovejoy for creativity outdoors, gardening with children, and exploring nature in our backyard

Child of Wonder: Nurturing Creative & Naturally Curious Children by Ginger Carlson for tons of ideas on encouraging an active exploration of our world by our children.    

Aside from the straightforward ways of encouraging creativity (ones that involve art supplies and whatnot), how do you find the goal of encouraging "creative expression, imagination, joyfulness, and a love of learning" influences the rest of your parenting?

I try to say yes as much as possible, encourage Maia’s interests and her ability to explore the world, and provide plenty of books, art supplies, games, excursions, time with friends, and other things that keep her excited and interested.

This is a goal, mind you. I don’t always succeed. There are days when I find myself saying no to messes, yes to DVDs, and when I think I’m far from the best parent out there! But I’m trying. We also have wonderful days where everything flows so beautifully – where we bake, laugh, create, play, and generally feel creative and happy. My goal is to have more days like those!

What are some of the most fun and/or successful projects you've done with your daughter (or other kids) that you think we might want to try with our own kiddos?

Oh, the funnest are generally the messiest. Are you ready for this?

Body painting

Splatter painting

Shaving cream painting

Also, some not-so-messy-but-still-very-fun art projects:

Glue batik on fabric

Monoprinting

Plaster of paris collages

Melted crayon and watercolors

And if you want more, here’s a list (with links) of many of the art projects we’ve done.

Thanks so much for sharing all your great ideas, Jean!  Keep in touch!

PS There's a great giveaway coming up later today (as soon as I get time to sit down and post it)!

MamaViews: Me!

The lovely girls over at Bloom interviewed me today and I thought I would share it for this week's MamaView:) 
You can read my thoughts on simplicty here, and definitely take a minute to explore the rest of their site; it's a wonderful spot to visit.

MamaViews: Abi of Spider Woman Knits

I'm so excited to have Abi sharing some thoughts with us today as she is one of those "dreamers into doers" that I talked about.  Of course, I asked her share with us a bit about her dreams and that process of making them a reality, as well as other tidbits we'd like to know about, such things as knitting, her lovely house and becoming a mama.  I hope you enjoy getting to know her! I've been thinking a lot about turning dreams into realities lately.  And I noticed that you mentioned having some crazy events (job loss, health issues, financial stress etc.) last year that sound all too familiar to many of us (we experienced a jump (shove?) into our own business precipitated by the folding of the company Clay was previously working for!).  But you talk optimistically about taking risks and chasing dreams.  How have you managed to turn these obstacles into opportunities?  And tell us more about those big dreams!

Maya Angelou says, "Life takes care of those who dare to live it." I first heard her say that about 10 years ago. It resonated both with my husband and myself so much that it's been the Golden Rule of our life together ever since. We don't chase dreams per say but live them in each moment, presently, because the present is the only time that we can truly count on to secure our happiness. I know so many people who delay their dreams waiting for the perfect moment for things to align so they feel free to pursue them but to me that is allowing fear to have a part in your dreams and there is no space for fear in dreams! That's not to say that every moment you are living your dream is a happy one or that all dreams are blissful.

When my husband lost his job last November I was 4 months pregnant with my third child and had just had and an emergency appendectomy. It was a nightmarish time for us with two small children at home and the support of family hundreds of miles away. I was terribly worried about my unborn child and my husband was devastated by his inability in that moment to provide for us in the way that he had for so many years. But that nightmare only lasted as long as we allowed ourselves to dwell in it, which for us wasn't very long. As soon as I started feeling better I searched myself for a way in which I could contribute and still be home with my other two children. It didn't take me very long to realize that I had an awful lot of vintage goodies in my home and having an Etsy shop had always been an idea I toyed with. So I stayed up all night setting up the shop and the very next day I listed my first few items. Two of them sold right away! The next day a few more went, then I was lucky enough to have an item featured on the main page. The shop sort of took off and before I knew it I was shipping vintage Vermont treasures all over the world! As much fun as I was having and as busy as I was, the shop wasn't able to pay our bills though. So my husband and I turned to another shared passion. Chickens! Greg wrote up a progressive business plan for an Organic Egg Farm and we shopped it around but were unable to get any funding from banks. So we downsized the plan, took a small bit of the money from our sales in the Etsy shop and ordered 60 hens on our own. Not securing funding through banks reinforced what we already knew anyway. We have learned over the years that you can't put your dreams in someone else's control either.  While we weren't able to get as many hens as we wanted we didn't owe anyone any money, which relieves a great deal of stress. In late August we welcomed the first flock to Red Comb Farm. Since then we have added two alpacas as well, which I intend to shear and sell the yarn made from the fleece. Mind you though that our chickens are not laying golden eggs and feeding them organically costs quite a bit of money. We were lucky enough to partner with two local restaurants that only use local and organic produce. They are now saving all of their food scraps for our ladies and that offsets our grain cost tremendously. It's a lot of work but it's all very exciting and the kids are loving it of course.

Dreams are tricky little things. I think people often confuse their 'goals' with their dreams. If you make your only 'goal' happiness then you will find that your dreams grow organically out of that. That is why a huge element in living your dream successfully is not being too attached to any one thing or any one dream. It was not our dream to be chicken farmers and it was not my dream to be a shopkeeper but it is our collective dream to enjoy whatever it is we do as we are exchanging our time for money and that as a family we feel peaceful and happy in our work. So you can see that having that larger goal of happiness as a dream makes success almost inevitable if you are in touch with your heart and your soul.  With each thing you do ask yourself, 'Does this make me happy?' If you take all these little steps with happiness underfoot all of a sudden you will find yourself living a dream, albeit a dream you may not have even knew you had! The next step is learning to quiet the voices of fear that love to whisper 'no' into our dreams. That is a skill everyone should master and as children we had perfected, so it still lies within us. Our dreams may change, as we find that different things make us happy at different points in our lives, but each time we do something new we learn more and more. It's a snowball effect of ability and each experience gives you more of the tools you need to move on to the next dream or expand the one you are currently living.  

It was so fun to read about your Berroco photo shoot.  Tell us about how you became involved with Berroco and ended up in their pattern books!  

The Berroco Book! We're still on Cloud 9 about that! Like I mentioned on my blog, it's still a blurry dream come true to me that we were able to participate in such a wonderful project! If I didn't have the book beside me I might not believe it myself! Our photo shoot with Berroco was a case of opportunity knocking on our door and we answered very quickly, let it in, gave it dinner and then, of course, dessert too :) Kidding aside, when I first started blogging I came across a blog authored by Cirilia Rose called, Skrilla Knits. She has a very fresh style of knitting and one that I really related to so I ended up following her blog for years actually, right up until she started designing and blogging for Berroco.  Out of the blue she contacted me and asked if my family would be interested in modeling for two upcoming Berroco books featuring new designs using their Vintage and DK Baby yarn. Without a second thought I answered 'Yes!'.  Over the years Cirilia and I had stayed in touch through blogging and other sites like Ravelry. So I am sure both Cirilia and Norah had seen quite a bit of my photography and knitting there as well before they selected us for the Berroco books. I am familiar with quite a few crafty mamas who have had opportunities come to them through their blog. It's really a wonderful thing!  And speaking of knitting; you are clearly an avid, expert knitter (and I sit in awe after only my first lesson!).  But you mentioned not being able to learn when people tried to teach you the first few times, and then finally picking it up on your own.  What finally made it click?  And how has knitting and creating been a part of your life since?

Really? Thank you but I still feel like such a novice! That feeling stems from one of the things that I truly adore about knitting which is that there is always a new technique that can be learned, so I never feel like I completely know what I am doing. From very early childhood I was always drawn to knitting. As a small girl I used to go into the bottom drawer of my mothers dresser where she kept a few pairs of metal needles she used only once to make a sweater for our poodle! It was the only thing she ever knit but I was so proud of it and would wonder if I could use those needles one day. It wasn't until I had grown and went to college that I found some women willing to teach me from the local community.They kept trying, again and again, to teach me using the English method of knitting where you carry the yarn in your right hand but I just couldn't do it. Finally I just gave up! I didn't pick up needles again for a few years and then I came across Debbie Stoller's book Stitch 'N Bitch and decided to give it another try on my own. Since I didn't have anyone telling me how to hold the needles I naturally picked them up and felt comfortable carrying the yarn in my left hand instead. It clicked and I haven't stopped knitting since! It was a few more months before I even fully realized that I was knitting the 'Continental' or European way.  It was a few months after that when I was told by an experienced knitter that I had been knitting incorrectly though, through the back of my loops instead of the front, and twisting all of my stitches! I still have some sweaters that I knit for my son from the 'Twisted Stitches' period of my knitting and I treasure them! It took a good year to really get the technical side of knitting down for me but I was doing it all on my own.

My passion for knitting became consuming, like it does for so many, once I really started though. I found that it was the first time in my entire life that I was comfortable calling myself something, if that makes sense. I am a knitter, I would say.  Making things with my hands was always a huge part of my life, I did a lot of photography, had taught myself to weave primitively on a lap loom, made dolls, crocheted etc. all of which I enjoyed but it wasn't until I started knitting that I truly found my craft. Knitting is not my only craft, I still do all of the other things I mentioned but knitting occupies the largest space in my heart and inspires me in such a way that I can't not knit. It has taught me so much patience and given me so much confidence that has carried through to other parts of my life.  Knitting allows me moments of peace and focus too during the day that I might not otherwise carve out for myself. Even while I am busy with three children I can still squeeze in a few stitches or even a few rows, if I'm lucky, somewhere during the day and come away with my mind clearer and my soul refreshed. Knitting for me is a form of dynamic meditation.

Your home is beautiful, and clearly a home before a house.  What guides your decorating decisions?

Thank you so much! My house is really my passion and I adore being home more than being any other place in the world. So, I always strive to bring beauty inside when I look at things to add to our home. However, my father is an architect and designer, he taught me very early on to look at the efficiency of space or the useful design of an object. So right after beauty comes function. I ask myself, always, if an object is both beautiful and useful. If it passes those two criteria chances are it will make it into our home. Perhaps that is what attracts me so much to antique and vintage objects. Those two elements were merged in the past, and still are now by thoughtful designers of course, but they were the readily available, affordable and daily use items of the time back then. Art and function were one and there was still a great deal of pride in craftsmanship in the past, that is why it is still so easy to go into charity stores, flea markets or antique shops and become overwhelmed with choices of beautiful, useful old things to bring home.

It's taken me a long time to really get comfortable with the choices that I make and a huge part of that is allowing myself to change my mind and rearrange things a lot! I know so many people that are the same way. Moving furniture around, painting walls two or three times to get a color right etc and we all grew up in houses where a wall was painted a color and stayed that way for years or matching sets of large, bulky furniture were placed in a room and stayed there forever! That type of decorating is unthinkable to me. Houses should ebb, flow and grow with families! I think that is really what makes a dwelling come alive, when it's inhabitants have a direct relationship with it and to it rather than just existing in it. That is what breathes the 'home' into a house. 

What do you think your pre-mama self would be surprised to learn about your mama self of today?

Wow! That is such an interesting question. Becoming a mother was such a turning point in my life. Sitting here and thinking back I would say that my pre-mama self would be surprised with almost everthing about my mama self of today! You see, my pre-mama self was quite a 'quiet' person. I lived alone for years in my late teens through my early twenties, right up until I met my husband in fact, caretaking 160 acres of land in a very small cabin without any modern utilities or technology to speak of (picture above).  The rhythm of my day was tied directly to the sunrise and sunset. Of course, I didn't have a phone, computer or radio and my only communication with family and friends was through hand written letters! The cabin was heated by woodstove, lit by candles and I had to haul my water in from springs and a pond! It was a very quiet, a very tranquil and a very slow paced life. I had ample time for introspection and very little distraction. Technology was not an enemy to me, I just didn't have any need for it in my life at the time.

Now, as a mother to three small children my days are amazingly loud,  far from tranquil and run at a pace I almost can't keep up with at times (but in a really fun way)! I am up all hours of the day and night with a nursing baby and now my daily rhythm changes from day to day in such dramatic fashion. We use technology every single day to expand our world in such a way that I could never have imagined back in the 'Cabin Days'. To think that I would be maintaining a blog, an Etsy shop, using the internet to introduce my music loving son to Tuvan Throat singers, connect with other mothers, farmers and knitters, find recipes etc?! No way! Motherhood really ushered in technology for me through my desire to connect with and be inspired by other creative mothers who were parenting their children in a non-traditional manner and I haven't turned back since!

Thank you so much for having me Amy! This was truly a pleasure and an honor!

Well thanks so much for sharing, Abi!  Your words and photos are lovely.  Keep in touch!

MamaViews: Amy Karol from Angry Chicken

We're starting up the MamaViews series again and I'm so excited!  After a long, busy holiday season, it's time to sit down with some of my favorite ladies and learn what makes them tick.  I'm thrilled to be hearing from Amy Karol of Angry Chicken today.  I totally aspire to be as cool as her some day; she's a super creative DIY-er of all sorts, an author, creator, and mama and today she's telling us a little about how she juggles it all, involves the kids in projects and about some of her favorite comfort foods.  Enjoy!

Your claim to fame is being a crafter extraordinaire, but one of the reasons I love reading your blog is your rad, DIY approach to everything.  Where did this come from?  Raised by hippies?  Life-changing lecture?  Just makes sense to make stuff yourself (of course it does!)?  I'd love to hear the philosophy behind the making.

I think I was raised by hippies and that I also just love making stuff. My parents, both of them, were risk takers and questioned authority so I think I came by it naturally. I see this in my brother as well. To me, DIY is about trying to make stuff one would never think to make themselves. That's what I think is the most fun and gratifying.

I was thinking recently of a quote in my head that sums up why I make so much and I think it's " . . because I can." I also will admit right here to not trusting any big corporations to look after my health and this includes body products, food, medicine, and all that. I am not paranoid, but very questioning and also just love learning how to make things and I LOVE researching. So, if you add all this up, you get a a crazy lady who makes her own butter, her deodorant, and dresses. Something things are not really worth making from scratch, but often these are what I like to make most. Just because.

You involve your kids in much of your crafting and creating.  What advice do you have for moms who want to make a project kid-friendly?

A sense of humor, a back up plan, and for me—saving supplies so I can make it again alone. Often I am so excited by a project that I really want to do it MYSELF. If this is the case, I just save extra supplies for myself, so I don't get all weird with the girls and controlling. I let them go for it, but I also demonstrate a respect for time and supplies. They are very thoughtful crafters. I also try to break-up a craft project into parts as much as I can, so paint or glue can dry and attention spans aren't too taxed. I think it means more if it's a process, not if it's always a one-shot project. Although quick projects are great, too.

You're always posting about the yummiest, coziest foods.  What are some of your favorite food memories?

My Dad was our main cook in the house and I ate like him. Lots of steak! Which is funny because I have not had meat since I was 15. I think my favorite food memories are of breakfast on Sundays. My Dad made eggs, pancakes or waffles and there was always classical music playing and I think there was usually bacon. I loved bacon! Breakfast is still my favorite meal.

To me you seem like a progressive pioneer; do you think so too?  In what way?

Hmm. Am I? I see your definition and of couse, I shy away from any definition too much, because I always get hedgy about being defined in any way. I am a contradiction, really. I make so much from scratch you would think I am the biggest hippie in the world, and in a way, I really am and yet love make-up and black finger nail polish (of course, it's all cruelty free, ha!) and stylish clothes and high heels. I like to have fun and be silly with my friends, and especially my family—and yet I am very serious about my ethics and beliefs and what I feel is right for my family. What my family needs is always changing, but I really don't let any outside source tell me what's best for my family, so in that way I am quite the protective mama bear.

 

You have so many different incarnations of your creativity; sewing, knitting, cool labels, holiday decorations, cooking, kids' art projects etc. etc.  How do you find/make the time?  Any tips for the rest of us?

Oh, do less! That is my advice for 2010. And I am trying to follow it. For real. I love making, but really, I need to slow down. I am trying to look at what I really REALLY like to do and what gives me the most satisfaction and pleasure at any given moment. And that might change. So one year I want to make the girls their winter coats, but does that mean I have to every year? NO, it doesn't. There are 3 babybooks that are sorely neglected and getting a good start on those is on my to-do list. And working in our garden more this spring. I do think most of what drives me is the learning of new skills, but I need to let some go to make room for new ones. It's okay to only do something one time. 
 

Thanks so much for sharing!  I loved getting a peek into more of who you are and what you love.  Keep in touch!

*More Amy here: aprons, art, blog, goodness and books.  Happy browsing!

MamaViews: Fiona from Hop Skip Jump

I'm thrilled to have Fiona visiting with us today, all the way from Australia!  I've long been an admirer of her wonderful toys; I love the modern twist on a classic look.  Today she's sharing some thoughts about making toys, blogging, and being a work-at-home mom.

The style of your toys and dolls is so lovely; there's a sort of Shaker-like simplicity to them that works so well with your bright fabric choices.  Where do you get your inspiration?

Thank you! I'm inspired every day by the things I see online (of course - there is just so much goodness out there). I also love kid's books and get loads of inspiration from whatever we're reading at home. Also, I'm a graphic designer and I think the influence of that has been hard to shake - a lot of the things I'm drawn to have that shaker-like simplicity - lots of white space! ;)

The internet is amazing for creating connections (here we are chatting between Utah and Australia!).  How has blogging connected with you with other people, whether like-minded mums, fellow crafters or providing new outlets for selling your toys and patterns?

I've been blogging now for five years and I am still amazed every day at how blogging has connected me to so many incredibly lovely, talented and like-minded women, many who have become 'real life' friends. When I started blogging, there were only really a few of us who blogged about the things we were making (nothing compared to now - I've long lost hope of keeping up!) I started selling my toys online after a few nice people asked if they were available and my little business has grown from there. I am so grateful to have been able to drop much of my freelance work to concentrate on my business in those times when I'm not busy with my kids. It has it's fair share of detractors, but the growth of sites like etsy, and the connections that blogs allow have really given carers of young children who are based at home so many more opportunities to meet others and start small businesses.

When you create something you must leave your own signature mark on it, give it a little bit of your personality.  Your Poppy Doll pattern seems to be quite popular, what is it like seeing your creation given new life and a new personality in another crafter's hands?

I love seeing my patterns made up by other people, seeing their interpretation and fabric choices has been fantastic. It sounds naff but I feel really lucky when people choose to make toys from one of my patterns to give to their own kids or someone special - it's given me a real drive to make more patterns of my toys.

I notice you often make toys for your own kids; tell us about some of their favorites.

My daughter, Audrey, has a big collection of toys I have made for her, plus she often makes off with trial versions and toys I'm not happy enough with to sell. We made a Poppy doll together a few months ago, and happily (for me), she still sleeps with her at night and asks me to make clothes for her now and again. She also has a bunny and giraffe that she's still quite fond of. But I gave up ages ago hoping that my children would connect closely with something I made - kids can be so fickle! Audrey's most special soft toy is a store-bought bear, while Henry's current best mate is a small Maisy mouse. But I hope when they grow old and sentimental they'll have a small place in their heart for the toys their crazy old toy-making mother made for them!

MamaViews: Sarah from Sarah Jane Studios

I love the chance this series has given me to get to know so many interesting, talented women.  Sarah is no exception.  She is a brilliant illustrator, devoted mother and a great blogger!  Today she talks about how all of those things blend together and influence each other.

Your illustrations have this wonderful vintage look to them, like something that would be equally at home in an antique children's book or on the wall of a modern nursery.  What are some of the children's books (or other things) that inspire you?

I grew up reading lots and lots of picture books. My mother LOVED picture books and even went as far to take a children's lit class in college just because she loved it so much. She even had her very own box of picture books that she grew up with that we were not allowed to read on our own (they were falling apart!) and from that...I gained a great love respect of the vintage children's books beyond my era. Rie Cramer (German) is a favorite illustrator of mine. I love Carl Larssen also, and the list goes on and on. Why I love the illustrations so much however, is more because of what they portray  rather than style. There is an certain type of innocence to children that I feel is lost in modern illustration. My own children and my own childhood are probably my biggest inspirations, and I am so lucky to be surrounded by both every day!

You've talked about how creating has always been a part of your life even from when you were a child.  It seems you've been able to hang on to that natural creativity and fearlessness about creating that children have.  What advice would you give to an adult who feels like they've lost that or that they simply aren't creative?

This is a great question. I think that as we age, we naturally close ourselves off to what can be, and reach more for what has to be. For me, doing the dishes and laundry and paying bills and sleepless nights are my life. But if I were to focus on that, I would me miserable. When I focus on love and fun and nurturing at home, that creativity naturally comes out. I believe that when we as adults start to see each day as a chance to explore and learn new things, we all have creativity inside us that can't help but become manifest. I also think that by watching children, we can learn how to not have fear. I love that my children have complete confidence that when they scribble a line on a paper, it's frame worthy. It reminds me to stay fresh and alive in what I love to do.

Many modern artists espouse the idea that art is what the viewer interprets it as, that they, as the artist, have no control (or responsibility) over how their art is received by or impacts the world.  As an artist, do you aim to convey certain messages through your art or hope to affect a certain impact on the world?

As an artist, and especially as an artist with a need to share and communicate to others, this is very important. I do, however, know that if your art is only created for this purpose, it will be flat and shallow; contrived even. But when the idea and design comes from a genuine place, it will be received and recognized as authentic and of value. In my genre, I choose to use a very specific style (vintage illustration) but when coming up with the compositions, colors, and characters, I have to make sure they come from a genuine place, or they will be flat.  But I do hope to portray innocence of childhood, simplicity of childhood and a sweetness that is what I know and experience in my own life in a way others will feel attracted to.

To me you seem like a progressive pioneer; do you think so too?  In what way?

When I first heard of your blog, I thought "I love that title!" I agree. We all are. And we all have the capability to be. I think that maybe I am one, like so many of us, simply because I am not satisfied with what is in front of me. I want to challenge it and make it happen. I was searching for vintage style illustration for my own daughter when she was born, and it was all so "dick and jane" (which i love, don't get me wrong!) but i wanted something that was new...fresh...and reflected how I felt about my children. So in some ways, i feel like a pioneer, because I saw a challenge and went after it. Motherhood itself is the greatest pioneering adventure....illustration and design takes a back seat to that hands down...but I like to take on the hat of "pioneer" in anything I do.

I love your attitude towards mothering, how you embrace it, rejoice in it and draw attention to the beautiful art that it can be.  What sorts of things do you think mothers need to remind themselves of to keep it all in perspective?

Well,  I will be giving myself my own medicine here, for sure. The challenge with motherhood, is it is just so exhausting. I don't care how much someone can say they love it, and are so happy being a mother (as I most definitely am) but it is really hard work. And when we are tired and physically spent, it's hard to see the roses all the time. (Can you tell I am still up with a newborn at nights?:) So what I would say to all mothers, is take each moment for the moment that it is. Really feel those hugs. Really listen when they sing to you. Really show them the world they are getting adjusted to. Really show interest in their interests. Remember that every day is a new day to love them, to create with them, and to express to them how valued they are....and to not get so hard on yourself that your house doesn't look like a magazine feature. It's about the moments we connect with them, not about the results at the end of the day.

MamaViews: Eren from This Vintage Chica

And here she is, the second half of the Six One Way project!  I think I first heard of Eren in Mothering magazine in an article about amazing, crafty, blogging moms.  And she is indeed all of that.  Today she talks with us about creating a culture of learning, carving out mama time and she even shares a great recipe for kale chips!

It seems that learning is constantly taking place at your house; how have you cultivated a culture of learning within your family?

Amy, you are so right.  Learning IS constantly taking place around here.  And sometimes it is exhausting answering all of the boys many questions.  But it is also one of my most favorite things about our family.  First of all, I come from a family that encouraged a love of learning.  I come from a long line of public school educators who laid a very strong foundation.  My kids most definitely learn a lot in public school, but we try really hard to encourage learning outside of the classroom as well.  We believe that children have a natural motivation to learn.  So our job as parents is to be mindful and try to encourage that natural learning.  Which can be tough sometimes sharing the education of our children with the public schools.  Luckily this year both of our older boys have two amazingly passionate, experienced teachers and both boys are having great years.

But I think my husband and I and the culture of learning we create in our household will have the biggest impact on our boys…much more than even “school”.  My husband and I are both committed to lifelong learning ourselves.  So we all learn together as a family.  I am never afraid to say “I don’t know” to questions about how much water is in the Southern Ocean, but I always follow up with, “But we can find out”.  We have a wall in our kitchen painted with chalkboard paint and we list any questions the boys have throughout the week.  Then on the weekend, when there is more time we can look up the answers online.  Whether it is the boys and I looking up a fungus species we found on our nature walk, or my husband looking up definitions of new words in the dictionary, we are always learning something.  “Mama, do turtles have ears?” 

With a house full of wild cowboys, how do you ensure some quality mama time; what do you do to refill your creative reservoir?  Its interesting you should ask this question as my husband just left for deployment overseas.  And my quality mama time left on the C130 with him.  However, when he is away so much, it is even more important that I make sure my creative tank is full.  Otherwise my boys have one grumpy mama…and that is not fun for anyone.  When my husband is home, he is really good about taking the boys out to give me a break.  But when he is out, which is 2/3 of the year, I have to get creative in finding time for myself.  I am a stickler for our 7:30 bedtime.  My boys don’t have to be asleep by 7:30, but we try to have them in bed drawing, reading or doing puzzles by that time.  This creates time in the evenings to write or knit.  Also, we are truly blessed to have a wonderful group of intimate friends.  We all help each other, can see when one of us needs a break, and we watch each others kids.  I couldn’t do it without them.

I loved your Six One Way project.  After a year of capturing daily, small things did you feel a shift in how you looked at the world or your family?  I know when I look at the world through a camera lens, I gain a new perspective.  Thank you.  I loved the Six project too…and I loved partnering with such a wonderful woman in Stefani.  Yes, the Six One Way project definitely changed how I look at the world and my family.  Taking photos everyday began as a way to capture these fleeting days of small children and busy schedules.  I asked Stefani to participate first because I found a mother with whom I had a great deal in common, but I also I knew I needed someone to hold me accountable.  But I learned things about myself and my family I didn’t expect.  Through posting the photos each week, I realized what a huge connection I have to the natural world.  I always knew that stopping, taking time, breathing and focusing were important.  But putting that into practice on a regular basis, was an amazing experience.  I found myself more mindful, more focused on my mothering, more appreciative and more bonded to my children.  I also found an amazing friend in Stefani.   

To me you seem like a progressive pioneer; do you think so too?  In what way?  Like everyone else you have interviewed (I have enjoyed reading each one), I love the term you use.  And I love the thought of being a “progressive pioneer”.  My ancestors were pioneers as some of the first white people to settle in the state of Texas around the Ft. Worth area.  Stories are still told in our family about one family living in a sod house and trading with Native Americans.  They were strong women who worked hard for their families.  They cooked, cleaned, raised their own food, and took care of their neighbors. They knew how to shoot a gun and ride a horse.  The relied on their faith and their instincts.  They respected nature and watched the seasons.  I often think of these women when I am sewing or cooking a meal.  Life was simple…life was difficult, but simple.  

I don’t want to return to life like it was in the 1800’s, but I think if I can incorporate self sustainability, independence and an appreciation for the world around them I will have done well by them.  I delivered my boys with a midwife, without medications and carried them close to me for as long as they would let me.  We grow vegetables in our backyard.  I buy most of our meat and eggs from a local farm.  We cook together.  We shop at thrift stores.  We teach our boys to make things.  We “use it up, make it work, wear it out." 

Your garden is lovely; what's been your favorite garden-inspired, jaw-dropping, taste-bud-tingling dish this season?  I love gardening.  I love sharing my love of growing things with my boys.  And they love eating what we grow together.  We planted our first fall/winter garden this year including peas, lettuces, broccoli, chard and kale.  I had seen a recipe floating around for “kale chips” and thought it would be a fun recipe to try to get my guys to eat kale.  We love making terra chips, so why not kale chips.  They were a hit.  I hate to even call this a recipe, but it is what we’re eating a lot of these days.

Kale Chips

Directions:  Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Wash and thoroughly dry kale. With a knife, carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes.

We’re also enjoying finding new ways to use pumpkin and squash in recipes we already make like beef stew and vegetable soup.  Yum.

Eren, thanks so much for stopping by today; it was such a treat to learn more about you and your lovely family.  Keep in touch!

 

MamaViews: Stefani from Blue Yonder

I can't remember whose blog I came across first, Stefani's or Eren's, but one led me to the other via their wonderful photography project.  In their words, "With six young men between them and a combined six images each week, two women capture a year of motherhood in photographs."  Today you'll get to read Stefani's words and see some of her lovely photos.  Then next week it's Eren's turn!

With a house full of boys, homeschooling, crafting, illustrating, picture-taking, gardening etc. etc, there's just no way you can get it all done!  I know I can't:)  But when you look back at the end of a day, what enables you to say, "this has been a good day?"

Oh goodness! You've managed to speak to one of my biggest struggles. There's a lot going on at our house for sure and you're right, at the end of each day things have almost never gone as planned. If we've had a wonderful day of learning, the house has suffered. If I've spent lots of time creating I may feel that I've not connected with my boys as fully as I would have liked. My to-do lists always seem to begin with stuff that has been carried over from the day before, or maybe even the day before that one. And the way I see it, this is not real likely to change anytime soon.  So the element that has needed to change is me. I have had to learn to let go of perfection. I have had to learn to find beauty and sweetness where I can, save up those moments, and let the rest go. 

If at the end of the day I have read to my boys, if we have laughed, if I have cleared the counter, if I have made something new, if I have seen the light of learning go on in the mind of one of my sons... well then it has been a day well spent. 

When my boys go to bed at night you can find me at the computer blogging, or maybe adding notes about the day's work to the boys' school portfolios. I might be painting or drawing, or looking through the photos that I've taken through the day. All of those things, in one way or another are the same thing. All of those things allow me to revisit the day and glean through it to pull out the best bits, celebrate them and save them for later. In this way, I end every day focused on not what didn't get done, but what DID.

What advice would you give to parents considering homeschooling, but unsure about where to start or overwhelmed at the idea?  In a nutshell, what makes it worth doing, for you?

Time. For us, homeschooling is all about taking back our time. We get such a limited amount of time to help our young men find their path, to soak them up and build lasting memories. So we just couldn't get our heads around letting go of so much of that time when they started school. When we first began homeschooling my husband's job took him away from us a lot. He travelled internationally at least twice a month for a week at a time. So I was already very conscious of trying to minimize busyness and make the most of our time together when he was home. We felt like homeschooling would be  a way to make sure that when he was home, THEY were home. As they got bigger we felt that homeschooling would allow us to travel with him. 

We also chose homeschooling because we wanted to ensure that our boys had time to be kids, to pursue their interests and to grow their bonds as brothers. Learning at home means that our time is freed up to spend more than the alloted time studying something that really captures our imaginations. It means that we can slow down and revisit a concept that one of our guys struggles with. It means that we have time for fiddle lessons and karate classes without feeling like those things are getting in the way of family time. And I see, everyday, what it means for the sibling relationships in our home. They have had to learn to problem solve together, to be patient while I work with one brother, to build each other up and encourage one another, to lead and learn from each other. They have to work together toward a common goal, every single day.  We believe that they are creating a shared experience and a collaborative relationship that will carry on into their adult lives. 

One of the unexpected benefits of homeschooling has been that Papa and I get the chance to revist, relearn and do a lot of things that we might not have otherwise done. We're trying foods from countries that we're studying, visiting our local entomology society chapter, making paper mache egyptian burial masks. We're having a lot of fun and really enjoying learning all over again!

As for what I would tell someone considering homeschooling, first, talk to as many homeschoolers as you can. You will learn more from just listening to a real live homeschooler than you ever will by reading books or the internet. Take them out for coffee and listen. Ask all your questions! Chances are they are craving some adult interaction and will be more than willing to talk your ear straight off! If you listen long enough you're bound to hear lots of different takes on how school gets done, because there are as many methods of home education as there are families doing it. Over time you'll hear some bits and pieces that sound right for your family. You are also very likely to hear one overriding theme.... how important it is to be flexible. Anyone who has been homeschooling for any length of time has probably had to change their plans any number of times. Family dynamics change, children's needs change, and sometimes what you thought would be "just the thing" turns out not to work as you had imagined it would. So take it slowly. Don't run out and buy a thousand dollars worth of supplies and curriculum. Talk to homeschoolers, do some research, visit the library with your young ones and really pay attention to how they learn, and then slowly build your schoolhouse, one brick at a time. There's no rush. 

It seems at times like being a mama can eclipse our before-mama selves, who we were before (and still are!!) can get lost.  How do you keep your core self alive while still going strong as Mom?

Oh my. I look back on photos of my pre-child self and hardly recognize that girl! It can be so easy to feel lost sometimes, but on the other hand, my children have taught me so much about who I am, at the core. I think I know myself better now than I ever did before I had these little people in my life. That said, I feel, especially as a homeschooler and the sole female in the house, that it is so important for me to carve out some spaces that are all mine. That's important for me, and I think it's important for the boys too. It's necessary for them, I think, to see me as a real human with real needs, talents and interests. 

So each morning I walk around the block with my dog. It doesn't take more than 15 minutes, but those minutes make all the difference. A warm drink, a bit of NPR Morning Edition, some fresh air and a glimpse of the natural world... all those things add up to starting the day feeling like ME. When I get home I feel ready to give and to serve.

Beyond that, I try to surround myself with ways to keep my mind and spirit engaged.  I keep a sketch book close at hand and jot notes and little doodles down throughout the day. I always have a stack of books on the end table for those few minutes when everyone is occupied and I can grab a little reading time. On my desk there are folders stuffed with clippings of new recipes and crafts to try, above it there is a bulletin board full of images that are sparking new ideas for me.  In this way, if ever a little bit of time presents itself, I'm surrounded by ways to feel inspired and reminded of the passions that are at my core.

I also really try to be sure that I'm always learning, both as an example for my sons, and as a way of staying connected to my self. While the boys are working on their studies I might be reading up on the history of clock-making or trying to teach myself to knit (at which I had a wonderful time but failed miserably), experimenting with new art mediums, or learning a new software program. It is really important to me to create a home in which learning pursuits are not things meant only for children. 

To me you seem like a progressive pioneer; do you think so too?  In what way?

I absolutely love this phrase that you've coined, Amy. I'm so glad there's a name for it! When I was in college I lived with my parents. I had no home of my own, but even then I was gathering up vintage kitchenware at thrift stores and reading books like "The Complete Guide to Country Living." I completely baffled my forward thinking parents and college friends!

I think I've just always been drawn to a life less complicated. I believe that 4 channels are better than 400 (though I would very much like the Food Network to be one of those 4!) Homemade bread is better than store bought... it's a lot more work, but you can't beat the smell and the taste. Opening a jar of jam is so much better when it brings to mind memories of the time you spent picking those berries and filling those jars. A gift made with your own two hands is far and away better than anything, ANYTHING that you could find on a shelf. 

There are plenty of times when I wonder if I'm wrecking my boys or missing out on something. We eat differently, school differently, celebrate differently, live differently than almost all of our neighbors and friends, and that can be hard and make you question yourself. But in the end, when I really think about it, I know that I would not trade it for all the world. I'm walking the path that was meant for me and for my family. 

What are some of your family's very favorite books?  

Oh gracious. That's a bit like asking me which is my favorite child. Books are a BIG part of our home life. We have gobs of them, far more than our bookshelves can accommodate. We always have at least two read alouds going. We read at breakfast. We read at lunch. We read before bedtime. Reading, for us, is like eating. 

So to pick a favorite.... well, I will try. 

For the boys, I would have to say anything by Roald Dahl. We have been steadily reading our way through his body of work, and the boys have been completely enchanted with all of his tales. The Witches, Danny the Champion of the World, The Twits, The BFG, George's Marvelous Medicine... all are irreverent, unexpected and action packed. You could not ask for better boy stories. 

My guys have also loved The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The Trumpet of the Swan (full color), and all the Henry Huggins and Ralph Mouse books by Beverly Cleary. For picture books, we love so many... Virgina Lee Burton's or Robert McCloskey's tales,  Harold and the Purple Crayon, and the Boy and Frog series by Mercer Mayer are some of our very favorites. Also the Golden Guide field guides and the Ed Emberly drawing books are in constant use at our house. 

As for me, I've been revisiting old favorites. Jane Eyre , Wuthering Heights , My Antonia , LM Montgomery's lesser known Emily series and the All Creatures Great and Small books have all made their way onto my night stand in recent months. Honestly though, my most recent book passions have little to do with the stories. I've gone a bit nuts over mid-century children's illustrations. I've cleared off some valuable shelf space right near my desk for the likes of M. Sasek, Marc Simont, Leonard Weisgard, and Janet LaSalle to name a very few. 

So needless to say, we're a little bit in love with books!

Again, thank you so much for inviting me to stop and chat a while with you and your readers, Amy. It is always a pleasure to spend some time with like-minded mamas!

Well, thanks so much for visiting and sharing, Stefani!  Keep in touch!

MamaViews: Alicia from Posie Gets Cozy

Don't you just love Alicia?  Her blog is one of my very favorite reads and I'm so excited to have her here for an interview this morning.  She shares some beautiful thoughts about the importance of place, the soothing power of creativity, and being fluent in "craft."  So, dig in and get to know her a little better!

To me, your creations seem to have a solid sense of place, they look like something that would come out of the Northwest.  There's a back story to your pieces that speaks of blackberry cobblers, lazy Sunday mornings, and wild growing things.  What role does place play for you when you create?

It’s huge. Even as a little child, I was very sensitive to where I lived – my neighborhood, my house, my city (Chicago), my yard. I was very “close” to my environment in a way that seemed different from the other people around me: They didn’t seem to notice where they were too much, and I needed the lights to be a certain way, and had serious opinions about paint colors and peoples’ fences, or I was twitching because it was going to storm. Or whatever. I was really sensitive to places, and even to this day I have an almost photographic memory for certain places I’ve been (though I can barely remember anything else). I knew every inch of my neighborhood. When my parents moved away in 1998 after almost 30 years in the same house, it happened very abruptly, and during a time when I was recovering from a bad accident and so couldn’t go home and help. It was oddly wrenching for me, even though I hadn’t lived at home for several years – it seemed worse than it should have. I think I was feeling so vulnerable in my own life then – I was new to the city of Portland, newly married, and suddenly having to learn how to walk again – and I just imprinted on Oregon, somehow. I was desperate to feel “at home” again, and I took to Oregon like a grateful refugee; it seemed like everywhere I looked I found natural beauty that encouraged and soothed me. So yes – I love it here for reasons I probably don’t entirely understand, and my work frequently seems an attempt to conjure some emotion that my new home in Oregon evokes in me. I feel obligated to manifest in fabric and thread my sincere gratitude for having been taken in by this magical place. Because I feel like I have been adopted. And I know Andy (my husband, who is also from Chicago originally) feels the same. We’re very grateful that we’re here.

Creating can be an emotional process; the actual act of creation can be a roller coaster from wallowing in the pit of frustration to euphoric highs from creating something beautiful.  We also turn to our craft as an emotional release, a therapy, a distraction, an uplift etc.  How does emotion play itself out in your creative process?

Well, I am a pretty emotional person in general. I don’t get frustrated by my crafts or my work itself very often (though I do get frustrated with my EVIL COMPUTERS whose sole purpose is to drive me insane [I know this] frequently). But I think my work is emotional in that I just love it. I love it for giving my life a direction that I really needed. I love it for helping me recover from a difficult time – quite literally, handwork is a great balm for chronic pain (I have a permanently messed up foot). I love my house, and I frequently make things for it, so I think that love goes into those tablecloths and curtains and embroideries and potholders. I love my family, so when I make things for them I am definitely trying to express that in my work for them. Generally, I think I sort of express and explain my feelings these days in crafts. It seems to be a language that comes very naturally to me, and I feel very lucky for that. It’s good to feel fluent in something.

Your book features projects designed to become family keepsakes.  Tell us about a family heirloom that is significant to you, or perhaps something you've made and woven memories into yourself.

I’m sitting on a quilt right now that I made for Andy sixteen or seventeen years ago now. It’s a simple square patch quilt, one of my first. I had no idea what I was doing, so it’s totally falling apart, and there are lots of different kinds of fabric that have worn very differently in it – all of the weird polyester shiny patches are completely shredded, and you can see that there isn’t batting inside, but an old pilly garage-sale comforter inside. I hardly remember the specifics of making it now, but I do remember thinking as I was making it, “Oh yeah, how cool is this, he’s going to think I am an awesome girlfriend now!” It was just kind of a cool moment – we were “together” enough for me to know that the quilt would probably be in my life in the future, too, but not together enough for me to assume I didn’t have to try to impress him with my mad domestic skillz. It worked pretty well – he loved it, we’re still together – and he still pulls it out and sits under it when he is having a good, quiet, relaxing (i.e.: football-watching) day. He says it’s his favorite thing. When I look at it now, though, I see that I really didn’t know him very well – I would choose such different fabrics for him these days! Maybe I should make a new one.

To me you seem like a progressive pioneer; do you think so too? In what way?

Well, I am a very firm believer that the secret of happiness is just finding your niche and digging in – and not worrying what anyone thinks of that, what anyone else is doing, or even whether you should be doing something else. You follow your instincts – and your bliss – and just get down to it. I see this concept in your definition, I think, so while I don’t have kids, I do believe in taking responsibility for myself in this way. I think having and making time for hobbies is a very important part of healthy living. And I have always been really independent in my interests, and pretty fearless about them. I believe that you can learn almost anything with the help of a book, some elbow grease, and your own sense of confidence and intuition. I just do it. I don’t have to be great at it. I just have to allow myself the opportunity to do it. That freedom is precious. You have to choose it, and protect it.

In an alternate universe where you had taken a different path that didn't lead to crafting, sewing, writing, blogging, etc., what path would you be on? 

If I’d gone in a different direction in college, I probably would’ve been an English or Art History teacher, teaching 19^th century English novels or Pre-Raphaelite painters. If I’d gone in a different direction in grade school, I definitely would’ve become a horse trainer or, like, a hunter/jumper stable manager. I still kind of wish I had done that. I think I would’ve been pretty happy hanging around with horses every day. Horses and corgis.

Alicia, thank you so much for opening up and sharing your thoughts with us today.  Keep in touch!

MamaViews: Lynne and Melissa of Sugar City Journal

I have a treat for you today; two lovely sister-in-laws, one lovely blog and one wonderfully creative business venture.  Lynne and Melissa from Sugar City Journal share some insights into their relationship, working together and where they find inspiration.

How wonderful to be sister-in-laws with so much in common and such a fun project to work on together.  How has working on this creative endeavor together affected your relationship?

Lynne: Definitely doing this together has been our main motivation and joy in this blogging experience. Before Sugar City Melissa and I definitely loved each other and shared lots of interests, but it’s brought us so close as we’ve talked about our joint projects and our families and the shared creative experience. We talk nearly every day, one of us calling with some crazy idea about something to do, or make, or an idea from a book we’ve been reading that we want to hash out a little.

I think that both of us have at times gotten so busy with family and other responsibilities that we’re tempted to let Sugar City go...but the connection it gives us to each other makes it really hard.

Melissa:  I love the creative synergy that Lynne and I share.  It's amazing how we can start with a simple idea and by discussing it for just a few minutes the idea can evolve in unexpected ways.  Having a creative springboard is very healthy and I've heard that many advertising companies ask their employees to work in teams for this very reason.  Also I must add that Lynne is one of the nicest people on this earth.  She is one of my greatest heroes, or rather heroines!

The style of the clothes you sew, and also your homes, is such a pleasant mix of timeless, fairytale-esque vintage and sleek, hip, modern.  Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Lynne: I get a huge amount of inspiration from Melissa, herself! I love the way her mind works and it’s impacted me a lot in how I visually try and create our little home and the sewing I do. When I first met Melissa we were college apartment neighbors, and she’d just gotten back from living for a year and a half in Belgium. She seemed so sophisticated and artistic to me! I still feel that way. She is my life hero!

I also love the cozy domesticity of Carl Larsson, the Swedish painter. Looking at the depictions of his house in his paintings, it’s a jumble of children and activity – but also of beauty and effort on the part of both him and his artist-wife. And nature. I love to try and help my kids get any little bit of nature in their lives, which is sometimes a challenge for me in the suburbs.

Melissa:  I love picking my mom's brain for ideas too.  She grew up in the 30s and 40s in a small Idaho town.  She has vivid memories of her childhood and can remember all sorts of unusual details.  She's also an amazing seamstress and every summer when I visit Idaho with my children, my mom and I usually do several sewing projects together and she helps me refine my sewing.  

How did your childhood influence who you are as a mother and the way you mother your own families?  What sorts of traditions, practices and habits are carry-overs from your childhoods?

Lynne: I feel like I was so lucky in my childhood. We lived in an old farmhouse in Virginia on 7 acres, which we had total freedom to roam and explore. I spent a lot of time sitting on the bank of our little creek reading, or making up games in our old barn, or trying to teach our pets to talk (I was a strange child). But I loved it. I feel like with my own children, it’s my chief challenge to try and take the reality of our great life – in a San Francisco suburb, living in a neighborhood on a quarter acre of land, to find the magic in what we have here and now, rather than dwelling on an existence we don’t have. We have wonderful, wonderful friends who live up and down our street; we have security and a great sense of community; and my kids get to walk to school everyday.

Melissa:  My husband (who happens to be Lynne's brother) and I often draw upon our experiences of being raised with thrifty, can-do moms to help us raise our own children.  We live in a wealthy community where children are given pretty much everything they want.  It's always a challenge to not give in to the pressure of giving them everything.  My kids could attend one or two birthday parties every weekend, where the children are lavished with games and toys and sugar.  We try to think of the big picture and plan family outings and activities that strengthen their minds, bodies and spirits.  We go on lots of hikes, visit local historic sights and rake lots of lots of leaves together in our little wooded yard.  

To me you seem like progressive pioneers; do you think so too?  In what ways?

Lynne: I think I aspire to be a progressive pioneer rather than actually being one – and the key there I think is the desire to do things in a simpler, more wholesome way: parenting, entertaining, eating, living...

Melissa:  I ditto what Lynne said.

You both speak of the importance of appreciating and finding joy and beauty in the simple things.  What are some simple joys that have made you smile recently?

Lynne: It made me smile last night when my husband fished out a mini-matchbox car, 3 toothbrushes, and a wad of cottonballs from our sink drain.

Melissa:  That cracks me up Lynne!  I'm trying to savor every moment with my little children because I know they will grow up so fast.  They already have!  That's why my blog activity has lightened lately, I'm putting more emphasis on enjoying the moment with my little family, and less emphasis on stuff.  As for the pictures, I could add nothing sweeter than a picture of my little baby Margot in her little crocheted cap.  Thanks so much for taking the time to share a little glimpse into your world, your relationship and your sources of inspiration.  

If you haven't already, make sure you check out the patterns in their shop and the flickr group for some images of the patterns brought to life; they are divine.

MamaViews: Betz White

Betz does it all; mama-ing, crafting, book writing, and designing her own line of fabrics!  She just released a beautiful selection of rich, autumn-inspired fabrics in her organic print line.  I love that she chooses top quality materials and has her fabrics produced in a low-impact, sustainable manner.  She's all about being green; have you seen her book ?  I have a little project to show you tomorrow, inspired by one of Betz' ideas. Today she shares some thoughts about green crafting, creating with family, and where she finds inspiration.  Welcome, Betz!

You've published two books about crafting.  Do you find the creative process involved in writing a book to be significantly different from that involved in sewing and crafting?  How did you evolve as a creator and become a writer?

I've always had a design mind and worked many years as an apparel designer in the fashion industry. So the creative process I used when designing projects for my books was just second nature for me. As far as the writing portion goes, I do enjoy expressing myself.  However, I admit that the writing was definitely more of a challenge for me than the project creation. It's been a good stretching of the ol' comfort zone!

You use recycled and repurposed materials in so many of your projects.  You seem to have a knack for seeing something new and lovely within something old and cast off.  Does this affect how you see the rest of the world or things around you?

I think I discovered the thrill of the unexpected in my youth. I recall getting positive reinforcement from people when I chose to look at things in an offbeat way. My impulse was to intentionally do things differently than what people expected. (Of course, doing something differently purely for the sake of being different doesn't always have a positive result!) Now that I am a "seasoned" designer, I hope that I've refined that impulse.  I continue to get a kick out of turning things on their heads and, in particular, finding new purpose for old items. That's why I enjoy thrifting and repurposing so much! I really thrive on the process of creative problem solving.

How does crafting happen in your family?  Do you find yourselves involved often in collaborative projects?  Or do you and your kids retreat into your own personal creative zones?  Are you the ring leader or do your kids introduce you to new ideas?  What sort of dynamic does crafting bring to your family?

Since crafting is a big part of my "work", I have my own studio space full of my materials, tools and work surfaces. I share my space with my kids and husband when they need to create and we do often collaborate. In addition, the kitchen table is used more for drawing and art projects than for eating. Right now, the 4 of us are working on the kids Halloween costumes. What an undertaking! My husband, who is trained as an industrial designer, is in charge of the costume "hard goods": Helmets, jet-packs, etc. I am in charge of the costume "soft goods" : shirts, pants, capes, wigs, etc. The kids play the roles of art directors and fit models. I love being able to show the kids that making stuff is way more gratifying than buying it.

To me you seem like a progressive pioneer; do you think so too?  In what way?

I dedicated my book, Sewing Green, to my grandmother, Frances Sayre. Her mantra was Waste Not Want Not and it is a philosophy that rings as true today as it ever did. We have all grown accustomed to behaviors that contribute to a wasteful society. My current goal is to move away from all things disposable. I hope that by doing so others will join me! There are many projects in Sewing Green that can help, such as the reusable sandwich wrap and lunch tote, the water bottle sling, cloth napkins, etc. I really believe that we would all be better off by stopping, rewinding, and starting up again with simple, basic ways of living.

I love how you describe the feelings behind your family cottage fabric line.  Where do you find design inspiration? 

I usually start with something that is important or interesting to me personally, as was the case with Family Cottage and my new Indian Summer print line. A favorite memory, a place, a print fabric or a color combination from my childhood may serve as a springboard. I really like having a  story to guide my designs, something to hang my hat on. From there, it's anything goes! 

Thanks so much for visiting and sharing your thoughts today, Betz!  You can read more about Betz' lovely fabrics and projects on her blog; I find something new to inspire me every week!

MamaViews: Brooke from Inchmark

Todays MamaView comes from Brooke at Inchmark.  I've gotten so many great ideas from her site; the advent calendar mentioned below was already on my list of things to make this year for Christmas!  I love the approachable, warm feeling of her blog, you always feel like you've just popped in to visit a friend when you read her posts.  Today she shares some thoughts about the creative process, family traditions and balance.

Working for Martha Stewart you must have been exposed to myriad types of crafts.  It seems you're still constantly creating and trying new things.  As you've dabbled in so many different media and been exposed to various ways of creating, what have you learned about yourself as a crafter and creator?

While working on the Living and Kids magazines I learned not be afraid of failure. The cookies sometimes burn, the pinata falls apart, the paint color sometimes looks terrible once it's up on the wall... the ideas you have don't always work out quite the way you think they will. It happens to everyone. But some of the most beautiful moments on photo shoots are when things don't work out as planned, so you just try something else and eventually something even more beautiful is born. You just keep trying. I remind myself of this all the time. So you sewed the sleeve on upside down? No big deal. Just pull out your stitches and try again. Don't get bogged down in your failures.

Every family has it's own unique culture.  What traditions and family culture do you cultivate with your children?

I grew up in a family of six children and my parents made sure we had a lot of fun together. I'm trying to foster that same kind of feeling in my family.. we work together, but we also laugh together, and we try to have a lot of fun together.
I have a great love for traditions, and I have carried on many of the traditions of my parents like using an advent calendar to count down the days before Christmas or going to visit the cabin.  But I
think it's important to start your own traditions as well, things that are unique to just your little family, isn't that part of the fun of being a parent?

How do you balance working at home and being a full-time mom?  Do you clearly delineate your two roles or do you find they overlap, merge and blend throughout the day?

I try to delineate my roles as much as I can. I have always made sure I have a few hours a week when I have the house to myself and can really focus on work (usually I've done this by paying a close friend to watch the kids on a set schedule, say every Monday from 9 to 2). This year my oldest entered kindergarten, and my youngest is in preschool two mornings a week so I have some days when I can take conference calls from New York and really concentrate for a few hours.
I try to be very aware of how much work I am putting on my plate. For the past year I took a break from doing book design, because I had done three books back to back and was really feeling the stress of the deadlines. I turn things down a lot, even though they sound like wonderful projects, because I just can't work 60 hour weeks like I did before I had kids. I choose not to.


To me you seem like a progressive pioneer do you think so too?  In what way?

I just finished reading Little House in the Big Woods to my children and have been thinking about the beautiful way the Ingalls family lived. I love how they had to work together in order to get the harvest done or to prepare the house for winter, even the littlest ones had important jobs. I love how their routine changed according to the seasons and how their greatest joy was listening to Pa play his fiddle at night.
We don't live in a little log cabin in the country (though I'm not ruling out the possibility someday!). We barely even have seasons here in Southern California. But I think I can still teach my family how to live simply. I am trying to instill in my children a love of nature. A love of simple food. An appreciation for every gift (remember how excited little Laura Ingalls was at Christmas when she received one simple rag doll?) A love of hard work. A love of family (we recently moved from New York City to raise our children near my parents and my brother and his family). And something my parents always prayed for with their children.. a love of learning. I don't think your circumstances matter as much as what you decide to value in your own home.

Given a day to do anything you please, what would you do?

I guess I would do what I do everyday: Wake up to hear my children laughing together. Kiss my husband. Do a little work. Watch my kids learn something new. Go for a walk on the beach with the whole family. Read for a few minutes. Have dinner together around our dining room table. Find time to make something. Spend a little time with my husband before we go to bed and start all over again.

Brooke, thanks so much for sharing.  I loved your thoughts on choices, simplicity and making conscious decisions about what to value in your family.  Keep in touch!

MamaViews: Susan From Farmgirl Fare

I am so excited to share Susan's interview with you guys; you are going to love her!  She's everything lovely and exciting all wrapped up in one; adventurous, artistic, she cooks, she gardens, she writes, she is midwife to sheep, and mama to one special lamb.  She's pretty much your all-around, rustic, renaissance woman and she has so many great thoughts and ideas to share!

Many people think of life on a farm as simpler, while others proclaim the modern conveniences of a city to make life simpler. What is your definition of simplicity and where do you find it?

I often refer to the way we live as the 'complicated simple country life.' In many ways, being out in the country is simpler because a lot of the annoying little everyday city things aren't here: traffic is basically non-existent, and wherever you go there's always plenty of parking. For me, driving ten times as far on an empty road through beautiful scenery is a much simpler way to live than catching 28 red lights in 4 miles (yes, I counted once).

But some things out here are ridiculously complicated. Take mail delivery, which I always took for granted. Our farm is so remote that the U.S. Postal Service won't deliver mail to us. They do provide us with a free box at the tiny post office 10 miles away, but you can only access the boxes when the post office is open (7am to 4pm weekdays, 10am to noon Saturday, closed noon to 1pm for lunch). The outgoing mail goes out once a day, in the morning with the person who delivers that day's mail. So if you want something to go out the same day, you won't be able to pick up that day's mail at the same time. Oh, and of course overnight delivery doesn't actually mean overnight for us.

On the other hand, I can't remember more than two or three times over the past 9 years that I've had to wait in line—if you can call the one person ahead of you a line. And if I know I'm going to be going through town when the post office is closed, I just call the owner of the general/feed/only store in town and he'll walk next door and get our mail. We usually only pick up the mail once a week, but I can call the postmistress anytime and ask if a package or envelope we're expecting has arrived.

As for my definition of simplicity, it would be celebrating all the wonderful little things about being here, like the hundreds of dragonflies that flit around the farmyard every afternoon in late summer, or counting two dozen bats swooping overhead at dusk. Being 'stuck' behind an Amish buggy on the highway. Snuggling a little lamb. The first strawberries of the season. Digging up potatoes. Cooling off in the 100-gallon stock tank 'pool' on a sweltering summer day. Cotton sheets billowing on the laundry line. Looking forward to a 'fast farm food' dinner at the end of a long day of homegrown steaks tossed on the grill, a freshly picked salad from the garden, and a homemade crusty baguette from the freezer. Sleeping in because it's raining. Warming up by the wood stove. Dogs playing in the snow. Watching a baby chick peck its way out of an egg. How genuinely friendly and kind people around here are.

What would your advice be to someone who dreams of their own little piece of land or a few animals and a garden?

When I read this question to Joe, his immediate response was, "Tell them to have plenty of money because everything will cost more than you think!" By far the most difficult thing about living where we do is trying to earn a living. I don't know any farmers who don't also rely on some sort of off farm income to help pay the bills. I moved to this area because land prices were lower than most, but if I were going to relocate to another farm, I would choose a place that was closer to a progressive urban area with a market for top quality foods. And while that is definitely good advice (never move to the country without a huge pile of cash and/or some sort of guaranteed income) I think that the most important thing you can do toward achieving your dream—no matter what it is—is in some way, to start today. Tear up a corner of your lawn and plant a vegetable garden, visit the livestock building at a county fair and ask the 4-H kids showing their sheep and steers what the hardest part about raising animals is, go test drive a used pickup truck.

I also think it's important not to let your enthusiasm carry you away so far that you become totally overwhelmed and/or frustrated, which is easy to do. If you're new to vegetable gardening, starting with a small plot with just a few tomato, basil, and pepper plants is a lot better than planting a quarter acre and losing everything to weeds and insects because you don't have the time to properly tend it.

Be realistic about your abilities and experience, too. I remember reading something when I first moved out here about how it costs the same to keep a high-dollar, registered sheep from champion bloodlines as an inexpensive, mixed-breed one. That may be true, but if you've never raised livestock before, it's probably a better idea to start out with animals that aren't worth a small fortune. That way your mistakes won't be nearly as costly—because no matter how hard you try and how much you care about your animals, things will go wrong and some of them will die, that's part of the process and the experience.

At the same time, don't wait until you know absolutely everything there is to know before jumping into your dream, because that day will never come. I've been living on a farm for over 14 years, and yet nearly every day I'm still faced with something new.

If you're planning to relocate and buy land in the country, do as much research as you can about the area and spend some time there, preferably at different times of the year. Ask people what they don't like about living there. It can be much more helpful to learn that for three months out of the year the mosquitoes will eat you alive , or that the summers are too short and cool to grow tomatoes and peppers, than that the autumn foliage is lovely.

Clearly the move from the big city to the wide open spaces has worked for you; what is it about the farming life that makes it worth doing for you? What have been the biggest adjustments?

Life on the farm can be hard (and exhausting!), but the sense of accomplishment—whether it's after a morning spent cutting firewood, an afternoon working in the garden, or three hot and sweaty days putting up 800 bales of hay—is really fulfilling. Another thing I love is that no two days are ever the same.

Things often go wrong, and there are plenty of times when I wonder what the heck I'm doing out here, especially when something horrible happens, like finding one of your best sheep killed by coyotes (and then having a dozen more killed over the next several months). But no matter where you are and what you do, there's always going to be bad stuff that comes with the good. And out here, the good stuff is really, really wonderful. Most of time I'm just grateful to live in this amazing place.

As for adjustments, I miss the ocean! One of the biggest adjustments for me, coming to southern Missouri from the San Francisco Bay Area, has been the weather. I love having four seasons (fall is beautiful here), and don't mind the snow and ice storms in winter, but I'm not a warm weather person at all, so our hot and humid summers are really tough on me.

The general lack of ingredients and year round local produce was difficult, especially at first. And being so far from town took some adjusting (though I love the solitude of living several miles from anyone). I used to live down the street from a big supermarket and two miles from Trader Joe's and Costco; now it's a 40 mile drive for fresh parsley if there isn't any in the greenhouse. And there's no calling out for Chinese or pizza delivery.

Many adjustments were surprising but welcome: realizing I could go to town in ratty old work clothes and nobody would care, often being the only person in a store, strangers always striking up friendly conversations with you, people in oncoming cars waving to you on the highway, the decidedly slower pace of life in general.

To me you seem like a progressive pioneer; do you think so too? In what way?

I loved reading your 'What is a Progressive Pioneer?' page, and I do think I am one. The things you bring up, like that 'sometimes the most progressive ideas are the oldest and simplest' are so true, and that's how we live on the farm. We don't turn our backs on technology (electricity is an important part of our lives!), but we do focus on working with nature instead of against it. It's so much easier and less stressful for everyone—and often for the planet.

For instance, rather than forcing the sheep to conform to our ideas of when and how they should do things, we observe the natural rhythm of their schedule and learn how they think. If you decide they have to be rounded up and tucked in at a specific time every night, half the time you'll spend 20 maddening and fruitless minutes chasing them around the field. And yet if you just wait another 20 minutes, they'll put themselves up.

Sometimes I think I've become lazier over the years, but what's really happening is that I'm simply fighting nature less. Two years ago I planted a few rows of kale seeds in one of my 4'x8' raised organic garden beds. This year there are big beautiful kale plants growing in that bed and the 4-foot wide walkways surrounding it. Instead of tearing out the mess of 'weeds' to make the garden look tidy, I've been feeding nutritious, free kale to my chickens (and us) for the past six months.

The last two times we've had hens hatch out chicks, I decided not to buy the special chick starter everybody uses, and simply fed them the real food we feed all of our grown hens instead: whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, bits of raw meat and cheese, forgotten leftover homemade pizza from the freezer, the organic kelp and mineral mix we give all the animals. And you know what? Those have been the healthiest chicks we've ever raised.

What is one fabulous, life-changing, Farmgirl Fare recipe you'd love to share with us?

That's easy—my Farmhouse White Sandwich Bread recipe. Baking your own bread is such a gratifying thing to do, and this basic recipe is perfect for beginners. Once you master it, you can start adding in whatever you like: a few cups of whole wheat flour, some wheat or oat bran, a cup of old-fashioned oats, a little honey. I've heard from so many people who baked their first loaves of bread using this recipe, and now Farmhouse White is a staple in their homes. I love that!

If you're still a little frightened by yeast, try my Beyond Easy Beer Bread. Year in and year out, this is the most popular recipe on Farmgirl Fare—five ingredients and five minutes of work reward you with a warm, crusty loaf in under an hour.

Susan, thanks so much for sharing a little glimpse into your lovely country life.  It certainly rekindled my dream of getting a few acres out in the country! 

MamaViews: Hillary from Wee Wonderfuls

I'm completely smitten with Hillary Lang's designs and am so happy she agreed to be interviewed here today.  You absolutely must check out her shop, especially the Make-A-Long Story; it's so charming.  Her blog if full of the loveliest sewing projects and crafts.  Below she talks about the creative process, inspiration and the joy of crafting.  Enjoy!

You have a knack for making your crafting personal and bringing it to life.  I feel like I can sense the affection that went into them and the stories behind your projects.  What is your relationship to the things you create?
Oh, we're definitely b.f.f., my creations and I.  I often think of my kids' future kids when I make things for the family. I want things that will be around for a long time so I try to create things that I'll always love. I think what's going to endure in material and design. I want everything I create, the little stuffed friends, the outfits and embroideries, the cuddly quilts, to be part of our family's story.

You have such a distinct, recognizable style; how did it evolve and develop?  What elements have inspired you and been woven into your style along the way?

For toys I'm always inspired by the same things, things that remind me of my childhood... 70s colors and vintage Fisher Price toys, amazing children's book illustrators like Richard Scarry and Lois Lenski , the color and shape of Danish and Scandinavian design that filled our house. These things have always been there, the shapes and expressions of the toys were more of an evolution. When I started out I had the hardest time with the faces. I couldn't seem to get them just right. It seems like a silly thing but I worked so hard on it and in the end it was a simple, open face that sang to me best and now I don't fight it anymore. I think that similar expression more than anything makes my toys look like they're all members of one big, extended family.

How do you think being surrounded by handmade/mama-made blankets, toys, and clothes has affected your children?

I think it's wonderful for children to be exposed to a D.I.Y. spirit in any manner. Oscar has a killer imagination and a very can-do attitude and I definitely think that came from watching his dad and I working on all manner of projects. The kids are very actively involved in their playtime and I feel a big part of that comes from them having a controlling hand in their world instead of having their entertainment fed to them. Though I learned early on not to get hung up on my kids having to play with the toys I make. It's the process of making, more than the end result that is important.

To me you seem like a progressive pioneer; do you think so too?  In what way?

Geez, I don't know. Sure, why not! Though I am actually a pretty conventional mom. I am an over-busy, working, suburban, soccer mom with a kindergartner in public school. We are not by any means an unplugged family and I would hate to be living 100 years ago. I'm a HUGE fan of technology! But we do try to parent thoughtfully and disregard preconceived ideas of how a modern family should operate unless they work for us. We're always looking for ways to have simple, easy, make-our-own fun experiences with the kids. At the arboretum we'll opt out of the overcrowded, children's garden crammed full of interactive exhibits and try instead to find an offbeat place to have a quiet hike and see what we can collect or observe. We have a nature table and a wii. Our kids love helping out in our garden and eating the things we grow but they are also addicted to fruit snacks. We are always working toward balance, trying to figure out a life that works best for us.

When you create simply for the joy of creating, no specific need or request in mind, what do you love to make?

This is when I turn to knitting. I love it though I'm not that good at it. Sometimes my escape knitting becomes so stressful I just turn back to my work! I need to start a big afghan project, something I can just knit away at when I want a breather. I had to finally stop with the scarves because I just have too many of them so now I knit hats or little sweaters and it can be frustrating because I never seem to have the right gauge yarn or the right needles on hand. I should definitely go with a blanket! I'm getting really excited about that idea. Thanks for asking the question!

Well, thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts, Hillary!  Keep in touch!

MamaViews: Erin from House on Hill Road

This interview series has been such a treat for me.  And now I've got a treat for you; two interviews in one week!  We missed one last week, so we're getting double the inspiration, wise words and pretty pictures this week!  Today's guest is Erin from House on Hill Road.  She's a full time mama and a serious crafter.  She makes these beautiful camera straps; you better believe I've got one on my Christmas list!  Here are her thoughts on crafting, inspiration and traditions:

What role (and/or purpose) does creating play in your life?
I cannot imagine my life without crafting.  I really think I am hardwired to create.  Most items that I make are purpose driven:  patchwork camera straps, knit sweaters, applique t-shirts, bags of different sorts.  I like putting my own touch on things I will see everyday.  It's my way of adding a little beauty to the things that surround me.  It's very rare that I make something without knowing what I am going to use it for or who I am going to give it to.  Crafting, and especially sewing, is also my relaxation and my therapy.  While I am stitching, I can let my mind rest in a meditative way or I can think through issues and problems.  I often lose myself in what I am making, not realizing how quickly or slowly time is moving.  But it's not always quiet time!  I am often found sitting in the carpool line or at a sport practice with knitting or embroidery.  If there's a free moment, chances are that I will work on whatever project I have going at the time.

How have you passed on your love of crafting to your girls?  
I was just thinking about this recently.  Both of my daughters are both very creative, but in very different ways.   One of them is extremely artistic whereas the other tends to like crafts more than actual drawing or painting.  I love to sew, but neither one of them is very interested in that.  I think they are finding their own way and if I can help them along by providing materials and supplies with a bit of direction, then I am all for that!  I'm also not beyond enlisting help.  Jane wanted to knit a couple of years ago and I had my friend who owns the local yarn shop teach her.  It was the best thing for all concerned!  Kate knows that when she turns eight this fall, she can take a lesson at the yarn store, too.  I think the best gift I have given them for a creative life is to allow them to make what they want.  They have all the supplies at their fingertips and they can make whatever they desire, mess and all.  I also think that seeing me create has given them a greater desire to make things themselves.  They are always suggesting good gift ideas for their friends' birthdays and often we make what they suggest.  It makes me happy that they like to make things and I hope that crafting is something that they will both always enjoy.

Where do you get your ideas?   Where/how does inspiration strike?  Do you ever get in a creative rut?  How do you get out?
This is a good question.  I really haven't thought much about where my ideas come from.  I guess most of them are born out of some sort of a necessity.  As I said earlier, I do tend to make things for a purpose.  But inspiration is an entirely different thing - it comes from all over.  Of course, blogs are often the starting point of my projects.  Craft books fit this niche too.  I'll see something someone else has made and it'll spark an idea in me.  I'll want to make something similar, or maybe even completely different, but that project I just saw will be compelling.  It's like an impulse I can't ignore.  More often than not, when that happens, I jump right into making.  Sometimes all it takes is a photo or a few words strung together that get me thinking and then off I go.  A great example would be the string x quilt I made last year.  I saw a photo on flickr and I couldn't start cutting fabric fast enough!  Moments like that are so wonderful.  To a certain extent, my brain turns off and I just make - fun!

But - and that is a big but - the times when the inspiration presents itself and I am able to jump on something don't happen that often.  I have my ruts, too.  In fact, I'd say that I am in one of them now.  Sure, I am making things because it's really hard for me not to create. But it's been awhile since I have felt the urge to just drop everything and start down the road of whatever project my heart desires.  It happens.  Realizing that I am a bit under-inspired at the moment has made me turn to the projects that I have started and haven't finished.  There was a reason I started working on each of these items and, as I pick them back up, I can't remember why I stopped working on them in the first place.  It sounds somewhat counter-intuitive, but by focusing on finishing projects instead of starting them, my mind is loosening up a bit.  I felt one of those sparks today.  Instead of immediately jumping on it, I'm letting it percolate and grow.  And after I finish a few more of the works in progress sitting in the studio, I bet I'll be ready to tackle something new and exciting.  Crafting really is an adventure - I never know just where it's taking me.

What advice would you give to someone new to quilting or sewing, but eager to start?
Start slowly and practice.  If you chose something that is simple to make, your chances of success are high!  Great beginning projects are those with straight lines - a pillow or a tote bag.  You don't have to have a fancy machine - just something that sews a straight stitch and a zig zag to start.  Ask around and see if you have a friend or relative that will let you borrow a machine before you invest in one of your own.  That way you will know for sure if you want to invest your spare change in a sewing machine.  You might want to take a class  - it's always nice to have someone on hand to help you out when you get stuck or to answer your questions.   I find that the ladies who work in the quilt stores know a lot about sewing.  Ask them if you get stuck.  You can also find all kinds of tutorials with pictures (and video!) online.  Google is great for finding free downloadable patterns.

And use an iron.  You can't make nice looking projects without one.  Trust me - I've tried.

 

Traditions are so important; I loved your first-day-of school pictures of your girls, what other traditions or routines do you have that give a sense of continuity to your family life?
I couldn't agree more!  Family traditions are so important.   In addition to the first day of school photos, we try to eat as a family every night.  Sometimes it's hard to do with the kids' commitments, but we are making the extra effort to see that it happens.  On birthdays, we wake the birthday person up by singing to them and then they get to open their presents in bed.  Also, if you talk during your first piece of birthday cake, you have to go under the table to finish it.  It sounds strange, I know!  But we did that growing up because that was the tradition in my father's family.  We go to church on Christmas Eve and open one present that night.  We eat certain meals on certain holidays and vacation in the same spots year after year.  I could go on and on.  I know that these traditions are what will form my children's memories as they get older.  My parents believe in tradition also and I could give you a list as long as my arm of the ones I grew up with.  I think my favorite, though, is that in our family, when we have hurt or wronged someone we say, "Sorry.  Will you forgive me?"  It's amazing how fast you can forget about whatever hurt you in the first place when you are already moving beyond it.

Thanks so much for having me, Amy.  It was really fun chatting with you.

Erin, thanks for taking the time to share!  It was so enjoyable to hear you thoughts, ideas and advice.  Keep in touch!

Here are some of my favorite projects of Erin's: picnic blanket with rock pockets, sweet onesies, and a green polka-dot sock monkey.

MamaViews: Heather from Beauty That Moves

Heather is a noticer-of-details, a mama, a crafter of lovely things and a woman on the verge of an adventure!  I'm so glad she took the time to share some thoughts with us.

You seem to aim for simplicity.  I know, in my life I seem to be battling an ever-encroaching chaos!  How do you steer your life back towards simplicity and keep the chaos at bay?

 

I love your expression "ever-encroaching chaos." Indeed, I feel it too. A few years ago our homeopath wisely told us that he firmly believes "some people just need a low-stimulus environment." His words were so comforting and spoke to what my intuition already knew. Lately on my blog I've been writing about the busyness of my life right now, and while it does feel quite busy to me, sometimes I have to laugh at myself knowing it's all relative. "Busy" for me can happen rather quickly... while another person might still be running strong, checking things off their list well into the night, my own cup runneth over much sooner and I find myself feeling desperate for a cup of tea, some quiet, and a few deep breaths.

So how do I maintain simplicity? It's a constant practice, one that I try to stay very mindful of. I don't say yes to every invitation, we don't run around on the weekends to the mall or other busy places, we don't watch television (which frees up an incredible amount of time), we don't participate in excessive consumerism (which aside from keeping a lot of stuff out of our lives and helping to reduce our ever-depleting resources... it also, like forgoing television, gives us a lot of physical and mental free space to just be).

We do make time to connect with nature, each other, and other like minded people regularly. We cook from scratch and find the entire process of collecting/gathering/hunting, preparing and serving food to be a fulfilling spiritual practice. Family meals at the table are a daily occurrence. We choose a very small, progressive school for our daughter to attend, the size and quality of the community there is a perfect fit for us. We hang out for extended periods of time at the library. I could go on and on... I love simplicity, quiet, and a good measure of solitude.

You do a lot of creating; sewing projects that end up in your lovely shop, projects for friends and family and handmade things for yourself.  What inspires you to create?  

 

This is a tough one for me. Creativity is not something I'm able to channel or conjure up on demand. I don't think of myself as an artist, just a person who, like anyone, has lucid, spontaneous moments of creativity.

 

Thinking about what inspires me... sometimes the right balance just falls into place and inspiration strikes. Other times, if I feel stuck, I'll go for a hike, get on my mat, spend time in the kitchen cooking, or straighten my studio space. An organized studio space is always motivating! 

Creatively, I am at my peak 45 minutes into a deep yoga practice, or when I'm in the kitchen cooking for my family. Everything seems to flow freely, organically, in both of these spaces. At the end of my practice, or at the end of a meal I've offered,  there is nothing to hold or look at, yet I've expressed and felt a million things. 

Balancing the various incarnations we as mothers can be (chef, puppeteer, gardener, teacher...) and the additional hats you wear (photographer, shop owner, crafter, blogger...), how do you move from one role into another and maintain a continuity in your day(s) and family life?

 

Some days quite gracefully, others it's a disastrous sight to behold I am sure.

 

Honestly, I have an amazing husband. We are a good team and try really hard to look out for, and support one another When I am over-extended, he reminds me that I need to take care of myself. He has been known to demand I go to yoga (either to a class or upstairs in our yoga room) while he cleans the house, washes the dishes, takes care of business. And don't tell him I told you, but he's also been known to step behind the sewing machine on occasion to help out when I'm in over my head. He will of course deny this if confronted.

 

I don't really think it's possible to do it all, all of the time. But I do believe that whatever "hat" we are wearing at any given moment can be worn with great focus, priority and intention. I also try to practice choosing my attitude, which means if I'm feeling busy and off-balance, I check in with myself and really decide how I'm going to navigate the stress. The work will be there like it or not, but the attitude I choose to handle it can make all the difference.

To me you seem like a progressive pioneer; do you think so too?  In what way?

Oh goodness Amy, I do love the idea of being a progressive pioneer! Homebirthing, babywearing, extended breastfeeding, attachment parenting, co-sleeping, vaccination awareness, alternative education seeking... these are all things that are on my mama/life resume. 

Currently, we are gearing up for a big move from the city to the country, two states away. There we plan to live a quiet, simpler and more sustainable life.  My husband recently wrote, "It has always been our plan to move to Vermont because we find the overall community subscribes to cognizant and responsible stewardship and independence. It is not a move to the backwoods so we can still moonshine and wear overalls, shutting out the horrors of modern society. We are going there to effect change in our lives and ultimately others as well." Well said, I think.

 
Tell us about a favorite project you've made (or one of your favorites; I would have trouble picking only one, too!).

 

As soon as I read this I thought of a project immediately. It was a collaboration of sorts, my part in it actually being quite small. Last winter my husband made a beautiful wooden fairy tree house as a donation to my daughter's school auction. These houses are very personal works of art that he spends hours and hours making. I had a rather last minute idea to accessorize his tree house and boldly invited myself into his creative process. To be honest, I'm not so sure how accommodating I would have been if the roles were reversed, but he was sweet and cool with me adding whatever I wanted. I had so many "themes" tossing around... a fairy kitchen set... a fairy birthday party set... a cozy living room... in the end I decided to make a little fairy camping set.

It's such a small thing, but for so many reasons behind it, I'm calling it my favorite right now! ;)

 

Thank you Amy, what a pleasure to chat with you today!

Thank you so much for sharing some lovely pieces of your life with us, Heather.  I loved your thoughts about simplicity and about choosing how we respond to different situations.  I hope you'll keep in touch!

MamaViews: Blair from Wisecraft

I'm so thrilled to have Blair from Wisecraft with us today. Her blog is full of mama-musings, inspiring crafts, (including plenty you can do with kids- she has two), and beautiful, beautiful quilts! 

Creating handmade objects can be so much more than a mere physical act, it can be emotional, spiritual, intellectual and so on.  What is it for you?

It is most definitely emotional for me. I almost always begin a handmade project based on an idea or inspiration that hits an emotional nerve for me. I have a drive to make it and can't get it out of my head until I do. At quiet moments during the day I will "work" on that project in my head, trying to smooth out each step so that when I actually get time to make it, I can already see the end result in my head, it helps keep me motivated. Working on handmade projects really quiets my mind, clears my thoughts. I think many people can relate to the feeling of doing too many things at once throughout the day, sewing and making things take up all my brainspace when I'm doing them, and it really refreshes me mentally.

There is so much sharing within crafting circles, especially now with the internet and blogging.  What role has community played in your personal creation process?

I have made lifelong friends with many crafting bloggers. I think I, as many, had the initial reaction of "wow! someone out there has obsessive thoughts about crafts like I do! Whew!" upon discovering the world of crafting blogs back when I did (in 2004, I think). The internet has made the world a delightfully smaller place for me, and the friends I've made from blogging continue to be an amazing resource of advice and support for me. I think there is a desire for many of us who blog or who read blogs to connect in real life, and now more than ever I can see how the old fashioned quilting bee must have been a major support for women within small communities. I'd like to think internet has allowed each of us to recreate that community, but in a different way. We all support each other in a very real way over the internet... we inspire, give advice, tips, help each other, its very supportive.

 

You do a lot of crafting with your kids.  What do you think makes your creative time with them successful?

First and foremost, either we have clear expectations, or we know we have no expectations at all (which, I guess, is also an expectation). Because my kids are 8 and 10 now, crafting with them has elevated to a whole new level, I do much less of the work. I can help them gather supplies, and they take it from there. But early on, the best crafting sessions were when I made it relatively easy and straightforward for them...having supplies ready before they got to the table, one kid really wanted to see some sort of finished product before starting (picture, rough sketch). It was always a challenge for me not to jump in and help them out (okay, that's still a challenge), but its really better to just "sit on my hands" and let them see where it takes them. So I guess realistic expectations of what they'll do, how long they will even want to do it (5 minutes?), and how messy it will be, all makes for a really fun time. A lesson in letting go : D

To me you seem like a progressive pioneer; do you think so too?  In what way?

I think progressive pioneer is a fantastic term to describe the trend of what people like me love to do, crafting for home and family. I try to show my kids a way beyond a disposable world. I know that for my family, we are more likely to not look at something handmade around our house as disposable, and will hang onto it longer. Consequently, I put a lot of thought into what I make, and what we bring into our home. I think in really subtle ways, my family's life is enriched by what I make for us and our home.  We can look around us and tell a story about many of the things we see around our home...quilts, artwork, dolls, etc. When the outside world around us is so crazy, I try to soften it as I can for my kids and our life. I can only control so much of how the outside world chooses to stress us, or makes us worry, but home can be a calm, loving place.

Your colors, patterns and designs are amazing!  Tell us about some of your favorites sources for inspiration.

The internet is such a wealth of wonderful ideas and beautiful inspiration, sometimes too much. Often I see a need in our daily lives that inspires me with a new idea, like the daily placemats. I have a secret fetish for floral fabrics, but they really don't fit in our house, so I try to find inconspicuous and clever ways to sneak them in, and I think that is why I love patchwork so much. For a burst of inspiration, I love Amy Butler's website (beautiful inspiration photos), Denyse Schmidt (my all-time favorite quilting inspiration), I love True Up because its all about my favorite thing- fabric, and so so many fabric blogs, too many to list! Bloggers are so full of good info, and so generous with tutorials and how-tos, its wonderful!

Blair, thanks for sharing your thoughts, home and projects with us.  Keep in touch!

PS Here's a link to more information about that rad, felted checkers set.  I know you want to make one!

MamaViews: Meg from Sew Liberated

Welcome, Meg from Sew Liberated!  I was so thrilled when Meg agreed to do an interview, her blog is one of my very favorites, here is our conversation peppered with some photos of her lovely family and home:

Your home seems so peaceful, what do you do that makes it that way?

First off, thanks so much for inviting me to your own inspired place, Amy! I’m really flattered that you consider my home a peaceful haven – sometimes it’s nice to step back and look at it from another viewpoint in order to really appreciate what you have. Our home is certainly not peaceful (or clean!) all of the time, but we do try to relish those moments of relaxation when they present themselves.

There are a few things that we consciously do to try to create a calm and loving home environment, the main one being that we don’t have a television. Instead of arranging the furniture around the tube, our furniture is arranged around bookshelves and a nice sound system. The other focal point in our living space is the piano, which sits in between two guitars – mine and my husband’s. We hope to add a basket of percussion “instruments” for our baby son, Finn, once he can sit up on his own. The real benefit of not having a television is that we don’t waste our family’s together time by sitting in front of it. Instead, we play music, sing, cook together, or read. The big temptation for us is to use our computer like a television. We are mindful of this, although we do find ourselves spending a bit too much time in front of the screen. Lately, since Finn was born, we’ve been trying to really limit our screen time by keeping our desktop in a separate room and trying to turn off the computer once our daily work is done.

Another little something I try to do to create an ambiance of peace is to pepper the house with little homemade or thrifted details. To me, these little details are what make a home cozy – what makes you want to settle in and make yourself comfortable. While I have an obsession with Anthropologie and their home displays, I try to catch myself and realize that what they do so well in their marketing is to make things “look” homey, thrifted, and handmade. And you know what? We can all do that ourselves, and we don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to get the look!

You clearly love to make things by hand, how did you make the leap from making things for yourself to making things to sell?  Any advice for other mamas on the same path? 

The leap was totally my husband’s doing! We had been living in Mexico for about a year with my meager Mexican schoolteacher’s salary. Living on $400 US a month is totally do-able in Mexico, but when you added my sewing passion to that, with my purchases from online US fabric stores (it’s difficult to find cottons where we were; they sell mostly synthetic fabric), things were a bit tight. Patrick suggested that I make up some patterns for the things I was making for my classroom and sell them to fund my “fabric habit.”

That ended up being a good call! It’s been very gratifying work, and most importantly, it allows me to work from home and be with my son. I would definitely encourage anyone with an idea to take the steps needed to become a “peddler of homemade wares”. Be it opening an Etsy store that you stock at your leisure or starting to blog about your creative process, you can’t go wrong. You can certainly feel vulnerable putting your “work” out in the world, but as long as you are creatively fulfilled in the process of making, that’s what is important.

This September, I’m excited to be taking Creative Thursday’s e-course In the Fish Bowl – Life as an Artist Online. I’m hoping that it will give me new ideas, a fresh perspective, and more support for my creative endeavors online.

In my opinion you are a progressive pioneer; do you think so too?  In what way?

Yes, we do our best to live simply. We learned a lot about how to go about this while living for three years in rural Mexico. When your neighbors don’t have running water and you are surrounded by a level of poverty not often witnessed in the US, you learn to get by with less money and less stuff. The native Tarahumara women taught me a valuable lesson as a mama – the only gear you really need is a piece of fabric to use as a sling – the rest is nice, but not necessary.

We certainly try to keep things simple around here – in our parenting style and in our lifestyle in general. We co-sleep, breastfeed, wear our baby, and avoid plastic in favor of natural materials. Our son enjoys the handcrafted wooden toys that we bought for him, but the things that bring him the most joy are free – bits of fabric, burlap, and leaves that we pick up on our walks.

Your phrase, Amy, “Choose to follow the examples of our pioneer forbears;  live simply, live close to the earth and close to your loved ones” really rings true to me – especially the part about living close to your loved ones. While we don’t live close to much of our extended families (my husband is in grad school for the next five years or so) we do live very close to each other in our little nuclear family. My husband and I cook together, and we usually eat all three meals together as a family. Certainly, our “jobs” make that possible, but we have made the conscious decision not to pursue money and career goals ahead of quality time with each other and our child. We live on a very modest income but we have the gift of this wonderful time together. We’re also aware that so many families don’t have the option of making this decision, as many loving parents and single parents have no choice but to work several jobs for little pay. We are lucky to be in the position to choose a simple lifestyle, and we are immensely grateful for that.

Everyone has little, simple things that make them happy; what simple things just make your heart sing?

Here are a few that come to mind at the moment:

The soundtrack to the movie Amelie, baby giggles, the funny faces my husband makes when he looks in the mirror, using old jars for drinking glasses, old clothespins found at a yard sale, reading books with my son, a phone call from my Dad, the snoring baby sleeping on me in a sling as I write this, soup from scratch, my cat who plays fetch with a stuffed green mouse, rocking a baby while Daddy plays the piano, and the clean smell of summer rain.

What books are you reading and loving right now?

I used to be drawn to heavy philosophy texts and classic novels (I studied in a “Great Books” program as an undergrad) but now I find myself pulled to the gentle wisdom of crafting, parenting and nature education texts. It’s been a while since I’ve read a novel, although I anticipate that that time will come again. I seem to have an ebb and flow of reading interests – right now I’m absorbing all of the Waldorf books I can get my hands on; a while back I was on an unschooling text quest. Here’s what I have peppered around the house right now (wherever I nurse a sleepy baby, it seems!):

Handmade Home by Amanda Soule

Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature for Kids of all Ages and their Mentors by Jon Young, Ellen Haas, and Evan McGown

All Year Round (Lifeways) by Ann Druit

Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children by Sharifa Oppenheimer

Thank you Meg, for taking time to share with us and letting us get to know you a little better.  It's been such a treat; keep in touch!

Introducing MamaViews

There are so many women I admire and whose blogs I read that I decided it would be fun to get to know some of them better and, of course, introduce them to you!  So, every now and again I'll be posting interviews with spectacular mamas in the spirit of sharing, learning and growing together.  Pull up a chair, pour some tea and come on in!

A little later today I'll be posting the very first mama interview with Meg from Sew Liberated.  I've been reading and loving her blog for quite some time now.  Her skill with needle and thread, her taste in decorating and her gentle parenting style are all things that inspire me.  I can't wait to share her thoughts and photos with you!

image via