Urban Organica

how to make an embossed runner

This is so simple, it's a great project to do with older children / beginning sewers.  (I made this particular runner for my then-boyfriend's mom when I was 20, & just found it again on her table!) It's very easy to do in an afternoon.  Depending on what fabric you pick, it can make a truly sumptuous accent.  It has always surprised me that she keeps it on such a lovely table, but seeing the pictures, I really see how the right materials can hold their own in an elegant dining room.  It doesn't use much though, & can be made for under $20.

Materials:

Measuring Tape

Velvet, length of Table + 2'

Lining, same length

Metallic Thread

Sewing Thread

12 1/4" Wooden Beads

1+ Rubber Stamps

Tools:

Sewing Machine

Sewing Needle

Iron + Board

Towel

 

How To:

* Measure your dining table + 2 feet.  This is the length.  Cut this length x 2' out of both the lining & the velvet.

* To emboss the velvet, set your iron to high.  (If it is synthetic, use correct temp, going a level higher if needed.  Test so you don't melt it!)  Place your stamp, rubber-side up on the ironing board.  Place your velvet right-side down onto stamp.  Hold stamp under the fabric & iron directly onto the velvet. I like to hold it for 1-2 minutes.  Repeat as desired.

* Cut 3" squares of velvet.  Place a bead in the middle of a square.  Gather up the sides, then the corners.  Pinch them in place & tightly wrap a length of metallic thread several times around the gather.  Tie 2 double knots & cut off ends.  Trim excess fabric off the bead.  Make 12.

* Place right sides of lining & velvet together.  Pin.  Sew together along edges leaving 1/4" all around.  Leave a 6" opening.  Turn inside out.

* Place runner on ironing board, velvet-side down.  Place a towel over it to iron.  Try to tug at the lining a bit so that the fold is on the velvet side & hides the lining.

* Handstitch the opening closed.

* To attach beads, place 6 pins along each end of the runner to mark.  Using another length of metallic thread, tack into gathered fabric on bead.  Pull needle out & into runner, leaving 1" of thread.  Pull out of runner, leave an inch, tack into bead.  Repeat with al 12.

Our sweet friend Ray turned five & brought us cupcakes for his birthday.  The boys wanted to make something with him to celebrate, so they chose a little "drawing folio." He loves to draw these amazing dinosaurs & loves green, so we used a slip of Japanese dino fabric from our stash (I LOVE this fabric) & some Lotta Jansdotter notecards in similar shades.  

First we cut letter-sized paper in half.  We folded them in half & inserted 3 folded sheets into the cards to make 6-page journals. Then the boys took turns sewing them down the middle.  They did all kinds of crazy stuff to the tension, so I'm crossing my fingers the books don't split in half!  In anycase, we made...5.

I did a simple hem on one side, then we kinda measured the size of the journals & folded the fabric in half over them.  The boys stitched "straight" seams 1/2" apart for pencils.  They pressed the petal VERY fast, tried to hold the hand wheel still, pressed reverse at weird times & really made me pretty frenzied.  I need to just relax.  It turned out so charming, I think.  I especially love the way the tops & bottoms of each seam look darker & thick, almost like they were drawn on.

Because he's a real artist, we donated real artist watercolor pencils.

Ready to go.

Embroidery Tips

D & I run on two speeds: sprint & idle.

It's with no small effort that we dwell in that in-between, organic temporality known as the children's pace.  This is also known as being on other people's time.  I don't mean to say that we follow them around, doting on their every need (is that good for anybody?).  But there's a learning curve to knowing when to slow down & when to jump.  As unchoolers we need to be so on, noticing their most subtle interests so that we can parlay them into fuller, more comprehensive studies.  I mean, we could not do that, but we want them to be passionate about their learning, & we aren't very nice when we find ourselves forcing things.  Luckily our family rhythms take the urgency out of most things, allowing us to relax into most of our days.  With academics it can be so easy to go fast, there's just so much I want to share with them.  They've showed me that they prefer to go slow, to savor every little discovery & play with every new concept for hours, days & even months.  So we work within those mandatory guidelines.  

"He began walking slowly.  He went slower & slower.  He went so slow that he sat on a rock."

Our solution to backwards numbers & letters?  Embroidery.  Mahal is also very fast-paced, rushing to his next musical moment, & he had no interest in practicing stroke orders.  So I did a little "strewing," an unschooling technique where you "strew" random curricula all over your house.  In this case it was Japanese embroidery books, embroidered books & me, working my own basket of needlework. This basket always holds enough for the boys, of course.  He really resists mama assignments, but will happily join me in whatever I'm up to.  Projects he designs himself are taken to the nth degree.  

So right now embroidery is "his thing."  I set him up with a stack of green squares, numbered 1-10, thread, needles, a pencil, hoop &  scissors.  Then he invited his Grandma & 95 year-young GG (great-grandmother) to help him make a counting quilt.  

Their quilts are so very lovely, a by-mail hobby that they always have in the works.  Grandma Elizabeth pieces, quilts & binds, while GG does the applique.  In the past few years she's taken to doing the same exact square of a daisy 100's of times ~ it's made king & queen quilts, with stacks left in boxes, but she loves it.  They have a wonderful mama-daughter love story, with hand-written letters going out daily.  I often wonder if this is what keeps her so vital.   In any case, it's heart-melting to watch him join their tradition, & he has lots of hints to share with his brother, who'd like to add a square of his own.  

Mahal's Tips for Embroidery

1~ You need to wet the thread a few days ahead of time, so that when you put it in the needle, it's hard & pointy.

2~ You need to remember to put the needle on, before you knot the thread.

3~ You need to pull it all the way through, or else it gets all funky & messed up & crazy & stuff.

4~ If you put the thread through where you already did it, it makes it really thick & puffy.

Indeed.  We've given him absolutely no instruction & he's invented his own style of chain stitch.  Like I said, heart-melting.  And there's something to be said about sitting on a rock.

wake up, mommeee

"Mommy, Mommy!  #2 has your camera!  Mommy mommy wake up!  The 3 year-old has your camera!"

I though it was a good idea, letting them move furniture at 3am on New Year's Day.  

I mean, I was moving furniture, getting ready for the new.  And they Knew.  And they weren't sleeping.  So why not let them join me?

It was a great night.  We laughed & we used screwdrivers & brought heavy objects up & down the stairs.  But let me tell you why not.

Because they would proceed to wake up, every night for the next month & follow me around the house.  Sometimes one child.  Sometimes 2.  And last night, all 3.

The first week I told them to go back to bed & they thought it was funny to ambush me, all smiles, from closets & behind desks.  (Aaaaa!  freakin' a...)  I have to admit it was hilarious, seeing these little skinny minnies, freezing cold in their long johns, hiding for who-knows-how-long before I got to the perfect spot.  And they would go back to bed. 

The second week they kept waking up, wired, but not sure why.  There was something exciting about 2am, but they couldn't quite remember what...

This past week they don't even want to be awake, they just are.  They are agitated, rolling around.  Needing water.  Needing to pee.  Needing to nurse.  Needing to get in my bed.  Inviting me to theirs.  Mekhi has taken to standing over my head & pulling whatever he can get his hands on.  My nose, my ears, my jaw.  "Uuuuugh!"  He says.  "Uuughttt!  Ught!"  I'm pretty darn sure he means "Up!"

I think I've gotten 2 hours a night for the last 7 days.   

We are getting lots done, although it's all in my pajamas + a baby carrier for two drowsy toddlers. Thank goodness for 7 year-olds who can sit by themselves with a pen & paper.   Swollen-faced & happy, I am a sleepyhead.

Wait for it...

Fitting in my breakfast...

Sigh.

Playing on the counter.  With the sink.  With the temperature.  With the sprayer. Okay! That's enough!

Nursing + Healing Lake's twisted knee by singing "The Brady Bunch," on his toes.  "This isn't helping!  Where's Daddy?"   

My answer to all things: the 2 meal day.  A big brunch & a pot of lentil soup.    All I need to get through the day is a stack of bowls & a jar of spoons.  Good night.

*Japanese Sausage Omelette + Heirloom Lentils Recipe tomorrow.

*On the homeschooling table: 

~Dried herbs for making Tea Valentines (tutorial coming)

~Embroidery for a quilt Mahal's making with Grandma, Great-Grandma (95 years young!) & myself

~Blue Yonder's Eggceptional Eggspearment from their Book of Days: soaking brown eggs in vinegar.  They suggested white vinegar, but we also had a bit of apple cider vinegar that needed to go.  They are so fascinated with these jars, checking their progress every couple of hours.  Lake keeps "checking the stinky," on his jar, while Mahal is convinced something is going to happen to the air in his.  The shells are starting to disappear & they are just dying to get their hands on those wobbly things.  

quilted wool home

whee! headboard

wool felt/recycled leather * soy foam insert * hand appliqued * embroidery * contrast piping * sashiko quilting

I was looking through an old Urban Organica business plan & found some sketches of early pieces. 

long & low seating

organic cotton twill * origami applique * non-toxic stain * sashiko quilting * carved fsc wood

When we started UO it was, "a funky design house, hyped on social & environmental responsibility."  It might still be that, but it's more of a creative think tank now.  It's not as important to distinguish a business as eco-friendly, green or sustainable, since, fortunately, it's expected.  This lets me really just be creative & play.  People bring me their most "out-there" thoughts, plans & jumbled up bits.  I help them clarify their ideas, connect them to others & if their project is particularly yummy, get my own hands dirty.  This includes everything from clothing, interiors, workshops, retreats & small business.  I've been fortunate to work with CEO's, Nobel Nominees, & Supermodels.  You know who inspires me the most?  Crafty families.  And my husband.  There's something about love + accountability that makes the most practical  beauty.

One crazy bit is that I've always offered my services for free.  It's a spiritual thing for me ~ I offer what I have to the world, & then Spirit pays me back, randomly, times much more.  It's always worked, oddly enough.  I live a great life that way.

climbing cake tower

3 donut-shaped cushions * 4' tall fsc wood base * beeswax finish * plant dyed wool felt * eco-fill cushions * 4 soft felted "frosting" throws * removable fabric origami flowers * needle-felted candles

Anywhoo...

 

example of the technique

hand appliqued felt * origami-style flowers w/ needle-felted centers * sashiko quilting (the pink-on-black) * needle-sculpting for texture on branches & grass

triple donut ottoman

3 eco-fill cushions * fsc wood base * beeswax finish * plant-dyed wool felt * origami-felt applique 

felt & lucite storage

clear lucite boxes * plant dyed wool felt slipcovers * hand appliqued

felt & lucite storage series in a 3x2 shelving system

double donut side table with carved bowl base

eco-fill cushions * sashiko quilting * origami applique * beeswax finish

Many of these designs were actually inspired by Mahal as a baby, & how much he loved his little stacking toys.  I thought it would be extremely practical to have giant versions he could climb on & take apart, while also providing adult seating or storage.  At our house, they still really use the pillows & couch cushions more than their Legos or blocks.  It's one giant, puffy happy gym!

The Cookbook Journal

my own handwritten recipes, menus, guest lists, photos & grocery lists cover the pages

I've been tagged by Tifanie with the lovely game, *"5 Things I Do A Day to Keep My Mind Healthy."*  If health is measured by shifts & changes, in breath & outbreath, a constant flux of moving emotions, holding on & letting it go while being seized daily by massive bursts of love & gratitude, than I suppose I am fairly well.  In any case, I'm cooking every day, & that makes me extraordinarily happy.

So, I Cook.*

Every year I choose an inspiring hardback cookbook to keep my notes in, to hold my grocery lists & magazine tear sheets.  The boys draw in them & I tear them to bits.  It's always a cookbook that feels very timely.  Since I was illustrating Annabelle this year, about a colorful little girl, Apples for Jam was perfect.  Organized by color, it's basically Tessa's ode to her girls.  The recipes are to die for. 

I notice my whole year is basically here in this cookbook.  And it's such a picture of the 5 things that keep me floating & lift me when I'm sinking.  And, it's pink.  Which is nice.

There aren't things I do everyday.  But there are practices which come in very different forms.  They are such an ingrained part of my community culture that I forget that some of them aren't exactly normal.  I come from a powerful community of artist, innovators & entrepreneurs.  Most people in my life do these things, as well.

So here they are, with a couple of examples:

*I Create*

I'm making a banner behind my washing machine that says, I Am Creative & Generative.

In these times of uncertainty, that is something I can be certain of.

I create my husband daily by making him Right.  As often as Possible.

I create my motherhood.  I say that I am Encouraging, Engaged & Connected.  I remind myself often by creating notes & displays all over the house.

I create my opportunities to make a difference.  I look for projects & initiatives that inspire me & I extend what I can.  

I create my community.  I tell people who've got something that they HAVE IT.  I am an unabashed gusher, & am constantly awed by what you do for yourself & others.  Yes, you.

*I Distinguish*

I take note of what's in the way, what's missing, what's present that has the things in my life look the way they do.  When I'm frustrated or stopped or hurt or impossible, I distinguish what's up.  This often involves some art or a call to one of my many coaches.  Luckily my parents, siblings, husband, business partners, & friends are amazing coaches.  They don't buy my stories or let me blame anyone for anything!  They help me distinguish where I'm responsible for my life & the impact on those around me.  We have special doctors that distinguish past memories stuck in our organs & clear them out so they don't stop us in life.

*I Clear*

I clear clutter.  Clear old thoughts.  Clear toys from the path. Clear my calendar.  Clear my to do list.  Clear my brain.  How do I clear my brain?  D & I have this conversation:

"Can I clear?" 

"Yes." 

"Okay, blah, blah, blah...."

The difference is this, he agrees to just be a star in the sky.  I clear like the weather passing through.  He doesn't fix or change what I say.  He doesn't listen to agree or disagree with me.  He just watches the storm pass.  I agree to be complete when I'm done.  "Is there anything else?" he'll ask?  "No."

At that point, it's time to create.

I also clear my employees & friends.  They clear just like that, & I listen.  By knowing what's going on for them I can give them space.  They appreciate knowing that I know & then they have space to fully be with me & fully do what they need to.  They know I know they are human with full lives & that it's okay with me.  I expect them to be happy, sad, frustrated, the works.

*I Let Go

Being extremely ambitious & also having three babies over the last 8 years has trained me to let go of a lot.  To practice sequencing.  Like, this year.  Baby.  This year.  Consult.  This year.  Illustrate.  This year.  Baby.  Like, this moment.  Nurse.  Now.  Dishes.  Stop.  Nurse.  Stop.  Stop argument.  Stop.  Nurse.  Now, dishes.

Things with babies go slower & they go differently than how I'd design.  Unschooling the boys means being ready to go when they show an interest in something.  I have to be flexible & open.  It's a lot of letting go.   

It's wanting to make the pot pie.  And ending up holding the baby.  

Letting go of the house feeling like a hurricane hit it.  I'm so grateful for my home!  Trying to direct someone else to make the pot pie.  Noticing they can't read my brain which has no recipe cards.  And making it myself.  It took 3 hours!  And look.  It was good. 

I tag, Molly, Lera, Maya, Jessie & globalmama. Because you are extraordinary women & I want to know how you do it.  

bento bag + utensil mat tutorial part 1

This is a bucket-style bag that has soooo much room for creativity.  We made about 12 for Christmas, & each person got different handles & paintings.  The grandfathers got shoe bags instead of mats...Even though I went to Japanese schools, I do have to say that I call this baon (ba-own) instead of bento.  That would be bento in Pilipino.  As in, "Eat! Eat more!  Pack a baon!"

It takes about an hour each for the bag & the mat.  If you want you can paint the mat fabric first so the utensil pockets can be sewed a bit over the painting like "famous ducks on the pond," above.  It was painted with acrylics.   For napkins we just cut some matching denim & frayed it the wash.  This is a beginner sewing project, with the 7 year-old helping with every procedure.  Lake (3) & Kai (11 months) helped with the painting & pedal work.

Our handles were fingerknit from various decorative strings of cotton.  If you want the handles to act like drawstrings, you might use a lighter cotton than denim, or, you can make the casings an inch thick.  These casings are 1/2".  The boys wanted them to look more like buckets, so this pattern has a drawstring effect, while still being wide open for grazing.

Bucket-Style Bento Bag

Materials:

(2) each fabric: 14 1/2" x 11"        -   these are the walls

(1) piece fabric: 8 1/2" x 6 1/2"    -   bottom

(2) lengths ribbon or icord: 35"     -   handles

Tools:

Sewing Machine, Scissors, Ruler

Assembling the Walls

1.) Take 1 piece of 14 1/2" x 11" fabric.  Fold over the sides 1/4" & iron.

2.) Fold the top down 1/2".  Iron.  Fold down another 1/2" & iron.  

3.)  This will be your casing.  Fold the sides in as you fold over that top.  Like this:

4.) Do the other rectangle.  With top folded over twice, stitch along bottom edge of casing.  Backstitch at beginning & end.  Grab your other rectangle & just keep stitching through without cutting the thread.  It's much faster.

5.) With right sides together, line up the edges of the two rectangles.  Sew along that 1/4" line you creased with the iron.  The foot should stop about 1/2" below the casing.  Backstitch.  Do other side.

6.) Now you have a tube for the walls.  Grab the bottom piece & turn it upside down.  Line up the edges with the tube bottom, making sure to place the corners along those side seams. Use a 1/4" stitch.  When you come within 1/4" of each edge, just put your needle down into the fabric, lift the foot & pivot the fabric.  Backstitch the beginning & end.

7.) Using a large drawstring needle or a safety pin, pull one handle length through one casing, out the other end.  Put it into other casing & pull through to other side.  Tie two knots, one above the other.   You can also pull the knot through & hide it in the casing.  Take the other length of ribbon & insert it into the other side of the bag, & pull through entire bag.  Tie off.  

8.)  Pull each side a bit & even out the gathers.  Insert your bento boxes, mat & napkins!

I'll show you guys how to make the mat tomorrow.  My mind is just buzzing with the possibilities of this set.  If you try it, please send pictures!  I love sewing & I love food, & I happen to know many of you do, too.  And there's nothing more inspiring than seeing all your projects.  Thanks!

handmade holiday: stockings bar

D was craving some new stockings ~ something kinda rustic & super lovey.   So we invited my mom & pops to join us for a little stockings bar.  We brought down my sewing machine & a basket of goodies:

calico

old sweater bits

batting

fabric glue

scissors &

a stocking pattern cut out of a paper bag.

Everyone, kids included, got to just have at it.  Mom & I took turns stitching it all together.

Here's a couple of things *everyone's gonna love* going into the stockings this year for under $4 a piece that really fill those stocking out:

Favorite magazines from "friends of the library" section for .10 cents each!!  Since they aren't the current issues, I usually will collect 3 mags from a theme, like: 

Mary Jane's Farm + Organic Gardening + Herb Quarterly.  

Or Road & Track + Car + Forza.  

Or Natural Home + Dwell + Living Etc.  

Or Veg News + Fresh + Yoga Journal

Boomwhackers!  These are the colored tubes in the picture.  They come in sets of 8 for $25 (3.13 each), & each tube is actually a percussion instrument tuned to a different note.  So everyone has to play together.  At our house we are getting another set for music as they are being used as marble runs, large-scale chemistry implements, gas pumps & air traffic-control loud speakers.  The link has some educational materials + music.

Reams of paper.  Really.  I'm dividing of 2 colored reams of 100% post-consumer recycled paper between the boys & they are just gonna love it.

Sponge + brush sets from the hardware store.  They also love those foam paint rollers.  For Lake & Mekhi we just give them buckets of water & let them "paint" the deck.  

Mahal is also going to get a squeeze bottle of homemade wood polish + some pretty polishing cloths made from flannel-backed calicos.  I'll make them 6 x 6 inches.

1 Cup Mineral Oil + 1 Cup Lemon Juice + 6 drops of pine, lavender or Frankincense essential oil.  Shaken like crazy.

What are you making?

more kid-made gifts

First let me just say that with all that we do around here, I have a very hard time managing the cleanup after a large gathering.  Thanksgiving, with it's brunch for 17 & dinner for 14, was fantastic.  AND, I just finished cleaning up yesterday.  And I probably spent more than a few minutes being pretty upset about that.  So there you have it.  From here on out I'm very excited about the possibilities of Ease, Grace & Organization (aka being a grown-up) after a party.  I'm taking any suggestions, tips, & funny stories for the ride.  Thank you.

Everyday the boys have been coming to me with a new list of gift ideas.  I was surprised to hear, "A giant crock of chili!"  But it made a lovely cold-weather surprise for a playdate.  We set them up with the kid-friendly basics for a veggie chili ~ celery, carrots, tomatoes, 1 can each of aduki beans, black beans & chopped green chilies, a bag of frozen corn & pre-measured bowls of cumin, chili powder,oregano, cinnamon, salt & pepper.  They chopped the veggies & just poured it all in the pot.  Mahal helped me light the stove & they took turns stirring & checking.  We put it all in a pretty crock & brought some seasonal cloth napkins for lunch.

They have a massive collection of prized cardboard pieces, & I'm always grateful for a chance to see some go.  They made a series of leaf presses / flower presses that they stamped with persimmon leaves they had painted with acrylics.  For straps they cut strips out of a sweater & helped them put elastic on the underside.  I usually let them do all the pedal work when we sew gifts.

The boys to these amazing photographs of (I think) young Chinese lanterns.  They're both also very likely to give these as gifts, just as they are, or in a little felted bowl or origami box.   I set the camera to close zoom, had them wait while I checked the distance & told them where to stand so it wouldn't be to blurry.  We have tons of photos they've taken "freestyle" with no direction, lots of pictures of their shirts & chins when they accidentally point the camera at themselves, many pictures of mysterious red & orange hues from fingers over the lens.  But they also really value some "grown-up" direction, they appreciate the respect of some rules & a "real photo shoot."  Seeing their pride at having subjects of their choice in a framed, crisp, clear photo is priceless.

I love watching the focus of real work.

Rubber stamping, Gocco-printing, & Silk-Screening are all some of our favorite ways to make special books or small stacks of cards to give.  When my computer crashed recently & spoke to Mac & had a wonderful customer-service experience.  I was eager to fill out their service questionnaire & when I finished, I was rewarded with the words, "Thank You" in many languages.  So Awesome!  I printed it out to show the boys & they thought it would make a great Gocco Print.  We added a few Fall images & a lemon-merengue pie.  Mahal & I stayed up late printing no less than 300 cards.  Lake had spent the previous day helping us crease the card stock.

We layered them with 2 tones of red crepe & 4 pages of recycled craft paper.  Then we sewed down the center seams with red & brown thread.  Mahal chose a mix of red, brown & gold inks.

They've been inventing all kinds of gifts out of the remaining cards:  Tote bags from punching the sides & lacing them closed, coupons, place cards, story books & gift tags.  I'll keep you posted as the ideas keep rolling in...

a stylists' autumn booklist

It would be virtuous to claim that I am a mother first, or wife, or activist, or whatever.  The truth is I that can never really take my stylist apron off.  I mean, I was a stylist first!  Spirit shows me all things through a graphic filter.  Our home is organized around beauty, truth & goodness, in that order.  Luckily, beauty is subjective.  

So while the house falls to delicious shambles on an hourly basis, between brunches, rehearsals for an upcoming Dan Zanes concert & 8-boy playdates, there's always a carefully curated Autumn display on my dining buffet.

Can I please share what's beautiful to me right now?

The very act of contemplating gratitude.  Thanksgiving comes & goes with the meal.  But Giving Thanks is eternal.

This old thing.  Their entire physics curriculum in one object.  Over 100 years-old, 1 family-strong from Japan.  And really all things old, practical & useful.  

This King-sized Acorn Quilt by D's mama & his 95 year-old grandma (GG).  Exquisitely made.  Somehow, by the grace of God, on my very own wall.  More love made visible.

Simply Ayurveda

Nest for Two

A Home for the Soul

Dynamic Figure Drawing

A Room of Her Own

Fields of Plenty

Dream Kitchens

Tropical Living

sustainable architecture - lowtech houses

Bungalow

Adirondack Home

Markets of Paris

The Nook Book

Apples for Jam

A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen

The Adirondack Cabin

Edible Schoolyard

Patternmaking

Filipino Style

Millennium Mode

Tropical Asian Style

Making More of Small Spaces

The Tropical Spa

How to Photograph Your Baby

Fabulosity

Crafting As a Business

Vintage Style

Fashion Design

The Thai House

Craftsman Style

Philippine Ancestral Houses

2 Fabulous FREE Magazines for those who LOVE little people & All things Lovely:

small, featuring Maya, Emily & Grosgrain

Small celebrates the handhewn.

& 

LMNOP

LMNOP is not so much, but certainly inspiration for such.  It's out of Australia, so that's a kick, too.

Just click on them.  They are too much.

I went ahead & downloaded all their past issues, too.

Enjoy!

What do you love to look at?