Yesterday was not one of those days. Ewan did not want to play. He wanted to be entertained. And I was at a bit of a loss.

So, I turned to Pinterest. Specifically my “with the kiddos” board. (oh, and if you want to follow me over there, there is a neat little button in my sidebar. see it?)

Five minutes later we had a jug filled with cut up pipe cleaners and a few magnets.

Ewan was thrilled.

And so was I.

Happy kiddo. Happy mama.

What have you done with the kiddos lately for fun? Any other tricks I should have up my sleeve?

There, I said it. Before you disagree, let’s talk this one through.

If we can’t necessarily agree about all adults being creative, perhaps we can start with the children. All children are creative, right?

From my current sample size of two and my years as a teacher I would say that yes. All children start out with a creative spirit.

Never have I noticed or tuned in as much as I have with my own small people though. I mean, seriously, Ewan’s creativity as a boy nearing age three, amazes me. He sets up the most elaborate playscapes and scenarios. Some based in reality, others purely imaginary. It’s extraordinary, really.

I mean, check this out:

Here we have a auto garage, mechanic, and a car (with a flat tire) up on blocks. And Ewan played with it for hours. Chatting, having conversations. It’s amazing, really, the amount of focus he can have.

So, if that’s where we start, it’s hard to imagine that that creativity just disappears. That creative kids turn into un-creative adults. Rather, I think that creativity continues to exist in each of us, but in some it just sits dormant, waiting for the opportunity to reemerge.

Right now, I am enjoying the re-emergence. The ideas. I feel like I am three. My mind bursting.

I think I am experiencing this burst in creativity, in part, because I am with these little ones full-time. When I am constantly surrounded by their joy and passion and imagination it it hard to not be inspired.

I also have the time, space, encouragement and support to not only have grand ideas but also act on them. Some may scoff. Time?! How?! Mama of two little ones?

Some days I’m not always sure that I do have the time. Some days it is hairy. But I do make making a priority. Creating comes a close second on the list, right after feeding my family.

And I think that’s just about right. I want to show these little ones that creativity needn’t go dormant as the responsibilities of adult life settle in. I want them to see me be passionate and excited, just like them.

How about you? Do you make creativity a priority? Do you think all adults are creative?

With two hands.

Some time.

And a handful of supplies.

At last weekend’s Urban Folk Circuit I was totally blown away by a few of my neighbors.

Seriously amazing terrariums by Alapash Terrariums. The only reason one didn’t follow me home is because of the two little people that currently live with me. Beautiful, breakable terrarium and babies just don’t seem to mix.

And then there was this extraordinary alphabet book by Amelia Kieras.

This one will be ours at some point because I can’t.stop.thinking.about.it. I can’t.

And then this jewelry by Muggy Tuesday. Crocheted. Seriously.

And if it wasn’t enough to be so inspired (er, tempted) while at shows, I am tempted everyday in my virtual space as well.

How cool is that Chicago print by albiedesigns?!

And this apron, by Spool + Sparrow,

In love.

And the thing is, I could go on and on (and on and on and on). People make amazing things. It’s awesome.

How’d that happen?!

I mean, really, wasn’t it just days ago that I was here, in this space singing the praises of egg nog.

Oh, that was two weeks ago. Wow. Sorry about that.

Anyways, the New Year.

Fresh.

Shiny.

Full of hope.

Promise.

Dreams.

And, boy oh boy, do I have dreams. Big ones. Giant huge ones. For the shop. For this blog. For me. So, let’s start with the shop (we’ll talk about the blog and me tomorrow).

What began last year as a whim, a single listing on esty. Dipping my toes into the water.

Has, in just a matter of months, become so much more.

More designs.

Napkins.

Towels.

Shows.

And, I’m hoping that this year, will be more of the same.

More designs.

More sizes (adult shirts coming soon!!!).

More art prints.

More shows. (three already on the calendar!!!).

More doing what I love.

More doing what I can to help my little family continue to live the life we’ve chosen.

I hope you’ll be here. I hope you’ll be with me in this New Year watching, commenting, and sharing.

It’s going to be an amazing year. I can feel it.

And I mean success in a variety of ways. There was, of course, conventional success. People bought my shirts. They bought my napkins. I went home with less inventory and more money. And that was nice, obviously.

But the success of the show was more than that. I got to talk to people. Real people. About my *art* (gasp!). I got to get honest reactions and feedback. I got to find out what people thought and liked. I got ideas…

Like this. I had already done the first two lyrics to the song, but a customer wanted all three. She was willing to get just the two and buy an elephant for the third kiddo, but I decided to work with her.

Because that’s the awesome thing about this gig. I get to make things that, hopefully, make people smile. And that’s pretty awesome.

And it doesn’t just stop there, or with that one woman. Over at my Etsy shop, I get frequent requests from customers who see something they like in the shop but want something just a bit different – different color print, different size, different sleeve length. And they ask.

And, most of the time, I get to say Yes! Yes, I can make that for you! (Just look at my Sold Items page, it is overwhelmed by my little Custom Order icon)

And then I do.

And I get to feel a bit like a magician.

Yup, this gig is pretty awesome.

The fact that I can do it while staying home with my little ones and loving on my dear “assistants,” major bonus!

(Oh, and there is still time if you’d like to place an order for the holidays. Just get in touch!)

Well today, it was finally coat weather, and Ewan was more than eager to wear his brand spanking new mama-made coat.

He was even eager to have his picture taken in it, though these days he’s always ready to sport his fake-o smile for a photo shoot.

Pardon the crappy picture. It is cloudy, again. And I used my cell phone, though, I’ve gotta say the new iPhone 4S can take some pretty rockin’ pictures, this just isn’t one of them. And, while eager, he isn’t terribly patient. He was ready to go to the grocery store to buy bananas.

The pattern was from an etsy seller, Heidi & Finn. Their Chic Everyday Coat pattern. This is my second pattern from them, I don’t think I ever showed off the results from the first, for Xander, must show you! The instructions are easy to follow and thorough. The coat came together quickly, taking just one afternoon nap plus a little extra for finishing.

The thing that makes this coat extra awesome, however, is that all the fabric was in the stash and the outer, a nice wool, is upcycled.

Upcycled from the coat (well, cape) I wore while I was pregnant with him.

You see, finding clothes to fit me in Japan was a challenge. Finding clothes to fit me while pregnant was impossible. When we visited the states early in my pregnancy, I bought all the clothes I needed for the duration of my pregnancy. Except a winter coat.

Then winter came.

I was cold.

And while I couldn’t (and didn’t expect to) find any coats that fit, I was able to find a lovely wool cape. I scooped it up, stayed warm and now I couldn’t be happier to see my little boy wearing something made from it.

Now there is a boy, instead of a belly, in that fabric. Keeping warm. And that, well, that’s pretty special.

(And then I made a coat for Xander. Same pattern. It’s huge. I’ll show you next week. Along with his uber-cool Heidi & Finn hoodie. Remind me if I forget.)

First, this week has been dark and cold and dreary and rainy. Natural light has been lacking and I’m never inspired when taking pictures with flash is concerned.

Second, this casserole, while delicious, is not terribly photogenic and I don’t think that any amount of staging would make it so. In fact, if I did manage an attractive photo of this casserole I fear that it would be deceiving. You’d see the gorgeous dish and rush to make your own. Then you’d curl up in puddle of tears and disappointment when you pulled yours from the oven. Attractive, no. Delicious, absolutely. Healthy, yes. Quick, yup, that too.

We can’t all be pageant winners.

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

A quick and simple meal that packs a nutritious punch.

Ingredients

• 2 Spaghetti Squash, cut in half, seeds scooped out and baked at 375 for about 45 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork
• 2 leeks
• 1 bunch green onions
• 1 bunch swiss chard
• 5 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup cheese blend, we like one that has mozzarella, asiago and parmesan
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Scoop out the cooked spaghetti squash innards and place them in a large (seriously big) bowl.
• Chop remaining vegetables – leeks, green onions and chard – and add to the large bowl with the squash.
• Add the garlic, sour cream, and cottage cheese to the big bowl and stir into all the ingredients are well mixed.
• Pour the contents into a 9×13 inch baking pan.
• Sprinkle the cheese on top.
• Bake at 375 until heated through and the cheese is all melty – about 30-40 minutes.

Make it. It’s good. Your toddler may even proclaim, as mine did, that it is “dinner cake.”

And sometimes the stars just align enough that I get a chance to sit at the sewing machine.

Babe napping peacefully. Ewan happy to work alongside me.

A little over an hour of sewing and Ewan, almost, has a new coat (pic above is an initial fitting). Even before it was complete I had Ewan try it on and he declared, “I do so like this coat, mama. I love it.” That boy, he sure does know how to get me every time.

I can’t wait to show the finished product to you. Hopefully we’ll get some decent sunshine here soon so I can take a few pictures in better light. I am pleased as pie about it and there is a pretty good back story too.

Replace the unused side because chalk is too dusty side with an awesome felt board.

Yes, please!

A big piece of felt, a little bit of spray adhesive, and about 15 minutes worth of time was all it took.

Then I sat down with a giant stack of rainbow felt and cut all sorts of shapes – squares, rectangles, circles, triangles, big and small.

Since the felt board’s creation, it has been in constant rotation. A daily toy.

Our favorite thing to build,

the love train. (sing it with me, now)

Ewan likes it because, unlike drawing, he can actually build things that resemble the images he has in his head. He also loves it because it is something we did, something we made, together.

For now simple shapes are bringing plenty of fun and joy but I can totally see wanting to make more sets soon – letters, numbers, animals, the possibilities for felt board fun are endless.

Cheap. Fast. Easy. My favorite kind of DIY.

Now, three weeks later, my head is brimming with ideas. Blocks I want to carve. Different ways I want to print. Adult designs, just starting to emerge.

Last week I finally got back to it and, I’ve gotta say, a lot of it looks promising.

Take today’s prints, for example:

While they are a little brighter than I would like, my work tends to have a more subtle and natural palette, I am pleased with the start.

I used watercolors to wash the paper in color and I love the texture and interest that that process provides. I like the way the paper feels like my shirts. A little uneven, with a bit more depth and interest than a commercially dyed shirt or stock would.

While these are just test prints, I can see some real possibilities here. Art prints. Postcards. Greeting cards.

And, with all the possibilities that working in a less functional medium provides, I’ve been having all sorts of new ideas. And I’m excited again.

There will, hopefully, be a new design or two in the shop in the next little bit. But for now, feast your eyes on a few of my first gift sets. I’m rather happy with them.

And I hope that you are too.

Happy Monday.