New Year Wishes, New Year Gratitude

Happy New Year everyone! Our family could not have started the year off on a better foot, throwing our annual New Year's Day party and surrounding ourselves with family, friends, food and football. What could be better?

The backdrop to the overwhelming abundance of food was an altar of prosperity. The collection included fertile and promising pomegranates, rich, sweet tangerines, and a candle to bring happiness to our home. Guests were given blank strips of paper upon which to write their wishes for the coming year. Some of the wishes from guests of all ages:

--to be happy
--prosperity, joy, wellness, love
--joy, abundance, health, deep peace
--a more positive perspective
--good job, good grades, good love
--to discover my passion
--to be a knight
--that everyone is safe and sound and happy
--to find beauty in every moment

Now our cozy home has fallen back into the daily routine, with two beautiful exceptions. The first is this gorgeous book, given to me as a gift of gratitude. I decided to use each page to express the gratitude of our family, for things great and small, each time we site down together for a meal in 2010. We may not write every day, but we will get into the habit of noticing the little things...and celebrating our togetherness in one more special way.
The second difference in our home happens each day around 4:00 pm. Because of the awesome rainbow maker given to us by Big L and little l, when the sun comes through our dining room window, rainbows dance all around our house for about twenty minutes. It has had an amazing effect on our afternoons!
May your wishes come true in 2010, and may each rainbow you chase be yours!

2009 : Our Year in Review

january : ringing it in

february : strawberries









march : welcome, spring









april : treasure hunt









may : color walking









june : soaking in the sun









july : fiery fresh









august : the space between









september : finding beauty









october : serendipity









november : mudpies









december : sweetest gifts

Sneak Peek: The Color Walk Calendar!

I'm thrilled to announce that I'm now taking pre-orders for the 2010 Snip and Snail Color Walk Calendar!

Inspired by our year of color walking, these custom-printed beauties will have inspirational quotes and ideas for kid-made fun each month of the year. Pre-ordering for the holidays is available now! There is a PayPal button on the sidebar, or you may email me for more information. The total price is $25, including shipping and tax, and a portion of all proceeds will benefit The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project. I hope you will enjoy these walks with your family as I have with mine!

A Different Kind of Treasure Map (Part II)

Tonight is the Full Moon in Libra. Two weeks ago, at our New Moon Circle, I began creating a treasure map for the coming lunar year. Today, I finished it, and now it is ready and waiting for all visual reminders of intentions to come.

After the New Moon, I began by layering my pieced top, correspondent to the colors of the bagua, with batting and cork. I chose ribbon in the same color as the center square, representing health, to interweave throughout all nine areas of my map. I placed my carefully chosen buttons from the Visionary in the center of each square, and sewed them on through all three layers. On this treasure map, there are many X's to mark the spot!After fruitless searching for the right frame, I decided today to mount the map on black foam core and bind it with ribbon that matches the criss crosses. I am happy with the finished product, and am completely open to whatever intentions find their way onto this special treasure map.

"A Full Moon in Libra asks each of us
to practice one particular relational skill:
listening attentively with an open heart, an open mind,
and without interruption or feedback."
--Lisa Dale Miller, astrologist

A Different Kind of Treasure Map (Part I)

Yesterday was the first day of the astrological new year. After an afternoon in the sun and the healing salty waves, the Mamas and I gathered at Rose's house to set positive intentions for the New Moon in Aries. Inspired by Mama Bird's suggestion, we decided to make treasure maps for the lunar year ahead.

With every crafty supply imaginable laid out in the room, each of us got to work creating a visual reminder of our intentions for the coming year. Although I love the art of collage, Mama Bird's bagua diagram spoke to me in its color composition, and I knew I wanted to create my map with fabric. I just wasn't quite sure how. The Visionary contributed a tin of antique buttons to the crafty mix, and an idea slowly began to solidify.

I chose fabrics from my stash that corresponded to the colors of the bagua.

(from left to right, top to bottom):

1 : prosperity
2 : external recognition
3 : love and marriage
4 : family and ancestors
5 : health
6 : creativity and children
7 : knowledge and self-cultivation
8 : career and journey
9 : helpful people and travel

I love their juxtaposition, and how circles and spirals found their way next to each other. Some of these squares are pieced, some are not. After piecing the squares together, I found the perfect buttons for the center of each.According to astrologists, the treasure map should be completed before the Full Moon. To finish this project, I plan to find a piece of cork the size of the finished map, about 24" square. I will place a layer of batting between the cork and the pieced top, and sew the buttons on. I will probably criss-cross ribbons on the squares, providing a space for words, photographs, whatever pieces of beauty need to be there. Then I think will frame the corkboard and have a visual backdrop for positive intentions. Thank you, Mama Bird, for such a fun and inspirational idea!

The Year of the Ox: Prosperity and Fortitude

Today, on the first New Moon of the year, we celebrate the Chinese New Year: The Year of the Ox. The Ox is a sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. This seems particularly relevant for this year, in this country. The picture above was taken, fittingly, in 'Asia' at Animal Kingdom; Grammy and Papu treated the whole family to a jam-packed Disney weekend......where prosperity abounds. But amid the overpriced plastic and garish displays of wealth was another resounding image, one that I found most refreshing. A sign of fortitude, and hard work. A sign of a new wave of devotion to conscious living, and appreciation for this life.Little b and I got an early start on the hard work this morning, following the Chinese tradition of sweeping out the bad luck from the past year and bringing in the good luck to come. Sweeping has brought both of my boys much toddle-y pleasure over the years.A family vacation and a clean sweep...what a great way to begin inviting prosperity! Happy Chinese New Year!

New Year's Project: Operation Fishbowl

In an effort to have more productive 'S days,' Papa and I are reinstating Operation Fishbowl. A few days into this New Year, we as a family listed projects we'd like completed around the house. We categorized them thusly:

--Fifteen Minute Projects (cleaning out junk drawers, organizing the tupperware, cleaning the fish tank, replacing the air filters...)
--One Hour Projects (cleaning out the coat closet, organizing the arts and crafts hutch, rehanging that broken curtain rod...)
--Weekend Projects (building shelves in the garage, installing outdoor lighting, reorganizing the kiddos' closet, touch up paint, re-framing...)

They are color coordinated, so when we have the appropriate chunk of time we pull a project. We made sure they were all projects that (in theory) Big B can help complete. This is the first 'S day' we've all been home without company this year, so I'm inspired to pull several! Hoping your weekend has that perfect blend of productivity, relaxation, and fresh air.

2009 Projects : Improv, and Otherwise

My whirlwind craft-a-thon during the holidays has inspired me to have a fabric project in the works pretty much constantly. Here is a sampling of projects I'd like to complete in 2009.

1 :: King Quilt (Master Bedroom)

Today I took a big quilting leap and joined Tallgrass Prairie Studio's Project Improv. This project was inspired by the incredible Quilts of Gee's Bend. By April 1, I will complete an improvisational quilt block, in blues and greens, to be part of a large charity quilt. Then, sometime this year (no deadlines), I will design and complete my first improvisational log cabin quilt. I am excited and a bit nervous--I perused the blogs of the other participants and I am WAY out of my league. But I can take my time, and use my own design, and my own mistakes, and I feel certain something beautiful will come of this. I have a yard of brown and turquoise batik on my sewing desk that will serve as inspiration for the fabrics. Time to go shopping...

2 :: Bunk Bed Quilts

Santa brought bunk beds for the boys this Christmas. Yes, he removed big B's old bed, built and installed the bunks, rearranged and cleaned their room, and removed four huge bins of unnecessary toys, all in one evening. Truly a Christmas miracle. So I told big B and little b that to celebrate this fantastic new fixture in their now-shared room, I'd be making them new quilts. The 'B' appliques are ready to sew on, and the tops and binding are selected. I think I will tie quilt these with varying colors and sizes of blue buttons.

3 :: Craft Night Bag

Remember that yard of fabric I won from Sew, Mama, Sew? I'd like to use it to make something for myself, as it seems befitting for gifted fabric. The Mamas and I are trying to have more frequent craft nights, and a cute one-project bag would be perfect. I am inspired by the designs at Fat Orange Cat, like this adorable initial bag, and I LOVE corduroy. I can see it now.

4 :: Children's Music Room Rug

When I took down the Christmas tree, I decided not to replace its vacancy with the rocking chair, which now happily lives in the boys' room. So currently in that space are an upright piano, a child's piano, three drums, a basket full of children's musical instruments, and a child-sized rocking chair and table. A children's music room was born, but its hard terrazzo floors desperately need an area rug. I may use this keyboard rug from Woodworkers Auction as inspiration; it looks like it would make a good floor quilt design. I also adore this technique from Crazy Mom Quilts and am kicking myself for trashing my scraps before the holidays. I'm saving them again now, and will probably use this idea for a bathroom rug.

5 :: Tooth Fairy Pillow

When I saw this Matryoshka tooth fairy on The Long Thread, I fell in love. It then occurred to me that I might need to whip up one of these this year. Big B and little b both grew their first baby teeth at around three months, so it stands to reason that they will lose them on the early side as well. I still fondly remember my tooth fairy pillow. I'll start this project when big B feels his first wiggle.

6 :: Patchwork Throw Pillows

Part of my annual spring cleaning routine is making new throw pillows for our couch. This year I am determined not to be lazy and to actually include some sort of fastener, zipper, button or other way to remove the pillow cover, to extend the longevity of these creations. That way I can at least rotate them. I visited spool sewing quite a bit over the holidays, and this simple patchwork idea inspired me. I hope this will be a nice and easy spring project that refreshes our poor old couch.

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Of course, this list doesn't include holiday projects, baby gifts, my growing fondness for knitting, or anything else that might pop up in 2009. But the prospect of a quilt or project on the machine at all times brings a bit of zen into my otherwise crowded mind.

2009 : Ringing it in

What a way to start the new year! We held our annual New Year's Day open house party, culminating in a pot-luck that was one for the ages. My contributions to the feast were simple: veggie tray, fruit tray, cheese and crackers, traditional Hoppin' John over brown rice with kale, cornbread, and a new twist on Hoppin' John (recipe at the end of this post).

My camera broke early in the day, so sadly the full spread was not captured. Some of the highlights: Greek Feta Dip, Texas Caviar, Ham & Pickle Roll-ups (always a hit with the kiddos), Taco Dip, Roasted Eggplant Caponata with Goat Cheese over Melba Toast, Brie and Crackers, Guacamole, Buffalo Chicken Dip, Greek Salad, Poppyseed Coleslaw, Israeli Couscous with Roasted Garlic, Chocolate Truffles, Fig-Walnut-Blue Cheese Tarts, Peanut Butter Cookies, Chocolate Covered Pretzels, White Chocolate Peanuts, and Kahlua Cake. I'm sorry if I missed anyone, but I guarantee my belly didn't. YUM.
What's that in the center of the table? New Year's Fortunes, inspired by Martha's valentine felt fortune cookies. I used the leftover felt from the Advent Calendar and a 3-1/2" circle template (er, sippy cup lid) to create 62 felt circles. I glued floral wire in the center of each circle and covered the wire with ribbon, then folded them into cookie shapes and stuck a fortune in each. The fortunes were each one word, and were all different. It was so much fun to see what people were getting! Words like beauty, compassion, knowledge, adventure, calm, balance, learning, serendipity, etc. It looks like 2009 will hold GROWTH for me. Who could ask for anything more?I stayed inside and manned the kitchen, where I served Pomegranate and Champagne (sans vodka) to bring abundance in 2009. I used the champagne from our New Year's Eve toast, when we placed 12 grapes to bring luck for each coming month. My new favorite food blog, The Noble Pig, explains this tradition beautifully here.
Papa's domain consisted of the front yard and garage, which was given a new and very appropriate name: The Meat Room. The Meat Room boasted two TV's airing different Bowl Games, darts, foosball, ample quantities of beer (bottled, canned AND kegged), and of course, The Meat, which began smoking at 7:30 am. In our newly finished backyard with our Freecycled playground, the kiddos played tirelessly all afternoon. Even little b enjoyed the backyard, assuming perfect stance on big B's ride. In every space of our home, laughter was the accompaniment to the day.

2009 Hoppin' John for a Houseful
(a vegetarian twist on a Southern tradition)

3 T olive oil
2 large leeks, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 T poultry seasoning
16 oz. kale chopped (about 8 c.)
1 box Pomi chopped tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz.) diced tomatoes with green chiles
4 cups uncooked blackeyed peas, soaked overnight
1 qt. vegetable broth
salt and pepper

Saute the leeks in olive oil until tender. Add garlic and poultry seasoning. Stir in kale and cook until wilted. Add all tomatoes, black-eyed peas and vegetable broth. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer until peas are tender, about an hour or better. We served this over brown rice, also cooked in vegetable broth. A new spin on a great tradition, and a very nutritious, hearty, aromatic way to start the year.