Thursday, May 08, 2008

Cutie Pants and Chocolate Croissants... Yeah, We're Creative


This is Maria's line-up. I can't think of a nicer way to tone down the looming towers of faux columness that grace the entry of Garage Mahal. True, she does tend to overrun the house with her collections, assortments of odd this and that, and sacred altars of randomness. I could do an entire blog devoted to things Maria puts in boxes, bags and cupboards. But if this is her art, her expression, well then, it is sacred to me too.


I can't think of a time when we haven't been a creative family, enjoying spontaneity and the pleasures of discovery and invention.

Jennifer, those stamps you sent us have been a huge hit. It took me a while to remember to bring home a fresh stamp pad, and when I finally did show Maria what magic was contained in those funny wood blocks she was ecstatic. Then Alex jumped in and filled a giant page with his stamped tales. Max was racing through his school work, so he could join them, and he stamped these stars dancing across the waves. Yesterday he used the 3 dragon parts to make a dragon of unusual length.

William's creativity has been applied to stop motion animation. The latest family interest has been of extra special interest to William. He is our resident film enthusiast-graphic art-CGA expert... a true prodigy, his father's son. I promise to figure out some way of posting video, so I can show-off some of the fun William, Alex and Max have been having with stop motion animation.

Warning: Here Comes The Chocolate Part!


Alex likes to mix things up... his creative enterprises are all over the galaxy and in the kitchen too. Heavens! He decided to try his hand at making chocolate croissants. We had some leftover chocolate chips from Trader Joe's and in the freezer was some puff pastry, also from Trader Joe's. Love that place! Defrost, cut, fill with a few chips, fold and bake... and then drizzle with melted chocolate. They are small and tasty and I think Alex has a baker's gift...


Nothing satisfies like chocolate, except, perhaps, a good read. Maria has an uncanny ability to immerse herself in a book, any book, pictures optional, and turn it page by page. Sometimes she makes a running commentary, a sort of lecture or lyrical narrative, and she does not appreciate being interrupted. Fair enough.


These reading sessions can last a long time.
Self-conscious Mother Moment: I washed her shirt and she pulled it on again, so no, she hasn't been in it for 3 dirty days. Oh, I feel better.

So, what's up with the Creativity Theme? Well, I finally couldn't resist bringing home Amanda Blake Soule's "Creative Family" book. There is so much good buzz about the book and I really enjoy visiting her blog, so when she offered signed copies, I jumped.


It's strange... when William was born and I was merely 24 years old, none of my peers were into marriage or starting families or even remotely interested in going all domestic, so I felt like something of a loner-pioneer mom, and I also felt free to do things my way. My way has been a creative journey. These days? Well, these days I feel like a rather old mom. A been there, done that kind of mom, and I wasn't sure I needed a book about "creativity." Then I remembered something else from when William was born... Geoff questioned some method or approach I was taking in caring for our newborn son and he cited the advice of an expert from a hospital pamphlet. I did not agree with said expert and I declared as much, adding, "It's okay to do it our way. We'll just find another expert to support our style."

So, trusting my instincts, including finding help when I need it, has been my parenting style and I like to surround myself with experts, resources and support that confirm and validate my beliefs. I guess that might sound narrow... it isn't, and most importantly it's what works for me... which leads me to something else I've learned as a parent: You have to do what works for you and your family.

Well, since creativity works for our family, I realized I ought to welcome an expert into our home, someone who supports our beliefs and lends a fresh perspective, new ideas and terrific insight. And I must say buying this book was a very good decision. I am enjoying it immensely. It is thoughtfully written and full of lovely examples and real life illustrations from a real life family. No one asked me to review the book, so I hope she doesn't mind my deep thoughts and other musings!


Maria was the first one to get her hands on the book and she obliged me by reading me some of the pages. I love Maria's reading voice, the words she creates. Then, on page 42, we found something that really captured my imagination: "Constructing Children's Pants" was a perfect fit for something I have been working on lately and I could not wait to try my own version of this ingenious recipe.


I just recently finished a quilt top. It's been a very emotional project, involving Aloha shirts. I have been wanting to take a breather, a step back to prepare myself for the next step of finishing this quilt, and Amanda's idea seemed like an ideal transition. Her idea is to make something old new again, and in this case it involved turning a shirt into children's pants. Some of Geoff's old Aloha shirts were still on my cutting table... a fun print and careworn comfiness seemed ideal for some beach-combing, pajama-style pants for Maria.


Easy! Oh, man was this easy and gratifying and fun. Really, I am quite giddy about the results and even the process. The hem of the shirt finishes the hem of the pants.


Even the pocket transferred nicely... a feature that delights Maria. I had already used the sleeves to make soft baby blocks for cousin Izzy, and now much of the rest of this old shirt is new again and keeping Maria comfy-cozy and very happy.


I love the how the details of the shirt, like the cut vents in the shirt's side, make an easy, cute finish in the pants. Geoff joked that he might start missing some of his shirts. I will be on the lookout for any that are getting too shabby! Thank you Amanda Blake Soule... this creative family is feeling nurtured and encouraged, anew!

12 comments:

Tami @ Lemon Tree Tales said...

Those pants are adorable and look mighty comfy to boot! What a great way to get more use out of an old shirt. :-)

BTW, I'm so glad that you added a feed to your blog. Now I can read it on my google reader. Yay!

gloria said...

MMM CHOCOLATE!!! SOY ADICTA A EL.

ES UNA BENDICIÓN QUE MARÍA ADORE LEER, YO ERA ASÍ DE NIÑA...AHORA NI POR CASUALIDAD!

BESITOS NATALIE

Anna Banana said...

Hey busy Chica, you've been having fun! Tire mission accomplished. Did not dare buy anything frozen today in case the tires took too long. I am all for experts that support our POV!

Janece said...

How *cute* are those pants! Amira would adore them! What fun. Maybe someday I'll get crafty with a sewing machine... but first I have to get some crafty skills... oh, and a sewing machine. :p

Love this post, Natalie. It makes me smile.

amy smith said...

i think it is the ADORABLE toes sticking out of the bottom that make those pants so cute! and YUM on the chocolate part. :)

Oiyi said...

Oh, the chocolate croissants!!! I just gained 5lbs from looking at that photo.

Mama Spark said...

Maria is adorable as usual and those chocolate croissants, defy explanation. YUMMY!

Tracy said...

What a pair of cutie pants for a very cutie little gal! Maria's collections make me smile :o) And so do those choc-croissants...mmm...Happy weeekend to you all ((HUGS))

nikkipolani said...

Natalie, reading your posts is like a dose of daily creativity for me. There's always something interesting going on. I love all the highlights in today's post - esp all the neat built-in features of the converted shirt. Happy weekend to you.

calamitykim said...

those are so cute! I love them! I love her little toes peeking out from underneath!
I haven't seen her book at the bookstore yet..I am keeping an eye out for it.
Glad to know you are sewing
Happy Mother's day.
You are probably the best Mom I have ever (not met) but known.
You give them your time and your love. That's what every kid wants
so, I hope you have a very happy day with your sweet family

Anonymous said...

So adorable! My husband has a bunch of shirts he knows I will try and scrap for something and has tried to quietly sneak out of the house... But alas I saved them!!! I know now just what I am going to do with them!!!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Do give that a go! The pants come out so comfy, and they are easy to make.

*where do the days go?? This post makes me so nostalgic for those days with (much) smaller children to sew for!