The Full Catastrophe Review and Giveaway

I'm no music critic, but I know what I like when I hear it. If it gets me dancing in the kitchen while I'm doing the dishes it's good in my book. I fell instantly in love with the Nields sisters when I reviewed their family music book, All Together Singing in the Kitchen, earlier this year. The album that came with it became an instant hit and we listen to it at least once a day with and without the kids. So of course I was more than excited when I heard from Katryna Nields on Facebook about checking out their new album, The Full Catastrophe.

photo by Kris McCue

Narissa and Katryna are an indie-folk sister-duo and have been making music together for over 20 years. The juggle of their lives as mothers, wives, and musicians is what inspired the album, borrowing the title from Zorba the Greek: "I'm a man, so I married. Wife, children, house, everything. The full catastrophe."

The album is perfect for mamas balancing home life with their own artistic expression, and I can definitely relate to songs like The Number One Reason Why Parents are Cranky (can you guess what it is?) and the uplifting lyrics of Your House is Strong:

What if all the moments that felt like failure were really the ones that made me strong/ What if all the time when you thought you'd ruined me there actually was nothing wrong/ I know there are times when you think our house will crumble on our heads/ Believe me when I say your house is strong and so are you/ The broken spots are where the light shines through / Your house is strong and so are we/ It's the forgiving of each other that sets us free...

Written in the midst of sick kids, soccer practice, and play dates, The Full Catastrophe is a perfect soundtrack to the lost-shoe-hunting, never-ending-laundry-folding, lost-tooth-celebrating days of mamahood, and Katryna and Nerissa become friends and confidants as they embrace the joys and messes of life in their song.

So wouldn't you like to win your own copy to play and add a little extra oomph to your day? I thought so! Here's how to enter:

1. Comment below and tell me what helps you get through the craziness of your day, or any other mamahood tip you'd like to share. (You must complete this step to enter.)

2. Follow Maker Mama on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway--make sure to include the tag @makermama and tell me in the comments below (1 extra entry each). 

3. Share the giveaway on Facebook and comment below (1 extra entry each). 

4. Follow Maker Mama on Google Friend Connect and leave a comment (1 extra entry).

And some official rules to go along:

• All contestants must be at least 18 years old or older and residents of the United States. 

• Contest ends at 9 p.m. CST on Sunday, June 3. The winner will be selected randomly and will have 48 hours after email notification to send me their address (or else I might have to find a new winner!).

• The value of the prize (1 copy of The Full Catastrophe CD) is approximately $20. Odds of winning are determined by the number of eligible entries. No purchase necessary to enter. 

You can preview and purchase The Full Catastrophe on Amazon--so be sure to check it out. I can't wait to hear all your mama-tips! Good luck and happy listening!

Guest Post Over at Silly Eagle Books

Today I'm guest posting over at Silly Eagle Books with Vanessa Rough about my favorite children's book author, Allan Ahlberg. Vanessa is the go-to mama for children's book recommendations, so be sure to take a peek around while you're there!

This Week (and Last!) at the Maker Mama House

My apologies for not posting a weekly photo update last week, something was in the air and I was under the weather. But I've been up and running this week, so here's a little peek and what we've been up to...

...Chris and I made it to the showing of Silver Streak at Sunset Station thanks to Slab Cinema. Owners Rick and Angela are friends of ours, and have done an amazing job at building the San Antonio community with their free outdoor screenings. If you live in San Antonio you don't want to miss their Movies by Moonlight series at HemisFair Park this summer or their Starlight Movies at the Botanical Gardens in the fall. They're also showing The Darjeeling Limited at Sunset Station next Thursday!

...I also decided to part with some of my beloved vintage book collection. You can find them listed in the Maker Mama Etsy shop for a limited time...

...I've been enjoying the flowers Chris got me for my birthday. The first time he bought me flowers was when we were dating and he left a bouquet on the windshield of my car. I was surprised to find them when I got out of work and there was a note to meet him at the cafe next store. melt.my.heart.

...Skyler got all dressed up for a school folklorico performance, and I was amazed to realize how big he's getting--he's gonna be a looker!

...I've been volunteering for the school Slow Foods program and was there this week to see the kids harvest some of the vegetables they've been growing. It was so much fun to see the joy and excitement in their faces!

...I've been eagerly awaiting the blooming of this lovely sunflower in my garden--I think it's teasing me...

...I introduced the kids to the wonderful world of Where's Waldo this week. I picked a few books up at the library, and it's been great at keeping them busy (and distracting me from time to time, too!)...

...I embarked on another thrifting trip with Mary (remember our first thrift store adventure?) and I can't wait to show you all the fun things I found--stay tuned...

...And lastly, my lovely friend Claire (aka The Half-Hearted Housewife) came over with her boys yesterday for dinner. Between the two of us we were corraling seven kids, and I'm sure you can just imagine the chaos. But we're pros by now (right?) and had a great time. She even brought some yummy watermelon for dessert and Amelia thoroughly enjoyed her first piece!

How was your week? Anything exciting--or crazy--happen at your house?

Want to see my week as it's happening? Follow Maker Mama on Instagram!

Vintage Book Sale

We started running out of book space a long time ago, and I don't think it's any secret that I have a love for vintage books of any sort. So to justify the space my addiction collection takes up, I decided to have a little vintage book sale to clear off at least a little space and share some of my favorite finds with all of you.

There are some books in here that I really treasure (like the First Days with Numbers in the middle--amazing 1960s graphics!), but I've had time to enjoy them and now it's time to pass them along! I'm holding the vintage book sale all in the Maker Mama Etsy shop, so hurry by before they're gone!

What about you, do you compulsively collect anything?

Why I Ditched My SLR (and Fell in Love with iPhoneography)

As any of you who are familiar with my blog already know, I LOVE taking photos. Of our family, garden, trips, friends, bugs, our house, just about anything that catches my eye. My skill and interest in photography has progressed over time, but I got my first "serious" camera about 2 years ago. I carried that thing with me everywhere--I loved the clearer pictures I was able to take and enjoyed developing my perspective on capturing the life around me.

It took me a while to get out of point-and-shoot mode (guilty as charged), and soon found myself frustrated by how limited my skills were in manipulating all the different camera settings. Low-light situations were a killer. And pretty soon it started to feel like I was carrying around another kid!

Then came my upgrade to the iPhone 4s a few months ago. I picked up the camera on that baby and haven't looked back sense. My poor SLR has been getting dusty on the shelf. I'd had an older iPhone before, but the camera quality wasn't too hot, and I only took photos with it as a back up. Now I've found my camera, and let me tell you why...

1. It's lightened the load. Running around with four kids in tow is no easy feat. And traveling as light as possible is a must (aside from the diaper bag, extra snacks, and the abyss that is my purse, of course).

2. I get better pictures all the time. Okay, not to say that the 4s camera tops a professional photographer with some fancy-schmancy SLR when it comes to quality, but for me it works. I can get the shot when I want it without fiddling around with finding the right settings first. I can just open the camera, focus, and BAM I've got my shot!

3. My camera's ALWAYS with me. I carry my phone with me everywhere I go. I know I shouldn't admit this, but it's almost like an extension of my body (there are other people out there with this problem, too, right?). And being as active and on the go as I am with chasing little ones around the house and yard, running errands, driving to and from school, church, and various extra curricular activities it's nice not having to remember the camera all the time. So when I spot that awesome ladybug outside, or I notice how sweet Eleanor looks on the church piano I can get the shot instead of wishing I'd brought the camera with me.

4. Instant sharing capabilities. I was notoriously bad at sharing the photos I took on my SLR. If I wanted to, I had to plug it into my computer, load the photos into iPhoto, and then upload them to Facebook/Snapfish/Flickr individually before anyone else saw them. And the times when I did share them were few and far between.

I'm still not Speedy Gonzalez at sharing all of my photos, but it makes it a whole lot easier being able to share them directly from my phone.

5. Built-in editing. Sure most DSLRs have some ability to edit photos--but you can't do much. But on my iPhone, I can use an assortment of apps to add filters, make collages, add text, and even do touch-ups all without loading them to my computer. My favorite go-to apps are XiuXiu, Phonto, Photo Effect Studio, and of course Instagram.

6. Video camera included. So, you're taking photos of the baby looking all cute with smashed carrots on his face at lunch when all of a sudden he starts saying mama for the first time. Quick! Get the camera! Shoot where'd I put it? Is it charged? I forgot to clear the memory! By the time you start recording he's back to silently styling his hair with baby food. 

You're less likely to miss spontaneous moments like these with a phone that has both photo and video (and some DSLRs do too, but I'll just ignore that for this point!).

7. It doesn't disappoint. You know that feeling when you have your nice shiny camera at a family reunion, holiday, or other once-a-year event that you really want to remember, and then the lighting is terrible and you can't get the settings right and everything looks yellow, or you have to use your dreaded built-in flash and there's a dark shadow on everything? And then everyone can't wait to see your photos because you're such a great photographer and you feel totally embarrassed and don't want to show anyone? Yeah, I've had that happen a time or two. 

But my iPhone makes it easy by adjusting to the lighting in the room for me and focusing just where I want it. Sure, it may not be ideal for every situation, but I don't have to keep it locked away in less-than-stellar lighting.


So, there you have it, seven reasons I ditched my SLR for my iPhone. And I didn't really throw my camera in the trash, (and I may even make up with it somewhere down the line) but for this busy mama, keeping it simple works best!

What kind of camera do you use? Are you an iPhoneographer? For more of my photos as I take them, be sure to follow me on Instagram and Flickr.

It's My Birthday and We Have a Winner (Plus a Discount Code)!

Today I am 28-years-young. I'm not ashamed to admit my age, although it often makes other people uncomfortable. No, I don't look like I'm old enough to have four kids already, but you can read that whole story here if you haven't already.

That's me with my mom in the photo above, and if you notice, she has a suitcase with her that I'd probably drool over now! (Yeah, I have a little thing for them!)

Anyway, I'm happy to be alive and blessed beyond measure and celebrating with you all here today! First off, thanks to everyone who stopped by my shop and entered the Mother's Day drawstring bag giveaway--you're awesome!

I wish I could give away a hundred bags but my sewing machine would probably burn out. Instead I thought I'd sharing the winning by offering a discount code for all my wonderful readers! So if you've been eyeing anything in the shop now's the time to grab it! Enter the code MAY15 at checkout for 15% off your purchase (not including shipping) through Friday, May 18.

Now, without further ado here's our giveaway winner:

Congrats b3moon--I wish I knew your name to give you a proper thanks for entering. Anyhow, I'll be shooting you an email to get all your contact info, so keep an eye out!

Thanks again for all of you who entered and don't forget to use the discount code MAY15 for 15% off at the Maker Mama shop!

Last Week at the Maker Mama House

Last week we made it back to the local library after a brief hiatus (I slowed down after a number of overdue fees) and was so glad to be back with the girls...

...took Skyler shoe shopping--we tried second hand first with no luck, so off to Payless we went!

...I finished the plate wall I've been working on for ages (thanks Aunt Sue for all the plate hangers!)...

...enjoyed the little moments to sip coffee and read a book (I'm currently juggling Crush It! and book one of The Hunger Games*)...

...was blessed with an abundance of rain this week, which naturally required building a tent in the living room...

...and some gorgeous sunsets in the evening as a result (of the rain, not the tent)...

...celebrated Mother's Day early at a fair along the Mission Reach...

...had a free caricature portrait drawn of me and Amelia...

...and enjoyed an early craft night birthday party thrown by my amazing friend Umber and enjoyed the company of some very lovely ladies (and yummy cheesecake!).

How was your week? Any fun Mother's Day stories to share? Hope this week is a great one!

Psst! Have you entered my upcycled drawstring bag giveaway yet?? You have until 9pm Monday night!


*Affiliate links

Mother's Day Giveaway

 

To celebrate Mother's Day this weekend (and my birthday next week!) I thought I'd host a little giveaway as my way of saying thanks to all you ladies. 

I really appreciate the community you're helping me build here and am excited as Maker Mama continues to grow! So, to say thanks I'm giving away one upcycled drawstring bag of choice from my Etsy shop. 

I use my own set of bags all the time for toting around my various crochet and knitting projects, and they're perfect for collecting small toys, storing art supplies, and just about anything else you can think of. They're all made from thrifted and upcycled materials, and I've sewn them with French seams for extra sturdiness.

So, are you ready to win your own bag? Here's how to enter:

1. Visit the Maker Mama shop and tell me which bag you'd most like to win in the comments below. (You must complete this step to enter.)

2. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter and include the tag @makermama and/or share the giveaway on Facebook and be sure to tell me in the comments below (1 extra entry each). 

3. Follow Maker Mama via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment (1 extra entry). 

And some official rules to go along:

• All contestants must be at least 18 years old or older and residents of the United States. 

• Contest ends at 9 p.m. CST on Monday, May 14. The winner will be selected randomly and will have 48 hours after email notification to send me their address (or else I might have to find a new winner!).

• The value of the prize (1 handmade drawstring bag of choice) is $20. Odds of winning are determined by the number of eligible entries. No purchase necessary to enter.

Good luck to everyone, and hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Teaching Kids to Quilt

My oldest son, Skyler, joined a local 4-H club this school year, and as their service project the kids chose to make a quilt to donate to a family at The Ronald McDonald House. Being the resident crafty parent of the group, I was volunteered to lead the project (whoa Nelly!), although I did have quite a lot of help along the way.

To start, another awesome mama cut up 100+ squares which we took to our booth at the Stock Show and Rodeo on World Youth Day. We provided the blank squares and fabric markers for visitors to decorate or write a positive message for the quilt. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the idea and it was exciting to see what everyone wrote on theirs.

The next step was teaching the kids how to use the sewing machine to sew the squares together in strips. Skyler has already had some practice at home, but the other kids did a pretty good job also.

Another mama and I worked to sew all the strips together, and then we taught the kids how to pin and tie the quilt together (this was much simpler than actually quilting--I don't imagine that would've gone well). This part was more tedious for the kids, it wasn't as easy for them to get the needles through all three layers.

And at our last meeting I attempted to teach them how to bind the quilt. I had it prepped with the binding sewn down to the front already, they were just hand stitching the back.

Between the six of them (and my five-year-old) they finished almost all the binding. And although it's by no means perfect, it's definitely made with love!

Here are some things I learned from this experience:

1. Break it down into steps. We did each step at a different one-hour session. I found the kids only had so much motivation and attention to give before they gave up (especially if it wasn't turning out the way they hoped).

2. Don't aim for perfection. Most of the kids didn't have much experience with sewing, so I knew it was important to encourage their efforts rather than make them correct their mistakes a hundred times (if there was anything glaring we went back and fixed it later).

3. Give up control. The entire project (including decorating the squares) took place over the span of four months. Our quilt-making sessions were limited and we were never able to complete an entire step during any of them, and it didn't end up the original dimensions I'd planned for, but the important thing was that the kids were learning some important skills.

Have you ever worked with teaching kids how to craft? Any funny stories about teaching your own kids to sew? I'll be sure to share more photos once all the finishing touches are added--can't wait!

Last Week at the Maker Mama House

We found ourselves with a free morning and headed out to the park (free mornings seem so rare lately)...

I was reminded that parks are the best place to find free bottle caps--and how well I've trained my kids to hunt for them--Eleanor went scavenging all by herself...

I've been working on a fun suitcase project that I can't wait to share with you!...

I attempted to teach a group of third graders how to bind a quilt...

We enjoyed 12 free comic books for Free Comic Book Day (including a new Yo Gabba Gabba issue)...

Skyler and I enjoyed some free pie and fun art-making at Pie to the People 2...

I was reminded that although my button tin makes a great toy, it also makes a great mess...

I was treated to a lovely dinner with some awesome blogging ladies courtesy of Treat.com (and scored some sweet swag, too)...

And ended the week on a high note!

What were the highlights of your week? Any exciting news? Overcome any challenges? Hope this week is a great one!

Amy and Mary Go Thrifting

 

My friend Mary and I decided to join forces and hit the local thrift stores to find the best deals under $10. Mary and I are big-time thrifters not only because of the awesome and inexpensive things we can find, but we also both have a big heart for reducing waste.