for his collections

Recently, Calvin and I made these Wall Pockets together (he was the idea boy, I was the 'make it happen' girl). It's for holding all manner of useful things like cardboard pieces, rubberbands, corks and wood chips. Pieces of wire, bread bands, string, tape, toilet paper rolls and on and on. Things that were taken apart from other things, and lie in waiting until they're made into something else. And then, sometimes something else yet again. He's a repurposer and a maker of things. And a collector of all the 'stuff' with which to make things.

I sandwiched it all together as a quilt, essentially - with red linen on the front, a grey cotton on the back, and cotton batting in the middle, which I thought would give it a bit more heft. The loops on the top are bias binding. The pockets are all linen and stitched on a few times - because you never know which pocket might hold the precious marble collection. There's some embroidery (which you saw a peek of here), which is all from this Clover pattern. The other linen - with the farm theme - was a gift from a reader, and I'm so over-the-top in love with it. I know I've stumbled upon it somewhere online in another colorway, but I'm sorry that I don't remember. (found it - it's Dutch Countryside, and SuperBuzzy has it here).

Lately, Calvin's been drawing elaborate plans for his future bedroom/workshop 'on the farm'. The design sounds dreamy to me - a long workshop table, racks on the wall, and lots of shelves. And with wonder and excitement at all the possibilities such a room might hold, he describes it as "full of nails, cardboard, rope, fabric and a sewing machine!". Oh, this kid.

But in the meantime - until he gets his workshop - he very graciously (for the most part) shares space with the rest of us, and this little wall pocket helps to contain some of the stuff. He's decided he likes it best on the end of his bunk bed - where he can wake up, and reach over for his materials and start making things before even getting out of bed. Huh, I think I get that.

Comments

[qalballah]

What a kid. Someone to be very proud of

[Sarah Jackson]

What a great idea! As the mother of collectors of stuff, I can totally get it too.

[TD wool design]

creations in the waiting! awesome.

[colleen]

i love this! will you come over and make one for me?????? with the embroidery???

[heather]

such a cool idea. and i love the "idea boy/make it happen girl" combo. a crafty superhero duo! keep those ideas flowing calvin - they are always awesome! remember the wetsuit? man, i loved the wetsuit.

[camerashymomma]

wonderful!! i love his spark, and i think i know where he gets it from!! :) love that arial view of his workspace too.

[Madeline]

We have a room like that, with racks of containers holding nails, rubberbands and all kinds of tools, in our barn. I remember the first time I saw it (my husband was already farming when I met him) and I was so excited by it. In the meantime, Calvin sure does have the coolest collection container ever made. We just use a boring shoe pocket holder that goes over the door for Jesse's collections. Maybe I'll embroider it.

[Geertrude]

Looks great. You really inspired me to make something like that for our ever cluttered hallway. Love the farm-fabric!

[Cheryl]

Amanada,
You have such an eloquent way in which you share the charming, sweet moments of being a mom to your children.

Love the pocket organizer. Calvin is a special little boy to have such a sweet mom.

[Claudia]

Great idea. And very sweet boy!

[Rubyellen]

That is a clever idea. Heck... I would want that in my workshop. You have a very clever boy!

[kat nicholas]

wow. what a great idea! and how it must make a mama's heart sing knowing that a sewing machine is on his list, along with nails and cardboard. and i love the idea of creating before even leaving the bed. oh, calvin - i can't wait to see where all this takes you!

[Amanda Jo]

How sweet is this!?!?! I love it! I can't wait until my little guy really starts in with his creative side! Love the pictures, too! :)

[Ella]

Wow you guys were meant for each other. How proud you must be of this amazingly creative boy and he so obviously admires you and your work.
Can i just say that i'm so excited for your first book! I bought it forever ago. it must be coming out soon. woowee.

[Ruth]

What a great idea! My daughter hoards all manner of similar bits and pieces "to make stuff", but it does start to look like her room is one big recycling bin.

[Samantha]

Good idea!

[Mariss]

What an awesome kid he is! Thanks for brightening my morning with your great guy's enthusiasm :)

[maya]

That's wonderful! I want one!

[Charity]

I really love this idea - I may have to try it for the bunkbeds in our house! :0)

[coastalgirl]

We have been enjoying limericks over here and Leah helped with this one for Calvin after asking if I could make wall pockets for her:

There was a boy who collected much stuff,
Keeping it all contained was quite tough,
So he put up wall pockets,
So no one could knock it,
And there… great plans were sketched in the rough.

[simply]

pockets for things in a "boys pocket" yup...I get that :o)

My boys are always trying to send things through the wash...not on purpose...but it would be nice to have a place to "unload" their treasures.

~simply~

[Kim]

awesome!

[Crystal]

Awsome! Love that farm fabric.

[WATER WORKS]

I was browsing through some of your archives and saw the post about the art work quilts you made from drawings the boys did. I am wondering what kind of linen you used for those. I have never used linen, but love the idea. My daughter recently drew a picture of "my mama" (she's barely 3) and I love it. I want to make something similar to the one you made Ezra. I just need some tips for the type of linen...I'll have to file it as folk art since my embroidary skills are, uhm, primitive...

[Lasso the Moon]

I totally get that! After all, most great ideas are thought up while in bed!

Anna

[Wendy]

We've been using an over-the-door shoe rack to contain that kind of stuff (loose feathers from boas are my personal favorite), but this is a much better idea. Your pockets are actually big enough to hold bigger things. (We kept our toilet paper rolls in plastic bags).

Love it!

[Sandy]

You know, this is one of the posts you must print and make sure he reads when he is older.

[Kate]

I love the pockets and I recently bought the farm fabric at Purlpathwork in NY. I would think they would have it online as well.

[Jessica Keith]

Excellent idea! We have spare bits floating all around the house. I love this idea for keeping them in a wall of pockets! And the fabric/embroidery is awesome. :)

[Sarah]

What a wonderful storage area!

How did you get that last picture? Ladder?

[anilia]

Brilliant! Calvin, how smart!

[Sara]

What a creative boy and a helpful mom!

[kristena]

He was definitely born into the right family! Eventually he'll be making these kinds of things for himself, I'm sure.

[betz]

I have one of those. The kid, not the pocket thing. I need the pocket thing!

[coffeechris]

My son is the same...was from birth collecting things in crib...bed...room anywhere. All the drawers of our house inhabit string, twist ties, birch bark.....guess we need a pocket quilt with drawers. The collaboration of you and Calvin is grand.

[denice]

We have a wall pocket so similar to this one, and it has gotten very much use! I made it when my 17yo was Calvin's age, for his supplies and his "metal collection" -- found bits of metal (keys, bolts, anything) that were imperative to good building and sculpture. Now it sports new grommets and lives in his little brother's room, mounted to the side of his "treasure drawers" (a brightly painted file cabinet designated strictly for keepsakes and found treasures). It's the perfect sort system for all that good stuff... I adore the workshop Calvin is planning... don't we all need a workshop, a few wall pockets and a treasure drawer all our own?

[emilykristin]

What a lovely boy you have. My mom made those when I was a kid, but for car camping trips. They looped over the head of the seat in front of us. We stored all our toys and books for the trip in them. But I like Calvin's use better - it's brilliant. And his workshop? So great. I know a children's book illustrator who keeps a box of "spaceship parts" (toilet paper rolls etc.) near his desk so he can construct models for his books (and for fun). He and his wife collected stones from the beach for an entry way mosaic. His whole house sounds something like Calvin's workshop.

[SnippetyGibbet]

I need one of those for the Art Room!

[anj]

Creative storage for one awesome boy. Go Calvin, and mama!

[Susan]

I love the embroidery! I made a similar one for my daughter. Hers mostly holds her stuffed puppies and books. It hangs from her top bunk as well, so she can reach it in bed.
I inserted a dowel at the top hem to make it stiff. Might be useful for yours as Calvin is using it for heavy items.

Susan

[Megan]

Very cool. We'll have to try that at my house! A few times now, I've called my girls over to show them something on your blog... "ooh... look what these kids are up to!" Thank you for that!

[chris]

I'm always reading and loving your blog because I love your projects, family story, etc. I've also been noticing you have a great taste in music, at least in my opinion, so I wanted to recommend a record that you've probably heard but if not you should! I recently wrote about it on my blog, the record is called She and Him. It features Zooey Deschanel and another great musician that I love M. Ward who has his own great records. :)

[Nicole]

This is GREAT! What a brilliant idea... amazing what kids come up with. Such an bright boy!!!

I am going to run with his idea for my little boy. We are moving from a big house with too much space to a smaller house with much less space. This will be a great idea for my little boy's room!!!

[gonzomama]

lucky mama. lucky boy. what a great team!

[ilse]

Over here in belgium I'm having the same idea.
But not for our collector stuff but for our hats scarfs and mittens. Every morning it's the same story, mama I can't find my hat. We have a closet in the hall where everyone puts their hats , scarfs,... in. So you can image how that looks like !
The wall pocket is still in progress, I hope it will be finished by the end of the week.
I chose a light color for the back, but now I'm all confused ;-) Yours look so colorfull with the red !

[lissilulu]

excellent!

[natasha s]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Great organizer,we use the one from ikea for shoes!maybe I should perk it up a bit now,I love the embroidery.
I love that Calvin wants it so close so that he can make things before he gets out of bed:0)
Happy crafting
Natasha

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[erin vega]

what a GREAT idea! my daughter is always making some craft or another, and hoards things to make her creations with---but has nowhere to put it all! love this.

[Shelly]

What a cool idea! I need to make a few for my boys and myself. We all have goodies everywhere and need a place to keep it handy.

[Lisa]

You surely have the cutest kids on the planet! Love it!