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

[Veronica TM]

what a wonderful collaboration! love the colours and the purpose.

[greenemother]

It's been on my mind to make something like that(of course not as pretty) for my husband King Clutter, but now I'm totally inspired! I love the red!

[Elizabeth]

I love the idea of waking up, grabbing my crochet, and just starting in. :> Hmmm....

[Sue Krekorian]

I love the idea of organiser/storage curtains, as in the first photo! Maybe with toolroll or pencil and paintbrush roll tiebacks?! But then I guess I'd need industrial strength curtain rods? What a lovely post (again).

[Carrie]

You sure are "the make it happen girl" !
And Calvin-you are brilliant,I love your idea!

[Ericka B Traven]

Very handy for organizing. I have never seen one this big. Also noticed the fish tank on the dresser as the one I have been coveting since I ran out of floorspace for the big one and though that one was awesome.

[kay]

That reminds me so much of my son when he was a kid! So many collections. We moved a big box of rocks twice because he just couldn't let them go. I used to have to alway remember to empty those pockets really well because you never knew what was in them. I enjoy your blog. What a lovely family you have.

[andi]

What a sweet and creative boy! His workshop sounds absolutely lovely! Oh, and I loved the wetsuit too- definitely one of my Calvin favorites!

[tara pollard pakosta]

what an awesome space and cool thing for his treasures! perfect for your remarkable little boY!
tara

[Ali]

Amanda this is awesome - and totally do-able. Thanks!

[Mandi]

I am doing the same embroidery pattern as we speak! I loved the hedgehogs, now I want to go back to Hancocks and buy the rest. Have you tried to use them more than once? They seemed really light when they transfered. Love the organizer my son would be all over that. Must get to work.

[bz]

Hi Amanda...nice pocket thing..i had one when i was a child and i still remember some things that i used to put in...most of them special little secrets..je!
¡¡BIG AND HAPPY 3 YEARS!!(nearly 2 for me...uf..), i was pregnant when i found you..now my little Alberta is walking and talking and ..ing & ...ing & ..ing....Thank you all!

[bz]

Bigggg hug from the island..
bz

[lindsey clare]

Calvin is such a dude. love the pockets!

[SierraMoon]

love it :)
but, my godness, where were you when you took the 4th picture ? stuck on the floor with the head upside down like a bat ?! :P i'm completely puzzled there....

[SOULEMAMA]

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For those inquiring about my super ceiling photography powers. ;)

I stood on a chair and held the camera in my arms outstretched. Also - my lens is a pretty wide angle, which rocks for this kind of shot.

Alas, there was no ceiling suspension. But how fun would that be?

--amanda

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[kieren]

My 'maker' is now 14. (His mom happens to be an art teacher/dad a designer, so go figure. IT's in his blood, he can't help it.).we just moved to a new house, where he gets a WORKSHOP for himself under the front porch. My dad (architect)just installed electricity and a light, and built him a workbench for xmas. He's in heaven! So keep it up Calvin!
check out this book: Calder at Home. a kindred spirit.

[Berlinswhimsy]

I love that fabric---- and also how he keeps his treasures so close!!

[Lace]

Rad idea. In our mini, cluttered apartment it will come in very handy! My collections of things always end up in boxes...but now I have no room for all the boxes!

[Kate]

Amazing, Stupendous, collaborative creation!! And I'm loving that fabric too, must acquire some for those farmer boys of mine. Thanks for the source!!

[mushroommeadows]

What an awesome project! It looks wonderful and it seems so very functional, as well!

[amykatherine]

Love the pockets.

But, I'm commenting to share this link with you to a photo from Shutter Sisters' blog of sandy little toes... It's your kind of photo, I think. And, perhaps will bring you a bit of sunshiney, beach-day memory for March in Maine. :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2263650318/in/pool-77416221@N00/

[Suzanne]

Oh it is lovely! I have made these too in smaller versions for the back of the seats in the cars--holds all the treasures and then some:-)

[girlwithmoxy]

Oh my do we also love collections of the most trivial of things. yes yes we do. Which means I must get busy making a replica of your stowage area right there. Thank you for sharing so much!

[Julie]

I plan on blatently copying you and your lil fella. We have zero storage space in our house--no good for a couple of clutterbugs! I think one of these for each room is in order--starting with the sewing studio. Thank you for sharing a practical, beautiful solution to an ongoing problem. These will also help keep little "eatables" out of our wee son's path.

[Amy]

I love the pockets. They are so great. I am going to have to create something like that for my little guys when they get a little bigger. Thanks for sharing all of your great work.

[Krista]

You've reminded me of precisely why I need to get sewing again. Wonderful.

[Annie]

Reading this makes me so excited to watch my son grow into his personality more and more. Thanks for sharing so much of your lives and your children with us!

[kristen]

great ideas!

[Kristy]

Oh my, your Calvin and my Daelyn would be quite a pair!!!!!! She literally wakes up and starts on her projects before my husband and I even wake up! She has a similar collection and we recently bought a large wire mesh storage unit with lots of drawers that resides in our dining room just to contain all of her project materials, including glue, scissors, papers, craft punches, yarn, paints, tubes, wire, etc. among lots and lots of found objects usually from nature. She is the most creative 4 year old I have ever seen! She is always leaving little presents on my nightstand and pillow. I will have to show her Calvin's pockets, I know she will want one of her own!

And thanks for the link to SuperBuzzy! I was drooling over all of the cute fabrics all day! Any other online fabric stores you would recommend? I'm just getting my feet wet with sewing and I have no idea where to begin to look for cute and unique fabric.

[Livia]

Oh, what a boy!

[sabrina]

dear amanda
i have a question for you (+ a kind of survey for everybody....)
how do you manage the cleaning-house? how can your house be always so clean and not-a-messy?
sometimes i feel overloaded by things to do (laundry.... bla bla bla)and i cannot spend time in doing things with my children....
and also... everytime i browse my livingroom i feel i must do something to tidy up....
how do you manage all these? how do you schedule a normal day?
(advises are welcome...)
ciao
sabrina

[Michaela]

Ha, Sabrina - I was just thinking the same!... Can we have an interim 'reality check', please ;-) ?

[jeni]

Wow, I so know how how feels, I was always like that when I was a kid, and after a few years of forgeting, and then remembering again, thats what I am like now, my house is kind of huge playground, all planned with all the possibilities of what I can dye, spin etc. So nice to read that post! Thankyou.

[Muriel]

Great idea! My boy Emil would love one of those as a curtain (that is right next to his bed too!). I'll show him your photos this afternoon.

[Kristy]

Sabrina and Michaela I think people tend to forget we all share 'corners'!! Nobody claims to have perfectly tidy and well run homes all the time!
Please Amanda don't share your laundry pile I want my online time to be inspiring!!You are superwoman right?!!Please don't shatter my illusions.
I love the organiser.Sadly it wouldn't be anywhere big enough for all the 'treasure' my 4 girls insist they will need for something someday!!
How gorgeous is that fabric? I loved using it for Mandas baby quilt.I picked up a couple of more yards at Purl when I was in NYC last month.Why didn't I buy more???I can't wait to start using it but crafting time is almost unheard of for me at the minute.Ah well...my time will come.

[sabrina]

Kristy you are right, but personally i would like to share not also inspirational ideas but also creative ways to handle daily hard times..
For me could be an inspiration source to hear from a super-hero-mama like amanda how she handles all the groom things...
Creative person often invent creative way to handle nerve-racking daily things...

[sarah]

what an amazing mommy and child. oh the ideas you must come up with together.

[~liz]

regarding supermoms and housecleaning:
have you tried to tidy up with the kiddos? i used to be so frustrated wanting a clean house and organized toys. but now, i'd rather have happy kids making messes than grumpy kids and a clean house. so recently, when the mess does become overwhelming (because it always does for me!), i turn on some favorite music and we have a "cleanup party." now, my kids are still young enough to enjoy clean-up parties, but at least i get a clean playroom and the boys have been energized by the music and "playing" with mama. it does take a lot longer, but it could be an answer for some moms with kids and messes. hope it helps a little...
~liz

[Kelly]

Things like this make me want to sew. That is a great idea and how awesome you have the ability to do it.

[brandie]

oh i really love that. good luck to calvin on his future workshop...sounds fabulous!

[Meredith]

Oh I love wall pockets, turned out quite nicely!

[Going Crunchy]

Oh my gracious, that is AMAZING! Must do....must do..... Shannon

[Andrea Q at Quirky Bags]

Lotta Jansdotter did something similar with a "pocket curtain," but I really like the big pockets. Lovely.

[SOULEMAMA]

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Sabrina, Kristy, Liz, Michaela and others interested in the cleaning chat:

Our homes and our children and our styles of housekeeping are surely all so different, so I only know my own experience. Which is as a Mama, not a Super Mama. And I don't have a lot of advice because what works for me one day might be different from what works another day. Which I guess might be the advice right there - that trying different things and letting it go when it's not working is what works for me. Sometimes my house is clean. Sometimes it's not. ;)

I'm nodding my head over and over to what Liz said: "i'd rather have happy kids making messes than grumpy kids and a clean house."

So, so true. And add a grumpy mama to that too - because when I spend too much time cleaning and not enough time playing, I feel disconnected and grumpy as well.

--amanda

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