February 2016 (+2015)

A year of: 

Daily struggles and little triumphs.  Of gratitude and surrender, (to each day and what it brings).  And of endless prayer, (that I can learn to love better...through my scattered fears, through the overwhelming beauty, through the grind of this modern parenting/job having life). 

-Woodcarving + woodworking (kept me distracted in the best way, in the way that only working with your hands can)

-Making puzzles again, playing with a new color palette. 

-5 Points Market,  gracious enough to have my work on their walls for this winter.  (Thank you, Jasper. xo)

-My old studio, missing everything about it except the heat in the summertime.  But grateful that I can now work at home,  painting and woodworking.

-Listening, mostly to nothing new...old rock and roll...CCR, Van Morrison, Paul Simon and such.

-Reading, The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, (a brilliant book about developmental trauma and all that we can do for ourselves and others to recover from it)

xo Maja

Sketch to start

Carving

Finished

Carving

Painted and varnished

Horse Carving

New Hand-painted Wood Pig Puzzle 

Backside of puzzle pieces

New Hand-painted Wood Circus Elephant Puzzle

Letters and Numbers

Good read...

Viggo + Hendrix, playing with stone carved blocks, made by my father

Viggo. last summer, at our favorite snow cone shop, Oasis Raspados.

Viggo's crew 

Last year's studio

Hand-carved frames, ready for mirrors. 

Viggo + friends, at 5 Points Market

October 2014

It's mostly me and Viggo these days, as the girls are always busy.  I am back in my studio, painting and carving frames. We now know that we are moving in November, so we are soaking up our last few weeks on La Cienega and, unloading whatever possessions we don't need to make this move a little easier.

Still a little sad about this move, but mostly grateful.  A fresh start, in beautiful weather, with my family...it will be our little tiny adventure.

xo Maja

Listening to...  Shovels & Rope / Swimmin' Time (album) + Aretha Franklin / Baby, Baby, Baby (track)

Cooking...  pumpkin bread + fresh pico de gallo 

Enjoying Locally...  Upper Crust Pizza + Anita St. Market (tortillas + empanadas) 

Morning palate

Afternoon palate

Making pumpkin bread

Ready for the oven

Viggo, at Upper Crust, our favorite pizza joint

We've been hanging out like this, in this spot, since he was born.  I'm soaking up these snuggles...he's getting awfully big.

the latest

My first wholesale order.  Small but mighty.

Viggo's favorite stop when he's at his Amma's house

Running errands...he keeps it interesting

Cabbage and Pico de Gallo for tacos

Boyhood

June 2014

Quoting..."The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." 

Keeping...this quote written on a piece of paper in my pocket these days.   Setting new goals, trying not to look back, (looking forward with determination and faith), one day at a time.

Listening to...Jason Isbell / Southeastern (album) +  Sturgill Simpson / Some Days (track)

Sketching...with Lyra pencils (my favorite) from Sarnoff 

Cooking...black beans and rice / bacon (always) / banana bread

Road tripping......with Clementine to Flagstaff, AZ 

Enjoying local...Aqua Vita water, the neighborhood pool, downtown Tucson, and hanging in the backyard when the sun goes down.  

xo Maja

Downtown Tucson with my mama, Clementine and my nephew, Trevor.

Daily sketches and psalms

Clementine in Flagstaff

Latest bunnies in the shop.

.

Viggo, taking care of business at Aqua Vita

Finally learned to swim!

Black beans...boiled with with one medium onion, chopped and sauteed, and one jalapeno, seeded.

May 2014

I have been rooted in this house, our home, for thirteen years. With all my babies...and the light, happiness, and troublemaking they bring. But it looks like we will be moving soon. Hoping that our next stop will be as cozy as this one and making sure to enjoy one last summer in this little house. And in the end, making God's heart my home, wherever we may be.

xo Maja

Viggo, making French crepes

Our first Spring chick from our little Bantam hen, one day old

Viggo, doing "workies" with his Mama

Annie and the hens 

Little Houses by Tin Maja

Little Dove and Sailboat paintings by Tin Maja

Packing up knitted bunny orders  

Clementine at the Sarabande Riding Club Awards Night

Mother's Day at 5 Points Market.  Looks more like Viggo's Day...

Cousins on Mother's Day

R + C, my brown-eyed girls.

April 2014

Changes are coming our way but trying still to live "one day at a time".  Praying for direction and patience. And looking for the adventure amidst the challenges. xo 

"Touch me God, with your hands.  Paint my heart the color of yours, and plant your dreams above my head so that you can keep me close and send me out to do all good things. Amen"  

Spent a day with Clementine in Sonoita, Arizona at the Grass Ridge Derby.

Clementine, tacking up Pedro 

Waiting for the start

Found this little painting while cleaning out the girl's closets.  I wrote and painted this, years ago, before I became a wife and mother. 

Viggo's portraits of Spider-man and Jesus. I love these so much...

Metta made Viggo's favorite cookies at Tooley's

Viggo Baggins. The soundtrack to The Desolation of Smaug was playing in the background...

Chores

Spring Tin available at La Cabana in the Mercado San Agustin

Baby Knit Bunnies, made to order or available in MAST boutique

Ruby and her friends at Oasis Fruit Cones in Barrio Hollywood.