Loyalty

Last week I went to the ER for stabbing chest pain. Diagnosis: pneumonia. I spent all week in bed which sounds nice, but really
only is if you are well enough to enjoy it.

To stretch my lungs and legs I went for a walk Thursday night. It was such perfect weather and without bugs to annoy.

As I was walking, and even through headphones, I heard the tinkling of little bells. I looked back to see my two cats walking with me. They braved cars, other cats, and the unknown to keep me company.

Klee (black) got scared and only made it partially around the block. Miles (grey) and I walked her back home where she darted for the front porch and chose not to join us for a second lap.

Miles and I strolled the entire block. I made sure not to get to far ahead. Upon return, I thanked them both with a dinner of wet food. Their favorite.

Now that's loyalty.

-- Post From My iPhone

Remaking

 

My trip to Portland did wonders for my mental health.  I was not responsible for anyone but myself.  I went were I wanted to go, when I pleased, and for any length of time I deemed necessary to get my fill.  It was heaven, but I missed the kids and my husband.

One of the reasons I took this vacation was to have uninterrupted time to make the things I want to make, when I want to make them.  Spinning, knitting, felting, etc:  all on the agenda.    I just wanted to get it out of my system.

I have a voracious appetite for making things.  Its satisfied only by the release of my idea into sketch or prototype form.  Any time I have at home to craft is interrupted again and again by requests for juice or play, and I am left completely unfulfilled creatively and feeling guilty that I have yet to play with the kids or fold the laundry.   You can tell that it feels like a whirlwind to me, that nothing slows down for me to catch up.

This state of being is not good for any of us.  My attitude had to change without giving up the feeling I get when I make something with my two hands because that feeling, I could not do without.  It is a warmth that stirs below the surface an eventually puffs my chest with pride that I finished something conceived in my own mind.  After all, my greatest projects, Livy and Liam, are never-ending.

I am determined that everything I do, from laundry to making dinner, should be a "making" experience.  I promised myself that from now on I would slow down, have more patience, cook and bake more, make more of the things we need instead of buy them.

So far, I am quieter and I am more content.  I feel less of that crazy nagging to make something with fabric and fiber.  Instead I hand make the bread for dinner or continue work on the needle felted dinosaur Liam's been wanting.  I no longer put off the kids until "this row is done".

I am "craftizing" my life.  Finding a way I can in every facet of life to craft something special, to make something special for someone else, whether its banana muffins for breakfast or a special place on the closet door for cling wrap.  

And in that, I feel the "making" forces me to slow down from the dizzying pace at which I normally spin and accept that I cannot do everything.  The things I can do however will be hand-crafted. 

Homemade Banana Muffins for Breakfast.

Images from a Morning Walk in Portland

I was desperate for coffee this morning. I am a squatter at my sister and brothr-in-law's this week as I take a much needed mommy vacation for some alone time.

Anyway, I was left alone with a French press and no clue how to use it. I decided to take a three block walk to Madrona Hill, a locally owned coffee joint with French pastries. Yum.

My walk was solitary, soulful, and awakening. I had time and the presence of mind to take note (and photos) of the colors and patterns made by rocks, branches, and fence slats. Grey sky intensifying the color so much more here than at home.

I noticed how the textures of pillow-like green moss and the spindly leaveless branches of a lavender plant played against each other.

I am sad that I don't take the time for "noticing" walks at home. I am so busy tending to/refereeing kids that I easily forget to enjoy the things around me. But oh how grateful I am when I DO stop to notice.

I attached a few photos from my walk. Hope you enjoy.

More on the most enjoyable experience later.

The maker's mark filled with moss meant to record the company's creation but ends up also recording Portland's history.

A rut in a dirt drive way.  The colors stand out so vividly that I almost forget its mud.

I love landscape structures like stairs, fences, and grates. This was an atypical style for the neighborhood. 

 

    

The intersection of four textures or colors. So interesting how this configuration wasn't planned but just happened by chance.

Presidential Portrait

Can you believe this?  One continuous line.  It took 80 hours!  All of my Etch-a-sketch creations turned out blocky and choppy.  Here's the text from the Make Blog.

"This portrait of President Barack Obama was created by artist George Vlosich using an Etch-A-Sketch toy. The picture took 80 hours to draw using the two dials in one, unbroken line. In addition to this piece, the artist has created several more portraits that are equally impressive, although trying to duplicate them might take some work. Check out the link below for some more examples of his work."

Tiny Happy's Lucky Winner

I made a comment sometime ago on Melissa Wastney's site, Tiny Happy, to tell her how much I liked what she does on her blog and in her store.  Her talent is something very special.  A few days later, she informed me I was the winner of an several Christmas decorations - a lovely bunch of tied straw ornaments.  

The package arrived from Norway shortly after Christmas.  I ripped into it like it was still the holidays and found much more than straw ornaments.  The top photo is of two lovely little people with wooden heads, knit caps, felt jumpers, and straw hair.  They are very intricately dressed and oh so sweet.  They are now guarding my "making" desk and actually must be guarded themselves from 4 tiny hands that are not allowed to touch unless supervised.  

The photo immediately above includes a fantastic embroidered pouch that has been put to good use as a traveling case for my circular needles.

This is the packaging it all came in along with the very cute calling card stamped on graphing paper and the pouch.  Yes, I saved long enough to save the sea creature stamps on the outer wrapping.  I am very found of stamps and have quite a large collection - I know, a geeky topic that I'm sure to discuss some other day - but my son had called first dibs on these and I could hardly deny him.

The ornaments are straw, as I previously mentioned, and quite intricately tied to form stars, snowflakes, hearts, and angels.  They are truly beautiful and will have a treasured place on our tree next year.  Actually, they are still on my desk too as I can't bear to put them away yet.


Melissa also sent along some original artwork postcards made from watercolor and pen drawings.  They are a treasure and will be used - I love the warmth of sending handmade correspondences as thank you and hello cards.

Melissa, thank you so much for your thoughtful and sweet package.  Each item is a gem and will be treasured.  It is an honor to own something from someone whose work I've admired so much over the past few years.  I've saved your address and am working on a return thank you package.  

Popsicles are no consolation

Today, my 4 year old little boy had his tonsils and adenoids removed in an amazingly short out-patient procedure. We talked it up so he wouldn't be afraid, emphasizing the ice cream and pudding he would eat after his "throat was fixed".  I'd have to say he thinks ice cream is no consolation 6 hours after the fixing.  I think he's rather have the tonsils.

I hate to see him on the verge of tears, pointing at his throat as if asking me to fix it. If I could, he'd already be out of bed, wrestling with his sister.   As hard as it is, I remind myself that we are rarely, if ever, the sickest in the room, never the one with the most obstacles to overcome. I take comfort in that, and in the fact he is happy and healthy on a normal day. 

Sometimes we hit a bump in an otherwise calm and lifeless road, we take a breath, hold on, and look back giving thanks that the bump wasn't bigger. Our bump has really only been an ant hill so far. And I am grateful.


-- Post From My iPhone

Ball of yarn #3

I've taught myself how to spin yarn.  I thought about how satisfying it would be to actually make the yarn I'm knitting with - especially for a gift.  Now that's a gift that says "I love you".  Next I'll probably buy the sheep and start from the absolute beginning.  I would if I had the space.

Anyway, the spindle and fleece came in the mail on Saturday .  I've spent a good deal of time practicing already and its not easy to get the right tension and to join pieces.  I am an absolute klutz with the spindle.  

This is the third ball of yarn I've made.  They've all come out a little different.  The soft alpaca fibers were so luxurious to spin.  It came out super thick, extra soft, but a little loose.   I really like the feel of it.  I'm still working at it and sort of addicted to it.

(Saturday was a very good mail day as a package from Melisa of Tiny Happy also came.  I will show off the contents of that package in a separate post)