Tag: inspiration

Halloween Calls for Creative times.

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It’s been a bit of fast sew week or two. Halloween cometh and that calls for something. The grand I live with decided to be another version of cat – third year. Cheetah The first year it was simple. Black leggings, black shirt and I made cat ears, a cat tail and some fingerless mitts from fleece. Little bit of pink for the inside of the ear and the little pads on the mitts and she felt like a cat. Last year, mom bought her a snow leopard outfit and we added a bit of makeup. THIS year, we went full out with a fleece Cheetah. The one piece outfit, with a separate hood, mittens and spats to cover her shoes. Big enough to wear clothes underneath, but around here she will probably wear a coat too – and of course, mom cane across a very nice cheetah coat in the thrift store. Kid is decked out! But the first cat was when we were in Texas, and no one needed the extra warmth. The best part of this one is that after the events of the season, she has something cozy to hang out in.

I had purchased a long wanted snap set of plastic snaps and the pliers to attach them. There was not a specific project, but I kept encountering some that called for this tool. (BTW, purchased through Aliexpress for better price and quality seems good! It just takes patience for the item to reach you.) So a new tool needs to be tried an practiced, right? So I grabbed a couple of the small stuffed animals and made them coats out of leftover cheetah fleece and attached a snap. She was especially tickled that I cut a small hole for the tail.  That went over so well I now have a small BOX of animals awaiting their winter wardrobe.  Oh My!img_20181022_163357090

And since one of the ones I nabbed to dress often plays with the neighbors identical one, I was nicely, and excitedly, asked if I could make a coat for her little one. Then her sister brought over her bear. Nothing fancy or difficult, but quick great result. Since fleece doesn’t fray, it’s simple to cut it and be done.

The bear was visiting my work table for his fitting, so you may notice a few other Halloween projects around the edges. More on that next week!

Love you! Take care til next time.

 

 

 

Moving up

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Having moved the work table upstairs, – did I mention I’d done that? – I’ve been playing with the sewing machine more. We live in a little 2 bedroom house. It has unfinished open attic space and a basement. I had set up in a large room size area of the basement with three bookcases in place, and brought in an old chest of drawers and dresser, all stuff that was here when we moved in. But, 1) I love light, 2) my granddaughter tired of playing there (I think she loves light now too) and 3) it has flooded twice. The flood problem seems to be addressed for now, but the second flood was due to record rains and it just doesn’t seem to ever dry out now. Anyway…. I can go on and on about the house, but let me finish that part by saying my daughter didn’t care if we have a dining room space and my granddaughter was about to be out of school for the summer. It was better to move up so I could keep track of her, continue my creative endeavors and enjoy light! I can easily hear the kids around the house and see her in the front yard. So I’ve been playing. Playing with fabric and zippers on hand.

I love a pouch I made some time back from a pattern called “The Easy Wonder Clip Bowl” (it can be purchased at Craftsy or Etsy). It is so handy because unlike most zipper pouches, it opens to a bowl shape making it easy access to whatever is inside. So, I got started and kept going. Some pouches, some little fabric bins.

Naturally, since the bowls are like little cocoons, my granddaughter wanted some for her tiny animal toys. And an extra one or two put her hair ponytailers in easy order and accessibility. Great little organization helpers. I made some of my fabric bins to fit in the 2 drawers of my work table, not too high, and they are great for the little sewing tools. I made mine out of fabric that I didn’t care for out of the house stash  and for hers, I admit, we purchased a fat quarter pack from Walmart. I had zippers I’d bought in bulk some time back – usually when I say “some time back” it means when I had a bit of money and bought more crap than I needed. One long zipper makes 2 bowls, if you have the extra pull, and I did.

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There’s not room for all our craft/fabric/sketch and paint supplies upstairs, but it’s working. It actually helps with my focus too, since I can only have so much out at a time! When winter comes, the sun seems to go into hiding around here, but it will still be brighter than the basement. And we will keep crafting and creating at the center of our home.

from where?

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I posted that I planned to “pray with my feet moving.” To pick a position and take action regarding it. I am a person of peace, but the actions of leadership of our country have gotten to me and I began feeling some anxiety. There is a feeling of helplessness, of vulnerability, of not knowing what to do to cope or how to effect a change. And I’m hearing the same from others and they are asking what they can do.

Here is where I am starting. I have the number of the Senate and I have a phone, and I have a voice. I have heard it truly does make a difference, but it takes numbers and I invite you to join in. I do not sign every petition, or call for just anything. My voice, and energetic vibration, is strongest when I feel strong about the situation.

Here is my second step. I have a belief that we need to be gentle with our planet. I admire the people who can organize their lives to shop and prepare food with a mason jar of trash remaining after a year. I am a bit envious of those who can ride a bike and use it as their primary mode of transportation. But I am not there yet.

But I do have a strong belief in foundational statements. If I have a belief that Kindness is important, then all else must flow forth from there. If I have a belief that God is Love, then that can be built upon. If I believe we need to be gentle with our planet and I think there is a problem with plastic bags and straws, then I need to be in integrity with myself and act accordingly. If I believe that our dependence and usage of oils is harmful by fumes or spills, then I need to act accordingly. I am not ready to give up my vehicle or in a position to buy one that runs on other than gas right now, but I can walk more, like when picking up Indigo after school. I can schedule my errands to be a efficient as possible. I can take my reusable bags to the store and use them. And that is only the beginning. If I want action, I need to be living from those deep beliefs by taking action. If we don’t, then maybe we are the ones living by “alternative facts”.

 

just a word

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In this space between the quiet rebirth of the spiritual within and the explosion of growth that becomes a new year, is the perfect time to contemplate what will guide the direction of that growth. I have found, along with an amazing number of others, that a word can be all the platform needed to rest on and spring forth from.

What’s in a word? This word will be a reminder. When making decisions from myriad of choices, it can be a Light on the path. It is the foundation on which to build a sturdy structure to withstand the winds of whims and possibilities. It is a resting place for a busy mind. It is a calling forth of the best with us in a focused manner.

In selecting a word, go deep. The faith or fear lesson that I so love to work with isn’t just in a choice between the two. It is the premise that we all have faith inherent in our nature and  on occasion will direct it and  focus on what we fear or don’t want in our life. That one became more of a phrase of “where is my faith?’ than a word, but it was great to explore over a period of time.

Courage, strength, peace, love, mindfulness, Light, are examples.Be aware of what a word may trigger, side effects may be stirred up. Best example… patience. Those who focus on growing with this word may find they have many opportunities to learn the practice of patience and that can be very exhausting. Faith is a better choice, or divine order, because you can develop patience in knowing that by faith all things work together for good, as in divine order and that the current condition will pass.

Recently I became aware of someone who chose the word “dig” for the word of the year. It seemed odd yet as I considered the implications, it is a great word to employ for revelations and understanding. As an artist, she wanted the reminder to go deeper with her artistic expression and over the long term, I’m sure she will find healing at depth to be part of her year.

What’s in a word? Transformation.

Christmas morning

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There is a special vibration in the air as I sit in the quiet of the early morning hour of Christmas. I feel it every year. But it isn’t just feeling it, it is embracing and riding it to make the most of it, of this entire Holiday season.  It doesn’t even matter if this is your holiday, the vibration is there and can be engaged by anyone.

I have my own tradition I bring out during this time of year. It starts with my birthday shortly before Christmas. That’s the time for celebration and reflection. I find as I add more years, I am gentler with myself. It seems easier to get into the regret of what I haven’t done. I celebrate what I have done and begin to look at what I can do.

Christmas is the time to embrace and be embraced by the Spirit of the birth of Love, Hope and Joy. When I was leading churches, I would hold a Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve. Late in the evening, when it was a blessing to have some quiet time and consider the nature of the holiday. It was more than a time to be grateful for an event so long ago, it was a time of rebirth of the Highest in us. In a group with a defined focal point in consciousness, the richness of the atmosphere would be penetrating, A time of deep and clear embracing and honoring of the holiness in each of us.

And it carried into a New Year ritual. On New Year’s Eve, I prepare for a Burning Bowl. It is the perfect time for a culmination of the past weeks revelations. I write down whatever I need to let go of, a hurt, frustration, old anger. Sometimes even a dream that has been on the back burner needs to be released to make room for something new. From the best in me that has been enhanced by the season, I can let go of whatever isn’t in alignment with the higher vibration and possibility of fulfillment that has encouraged me. It has sometimes been an outpouring, but usually just a word or two can express what I want to release. Then I burn it. I want a visual context for what I am doing within myself. I see it be transformed, to become ash and I let go. But I don’t want to leave empty spaces. I write a letter, a prayer for what I want to fill the spaces, what what I want to grow in to in the coming months. In the church, we wrote our letter to God and put it in a self addressed envelope which was placed in the prayer box and mailed back mid year. It was fun to get a letter addressed to our self and be reminded of that season and the feelings of that time. It was, for some, a time of gratitude for blessings bestowed and for others a reminder of a plan.

So I sit in the quiet. I relish the time of re-birth of the divinity within and I allow the joy of celebration to expand – I am ready for Christmas morning. I am ready for the joy I will see in my grandchild’s eyes in the morning and the excitement as we celebrate a Holy birth. She may not understand yet, but I do and I know the feeling will flow through our day, and if allowed, through our year.