Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart
and to try to love the questions themselves
as if they were locked rooms
or books written in a very foreign language.
Don’t search for the answers,
which could not be given to you now,
because you would not be able to live them.
And the point is, to live everything.
Live the questions now.
Perhaps then, someday in the future,
you will gradually,
without even noticing it,
live your way into the answer.
~ Rilke
12/31/11
Thoughts for a New Year and a Review of the Last
I did a quick post with a few creative photos over at Squirrelly Ducks. It touched lightly on some things I want to try to do in the next year.
Here are a few blogs I follow that inspire me, that make me want to try these new things.
Healing Woman
A Moveable Feast
The Red Tin
Sculpting, really sculpting not just molds or caricature type figures. I may never get fantastic at this, but I want to take the time to at least try. I'd love beyond belief to be able to use stone and earth clays to make statuary for my yard and garden, but have no idea where I'd find some place to kiln fire it for outside use. This may segue in to cement design of sorts.
Mosaics and mosaic tiling has caught my thoughts for several years, but I've yet to try my hand at it. I don't like all styles of mosaic, still trying to figure out what it is about the ones I like and the ones I don't. The idea of mosaic treasures made by me scattered in the yard and possibly counter or wall designs in the house thrills me.
Weaving. Accomplishing this one may take a bit of time, I'll need to figure out how to make a simple loom that I can work well with. It is something I have always wanted to do, but know it won't turn in to any major thing. Like knitting, crocheting, quilting... I like knowing I can do it, I enjoy doing it when I get around to it. There's something so satisfying in making some thing that has a solid, every day useability. While I don't do them often, it makes a warm spot in my heart that I'm carrying on "old ways/crafts".
Paper media and art journal are also on the list of "to get around to doing". I've always loved blank books, so many possibilities waiting to appear in them. Again, not some major area but one I want to explore.
I am such an eclectic artist working in so many different mediums. Maybe one of these days I'll narrow down, but there always seems to be one more thing to figure out how do they DO that? I finally get the difference between being a "crafter" and being an "artist", but I still believe they can both apply to the same thing. I wonder if that is where artisan crafter comes in?
It's been an interesting year. I've learned that while I enjoy doing round robins and collaborative projects they tend to drain my creative energy from doing my own thing. This past year I have done a lot of work on other people's projects/items and next to none on my own. There's still a few of the round robins to wrap up, but then the project board is all mine. After a lot of thought, I think this next year I'll sit out working on those kinds of things. Draw my focus in a bit and see what I can accomplish directing my own creative energy instead.
I love that I took a step outside of my box and joined a Crazy Quilt group, even though a small one with only three other Ladies. Sadly, CQ is another of those things that once involved with I'll tend to not do much of. I still look forward to the monthly meetings though and will continue enough with CQ to keep involved with them. I'm thrilled to be part of the Central Oklahoma Polymer Clay Guild and so looking forward to my first Twisters retreat with them, another huge step outside my box.
I think this last year has been a good learning lesson in figuring out balancing my hermit tendency with joining in these particular groups for social and learning opportunities.
I want to get back with my horses, working on their training and getting them under saddle. We'll see how that goes though, some times I think I need to get out of horses all together due to health reasons then I swing back the other way and can't imagine life with out them.
There will be decluttering and rearranging in the house, buildings hopefully built or repaired this year, maybe a bit of small remodeling/painting in the house, a garden to tend and maybe some flower beds again. Oh and of course, there will be the Grandbaby.... I'm guessing that is going to be a big chunk of my time this year too.
Guess we'll see what the New Year brings.
May it be full of joy and bright days for all of us.
Here are a few blogs I follow that inspire me, that make me want to try these new things.
Healing Woman
A Moveable Feast
The Red Tin
Sculpting, really sculpting not just molds or caricature type figures. I may never get fantastic at this, but I want to take the time to at least try. I'd love beyond belief to be able to use stone and earth clays to make statuary for my yard and garden, but have no idea where I'd find some place to kiln fire it for outside use. This may segue in to cement design of sorts.
Mosaics and mosaic tiling has caught my thoughts for several years, but I've yet to try my hand at it. I don't like all styles of mosaic, still trying to figure out what it is about the ones I like and the ones I don't. The idea of mosaic treasures made by me scattered in the yard and possibly counter or wall designs in the house thrills me.
Weaving. Accomplishing this one may take a bit of time, I'll need to figure out how to make a simple loom that I can work well with. It is something I have always wanted to do, but know it won't turn in to any major thing. Like knitting, crocheting, quilting... I like knowing I can do it, I enjoy doing it when I get around to it. There's something so satisfying in making some thing that has a solid, every day useability. While I don't do them often, it makes a warm spot in my heart that I'm carrying on "old ways/crafts".
Paper media and art journal are also on the list of "to get around to doing". I've always loved blank books, so many possibilities waiting to appear in them. Again, not some major area but one I want to explore.
I am such an eclectic artist working in so many different mediums. Maybe one of these days I'll narrow down, but there always seems to be one more thing to figure out how do they DO that? I finally get the difference between being a "crafter" and being an "artist", but I still believe they can both apply to the same thing. I wonder if that is where artisan crafter comes in?
It's been an interesting year. I've learned that while I enjoy doing round robins and collaborative projects they tend to drain my creative energy from doing my own thing. This past year I have done a lot of work on other people's projects/items and next to none on my own. There's still a few of the round robins to wrap up, but then the project board is all mine. After a lot of thought, I think this next year I'll sit out working on those kinds of things. Draw my focus in a bit and see what I can accomplish directing my own creative energy instead.
I love that I took a step outside of my box and joined a Crazy Quilt group, even though a small one with only three other Ladies. Sadly, CQ is another of those things that once involved with I'll tend to not do much of. I still look forward to the monthly meetings though and will continue enough with CQ to keep involved with them. I'm thrilled to be part of the Central Oklahoma Polymer Clay Guild and so looking forward to my first Twisters retreat with them, another huge step outside my box.
I think this last year has been a good learning lesson in figuring out balancing my hermit tendency with joining in these particular groups for social and learning opportunities.
I want to get back with my horses, working on their training and getting them under saddle. We'll see how that goes though, some times I think I need to get out of horses all together due to health reasons then I swing back the other way and can't imagine life with out them.
There will be decluttering and rearranging in the house, buildings hopefully built or repaired this year, maybe a bit of small remodeling/painting in the house, a garden to tend and maybe some flower beds again. Oh and of course, there will be the Grandbaby.... I'm guessing that is going to be a big chunk of my time this year too.
Guess we'll see what the New Year brings.
May it be full of joy and bright days for all of us.
12/6/11
Ravens fly
“I sit beside the fire and think of all that I have seen, of meadow-flowers and butterflies in summers that have been;
Of yellow leaves and gossamer in autumns that there were, with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair.”
from; The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien
Winter has come and while I have no fire there is plenty of time to sit with a cup of tea thinking.
Discovered this quote on One Small Stitch. Combined with several blogs I follow with free form stitching and small piecing of fabrics making stories, it is weaving, dying fabric, needles and stitches jumbling in my thoughts.
Recent news... while I was in town Sunday the husband and son moved round bales in to the pastures for me since there were warnings of possible snow the beginning of the week. After the excitement, the following cell phone text discussion precluded the phone call I made to find out what was going on.
Him: We'll have to talk about your bastage horse...
Me: Oh shit what happened
Him: Did you know ravens can fly?
Me: Yes, yes they can
Him: F*cker. Jumped. The. Fence.
Me: What! Raven? wtf
Him: Yep
Apparently my big, heavy, ol' big butted Quarter Horse/Paint(Raven) had an attitude about the movement in their "pastures" and after escaping once through an open section, being put back, then finding that opening closed again.... did a man-on-a-mission trot to the back then looped around hitting a dead run to gain steam and jumped the fence. What an OMG moment as he has never jumped anything in the whole time we've had him. I am thinking some one needs some attitude adjustment from the Mom... crow hopping with a rider in May and now fence jumping. Poor guy, he's sore from it and walking stiff... he's not built for that kind of nonsense.
Of yellow leaves and gossamer in autumns that there were, with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair.”
from; The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien
Winter has come and while I have no fire there is plenty of time to sit with a cup of tea thinking.
Discovered this quote on One Small Stitch. Combined with several blogs I follow with free form stitching and small piecing of fabrics making stories, it is weaving, dying fabric, needles and stitches jumbling in my thoughts.
Recent news... while I was in town Sunday the husband and son moved round bales in to the pastures for me since there were warnings of possible snow the beginning of the week. After the excitement, the following cell phone text discussion precluded the phone call I made to find out what was going on.
Him: We'll have to talk about your bastage horse...
Me: Oh shit what happened
Him: Did you know ravens can fly?
Me: Yes, yes they can
Him: F*cker. Jumped. The. Fence.
Me: What! Raven? wtf
Him: Yep
Apparently my big, heavy, ol' big butted Quarter Horse/Paint(Raven) had an attitude about the movement in their "pastures" and after escaping once through an open section, being put back, then finding that opening closed again.... did a man-on-a-mission trot to the back then looped around hitting a dead run to gain steam and jumped the fence. What an OMG moment as he has never jumped anything in the whole time we've had him. I am thinking some one needs some attitude adjustment from the Mom... crow hopping with a rider in May and now fence jumping. Poor guy, he's sore from it and walking stiff... he's not built for that kind of nonsense.
10/31/11
10/20/11
Spot on
This article says it all... and so true on the main points.
Generation X Doesn't Want to Hear It
Generation X is sick of your bullshit.
There are parts I would love to highlight...
...tired of your sense of entitlement
...to notice any of its trophies—which were admittedly few and far between because they were only awarded for victories, not participation
I think a lot of us from that generation feel like that.
Generation X Doesn't Want to Hear It
Generation X is sick of your bullshit.
There are parts I would love to highlight...
...tired of your sense of entitlement
...to notice any of its trophies—which were admittedly few and far between because they were only awarded for victories, not participation
I think a lot of us from that generation feel like that.
10/8/11
New Joy and Light
As a celebration of a new stage of life...
Symbolism of the dragonfly:
prosperity
good luck
strength
peace
harmony
purity
"In the Dakota/Lakota mythology, the dragonfly is equated with the mirage or illusion, because their wings beat so rapidly that the human eye cannot see it. In the Lakota tribe, this insect and concept of illusion was often invoked when they wanted to confused their enemies. Dragonfly represented the god or spirit of “Whirlwind.”
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in Ireland and parts of Europe, dragonflies were associated with fairies. Some fables and fairytales, if you will, told that if you followed a dragonfly, it would lead you to fairies. Others said that they were the steeds of fairies. This leads to an association with magic. Dragonflies are so full of spiritual energy and a sort of magic, that they represent the ability to travel between dimensions.
Dragonflies are depicted often in Japanese paintings as representations of new joy and light. And, like the Lakota tribe’s mythology, dragonflies can teach illusion. They tell us that things are not always as they seem, and that life itself is not always what it appears to be.
Information from Ted Andrews's Animal-Speak, Jessica Dawn Palmer's Animal Wisdom, and Steven D. Farmer's Power Animals."
For quite some time I have known I was entering a new phase of my life in the last few years, whether it was my art or being a house wife and parent with now adult children or dealing with spiritual growth. Now yet another stage with the event of a Grandchild on the way. All of life is change.
For as long as we have lived here, there have been dragonflies connected to me. After some discussion of the tribal style I wanted, the tattoo artist freehand drew an original image on my left shoulder before beginning the ink. This spot... has been waiting for 15 years... for just the right reason, just the right image.
This unique symbol fits perfectly, for exactly the right reason.
Symbolism of the dragonfly:
prosperity
good luck
strength
peace
harmony
purity
"In the Dakota/Lakota mythology, the dragonfly is equated with the mirage or illusion, because their wings beat so rapidly that the human eye cannot see it. In the Lakota tribe, this insect and concept of illusion was often invoked when they wanted to confused their enemies. Dragonfly represented the god or spirit of “Whirlwind.”
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in Ireland and parts of Europe, dragonflies were associated with fairies. Some fables and fairytales, if you will, told that if you followed a dragonfly, it would lead you to fairies. Others said that they were the steeds of fairies. This leads to an association with magic. Dragonflies are so full of spiritual energy and a sort of magic, that they represent the ability to travel between dimensions.
Dragonflies are depicted often in Japanese paintings as representations of new joy and light. And, like the Lakota tribe’s mythology, dragonflies can teach illusion. They tell us that things are not always as they seem, and that life itself is not always what it appears to be.
Information from Ted Andrews's Animal-Speak, Jessica Dawn Palmer's Animal Wisdom, and Steven D. Farmer's Power Animals."
For quite some time I have known I was entering a new phase of my life in the last few years, whether it was my art or being a house wife and parent with now adult children or dealing with spiritual growth. Now yet another stage with the event of a Grandchild on the way. All of life is change.
For as long as we have lived here, there have been dragonflies connected to me. After some discussion of the tribal style I wanted, the tattoo artist freehand drew an original image on my left shoulder before beginning the ink. This spot... has been waiting for 15 years... for just the right reason, just the right image.
This unique symbol fits perfectly, for exactly the right reason.
7/27/11
Just the right time
Read this over at Witchy Gumbo... exactly what I needed to hear/read.
To all of you...
"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us"
~ Mother Teresa
To all of you...
"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us"
~ Mother Teresa
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