art & play

make it easy

I was standing in the sunshine with a friend discussing art, studying, life challenges and changes while Korbin rode his skuut up and down the hill doing tricks this morning. K was making circles all over the place and laughing and then he stopped for a moment and told us "make it easy." Hmm I thought, really, that's it. Just make it easy.

I realized that so many times I decide that things are going to be hard, and then, viola, they are. So, I was wondering if I could try to see the challenges that arise as do-able instead of huge stress invoking piles that I must surmount in one giant step. Just taking a breath and seeing the roadblocks as piles of little rocks that could be moved piece by piece, bit by bit, moment by moment. I know I am capable of moving rocks, lots and lots of rocks.

here little chickie, chickie

As far as finishing up a few projects, I thought I would share a picture of my favorite little guy lately. I have always had a desire to make my sketches into sewn creatures and so I decided to take the plunge and go for it. I had my sketch scanned in my computer already, so I worked some magic with illustrator — a bit of drawing, expanding and finagling. Finally, I just had to test out the pattern and go from there.

I made changes to the original and the second one in the works already has a few more adjustments in store. It’s fun to tweak along the way, putting to use all I have learned. And the more I learn, the more I can experiment and play.

when friends inspire

a good friend emily has taken on a challenge for the year that has inspired me greatly. She calls it the handmade experiment, all of her gifts and presents for friends and family will be made by her own two hands, whoo hoo!

After being tagged by her in a creative challenge through facebook, I decided to join in the fun. I already had a few projects for people started, and this was just the thing to help me try out a few ideas I had brewing.

I realized when I sarted that I still had a few projects in the works that weren't quite finished. It never feels so good to me to have things laying around half done. Those projects have a way of taunting me in my studio, "when are you going to finish me?!?" In order to keep the momentum growing and playfulness light, I decided to take on each of these little forgotten gems and celebrate "Christmas in May."

I always have to laugh because whenever I decide to take up a project that has been in stall mode for a few months, in my mind I believe that it will surely take forever to finish it. Really though, I spent less than a few days. And now, after just putting the two sock monkey pillow cases on my son & husband's pillows for the evening, it feels so good to have them done. And the smiles and thank yous were the best present of all!!  

let go of the tension

these days I am learning a lot of new skills at school, especially in one of my massage classes. I find it kind of funny that something that is supposed to be so relaxing can cause me so much tension.

When I am learning a new skill, whether it be in massage class or even at home with some knitting, my mind is so focused on the steps and doing it right that I am not even aware of how clenched and tight my body is. This usually happens when I am nervous about getting all the steps right, making sure I don't make a mistake. I have totally forgotten that through mistakes I can learn just as much. Of course, I want to grasp as much as I can correctly the first time, but part of making this knowledge my own is experiencing it for myself, and then figuring my way out of little messes. 

Sometimes doing it right isn't as important as getting the flow of a technique, and yet other times, the right steps are crucial. I have to remind myself to breathe so I can take it all in, absorb it into both my mind and body and let it flow out again with my own voice, my own translation.

piece by piece

sometimes there is a fine line between pushing myself and giving myself a break. sometimes I don't really know where that line is and since I am a bit of a warrior archetype (and a bit of a perfectionist), I tend to lean toward pushing through and not resting. I am learning that resting is not always about slacking, and sometimes it is the most powerful thing I can do in the moment. Not only do my projects get a fresh pair of eyes when I return, I also am not so grumpy.

I am learning these days that things seem to "happen" without my forcing them into place. I have been resting and soaking up the learning and seeing how the pieces fall into place without my getting overly involved. It is kind of like working on a giant puzzle. I could either pick up every piece and see if I can make two fit together, or I can sit back look at the table sitting in the beautiful sunshine, sip on my cup of hot chai from the D and enjoy really looking at each piece. I already know that the pieces fit, so I can take time to study them, to enjoy them here and watch at how they catch my attention. Suddenly, I will find two pieces that fit snugly together, and before I know I will find 2 more, and 2 more, and then the whole picture will be put together in front of me, just like I knew it would.