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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Fall Inspiration...


I Love Fall.  I don't know if I could survive in a place that did not have fall.  The changing of the leaves and the crispness in the air.  I marvel at the variety of colors that the trees take on. 


 I especially like the sound the leaves make as I walk through them. And of course all the leaf piles with children jumping in them.  It brings a smile to my face just thinking about it.

 This past week we have been having what they call Indian Summer.  Prior to this week it was below freezing at night and the day temperature barely cracked 50. Ice was actually starting to form on my deck. In fact, in the video below, you can hear all teh ice melting off teh tree in my front yard.  At first I thought it was raining then realized that it was water dripping from the trees along with leaved being released.  I thought it was pretty cool.

Today I have my windows open and have thrown off the sweater for a short sleeved shirt.  I decided to move my crafting outdoors to enjoy the warmth and the inspiration.  With winter coming and the threat of the "polar vortex" again, I want to soak up as much sun and warmth as I can.

I think you can tell I already have spring on the brain!  Honestly I tried my hand at crocheting a few leaves and was quite unsuccessful so I gave up and did flowers instead.  Happy and warm thoughts!





Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Russian Spring Bonnet Take Two....

Having been asked by a friend to make a certain hat, I have been catapulted down quite an exciting path.  Since my first attempt at making the hat didn't go quite as I wanted (you can see that post here), I went for a second attempt at the hat.  And...here it is....



















I am quite happy with this version.  It came out much closer to what I was wanting.  I adjusted my pattern a bit and used a lighter weight yarn.  I definitely helps the spiral pattern to stand out more.  I am happy and so is my friend.  The best part though...



The decorations are changeable!  This was my friends great idea and I put it into action.  The bottom one is holly for Christmas. I will have to get a picture with her adorable daughter wearing it.









The new path I was talking about is actually and old one that I had stepped off a bit ago.  I have always wanted to turn my craft from just a hobby to a business.  Its been a  dream for a few years.  Not a full time business mind you, but a little on the side.  I was in the process of doing this, then some bumps in life happened and I had to sideline it.  But now I have my inspiration back again.  I'm blogging again, my crafting feels more inspired and I am finding tons of joy from it. So, we'll see where this path takes me.  

For right now though this path takes me over to Frontier Dreams where I finally get to participate in Keep Calm Craft On which I have been  watching for quite a while now.  I get so much inspiration from everyone who links up and I am proud that I can join the group.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Trees...


I love trees.  I mean it, I really love trees.  I even went to college and studied them.  I have been known to run up to various trees and hug them.  Or to just stand in awe of them.  I find trees vastly inspiring.  From their beauty to their resilience.  Not to mention the crucial role they play in the life of this planet.  Take me to a forest and I will be happy.









Recently, we took a trip to the coast of Lake Michigan.  Off in the distance I saw a tree.  Normal enough, right?  Not if you looked closer, which I did.




As I approached the tree, this is what I saw....a mountain of roots!  Its hard to see in this picture but the base of the trunk of the tree was higher than me.  This caused me to wonder how this could have occurred. Is it possible that there was a sand dune here at one time which has slowly eroded away? How is this tree still alive, healthy, and standing?  Amazing right?  The strength and fortitude these trees must have just amazes me.  Just had to share the beauty.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

On The Craft Table....

I have hats!  First of all I love to craft.  Currently my craft habit revolves around crochet, knitting, spinning, felting and quilting.  At this moment I am "hooked" on crochet.  A great friend found a hat she liked and asked if I could make one for her.  The hat was beautiful and you can find the original here at liveinternet.  I said of course I could make that hat.  It didn't look that difficult, until I read the directions, or should I say tried to read the directions. The original directions are in Russian and though I do speak a bit, my vocabulary does not include crochet terms.  There is a "translation" which is supposed to be in English, but its not any English I understand.

So, whats a girl to do...

Make it up as I go, I guess.  So I present my first attempt at what I think I will call the Russian Spring Bonnet.


Not to bad if I say so myself, which I do.  I enjoyed this challenge and I learned a lot from it.  In fact my second, more refined hat is in progress right now.  This lovely hat though is bound for international travel as I have decided to give it to a good missionary friend.  All this spring flowery crafting has certainly helped brighten the gloomy days we've been having.

Since I have decided to set aside a bit of time everyday to craft, I have found myself calmer and more able to tackle the day.  I definitely have a need for artistic expression, which must have come from my mother, an artist. (thanks mom!) I have struggled in the past as seeing my crafting as something relegated only to the weekend or when everything is done in the house.  But now I recognize the role it plays in me just being me and how necessary it is for me to feel in balance.  So for now, I will continue on happily creating.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Moments....

I am big on "to do" lists.  Now granted they may not always be written down in a nice neat manner but believe me, there is always a running list in my head.  I seem to have it decided in my head that if I do not accomplish my list (or even half my list on some days) then I must have made a misstep some where along the way in my day.  And to be honest I feel a bit let down, or dare I even say it, a failure as a mom.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not having a pity party over not getting ALL the laundry done in a day.  And I know I am a good mom, but the feelings are real.  And what I have realized is that the knowledge of these impending feelings will often dictate the choices I make in a day.

And when given the choice when driving down the road to either continue on and make it home in time to maybe knock a few more things off "the list", or to turn off the road at a sign marked state park and see what might be in store, what do I do?

Well, today I threw the list out the window.  And for one beautiful afternoon I shared some glorious moments with my kids.  Moments of laughter, of exploration and of peace.






I don't regret it at all, and I hope in the future I can loosen my grip on my lists, and change my ideal of what a mother looks like.  Because a mother who takes the time to walk hand in hand in the woods, is the kind of mother I want to be.