Enchanted Mama

The good, the bad and the...::

I thought it might be nice to share a bit of this week and realized that there are many aspects to it.  Some rich and juicy.  Others not so shiny.  So, in an effort to show what is really happening in our lives as of today here you go...  

 

the bad and the ugly--

-I torqued my neck while swimming on Monday and have been askew since then. It seems to have gotten worse with spasms and I feel triple my age.  Plus, if anyone touches my neck I think I might scream. Oh, and did I mention the piercing headaches? Mostly, I'm upset because I've had to miss swimming the last few days.    

-My girlie got her ears pierced for her upcoming thirteenth birthday and the guy botched it.  One earring is too far toward her face and the other is too low AND too close to her face. The worst part is that she is disappointed.  Not what we were going for. 

-The big daddy's working hard to finalize preparations for the Friday Medieval Games.  He's been nicknamed "The Blur" by his family that love him so.  I'll be glad when I can see his face in focus again.

-And..pretty sure I killed the oven.  A shattered glass of water dripped down into the back of the stove.  It screamed at me for twenty minutes before I finally hit the circuit breaker.  So concerned about what "FO" meant that it didn't even occur to me to turn off the power. Plus, FO doesn't sound very nice if you ask me.  

 

the good--

-My neck isn't worse than three days ago.  So that's improvement.

-My girlie had her ears pierced for the first time.  That is a big day.  Lots of breathing in and out by this mama.  She's growing up.  Oh my.  Good stuff.  

-Once all the "stuff" is done the day of Medieval Games will be fabulous.  I will be able to share in the experience with my sixth grade girlie and the big daddy.  memory making stuff.  

-The baby is over her "whatever-pneumonia-ick" she had last week. Sleeping through the night again.  Wahoo!!!   

-I'm currently eating a lime popsicle.

-I plan to go to bed early tonight which makes me a bit giddy since it so rarely happens.

-I'm ready for my girlie to turn thirteen this weekend.  Gifts are wrapped in silks.  Cake is planned.  Memories of her birth story are surfacing and bringing a smile to remember my first baby born many years ago and yet it seems like yesterday. 

-It's almost summer. lazy mornings. time outside. flip flops. swimming. afternoon rainstorms.  laughter. reading. my youngest boy pouncing on grasshoppers and getting quite good at catching them, gently of course. love it all.

-The rain in the past few days has nestled in all the new seeds we planted over the weekend.  Even the secret ones that my little guy and I planted around our neighbors in the alley. ssshhhh.

What about you? 

 

 

***linking up with ink and chai*** 

 

 

Mama's Day means...::

::Waking to the smell of vanilla wafting from the kitchen below a'la the big daddy and the chatter of all my children, in semi-hushed voices.

::Giggles and scuffling as I proceed downstairs.  

::A sweet little pile of presents wrapped in silks.   

::Four smiling children grasping my hands to lead me to the table for breakfast.

 

::A cherry wood spoon made by my twelve year old in wood working class.  Months she has been creating.  It's almost too beautiful to use.  

 

::Hand-dyed silk scarf from my four year old who had such a hard time keeping it secret.  He practically yelled what it was when I finally opened it.  

::A watercolor card with at least twelve "I Love You's" on it.  Plus, oh my, gift certificates for treasure.  I mean what can be better than that?  

::The big daddy showering me with love and appreciation AND a visit to the new, local sensory deprivation tank.  Oh yeah.

::Finally using the gift card from mama's day last year.  I now have neon pink toes and a "facialed" face. 

::Loads of little plants waiting to be planted outside.  A garden cleared for a non-rainy day. 

::Missing my mama tremendously.  Even after eight years it still feels like yesterday.

::Feeling grateful for my lovelies as that last wave crashes over me throughout the day. 

::Watching my children play and feeling loved in a soft way.  Honored. 

 

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mama's out there.  

Hope it was all you wished for.  Was it?

 

 *linking up with amanda for weekending*

Behind the Camera::

This past weekend I took an amazing photography class, with the ever talented Alessandra Cave, at The Makerie Retreat.  The goal of the class was to push your comfort zone with your camera.  Get the camera out of the auto setting and well, experiment.  

I'm a big fan of Alessandra's work creating photos with a mystical, magical feel--Lots of light, sun flare and bokeh.  All techniques I dream of becoming more proficient at.  I believe the light is what calls to me in photography.  Maybe that's universal, I don't know.  

What I do know is that I can be overwhelmed by the beauty of the afternoon light.  That must mean something. Right?   

 

Throughout the class we were encouraged to use each other as the subjects.  To shoot numerous photos using all types of different camera settings. And, to find images to photograph that represented our experience thoughout the weekend.  

Imagine for a moment though, a room full of people who are much more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. Yeah... 

So, we ended up with alot of this.

 

And, this.

 

And photos of our shoes. And yarn, of course.  Oh, and hoopers!  

I brought my hula hoops to try some action shots with the super-secret-motive of getting more people hula hooping...my evil plan..ha.ha.ha.  

It worked!  

You should have seen all the hooping creatives twirling around the park.  Plus lots of laughing!  

All in the name of creating and learning and expanding and trying something new. 

 

So there you have it.  

The weekend itself was full of inspiring people, many intriguing classes and creative whim happening at all times.  If you've ever thought of doing something for yourself creatively, take a look at The Makerie.

Plus, you get to meet all types of incredible people and maybe, just maybe, you find someone who happens to love Xanadu as much as you.  

Just a thought.

Happy Monday to you all.  

May the light find you today.  

 

 

 

Vision Boards::

Vision Boards always seem to have a bit of magic to them.  

The way they are done makes thinking and getting in the way of the creative process less likely.  You rip/tear/cut out pictures as quickly as possible.  If you start to think about it, you rip faster.  The idea is to find things that you are drawn to and not try to figure out why.  

Then, just as quickly you throw them all down on paper/card stock/old cardboard in random fashion.  How ever you are moved to do so.  

Set them up and step back.  

 

This is the moment of "magic" for me.  I never quite know what they will come out to be.  I imagine I'll have an idea but they are NEVER what I thought, thank goodness.  

With 2012 a month in already, I thought it would be good to get a bit of Clarity.  Vision.  Inspiration.  

My one vision board turned into four.  Yes, four.  Each one with its own distinct meaning.  

 

I'm still pondering what they all mean...or how they may work in my life.  

The added bonus is using all the superfluous catalogs that show up at my door.  I feel a bit better about them when I can turn those catalogs into something that inspires me.

Have you tried vision boards before?  Do you find they work for you?  What other things do you do to find inspiration in your life?  

 

A bit of New York::

Well, it happened again.  I left out of town thinking and sincerely knowing "I would blog from the road".  Yes, that was the plan.  As we can all see that is not exactly what happened.  

Though, I'm not entirely sure it's all my fault.  I mean, if New York wasn't so captivating and full and delicious and inspiring, and, and...  I'm not sure there are many out there who could resist her charms.  She's powerful.  She's electric.  She has amazing lattes that keep you up all hours of the night so that by the time you do arrive home you are wiped out and ready to sleep for a week.  

 

So it was that I walked miles and miles there.  Which came in very handy when passing one of the many cupcake shops.  Oh, you better believe it!  

By day and night she had me from the start--From the museums to the french onion soup in out of the way french restaurants to the stark winter beauty of central park to the lights oh, the lights.

There is everything in the city.  I didn't think it could get any better until... 

`

Vogue Knitting Live came to town along with my delightful, dear friends and knitting group.  The three Amiga's in the Big city armed with knitting needles, yarn and the desire to learn new things.  

We took classes and ate in the aforementioned french restaurant, a few times in fact.  Knitting while we waited.  Incredible.  We shared a room and it was like summer camp for adults.  Only we wrapped up in all types of knitted items and carried knitting projects around in our purses.  

To say I had a delightful time would not even begin to describe it.  We were going the whole time we were there.  Knitting classes, lunch, museums, knitting classes again, the marketplace with some INCREDIBLE yarn, delicious dinners and even a show or two.  

All I know is...it was out of the ordinary to take this time as a mama.  Time to be together with friends doing something we all love.  Taking time away from our families.  Out of the ordinary, but so amazing.  Doing something that recharged us creatively, after we caught up on all the missed sleep of course.  It was a luxury that I know all three of us enjoyed to the last moment.  

 

There was more...   

One of my dear Nirvana friends the lovely Laura stayed with us as well.  She brought smiles and beading gifts and delicious restaurants to go to with other lovely designers and she delivers a mean latte when the morning before class just isn't long enough.  So grateful to meet up with her again and have some time to knit, laugh and snuggle while sleeping.  I've written about her impeccable designs many times.  

There was a talk given at the Gala Fashion Show Night by Alice Starmore.  Inspired by her talk about knitting, designing, yarn, and life style.  Incredible.  I'm a new fan.  Plus, she works closely with her daughter who is also a designer.  Wouldn't that be  fabulous?!!??

The lovely woman sitting to my left at the dinner that night and new Philly friend made the evening even better.  The friendly face in a sea of strangers.  Who I'm now corrupting, I mean teaching, some new knitting stuff.  How lucky I feel to have sat down next to her. 

 

So it was that we arrived home last week and I have put in some serious hours sleeping.  On the flight home I'm pretty sure we made up the only knitting row on the plane click-clacking away on our needles. 

I have new projects in the works.  Yarn to share with you and inspiration abounds.  

My hope is to share that here with you all soon.  

Hope your week is starting out well, 

Kellen

 

 

Last Week::

Last week I nervously boarded a plane, by myself, for an adventure.  

A journey that I wasn't sure I could do.  I wondered until the moment I turned away from the car and my family at the airport if I had it in me.  Hence, the lack of letting you all know where I would be.  I wasn't sure myself.   

I met with a small group of lovely women and spent loads of time writing, brainstorming, laughing and being present in the "right now".

It really is beyond words and even now I'm unsure of all the aspects that will inevitably filter into my life.  Traveling away from my family to "just be me" was more challenging than I thought.  

The baby, whom I'd yet to leave, was home with the big daddy.  She was nurtured, cared for and fed from the stores of milk I left behind and she had a fantastic time.  

It all worked out.  exhale.  

 

Now I'm home, having had a relaxing Sunday, and I'm attempting to gather all that I learned this past week. 

I've learned that it's important to have time for ourselves.  Time to think, listen, and just be.  There were moments initially when I didn't quite know what to do without someone else to tend to.  

"You mean it's only about me for these few days?"  wow.  

So, by day two I'd settled in.  I became inspired.  I rushed out of the shower, practically wrapped in a towel, to write down an idea I didn't want to lose with much laughter from my new friends.  

I learned that I need time out in nature.  This I have known, but it was even more apparent as the days went on.  Time to breathe the fresh air.  Put my feet in the sand and walk through the beauty of mother nature.  

Ideas abound.  My spirit calms.  I feel more sure of my balance point.  

 

I learned that inspiration comes in many places.  Most of the time it's in between all the other things that I do--When I'm driving, upon waking, while knitting, or making my children a quesadilla.  

No matter what, it's there if I look. 

This inspiration and adventure was an incredibly thoughful birthday gift from the Big Daddy.  Time to put down on paper all that I've been talking to him about for years.  He gave me the gift of time.  Grateful doesn't even begin to describe it.  

Even as I write this I find it hard to believe.  I was focused, inspired and now I'm ready to embark on another type of adventure.  

It's thrilling.

 

I even made new friends.  Found crazy similiaritites with my roomie.  Laughed and discovered a new understanding of "what I want in this moment".  I uncovered, please excuse my "cheesball-ness", a bit more of "me".

So. Grateful. 

 

Finally I learned, as I endured an epic travel day home--with unpredictable weather and cancelled flights, that flexibility is important.  Patience a virtue.  Humor crucial.  

I will need these on my journey.  

The path, that was a mystery before I left, all turned out okay.  Memories were made.  Plans created.  My family there to welcome me home.  

It all worked out.  exhale.  

 

I feel that this will be one of those moments I look back on as, "The moment when I honored my wishes and made steps toward making them a reality."

Isn't that what we all want?  

Are you making your wishes a reality today?  

 

 

Something New::

It's quite exciting to learn something new.  

Especially when that something new has to do with yarn and lots of it.  

As well as surrounding oneself with other knitters who are as crazy, I mean dedicated, as you are.

 

This past weekend I spent a day with Susanna Hansen who teaches in the style of Vivian Hoxbro the unique technique of modular/domino knitting.  Mitre squares and circles and rectangles and diamonds and hexagons, oh my.  

The options are endless.

 

I have many, many new techniques to try out.  So many potential projects...  

I'm blaming the class though as I have cast-on way too many projects in the past twenty four hours.  

Not that there is anything wrong with that.  No sir.  I'm sure that the other projects waiting in their bags don't mind at all....right?  

 

What have you cast-on for lately?  

By the way, I'm looking for long lists here friends as I'm looking to not feel quite so bad.  

 

Happy Tuesday to you all!

 

 

 

 

Hoop Love::

I have a new love, or an old love as the case may be.  

Hoop Dance. 

At the beginning of the summer I began hoop classes and I discovered that I love them.  Love them I tell you.

I've talked about hoops before and our deep love for them as a family.  

But, this feels different somehow.   

 

There is a whole world out there of hoop dancers.  

Some dance with fire.  

Some with led lights in their hoops.  

Some with multiple hoops at one time.

And some, with old school hoops made from tubing you find at the hardware store.  

There's a freedom that one can experience in the presence of other hoopers.  Finding peace in the center of your hoop.  

I don't know that it would be that way for everyone but I know I've discovered something that really works for me.  

 

The amazing feeling of freedom and joy.  

I just know that when I hula hoop, I smile.  I laugh.  I have loads of fun.   

There must be something about it then...something that works, right?  

 

So here's to hooping on the beach and a bit of shadow art.  

I believe the last shadow art I shared was here.

 

Have a lovely weekend!  

 

 

 

Beaded Bliss::

This scarf is one of those projects where I have so much to say I don't even know where to begin.  

This project, beaded bliss, stretched me as a knitter.  I learned all sorts of new things.  

I learned about beads and knitting, as well as the patience required to do so.  I learned that it becomes easier and easier the more you do.   So now I know that I would be willing to try another project that requires me to put beads into my knitting.

I learned that I'm willing to rip out knitting, even intricate knitting, over and over and over until I decide to just keep knitting no matter what.  

I learned that it's possible to Kitchener stitch two pieces of intricate knitting together and not be able to tell where I did it, mostly.  Even if I had to do it twice. 

I learned that I'm willing to keep trying new things.  

 

I've realized that I love knitting so much.  

For its meditative qualities, as I feel calmer just picking up my needles.  For the ability to attend to my children and knit without them thinking I'm ignoring them as opposed to when I pick up the telephone.  For the love of yarn, my knitting friends, casting on new projects, casting off finished projects.  For the ability to keep my family and myself warm....

What I love the very most though is that there seems to always be something else to learn.  Some new cast-on or cast-off.  A new technique for wrapping yarn.  Chart reading.  Mitre squares and beading....

The list goes on and on....   
 

To Laura the lovely designer and the woman in charge of this KAL I had a fabulous time.  

There were times when I was excited.  

Times when I thought I'd quit.  

Times I persevered unsure whether the result would look good.

Times when I thought I would never finish this fingering weight looooong scarf.  

Times when I knew I would.  

Times when I had to re-do the Kitchener stitch because somewhere along the way I lost a stitch and it was all askew.  

Then the time when I finished, threw it in a bath, then stretched it on my blocking mats and waited for it to dry.  

Then yesterday as I took these pictures I got to see the true beauty of the design.  To feel the lovely weight of the beads.  The light yarn laying around my neck.  To see my daughter and her impish smile while wearing it.   

Laura Daaarrrling, you're brilliant.  Thank you for such a fun adventure.  

Now, I'm just waiting for some cool weather to wear this bit of lovely!  

 

To those of you out there who knit I strongly urge you to try something out of your comfort zone.  Something that stretches you as a knitter, something that will simultaneously make you excited, want to quit, and in the end show you that perseverance pays off.  

It's fun, uncomfortable and makes us who we are as knitters.  Those willing to take a pile of wool and transform it into something.  Those who can see the potential in small stitches.  Those who love the feel of the yarn enough to be willing to try new things.  

So what are you going to try?  

 

 

What if::

What if we focused on all the things we can do instead of all the things we can't do?

What if we believed in ourselves half as much as others believe in us?  

What if we realized that the only one limiting us was ourselves?  

What if...

 

I've been thinking about these "what if's" a lot lately.  

I realize that I'm usually the only one in my world that doesn't think I could try, accomplish, or venture into new areas.  I'm the only one who says, "no, no, that will not do."  

It's amazing really.  I'm a great cheerleader for other people.  I see their strengths.  I see their potential.  I see all the incredible things they already do, big things as well as small.  When it comes to myself though, I focus on all the things that aren't right.  The wrong timing.  I'm not ready yet.  I should be more educated, smarter, slimmer, etc.   

Why is it so hard to see ourselves for all that we want to be and all that we already are?  

As a woman, wife, mama, friend, sister, etc. etc. there are lots of reason not to.  It takes time.  It takes energy.  It takes patience.  I don't know about you but all these things are usually lacking in abundance around here.

Sometimes I wonder though how many reasons are based in truth and how many are just excuses?  

Especially when it doesn't have to be big to be significant.  What we focus on doesn't have to change worlds or move mountains.  All it has to do is be something that moves us.  That delights us.  Something that while doing it we see our own potential.  

What if we see all of our challenges, hang-ups, lack of time, energy and excuses for what they are and do that something we have wanted to do anyway?

What if we tried to see what happened before we actually talked ourselves out of it?  

What if we were our own cheerleaders once in a while?  

 

So I ask you my friends, "What are we waiting for?"  Why should we focus on anything less than our amazing selves?  Why not at least try? 

What if we did?  

Wouldn't this world be an even more amazing, creative, inspiring place to be?