changing perspective

"when i let go

of what i am,

i become

what i might be."

-lao tzu

these lovely rust dyed cotton fragments
were a gift from a delightful follower
on instagram (@pwendy). this buddha is
joyfully sporting new threads until inspiration
moves them in another direction!

a comment i made to erik shipley of ship's manor on instagram the other day was very enlightening for me once it took root in my consciousness.  a simple statement made about my style of knitting. something i have said a thousand times about being a process knitter rather than being results driven. one of those *aha!* moments that suddenly through open the drapes that have shrouded my perception about my own creative style. not only am i a process knitter, but i am a process artist!

this was a very liberating realization. freeing me of years of self-judgment and ofttimes debilitating criticism about harboring a plethora of unfinished work. reminding me of the joy i experience in simply creating for the sake of creating, not to race to complete something for the sake of being done with it. the many creations that rest in various stages of growth are just that: resting in a stage of growth. of evolution. all a part of my enjoying their process of creation. no longer accusing. no longer judging. but celebrating whatever process they are in. whatever step they are at along the path each moment. rather like a reminder of the way i try to live my life. in the moment. not grasping and judging but enjoying. celebrating.

there is something to be learned from these emerging fragments of the creative process. something delightful and invigorating!

namasté

bundle of joy in the mail

i was the lucky winner of an amazing little bundle of joy from deb over at more whiffs, glimmers & left oeuvres this month. . .and the reality of this joyous bundle far exceeded any expectations garnered from the pics on her site! granted, i was already familiar with her amazing dyeing techniques as she had sent me one of her wondrous burritos a few months ago simply because i asked her what they were before i had ever seen one (such a lovely, and generous lady!).  i was flabbergasted by the sheer volume of marvels that she had managed to stuff into one of her little cuss pots...and with the beauty of the spring-filled damask napkin...and continued to be amazed as i dug deeper into the parcel to find a mountain of colored floss!  i'm already playing with ideas as i listen to these treasures whisper quietly in my ears...

thank you so much, deb!!

and now, i'm off to my studio to get some much needed selection time for a long-overdue australian package and a trip to town to find a post office!

namaste'

fortune cookie wisdom wednesday

thanks to a very generous and amazingly talented friend found through the one world one heart 2011 event, i now have a marvelous new fortune cookie wisdome wednesday banner!  the bodhi chicklet creates these too lovely for words fortune cookies from some sort of clay. they look so real, i am frequently tempted to munch into one...but have managed to refrain thus far. i remember thinking how wonderful they looked when i stumbled across her engaging blog...and how disappointed i was when i didn't win her give away offering of three of these beauties. you can imagine my delight, and amazement, when she wrote to tell me that she was sending some to me just because she has a big heart and a generous hand and knew how much i would enjoy them! they even have their own fortunes nestled inside...perhaps next time i'll have to share one of them!

until then...

sad, but true.  i've been known to receive fortune cookies lacking in fortune.  i'm thinking this is yet another of those times, for all the same that it contained this slip of paper....

namaste'

belated fortune cookie wisdom wednesday

as you know, i've been helping a dear friend deconstruct his life and prepare to move the fates only know where...so when i was catching up on one of my favorite bone tickling blogs, bent objects by terry border, and came across this pic, i knew then and there i had to share it!  terry has the most amazing sense of humor and i've been enjoying his blog for a long time and hope you will take a few moments to check it out (no affiliations, blah, blah, blah....just an fan). 

in any case, aside from being very funny, it spoke deeply to my friendship, too.  it's hard to see someone's life go to pieces...whether by his own hand or not.  you begin to think about how much he will be missed and how you never had the time to do this and that grand plan... then you start examining your other friendships and relationships and begin to put them into perspective, as well.  gratitude.  definitely the word for the moment. 

i have deep gratitude for my friends, near and far. both in real time and in cyberspace. 

just wanted to let you all know how much i appreciate you!

meanwhile, my house is looking rather like i'm packing up moving myself as i've been the recipient of many of my friend's collected treasures. antiques. artwork. rugs. and so forth. so, essentially, i'm remodeling...

this, combined with sketchy internet services whilst providers are battling it out, and i've fallen sadly behind on my mail and my blog.  both of which, i apologize for.  i have a lovely stack of boxes that i have been refraining to open until i can share them with you all:

there are doorprizes from the one world one heart event this year; some gracious and kind gifts from readers; fun things from auctions; and a few other treasures found whilst on cyber journies. all patiently waiting until i can do them justice and share them with my cyber friends!  don't ask me how i'm restraining myself...cuz i really don't know.  but i am.

hopefully, i'll get to start opening them next week...just as soon as i finish getting my house back into some semblance of order!

until then....

namaste'

heart blessings

the first time her laughter

unfurled its wings in the wind,

we knew the world would

never be the same

- brian andreas

a very special person, wanda, sent me this most amazing gift today. we "met" through the one world one heart event this year and have been exchanging insanity via email ever since.  you may remember that she was the one that licked everything on my blog so that no one would want any of it...especially the one world one heart door prize, sky flower.  she was the one who ultimately won the door prize, too. 

i had lamented that i didn't think of licking one of her dottie dolls that she had been offering on her blog and therefore did not win one.  well....who could have guessed that this amazing person set out to create a very special dottie just for me!  meet george....my very own steampunk dottie doll!  the picture just doesn't do her justice...what with all of the wondrous little cogs and bits and bobs....and the custom steampunk goggles on her hat that you can't even see, but will do wonders at keeping bugs out of her eyes while she is out adventuring!

not only did i receive such a treasure, but i had to dig through piles of other treasures to get to her.  past oversized money (which will be terrific fun to play with next time i bind a a new book), a wonderful daily zen calendar for my desk, an ingenious compass, and the most amazing magic business card holder!

my heart is full. my heart is touched. i am overwhelmed with gratitude. thank you, wanda, for everything! george means more to me than you can know...

namaste'

breaking through

"for a long time,

he flew only when

he thought no one

else was watching..."

been playing with string and scraps...doing my best to imitate the saint's cranky kitty...and scratching my way through this week long creative block and finally came up with this. it's not the best shot (the lighting is non-existent and reds are almost impossible to shoot with a non-professional digital camera), and it's not the complete project...but a sneak peek at my new keeping pouch. i still have a few seemingly random stitches to add here and there and then to package it up, filled with a small long cloth, and send it sailing its way to a new, dear friend's door who's been waiting ever so patiently for its arrival. doubly pleased i am that my break through was facilitated by a gift....

warm gratitude to you all for your kind and encouraging words throughout this fallow time!

namaste'

practice love. be generous. be rewarded.

i wish i had a heart to send to each and every one of you who commented and entered into this unscheduled drawing.  however, even without them, you are all winners! i was touched by the stories shared, not only in the comments section, but in backchannel emails from those that just wanted to share them.  debi mazar once said: "a hero is somebody who is selfless, who is generous in spirit, who just tries to give back as much as possible and help people." you are all heroes in my book!

i took all of your names and put them in the choosing jar...

closed my eyes, felt around, and selected a slip of paper...

and here is what i found when i opened my eyes again...

debi from the pacific northwest! you are the winner of the woven heart cloth!

here's what debi wrote in her comment:

"Mornin Joe! Thank you for coming over to my place for a visit, and your comment on my Tango Cat! She's further along right now and if I ever get a break from homework I'll finish her and post it on my lonely blog. I have so much to say on there... and it's been so neglected."

"It's funny, on Valentines Day I decided to smile and greet anyone I made eye contact with on the college campus. Wow, I was absolutely AMAZED at the result! So many people struck up a brief conversation with me. One girl looked so happy and radiant when she went on to class and she must have turned around half a dozen times to tell me how much she enjoyed talking to me. It was the same result several times as the day went on. It felt so good that I've been doing it all week. There are a LOT of lonely, sad students on campus with me. Sometimes it's just too easy to plow through your day going from one thing to the next, and you miss so much by not taking the time to connect to the people around you. Anyway, I hope I win your heart...my birthday is the 23rd! It would make a lovely birthday present!"

what a wonderful experience, debi!  i have found similar experiences when i've just smiled at people, too.  it's amazing, isn't it? i think it is all too frequently for any of us to plow through your days, not being present, and missing life that is right there before our eyes! it's amazing how we tap into our compassionate heart when we just decide to be present and acknowledge those around us in a respect full and loving manner!

debi, you have a big heart and a depth of soul! and now you have my woven heart small cloth!  happy birthday!!  i'll drop you an email so you can send me your mailing address and i'll get it in the mail immediately!

for the rest of you, gentle readers, you are indeed amazing people and i am honored to have "met" you.

namaste'

random acts of lunacy

it's almost midnight on sunday night...and the practice love. be generous. give away is about to end. i've been enjoying all the wonderful comments and stories and look forward to seeing who will win my little woven heart cloth!

it's been rather insane around these parts. the snows are bearing down on us again, and i've been picking up shifts at work like a mad man since so many have been out sick or on vacation.

i'm feeling a little like that poor donkey these days. a bit overworked...but can't really complain, seeing as how i can say "no" as easily as the next guy...

in the spirit of this insanity, i've picked up a double tomorrow and am headed for bed to prepare for those 16 hours of caregiving, so i will be announcing the winner tomorrow night.

yup...unfortunately so...but i'm fairly certain y'all can handle holding out for just a few more hours to see who won, can't ya?

right. i'm off to slumberland and to dream tranquil fiber dreams....

namaste'

practice love. be generous.

sasha dichter wrote on her blog the other day about rebooting valentine's day as generosity day, asking for it to be "one day of sharing love with everyone, of being generous to everyone, to see how it feels and to practice saying “yes.” let’s make the day about love, action and human connection – because we can do better than smarmy greeting cards, overpriced roses, and stressed-out couples trying to create romantic meals on the fly." she talks about how we can do this by setting the "goal to spend valentine’s day being more generous, giving more money, sharing of yourself, being of service. all acts of generosity, small and big alike, count. but you have to say "yes" to everything that’s asked of you, all day long! it’s about creating more generosity in the world, and becoming a more open person along the way."

i've been thinking about this today as i've gone about my day's routines. remembering to be more generous. opening doors. sharing what i have with others as i encounter them. leaving generous tips. baking a huge pile of heart shaped cookies for my neighbors. gifting quilts to those who are in need of their warmth and love. donating clothes and food to local charities.

this has brought such warmth and joy to those around me and in my community. to my heart as well. i'm quite certain that this will be a continued tradition in my home. i would be honored to hear about any of your experiences inspired by these thoughts today! or, in honor of this week being national random acts of kindness week, of your experiences inspired by these thoughts throughout this week! that's it. no giant hoops to jump through. just share one of your experiences of generosity in the comment section of this post!

as my last act of generosity this week, i will be drawing a name at random from all comments made to this post between now and sunday, february 20, 2011, relating your act of generosity or random act of kindness and will be awarding that person with a special woven heart small cloth (measuring 6" X 7"). this small cloth sports a freehand heart woven from strips of cotton fabrics up-cycled and repurposed from my wardrobe, embellished with a heart applique cut from a scrap of vintage quilting cotton, all hand stitched to a vintage woven cotton napkin backing cloth. this heart-felt small cloth can be used by itself to adorn your wall, counter top, journal cover...or could be repurposed and incorporated into one of your own creations!

i will announce the winner next monday, february 21st. be sure to include your email address or to check back on monday so that i may send you your gift! if i have been unable to contact you and have not heard from you by the 23rd, i will draw another name, so stay tuned!

now, go out and be generous! spread love and kindness where ever you go!

namaste'