soon...

(photos from our last trip, both taken by jon)

packing

december views, december 27

december views, december 26

happy christmas

a happy christmas to you and yours and merry day to all!

(these are a few of the stockings we made this year for family and a few friends. once thrifted sweaters, now felted stockings.)

we rarely have snow in the pacific northwest...in the four winters we have been here, we have had snow less than maybe ten times. but...today of all days...when i have missed that chance of an indiana white christmas and jonny missed his colorado days...

it snowed.

hope a few of your dreams came true today too.

much love,
liz

from us, this solstice

om
shanti
shanti
shanti


may peace fill
your body
your mind
your heart
your home
your town
your region
your country
our world
beyond all that we know


namaste

five (really) good things on december 19

can you spot five (really) good things?
(click here to see the details)

can you name your own five (really) good things?
i bet so.
yep.
bet you can.

dare you.

during the quiet...i almost...

I almost wrote about how far away I feel from my daily practice. I haven't done yoga in weeks. I haven't meditated or chanted much lately. I hold on to the intention of lighting candles and the ritual of blowing them out and sending blessings to others, and I am thankful for this. Yet, I know I am the most balanced when I have a daily practice that is physical, mental, and spiritual.

I almost wrote about the different ways friendships end. Sometimes people just drift apart, sometimes something "happens," sometimes someone lets you know the friendship is ending, sometimes you are just confused about why, sometimes you decide to set a boundary, sometimes you never understand, sometimes there is no reason at all really, sometimes you just feel sad about it long after it happens…but mostly I wanted to write about how letting go is okay.

I almost wrote about the visual journey I took while receiving a massage a few weeks ago. A journey that involved being underwater with the whales and feeling as though they were nudging me in greeting and telling me that it was okay to just breathe and not fear the water.

I almost wrote about how I am trying to find the balance in blog world of connecting and reaching out and having a life away from the computer.

I almost wrote about how an unexpected root canal brought up the claustrophobia I experienced for the first time last year. And, how I sat there in the dentist's chair and made the choice not to give in to a full-blown freak out moment.

I almost wrote about how sometimes walking away is the only answer.

I almost wrote about how much I wished you hadn’t walked away.

I almost wrote about the paradox of taking the Handmade Pledge but planning to vacation at a place that is perceived as a center of consumerism (even if it is, to me, one of the happiest places on earth).

I almost wrote about finally realizing I have two jobs (editing world and art+craft world) and the challenges this brings at times.

I almost wrote about how there is an expectation that we are to move on from difficult moments and experiences when things are "right" or "not so bad" again. That because it has been a few weeks/months/years or someone is okay or that you don't have cancer or that you are better off without a person and on and on…that because things are "fine" you are to dismiss whatever emotions surfaced when things weren't fine and the echoes of those emotions that live within you.

I almost wrote about how we never really know how our words might hurt another. We never really know that they might be sitting on the other end of the phone or email trying to catch their breath. I almost wrote about trying to catch my breath.

I almost wrote about how much this time of year invites a deep missing in my heart…how sad I am that it seems Disney no longer make the dated ornaments my grandmother bought me every year…how all I really want for Christmas is a pair of soft around the house socks from her to replace one of the last pairs she gave me because they are getting a bit threadbare in places.

I almost wrote about how lately I have been missing the idea of Indiana. The days of living near my parents have long passed. And, today, I almost wrote about how I wished I had paid more attention.

mail, shop, snack, repeat

the weekend

*******

thank you so much for your kind comments about my video post. it was such fun! i felt like i really was having a conversation with you all. if you do make the garland, i hope you will let me know...
in the midst of filling a really big custom order of scarves and tote bags, i managed to make a few scarves for the shop. items ordered/shipped by tuesday should get there in time if you still need a handmade holiday gift.
blessings to you all on this late autumn night...

felt circle garland tutorial...and a video post

i have been wanting to create a video blog post for a while now (inspired by donna downey and her delightful posts). so, i decided to create one for the felt circle garland tutorial. even if you don't plan on making the garland (or don't need a tutorial), i thought you might enjoy this little invitation into my home...though i am a tad bit longwinded...sorry about that...i just had so much fun "talking" to all of you out there in blog world!




i mentioned the following blogs/posts/projects in this video post:

alicial paulson and her pom pom and bead garland
sally shim and her linen leaf mobile
anna maria horner's felt garland tutorial via autum (and when i said it didn't require sewing, i totally meant it doesn't require a sewing machine as it does indeed include handsewing)
the little soft trees we made last year

after 6*

*or...what to do when your day has been full of deadlines, holding up the world, feeling overwhelmed, some negativity, and a nice bit of dog vomit for good measure? just curl up with some yarn, a piece of chocolate, and a smodcast...followed by watching "the office" through eyes closed by too much laughter (and a little embarrassment for the characters)...

five (really) good things on december 12

1) laughing until my cheeks hurt so much i have to try to stop laughing in order to stop my cheeks from hurting but instead i just keep laughing some more

2) spending an extra hour in bed with miss millie this morning...she was curled up against me and i think we could have stayed there together all day (i say could because at least one of us, okay both of us, would have whined for breakfast or a bathroom break at some point)

3) really, really soft yarn and the thoughts of the gift it will become

4) listening to frank, bing, doris, and dean sing a few christmas tunes

5) remembering that perfection is really not the goal of it all

what are your five things...go on...think about five really good things about your life...today...we'll wait...

now, please share.

i dare you.

bits of today...

a quick middle-of-the-day post

I want to just say thank you for your comments and emails. Although I haven't had time to reply much lately because I am putting in long days of editing and sewing and crocheting, I just want you to know how much it means to me that you reach across this world to connect with me.

Thank you.

Some answers to a few questions I've received in the comments or by email during these quiet December days:

In the photos of Saturday's post, Jonny and I are making Christmas gifts from thrifted sweaters that I felted. I can't tell you much more as they are gifts, but I hope to share a picture on Christmas Day. All I can say that I was definitely inspired by Alicia and that Jon now knows how to sew buttons onto things. Oh and felting sweaters is my new favorite crafty thing to do. You take a human-size sweater and wash and dry it and before your very eyes it becomes an elf sweater. Just makes me so happy.

Thursday of last week I was sewing together the patchworked fronts of some Selma Scarves. I have a rather large custom order I am finishing this week, so I haven't been able to update the shop much. I do plan to add a few scarves soon.

The top layer I am wearing in these photos is from Old Navy. Rumor has it that its on sale for less that $6 (so if you find a black one in an XL at your Old Navy, will you buy it for me? I will send you money for it and shipping...seriously. updated: thanks kelly!!! you all will see me sporting the black version of this top soon).

The candles we burn throughout our home are from Carla's shop, Zena Moon. They are the best.

And, I know some of you have asked about the circle garland. It really is as easy as it looks. I am going to post a little tutorial later this week in case you want to try it.

Oh and I am totally crocheting a scarf. I made it soooo wide. But I am committed. I plan to finish it in time for it to fly across the country to be a Christmas gift for someone I love dearly.

senses. evening.

{touch}



{smell}



{hear}



{see}



{taste}



{and know}

seeking balance at the end of the day...

(a very full) today