Putting It Out There

Just a quick post to let you know that you can expect to see my art at the Midday Deli (Indianapolis) this February, Lulu's Electric Cafe (Indianapolis) in March, and in Beanzies (Avon) NEXT February. I am finally getting my artwork out there!

Late Bloomer

I've always been a bit of a late bloomer. I hit puberty later than my friends; I was slow on the uptake for the latest fashions (some might say I still am); I fell in love with softball too late for it to benefit me in college. Lately I am finding myself, finally, utterly and desperately in love with being Mamma. We're seven years into this thing called parenthood. Why on earth did it take this long?

Nevertheless, there it is: I love motherhood. I love homemaking to be quite honest. I always thought it was this horribly oppressed state of womanhood, but really, I love the idea of being able to care for my family, keep them healthy and happy. I keeps me healthy and happy too. Odd. I've been thoroughly enjoying this knitting; I love canning and putting by the food from our garden; and I love, love, love gardening. I've been getting the seed/plant order ready this week and I am almost drooling with the possibilities.

It's no secret that I've been thinking about another baby. To tell the truth, we probably couldn't afford it and we would have to seriously retool the retirement plan. And I keep trying to remind myself how hard it was and how tired we were. But even so, the idea is appealing to me in a way I never thought possible. Funny how life throws those "nevers" back in your face. And when you'd least expect it.

For now I'm going to enjoy being Mamma. I want to live in the moment as much as possible and be mindful of how much I am enjoying this moment. Who knows when it will come back around.

Moving Ahead

I'm not sure if it's the elation of having a new president, or the competition I feel with a good friend of mine (her business is always moving and grooving), but I am putting the wheels in motion to get my art out there. I'm not sure where it's going to land, but I have at least 3 places in the works and hopefully I'll be in touch with some more. I'd like to be showing it by February, but I have no idea how realistic that goal is (having never displayed my work anywhere other than an art show). If you are aware of any venues that may be showing local artwork, I'd love to know about them. After all, there's no time like to present!

(truth be told, it's terrifying me to do this.)

O44

Progress

I started this poncho Thursday. I thought casting on 369 stitches was going to do me in! And since then, I've had to redo the first 4 inches 3 times! I think I finally have it going though. I'm feeling pretty good about it, but it is definitely going to take some time to complete. Not exactly a scarf. Oh, and speaking of the scarf, it looks great. Thought I'd give you a peek at that too. The snow makes this whole knitting thing especially appealing. 

Overachiever

I love this knitting thing! I finished two scarves last week, and now I have decided to tackle a poncho. I fell in love with is as soon as I saw it. It's totally me. It's not exactly a beginner's project, but I feel confident that I can do it. I'll post photos when it's done. 

Unschooling

I've been battling with my child's school for the past 5 months. I realize that I am not the average parent, nor is my child the average student. Not by a long shot. He's spacey, and energetic, and smarter than the average bear, and a perfectionist - all rolled up into a lovable and amazing little package. But convention, and a bureaucratic teaching philosophy, don't exactly see him that way.

I am truly at my wits end with conventional school. I'm done. It's not working for my child. And I can't stand to watch what it does to him every evening: the tears, the grind of the work, the hours it takes to cajole an idea from him that he thinks the teacher will accept. And as if that's not enough, we've reached a new low - today he didn't even want to go to school. He's seven. It's simply unacceptable that a kid as bright and as curious as mine is dreading the place where learning is supposed to be happening. 

I want to "unschool" him. It's a philosophy that's been around since the 70s, promoted by John Holt. Truth be told, it is my philosophy of education. It's the philosophy under which I was raised, but as a people-pleasing child, school didn't beat me to death in the process.

I'm ready to jump in and do it, but the other adults in our family have concerns. They are very valid concerns, mind you, and I can be an impulsive person. But I am not sure I can agree with them this time. I feel trapped in a nether-land and hate, hate, hate watching my child loose his enthusiasm for what has been labeled learning. It's just not a benign decision to wait and watch what happens.

Gone Crazy?

So I am all about the knitting. I love it. In fact, I am embarrassed to say, I finished my scarf yesterday and had time to crochet these adorable slippers today. I get an idea and I become obsessed. Lord help me. I am so grateful for grandmom's yarn supply. I would not have been able to whip these up with out it. They're a little off beat aren't they? I love 'em!

Being Mama

I've been bitten lately by the Mama bug. I really love being mama. And if I may say so, my kid is AWESOME. Some of the things that have driven home that point lately are:

• Hayes asking me to knit him a scarf too, but in red (of course)
• Being asked to put together his newest, coolest legos with him
• Planning the garden together - we'll be buying praying mantises for Hayes this year
• Snuggling in bed on Saturday morning he turned to me and said, "I've been loving on dad, now it's time to love on you."
• His promise that he would help me do grandma's laundry every Saturday if she moved into assisted living
• Listening to his jokes and rating which ones are "keepers"
• Driving all the way to Carmel tonight just to get pillow - his lovey - and upon returning home I got the biggest hug in thanks.

It just doesn't get any better than this.

Throwback

On new year's day I was sitting around chatting with my friend Elaine (who took this terrific photo) and found myself happily enrolled in a knitting class. We started yesterday, and all I can say is, I might be addicted. I walked into the yarn shop and felt myself immediately relax. Perhaps it was because the temperature outside was a mere 15 degrees and all that wool made me feel so cozy. But I would venture to guess that it was all the fluffy yarn and the comfy armchairs and the beautiful wooden needles that did the trick. And when they took my skein and rolled it with this crazy contraption - I wanted to burst. How is it that I didn't know this haven existed!?!

Of course my first project is a scarf - garter stitched, but I think I am really getting the hang of it. And of course, I am already dreaming of fabulous sweaters and fingerless gloves and piles of warm cozy socks. I haven't even mastered the purl stitch yet. I could be getting ahead of myself. I love this stuff!

Creative New Year

Getting laundry done in this creative new year has proved a bit harder than I would have liked. Ditto for going through the mail.

New Canvas - Rita Hayworth

So here is the latest from Mon Ami. It's the first in a series of "Paper Dolls".

Into My Life A Little Snow Must Fall

Latest "All About Me" layout:

Bath Time

Thanks to a fabulous teleclass with a hip tranquil chick, I decided to take a bath tonight. It was sheer bliss!

I've been working for several months now at making my tub a sanctuary. I have finally achieved it. Richard bought me a beautiful candle chandelier to hang over the tub and I found these sensational mercury glass candlesticks (on sale!) that fit my Paris theme perfectly. I propped them on the side of the tub. The candle light is the only light there is. And I installed some lovely damask curtains that make the entire space completely private. Throw in some lavender bath salts from California, a little bubble bath and one of these other-worldly candles and you have sheer bliss.

Note to self: must schedule more bath time.

Play Date

Today I had the most marvelous play date with a 9-year-old friend; thanks miss C! We began altering a journal together. It was so fun to rummage through all my bits and bobs and listen to her ideas for items and pages. I hope we get to do it again real soon.

Creating Again

I don't know if it's the new year, or that I signed up for a knitting class, or that I spent much of December making pettiskirts for my nieces (a task I would NOT recommend unless you are an expert sewer with serious sewing equipment), but I am back in the swing of the studio; the messy side. It's rather exciting for me. It's been a while.

I am working on an idea that's been floating around the studio for months and I finally decided to grab it and put it to canvas. I'll post a photo when it's finished. For now, here's a little teaser:


The working title is "paper dolls". Thanks to a dear friend (love you, A!) I have some seriously cool vintage paper dolls to work with. I am very happy with the piece so far, but each stage brings its doubts with it. Funny how projects can be so fickle. Some just fly together and others come together despite themselves.

I am also hoping to display my current works at a local coffee shop sometime this year. We'll see, but again, I am hopeful. Refreshing how a new year can infuse that sort of spark one needs to get off her tired ass and start working again. And it doesn't feel like work - yet. Let's see how long that will last.

New Year's Hopes & Dreams

I'm not too big on the whole New Year's Resolutions. I mean, "resolution" sounds to hard-edged, and mechanical. I'm more of a "hopes & dreams" kinda girl. So here they are, my hopes and dreams for 2009:

• to be more spiritual this year; tuned in to the natural world and the supernatural world, and ready for deep conversation, and life-changing moments.
• to be more creative; not afraid to take my art in new directions, or to see my art through in this same direction, open to new artistic and creative opportunities.
• to see and experience new things: places, foods, crafts, plants, the unknown.
• to be more mindful of my relationships, especially my family. I've taken those relationships for granted for far too long. I want to protect and nurture them this year.