Friday, December 24, 2010

these are few of my favorite things...








and we are off to do more of our favorite things...till the new year, we will have our toes in the sand, wind in our hair, surf under our feet and good friends surrounding us...may your days be filled with love and wonder and hoping your new year brings you more of your favorite things...

go gently and enjoy

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

things that make my heart swell...

today in the sludge and rain i ran out to the end of my driveway, in rubber boots and hooded coat, opened my wee mailbox and lo and behold there was an envelope, a precious gift, completely sent by surprise, and with heartfelt intentions to my doorstep...i ran inside and out of the storm, opened it slowly...because that is the fun in receiving a gift unexpected in the mail...and there in front of me, was a gift of the most wonderous kind. For it was from a long time friend, who's talents amaze me, and she remembered this was so special to me...and will now be for many years to come...i love these women in my life, who bring me back to what matters and remind me of what is true.
thank you my dear.
kz

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

just today...

marching out the door...lovelies destined to arrive as gifts just in time for st. nick... tis the season.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

whilst sitting still...

it is a proven fact that when sitting still, i cannot let my hands be idle.
when i offered to make a wee sweater for my tea pot, well, she was just downright overjoyed, she has, after all, been quite cold of late...and now my tea stays cozy too.
of course cups need to stay warm as well.
felted beads sitting in a bowl just wondering where they would end up found a lovely home on a strand to brighted the wrist of a lucky christmas recipient...and then lastly, a felted flower to adorn one's boring old coat...i love sitting still.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

tis the season....

they say 'tis the season' well, today i was out there in the hussle and bussle and let me tell you that folks are hardly as kind as they could be...lesson to self: it makes one quite simply happy when you let them in on a traffic line (which, i must note, i always do), and to not be so pushy and in a hurry makes folks a wee bit more gentle and kind...let us practice this season...the work of kindness and consideration, of being patient and seeing what is in front of us, instead of forging ahead of it all...may our hearts know that love and family, friendship and peace is what it is all about, not just for this 'season' but for always...
go gently, enjoy and have fun.

ta ta for now, you fine, delightful and kind folk.

Monday, November 29, 2010

i have felt in love...

felting by the christmas tree last night
I have knitted since i was a young girl, taught by my Irish grandmother who would visit sunny California for 6 weeks every year and bring me the most wonderful sweaters, vests (yes, I wore vests back then), hats and mittens. We would sit outside in the sun, or at the kitchen table and knit together, she would fix my mistakes and compliment my work.
I love wool, the smell, texture, working with it, and have been very interested in felting for a long time...so, when this great gal offered up her little workshop, I jumped like a wild banchee.
And well, I have fallen in love with felting and am finding myself thinking of when I can sit down to felt next...

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

quiet breaks...

this is a holiday week for us, all week, and sometimes at times such as these it is nice to have the quiet of home life, little mumbles of conversations in the corner from dolls and lego men, building grand ships and exploring new galaxies, baking cookies and eating them out of the oven, playing games at the table, spreading out on the floor to play together, reading on the couch, starting the making of christmas gifts...
such a warm and cozy time.
It is for these things...and so so many more, I am most thankful.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The Girl Effect: The Clock is Ticking




The Girl Effect is defined as the powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate in their society.

When I was 7 my family moved to Africa...the middle of Africa, that is, to Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic...for a young, blond, California girl this was, to put it mildly, a HUGE shift in culture, language, lifestyle, family life, friends, all around LIFE changes beyond description...I saw things and experienced the raw reality of life, for which I had not been prepared for, no one could prepare me for that type of change.

The open market, unusal foods, shifts in security, I remember being viewed as a very different kind of person, my hair and fair skin was something of an awe-like nature to this culture, it made me feel separated and uncomfortable in a way I could not define at 7....this was to be my life for a few years.

Private French school, arts, education, music, so different from life in So. Cal....and I fit in, but always felt different. All the while, I would see the young African girls, close to my age, walking by and working everyday on the busy road near where we lived, carrying large bundles on their backs and heads, carrying babies, which I thought were brothers and sisters, but now do not know...I had no idea what was happening there at this time and now realize that life in these cultures, does not change or shift too much over time, and so The Girl Effect speaks to me on so many levels and I see this and it touches my soul...I know this to be true, I know it is real...let's make a difference...today.

Here is how you can do something right now: 1. Learn more here.


2. Donate to the cause right now.


Get in the know here.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

around the bend...

on a recent sunny day, this wee family drove down a country road, out of the blue we passed an opening in the brush...
we glanced at each other
'what was that we just saw?
we must go back.'
this is what we found:
crumbling paths from a time long ago...
mosses and lichen of the most wonderous kind...
men connected with the earth.




paths paved by broken down trees,
time, it would seem, had won over here, in the most beautiful of ways.

traveling on still...

up, up further into the hills...
we found the resting places of fairies and gnomes
where they find homes in trees and brush...surrounded by the mystical, the magical.
wee creatures greeted us, then flittered home to be with their loved ones.

we danced...like no one was watching...
because no one was watching.go gently and love the moment.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

in the midst...


in the midst of chaos...i stop and remember the bliss of work, the love of my hands in the soil, the creating of things small and wide, the feel of grapewood in my hands and the connection i have with my work...so, i breathe deeply and stretch my bones, feel the earth under my feet and move onward.

be kind and gentle lovelies.

fun time of year...


it is just plain great to dress up and share in fun and memories...
i downright love this little family of mine.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

truth be...

portion of yard work before....

and ahhhfter...
things don't go as planned...
that is a fact, i know, however, when it hits you in the face and you are reminded at times when something of importance goes awry, well, it does not feel too great, and often causes much distress....i am here to not always write of the lovely and interesting...but, sometimes of the reality that is life and pretty much can throw one for a loop.
so, i think forward to positive results, to moving ahead in a calm and clear manner in order to work through it all.reminder to self: stuff does roll downhill...afterall.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

seeing clearly....

Carly Simon sure had it right when she sang, so many years ago, that she could see clearly now the rain has gone...here in Southern California we have experienced some unusual October weather in the way of lightning storms, thunder and rain...and it is really rather magnificent, to say the least. Everything is green, clean, fresh and feeling fall-like. Our weather changes here are subtle compared to other parts of this country, however, they are all I have known, and it is always refreshing to experience the change in seasons and the shifts into new pockets of the year.
I am seeing more clearly these days, as life takes busy turns with wee ones and their needs and priorities become so clear, and the time spent with them is so important, letting some other things fall to the side is just a natural occurence, of which I accept. I still struggle with the balance of it all, but embrace the resolution of completely being present for them and the attention they require. Around these parts we are shifting and making changes to our living environment and I realize that once you make some choices to move forward, you don't realize how stuck you might have been...now I do. The unstuck feels wonderful, the plans and decisions for our home/yard which FZ and I make together have been overdue and seeing our plans come to life lifts my heart and makes me smile.

On another note, some designs have made their way back from space and have landed on my wee doorstep in the country not far from the sea....soon, to land on a shelf here.

Hope all you little lovelies have a splendid day.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

boy...joy...of my life...


5 years ago in the early morning of October 23, i looked over at FZ and told him it was time to go to the hospital. i had had a great pregnancy, did yoga avidly up until the day before labor, had a fairly quick and smooth delivery and knew that i was having a boy, but when the nurse handed him to me in the delivery room and i looked down at his sweet face, my life was altered and my heart opened and warmed in the most amazing of ways. of course, i knew this feeling from delivering our daughter a few years before, but it is just a little different with each, i suppose. although, what was to happen over the next few days, was something i was in no way, prepared for, nor equipped to deal with...

i have vivid memories of our quiet, calm and peaceful bubble of a room. i remember just him and i sleeping surrounded by the sweet smell of new baby, wrapped like a burrito in that soft stripped blue/pinkish hospital blanket...then him in the bassinet/sleeper next to me, listening to his breath, crying softly out of joy and feeling so connected in every way to my new boy. on the second day in the hospital we were informed that there was an issue with his heart, unsure of the origin of the problem, tests were performed and large machinery wheeled into our previously peaceful room. visits from doctors i had never met, nurses checking in at all hours listening to his heart. i was flown headlong into a place of fear, desperation, disbelief and stress.


we went home, but with no real answers and much uncertainty about the upcoming days/months...he returned at 2 weeks to have his heart procedure performed, and it was a success (for now), no medications required in his life, just follow ups, no real restrictions per say. he is an amazing, beautiful boy, full of all the curiosities and wild indian ways of a wee man...he is constantly amazing us all with his quirky, fun and creative ways. he is a lover of kisses, cuddles and hugs, never holds back on sharing his affections. he looks up to and cherishes his sister (even while chasing her with a sword). he has changed my life, altered my views, caused me some stress and countless sleepless nights, i have experienced emotions and feelings of which i never knew existed. i have come out stronger, more grounded, more aware of the fragility of life, the simple fact that one little moment can truly change your world forever. he has taught me lessons of life that will dwell inside me forever, his being is so amazing, his presence always was meant to be.
i am such a lucky girl.

happy birthday to you, our wonderful boy.

Friday, October 15, 2010

prepping...

around these parts fall is in the air...halloween decorations are up, there is talk of costumes and days are cooler, it has been a little rainy and we are hunkering down inside getting ready for the holidays, making lists of gifts to make by hand, finishing projects and getting ready to start new ones! this is one of my favorite times of the year, traditions and family keep us grounded at times when we need it most...and lately, i have needed it most.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

pull of the tides...

they swim till dark...
fearless and free
crashing into waves with abandon
holding breath
emerging in giggles
watching the other in a silent, secret game
holding sand crabs who tickle their palms
then setting them free...with directions to find their sea families...

pockets of broken shells and rocks mix with wet sand
talking to secret sea monsters living in handmade castles
dragging tails of seaweed up and down the shore
finally too dark for the sea
wrapped in towels
sharing whispers about the fun and adventure of such a day....

Friday, October 8, 2010

spaced out...


some space inspired designs are heading into the shop next week and here are just a few glimpses...

have a lovely weekend...

Thursday, October 7, 2010

the perfect protest

taking part in a protest this week (to be carried on indefinetly) called The Perfect Protest, I just love love this whole concept, and Brene Brown for putting this out into the world to join in. I am embracing my imperfections in all their glory. With everything I have on my plate these days between kids, business, home, life, I find myself thinking that I have to do them all perfectly and appear to have everything all together...when in fact, I don't and that is just fine. I am letting go of so many ties that bind which are bred from the idea of having to be perfect. I am fogiving myself and loving all the imperfections, which in all reality, are me. So I am throwing perfection out the window and bidding it farewell, it was not a welcomed guest and has done no good. No more Mrs. Perfection here!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

lone fisherman...


our wee man sz has taken to fishing...oddly enough, this has not, in the past, been a family sport per se, he became enthralled with this interesting pastime while we were up north on the coast and he met a little guy his age who enjoyed squirrel fishing...yep, tie a carrot on the end, cast off into the bushes and wild yonder and watch the squirrels shoot out of the blue every which way to catch that carrot as it gets reeled in amidst giggles and knee bending laughter...so, upon our arrival home, he wanted a fishing pole of his own, we obliged, with the understanding that anything caught would be returned to it's rightful home.

last weekend while camping, sz made it very clear that surf fishing was going to take place during our trip (and that did not stop being made clear, over and over and over again)...what came about, was quite a interesting surprise for me.
our 4 year old, who by, most counts, just loves to run like a wild indian and holler and hoot, climb on rocks, dig sand moats and do such boy things...however, when he got that bait on his hook and tied on his wee weights with the help of dad, he headed down to the shore alone and there he stayed, calmly, quietly, casting and reeling in amongst the waves and tide, every once in a while looking back when casting so as to make sure no one was walking by he might snag a hook on.
he reminded me of an old soul, still and peaceful and taking it all in, the ocean in all its wonder and enjoying just being on his own, doing his own thing. these little ones surprise in so many wonderful ways, it just never ceases to amaze.

may your day be peaceful and calm, even if it is not at the shore casting your line.