Me Musing . . . February 1, 2009 . . .

If you recall back on December 30th (which now seems a loooong time ago!) I wrote that I was going to follow Martha Ringer's idea from her book 'Complete. Done. Finished. The Joy of Doing, the freedom when done' of "Taking an idea you like and do it consistently for 32 days in a row. If you miss a day, start the count over at one until you have 32 days of doing a new behavior." and "Each day is like a surprise delivery of the unexpected!"

Well . . . I began back then and my 32nd day was January 29th. During that time I found that I loved the new routine I had set out for myself of: awaken, bathe, eat, 'creative journal' (which meant a new journal) and then begin the day. Looking at emails would be better done in the late afternoon as a kind of 'break' from my creative routine.

My creativity felt that it opened more and more, I was happier most of the day and felt really ALIVE!

A few times I thought of writing on this page; but then just went right back to what I was exploring and creating, not wanting to spend much time on the computer! I did make a few notes and take some photos, so hopefully I can sketch some of it together for you now.

The first of the year, my artist friend Iona in Virginia Beach, Virginia sent along the link for her 2009 'Forecast'. I always enjoy the insights she has so I made these notes for myself from the writing:

~ Relax enough to open and participate in the activity of receiving
~ MONEY: My Own Natural Energy Yield
~ Sense of being in the 'right place' as indicator
~ Willing to remain focused on (you fill in the blank)
~ Be expectant
~ Slow, deliberate moment by moment advance in direction you have chosen
~ Patiently allow ideas and inventions to flow
~ Let all things be exactly as they are!
~ Have confidence in seeds planted in 2008
~ Live so you enhance the environment in which you dwell
~ Improve your world view ('Creative Blogs' add to this me thinks: people from around the world 'visiting' each others' virtual studios!)
~ Remember: 'This too shall pass'
~ Experience the relaxed quality of this 'waiting year'
~ 2009, a Calming Year
~ Allow unity and fellowship to germinate
~ Mantra: 'Rest and let it be' . . .
~ Gratefulness = Great-filled-ness
~ Discover what 'settles' you
~ Fold this 'rest and let it be' into your active life'
~ Relinquish your hold ~ 'patient surrender'
~ Belong to your Self
~ Prepare for an infusion of Inner Self!
~ BE that which you enjoy!

After reading those and adding them to my 32-day Journal in the Magical box, I found that all of a sudden I wanted to change the photograph I had hanging over the bathtub!

I dug out the hand-made paper Kollage over watercolour I had done back about 2003 after reading the book, 'The Red Tent'.

I liked the idea of soaking in the tub while 'soaking in' any messages or ideas that entering into the Red Tent gave me.

I also began to notice around the house and in my fabric how much I liked the colours of 'green tea' and 'pomegranate' as well as other green veggies and fruit! The phrase 'going green' took on a whole new meaning!

A favorite hand-made tea cup
displayed on the barnwood shelves

More pomegranate and green . . .
my favorite new shoes of soft leather
(YES! I have two of each!)

I also began a 'Design Journal' in a 12 x 18 newsprint pad. I didn't need to re-invent the wheel, just find photos of styles I like and allow the new ideas to blossom!

One of the ideas that floated by was making a 'Whereabouts Jacket'. I'll write more about that another time, but so far have made two of them as gifts!

I silk-screened some hand-made paper as I wanted to try weaving it into fabric.

Then I cut it into strips. rolled it up and wove
it with fabric I plan to use for a pocket

The dark rolls at top right are
the paper

Moving right along!

One of the things I noticed during that 32-day period:

what used to be . . .

~ effort . . . became . . . Effortless!

~ conquest . . . became . . . Communion

~ balance . . . became . . . Grace

The rhythm of two becoming one

My favorite 'happening' was one morning deciding I would call the Museum Store in Eugene where I had gotten some Japanese tea bowls in late June. They came in sets of 5 and I wanted another set of my two favorites.

These are very 'Wabi Sabi'

This set has a charcoal coloured matt finish on outside
and lime green crackle finish on the inside

The head of the gift shop answered and asked if I could send her a photo just to be sure she was talking about the same sets I was. She emailed back and said 'we had just gotten our shipment in and 20 minutes before you called I priced the new things and was just ready to put them out on display! I can't believe you are ordering those two sets . . . as we have had them on order and this is the first time we have received them since summer!!!!!!!!!'

Live so you enhance the environment in which you dwell !

This morning I got an email from my friend Connie with this 'game':

~ Grab the book nearest* you. RIGHT NOW!

~ Turn to page 56.

~ Find the fifth sentence.

~ Post that sentence along with these instructions on your Blog.

*Don't dig for your favorite book . . . grab the book that is closest to where you are right now.

The book that was sitting right here next to my keyboard is called '2121, the textile vision of Reiko Sudo and Nuno'. It has some text, but mostly wonderful photos of Japanese textiles. Page 56 was an incredible photo of scrunched, embellished fabric. It will certainly start the 'creative ions' moving again!

Well . . . the timer just rang, so the pumpkin coloured raw silk that I hand painted last night just for fun should be done steaming now (to set the colour).

P.S . . . I decided that rather than continue with a 32-day journal or 'by the month' journal that I would once again follow the lunations of the moon. According to Iona's writing, January 26-February 23rd is the Second Lunation: The Renewal Moon.

I'm already well into it!

Until soon,

Che'usa

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