Monday, December 29, 2014

ice cold moonday



I drew from the light of the moon and the stars and the sun while stitching December's moondala -- #12 of my monthly dye & stitch ritual, named 13 moondalas. Each mandala is made with eco-dyed wool -- this one's black background is from a garden mint/iron water dye-bath but I don't remember the source of color for the beige moon. Anything having to do with plants needs to be written down, I really do know better.

It's been snowing on and off the past few days. I went outside to look for a glimpse of green but the only bit to be seen was in the strand of cloth chickens. After a minute or so, I decided to settle for the green inside the house instead. I'm loving this rhipsalis plant rooting in the bottle -- strange-looking, isn't it?

I just finished reading The Signature of All Things -- the plant descriptions, especially of moss, were fascinating and the characters eccentric, but hey aren't we all when you get down to it, so those parts I liked. I'm not quite sure what else to say about the book yet -- it's too soon -- it always grieves or maddens me when a good story ends before I'm ready. So that probably means a thumb's up.

Today is a waxing moonday in Aries. As the moon continues growing into fullness over this next week, we carry on, too -- developing and bringing things to fruition. I'm making lists and thinking about what my next full moon art ritual might be. Savoring this time.  

I wish you a happy week, wherever you are and however you welcome the New Year. It is ice cold here. xo




Tuesday, December 23, 2014

december patterns


Every December I take photos of at least one sunrise -- I just realized that. Like a moth in darkness, I know I'm not the only one fluttering around the precious light. More strings of lights have been hung in this house this year than in a long time and thank goodness for the kind that come with timers now.

Every December I start craving fresh greens to eat and green threads to stitch. I would be a very good candidate to have a little greenhouse -- just big enough to grow lettuces in. I realized the easiest way to wash and dry lettuce is to trim off the bottom but still keep the bunch together while holding it under the faucet -- then pop into a container where the water just runs off, the same as it does when lettuce grows in soil.

And every December, the snowflake curtains are hung, to remain until winter is over. This is their fifth year, the best paper thing I've ever made.

I'm recognizing patterns, both intrinsic and extrinsic, in my life. It might be a good way to simplify and do what's truly meaningful in the future.

Thanks for visiting -- I wish you Peace in the changing Light! xo

Monday, December 15, 2014

glitter house moonday


Glitter houses were our Thanksgiving craft this year, I only just finished mine. I pretty much love anything to do with houses.

We used paper mache boxes in the shape of a house, some were pretty rough so that made it all the more interesting. There are six other sparkling, colorful, charming houses that my family made but the photos didn't come out well enough to do them justice.

Today is a waning moonday in the sign of Libra. Love, beauty, balance and fairness are all aspects of Libra. The Libra way is a pathway to finding (or simply noticing) those qualities.

Yuletime is a season that seems to ask a lot from us. Each year, my priorities get straightened out a little bit more. What was important last year might not be this year and expectations of myself get pared down too. But it's still a bit much. This list came by email this morning from Colette Baron-Reid and I think it's a good one.

 1. Be grateful
 2. Be thoughtful
 3. Be compassionate to yourself and others
 4. One is enough and if that isn't true for you, abstain altogether
 5. No is an excellent word, use it
 6. Being present with someone you love is the best present of all to give them
 7. Make a daily self-care plan and stick to it
 8. Stay connected to like-minded others
 9. Meditate meditate meditate and breathe breathe breathe
10. Never compare yourself
11. Manage your relationships -- you and Spirit, then you and you, and you and others
12. If you do all of the above, then you have this truth to look forward to -- miracles can and do                 happen

To the beauty way. xo

Monday, December 8, 2014

moonday beeing


Today is a waning crescent moonday in Cancer. It's time for my monthly sewing ritual -- each month around the full moon, I begin assembling and stitching a tiny 4" mandala on home-dyed wool. This one is a beige moon on a black background dyed with garden mint and iron water. I didn't label the beige and now I've totally forgotten what plant produced its color. I'm sure I was sure I'd never forget.

The silk organza on the moon is also from the mint and iron water dye-bath. It may or may not be part of the finished moondala.

Even though I've been eyeing it lately, I couldn't bear to cut up the beautiful vintage table linen from Sandi M. quite yet -- monochromatic colors of cloth and stone with a touch of color are a very good vibe now. I'm trying to recreate this peaceful combination throughout the house wherever I can.

The moon's waning phase is always a good time to let go -- to relax and sink back into ourselves. I'm staying close to home, like our honeybees who only venture out when the temperature is above 43 degrees F.

Stitched a couple more lines on we are all here -- I love doing this. See you if the temperature gets above 43.


Monday, December 1, 2014

a moonday sheet of cloth


December 1. It is now that I feel like lighting candles again, even in the daytime. It is now when flower bouquets seem to last so very long. And it is now that I need small projects to keep me grounded.

The first line on the sheet of cloth is something I found myself thinking today, I really don't know why. Possibly all the figures on my sewing table or maybe I'm still feeling the love from Thanksgiving, or it could be all of us here on Earth right now. Whatever, it is a beginning and I am looking forward to filling the page.

Today is a waxing moonday -- it is now that we begin or continue to carefully tend the seeds we have imagined into being.

Grow, baby, grow.