I Just "Go Back"

In my mind, I go to healing places.

Mountains, waterfalls, hot springs, rivers, lakes...

When I take these mental vacations I soak up the healing, the energy and the essence

And let them fill my heart and float out the pain and emptiness

Don't Give Your All

Thinking about things recently, I saw a picture of my physical self leaning against the stump of a tree - my spiritual self - just like in "The Giving Tree" at the end. I realized that even though I try so very hard to preserve my energy and take care of my physical needs so that I have more "good days" - I have become very depleted on the inside. Picturing my spiritual energy as nothing but a stump was stunning, thought provoking, and it felt just as sad as the end of  "The Giving Tree." Then I realized - every time the Tree gives of herself something inside me screams "NO!" "Don't do it!!" because we all know what happens when she  gives - more is asked. The gifts freely given are never enough.

So now the new challenge - when you find yourself empty, when you feel you have given all you have, how do you refill? You can't just pull up to a spiritual gas pump, now can you? You can't have someone else fill your emptiness.

It isn't lack of fulfilling activities, it isn't lack of recognition or appreciation... 

Baby Armadillo

Baby armadillo was in the Etsy shop a short time, and now she is on her way to Germany. She has a lovely new home and I suspect she will be very happy there. Check out pictures of her packaging on my FB page. All of my projects are creatively wrapped, and can be sent directly to the recipient as a gift. I enjoy coming up with new and different ways to wrap each one.

E-Course Coming in January - Register now!

I met Jeanne Oliver in Colorado shortly after she was featured in Artful Blogging, a magazine published by Interweave. She is such a sweet mom and a terrific artist, you should really check out her website and sign up for her collage course. She has collage photos posted and they are AWEsome! I just can't wait for the class!

Check it out!

Finally

Pey's dragon is done! Shipped- mailed- sent - DONE! This one took me a while to figure out. My first head was huge - way too big to think about a body to fit. The second head was better, and I did finish the body. Then the wings, the scallops along the spine, the flames for the ears, nose and mouth. Next time, I will make the body more streamlined. The puppet application worked well and I like how the wings came out. I used "horsehair" stiffener in the ridges of the wings and crocheted around the edges to help the shaping.

I stuffed BeDraggled with poly-fill and then took out most of it. I left some in the head and along the back of the body to disguise the puppet aspect a bit.

BeDraggled is made with both knit and crochet, and the yarn I started with didn't match the yarn I ended with, exactly, but I still think it came out well in the end. I added two feet, but decided to let Pey's hands be the hands.

Can't wait to get pictures of the dragon in action!

Flight and Vision

Birds of Prey - I don't think of them as predators. I think of them as Fliers - with their gliding wings spread, riding thermals, going up and up, coasting down. I think of their incredible vision, their almost infinite ability to focus on tiny creatures far far away.
I connect to them in spiritual ways, how they were created to trust their wings, their instincts, their sight. How they are equipped for everything they need to complete their life tasks, how they soar through their lives never thinking about how or why - and yet they always seem to "know" everything.

I love how they look, love their sharp piercing talons and beaks.

And I love how they pose for me - just for me - because they know my ancestors revered them and honored them as I do.

Change

I suppose some people like change, maybe even enjoy it. Some of us hate it and fight it kicking and screaming, even when we know it is needed. I'm definitely in the latter category. Never enjoyed change much. I did like moving to Colorado, and I have enjoyed many of my multiple career changes.

I didn't much like moving back to Texas, though. When I left Texas, I bled lone stars and red/white/and blue. But after ten years in Colorado, I think I bleed gold circles surrounded by a red C on a field of blue and white. Texas will always be my country of origin, but I believe Colorado will always have a hold on my heart.

Leaving Colorado, I left a family that I dearly miss. While I think things are better for all of us this way, I never stop missing people and places there.

Looking back at things I feel a sense of sadness and loss, but I know time will heal many wounds. I hope it heals them all.