be do have: 2010

8/26/10

Do.

Last weekend my dear Aunt and Uncle celebrated their 30th anniversary along with their friends Chris and Patty. Two 30th anniversary's on the same day, it was quite a celebration! I was happy to contribute by creating the signs/banners, vintage flower vases and flower arrangements. Congrats Dave and Andrea, your love is an inspiration!

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8/25/10

Do.

Someday a barn equaling a wood workshop (for Carl, although I will sneak in and use it...often), an art studio (for me!), a garage (for cars and trucks) and an apartment (for all you guests) will be here. But before it is build and the creativity unleashed a lot must happen including taking down trees and leveling the land. I am very excited to say the least.

3/25/10

3/22/10

2/19/10

Grey, cold and windy today. Went out on Forrest Lake, it was my first time out on a frozen lake. I had heard that people drive their trucks out on it as well, but was glad not to see any today. Captured a few ice fishing shacks. Peeked inside and they were decked out with stoves, heaters and every fishing tool possible. It struck me that these were the grown man version of little forts we would build as children.

2/15/10

Do.

Completed my first project from a book my sister-in-law gave me for Christmas. It's called Last Minute Knitted Gifts. The more I knit, the faster I get, the better projects are looking and my hands aren't hurting as much. I have to remind myself when I start new hobbies that most likely my first projects will probably not turn out like I would want. Its hard for me
sometimes to not get discouraged, those first few months or even years when I try something new. I guess its a blind crafty faith, to know in the midst of the finishing the mitten that is so tight it feels like my bones are going to break, that things will be different and even better to more I practice and work at something.

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2/11/10

In the absence of a "one and only" in my life I am grateful to share love with many in my life.

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1/30/10

Be. mystery.

Last night when I saw the moon out my window I felt compelled to try and capture it.

Later that night I learned that this, the first full moon of the year, was going to be the closest to the earth and brightest of the entire year. The Native Americans call it Wolf Moon.

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1/29/10

I've been experimenting with new etsy shop products. Here are a couple of prototypes.

So many ideas, so much time, so little excuses.

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1/24/10

Have

In sticking with the theme of be • do • have, I labeled this post "have" yet I know I do not own the

changing landscape that I see every day.

Yet this is the experience that I am having, and although my life, like others, has had its unexpected
twists and turns I am sure that my being who I am and doing what I've done has brought me to this
place.

In my imperfection, I am humbled and awestruck by the effortless beauty of nature around me.

1/19/10

To say I am behind on my Christmas gifts is an understatement.

Today I completed a little purse made of upholstery binding material.

Also a little needle felted chick with one big foot that will accompany a donation to the heifer project to purchase little chicks.

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1/17/10

Do.

Today I went out in the not-so-cold of 33 degrees. It was perfect for my first time snowshoeing.
Its too easy for me to hole myself up in my studio and for the last few weeks that's what I've done.

My dad got me outside and I am grateful, it was beautiful and bright, surrounded by snow.

Tomorrow we are going on a group snowshoe adventure. Hope to get some good photos to share.

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1/14/10

I started re-reading Byron Katie's book "A Thousand Names For Joy: Living in harmony with the way things are".

"The litmus test for self-realization is a constant state of gratitude. This gratitude is not something you can look for or find. It comes from another direction, and it takes you over completely. It's so vast that it can't be dimmed or overlaid. The short version would be "mind in love with itself." ....When you live your life from that place of gratitude you've come home."

This passage struck me and I haven't read beyond it yet. Just attempting to feel it and be it. At this point I feel like I have to consciously think about being grateful, it doesn't always or even frequently come naturally for my mind to be filled with gratitude. Her words make sense to me though. To have gratitude be something that takes me over completely as a part of my living and breathing would be humbling. In expressing "mind in love with itself", although challenging, I understand the benefit of loving all of the directions my mind goes even though it can also take me to not so nice places. Ahhh, the classroom of life, it keeps me on my toes.

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Today I received my goals and intentions kit that I found at Jessica Gonacha's etsy shop. She is so talented.
I love her patterns and illustrations so it is twice as inspiring to use this kit to focus on my creative aspirations for the coming year.

She also is a part of the website Spring Inspiration which I highly recommend checking out.

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