birthday plans - installment no. 2

as with life, the posts on this blog weave through sacred musings, life with a preschooler, and life as an artist.  the way i think and live and move creates a space where these are mingled together, thus, reflections on life and death - liturgical movements - and birthday party plans all together.  i don't think i need to say this if you read my blog with any regularity.  the contrast strikes me particularly this morning.  

a fancy topper for the cake.  

jo, in true self-portrait fashion, with a snazzy 

new fishing pole and happy-to-be-dangling fish.

the strawberry cake. jo's request.  

sipi's strawberry cake from tessa kiros' falling cloudberries.  

the big birthday surprise.  

a jo-jo tent fashioned by mom on a sunday afternoon.  

richard is in charge of finding the suitable sticks for the unit.  

while i created this tent, i used the concept of this tutorial by meg as i processed my design.

ashes, ashes, we all fall down...

there wasn't much talk of ashes in childhood.  i remember feeling really big when i could scrape the ash into the bucket from my grandparents wood-burning heater, which heats the entire house.  that's about all i knew of ashes, certainly not of any religious use of ashes or deep meaning attributed to wearing them.  ash wednesday has become a very significant pause in the liturgical year.  as i assisted in planning and then helped lead the service at my church, i was given the opportunity i love:  to create meaningful spaces in worship.  as i held my vessel, created during worship as a reflection, and watched the procession to receive their ashes, i honored those i presented with ashes last year, but who are not living this ash wednesday.  i mark my grief for these special people now at peace.  while a chaplain in 2008 working at an assisted living - nursing care - specialized dementia care facility, i walked the building an presented ashes after our service totaling around 300 folks (residents, staff, and family & visitors).  so many people to mark & remind that we are dust and to dust we shall return.  a holy moment.  a treasured moment.  and as barbara said in her sermon last night, lent is a time to give meaning to God and to create meaning in our daily moments -- in new ways.  we already create and attribute meaning in our lives (we hope). during lent, beginning ash wednesday, we seek to structure some new addition to our existing spirituality or new form of devotion into our days so that we create a new way of being.  some choose to give up certain foods--sweets, carbonation, meat, caffeine.  whether you take on a new habit, give up an old habit, or a combination of both, may lent be a reflective time - a time of preparation - a time to pause.  

my first year of seminary, lo those eight years ago, was marked on ash wednesday by a gift from a good friend & professor.  i don't remember the reason for the gift, but i remember the moment.  i remember the mark of that gift.  

tonight our bereavement group gathers to reflect on the too real thought of ashes.  tears, laughter, and a moment marked that forever changes one's life.  

remember that you are a gift, dear reader.  take a deep breath.  mark each moment, some through goodness and sharing and a pause.  

birthday plans - installment no. 1

hello.  hello.  do you like my hat?  why yes, i do, i like that party hat.

printable coloring sheets as party favors from little brown pen's shop.

one, two, THREE...

someone in our home is turning three so, so soon!  as we prepare to celebrate his day, i wanted to share some of the makings in the works.  

i've admired waldorf dolls since before jo was born.  i'm attempting one (or two) this week using this tutorial as a base:  Handcrafted Doll Tutorial!!!!

i've made the birthday felt crowns for jo and his buddy, finishing them today.  they're cute, too.  how fun.  jo has talked about his experience in our church's telling of the birth of jesus since he was a "king" a.k.a. magi.  to make yours, follow this crown tutorial from balancing everything.  mine is waldorf inspired, but again, the tutorial used as a base design + to examine the process.  little red caboose has some for sale in her adorable etsy shop (along with some really cute matryoshka dolls *love* + picnic placemats *genius* + more sweet finds.) 

our theme this year is "fishing" as jo loves to fish.  the concept is simple, though i'll bet one can get carried away.  party prep pictures + posts to come.  expect: handmade party favor bags, cupcake toppers, and the party itself.  

we love our little one.  it's hard to believe that he's only three...and that he's as old as three!  each day with him is a joy.  we hope to create special memories of his birthday and happy times in these days that we're together.  may you create special days for yourself and those you meet.  cheers!

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

what a wonderful red coat!  just what i've been looking for!  take a peak at her wonderful photography, too!  

peace.

obama art - to mark, to remember, to celebrate

on inauguration day an image came to mind.  throughout the morning, filled with the excitement and anticipation of new birth and hope, i pictured a horizon. over the horizon great light and color, while under the horizon more color and depth in the land.  the "O" that the circle created stood for none other than Obama and the hope and new birth of his presidency was only a part of the picture.  the impending birth of young juila, the little bird, was on my mind as well.  so many were filled with hope and joy during the inauguration.  my husband reminded me for as many of us hope-filled folks, there were as many (or perhaps less) filled with uncertainty and fear.  i believe President Obama (yes, it still feels good to say!) will come full-circle for many.  i believe that trust can lead to reconciliation on many fronts.    

one of my most emotion-filled moments was of reverend joseph lowery's benediction.  the great mother posted it in its entirety on her blog.  you can also find it from the Associated Press, among other postings.  i knew from an earlier interview on npr that his voice alone would inspire and that he would present a thoughtful prayer i would appreciate.  what i did not know is how thought-filled his poetry to the divine would be.  i aspire to create such goodness in my prayers, and his sing-song prayer is worth aspiring to.  more than that, i loved his incorporation at the end of the prayer of a favorite scripture from micah 6:8.  that scripture became a mantra for our old testament/hebrew scriptures class in seminary.  

the words of hebrew scripture from reverend lowery made this image even more meaningful to me.  what a gift.  i hope that you remember 1.20.2009 as an awe-inspiring, hope-filled day - whether today or in the years to come.  peace.

the work of our hands - mixed media with children

among groups i lead in congregations, i most recently added this hands project to my repertoire.  school aged children worked on this piece in a couple of phases.  each painted on the canvas without abandon.  i loved watching them move so quickly to the brushes and lavish paint upon the canvas.  sometimes i wish i could use color in such a natural way, without over thinking the process.  after hearing the liturgical texts from psalm 147 & mark 1:29-39, we talked about the ways in which we use our hands, focusing on their church life.  they used this discussion as inspiration to create block prints.  we printed.  they printed.  they had a blast. after drying, i cut the hands and played with placement.  each group i lead will lend itself to a different image, with the similar inspiration.  i love the hands of these children.  it's so vibrant and full of life.  

written around the outer edge of the canvas:  

wellspring of life. tree of life. source of love.  

may you bless the wonderful work  of our hands. 

inspiration

whew.  i don't know how much more i can take.  today i had a trim...much needed, i might add. becky always makes me sing.  i love what she does to my long strands.  sweet.  then i was introduced to a couple of new folks online. first, lenka, a talented & artsy singer/songwriter i've enjoyed listening to while doing some writing today.  i know i've heard her music before, and i'm really enjoying the rest.  

second, i've enjoyed -rather- savored the online "journal" of liturgical works of caroline rutledge armijo, a d.c. based artist i was connected to this past weekend.  her work is beautiful.  i'm truly in awe.  she will be participating in our upcoming festival of word, table, and image on may 1st. more to come, but mark your calendars for richmond, va on may 1, 2009!  be sure to check out these groovy ladies.  so much talent!

wren - in a box

here's the shadow box that i used to create a special piece of wall art for the amazing & talented divinitygirl, a kindred spirit & ycw friend in tennessee.  she has her sweet second, wren.  when she shared his name, i immediately knew i wanted to create something with one of my "suzanne trees" as divinitygirl named it with a bird.  i made the bird by hand stitching, using some sweet fabrics from the recent fabric swap.  the background fabric is a robert kauffman purchased at fleur fabrics. 

i love it!  too sweet.  it's fun to think of different ways of celebrating all these births!   enjoy!