life stories: a retreat among my people.

i am among my people and i am enjoying each step, each moment. i miss my boys, but in my bones i know that i am where i am called to be in this moment. i've been so engaged: visually, intellectually, spiritually. it's sacred space. i share with you images and a few more words of this shared story:

in the space: our logo.

in worship: hands at work in the process of creation.

she has a place. the logo i carved on a mug.

i love, love holding her with something warm inside.

in worship: the light that burns.

in this place: i feel like God is feeding her chickens. i'm absorbing each sacred morsel.

i also love that the largest collection of john august swanson is here

at emory in the candler school of theology. sacred work.

opening doors. i use the same doodles. we tap into the creative spirit,

the creative flow in and among us.

a space in the chapel: the altar. lovely.

in the chapel: color and wax. these colors move me.

life stories: a day at the beach.

if only every day could be a day at the beach.

sand play fun (taken on hipstamatic for iphone).

a sweet friend's cute little toes in the sand.

(taken on shakeit for iphone).

sweet sandy fingers and toes.

(taken on camerabag for iphone).

and a taste of a little more diggin in the sand. a delightful day together.

(taken on hipstamatic for iphone).

simple moments. treasured moments. shared among friends and the imaginative spirit.

in the studio: works in process

aah. printing a freshly completed block print.

a prayer for a fertile land. ©suzanne l. vinson, 2010.

canvases in three sizes in process. each contain a layer of acrylic paints.

atop that vintage laces & one with layered ink drawings. more to come...

two more canvases containing the base layer of acrylic paints and an additional layer of vintage lace. the lace adds such a lovely element. i could stop here and enjoy these, but they are on a journey. more to come...

tree of life: celebration.

tree of life: celebration. here are a couple of new pieces completed recently that are now available at the Farmer's Market or one of these days if they make it onto Etsy. so much of what i create ends up leaving my hands to the market and then travels to a happy home before the online shop ever sees it. if you see something you like, let me know & i'll put in that extra effort of uploading. i love creating these, especially the custom additions that are requested. makes it so much fun aiming to please others. enjoy!

life stories: summer days of food

here's a small taste of some of what's been cookin' in our kitchen:

we are a people of good eats. we three love growing, cooking, and eating food. my sweet one helped this week with some yummy french toast sandwiches. these are filled with cream cheese, dipped in local eggs & fried in butter. all in moderation.

Cream Cheese Filled French Toast Sandwiches

*based on tasty treats at a B&B in Floyd, VA we once stayed with good friends for their wedding.

to make: cut your day old bread into slices. (i use our daily bread.) crack a couple of eggs in a dish, whisk & grate nutmeg into the eggs. (you can add cream if you like them a little fluffy.)

combine in a bowl: mix together 4 oz. cream cheese, 1/2 tsp. butter at room temp, a tsp. or two of powdered sugar, freshly ground cinnamon. (you can adjust the amounts according to your preference. sometimes i add jam or vanilla depending on my desire.)

spread your cream cheese between 2 slices of bread, dip into the egg mixture, & place in a buttered (or nonstick) pan that's been heated well. cook on both sides & eat while hot. these are fantastic with ginger syrup.

jo taking a picture of the process.

red cabbage, garlic scapes, & spring onions cut & prepared for slaw. i had to capture

the great colors with the morning light streaming onto the dish.

the father's day weekend blueberry pie, made for my one-and-only-true-love, who i consider a joy and a gift. i've fallen for him all again with our good summer time together: makes a world of difference. my spirit is renewed and my love grows. he's getting the royal treatment between this pie, baklava, and other homemade goodness to come.

indeed: we love our time together eating, storytelling, and laughing. all in good measure, all becoming good food for the soul.

life stories: summer painting

we share many moments together, especially these days. in these creative moments together, we three shared some painting time. joseph worked on father's day gifts (in the mail!), an uncle's birthday gift, and some other treasures. he loves painting, like many of us, young and younger alike.

photos taken with Hipstamatic for iphone.

we treasure our time together. i attempt to treat each moment with reverence and awe, with presence and awareness, mindful of the moments that will soon pass. i treasure the moments i can create memories new, especially delighting in the work of our hands.

preserving is good balm for the soul

plum preserves are the best.

the color is amazing. simply lovely.

canning using one of my aluminum pieces from my grandparents' home

connects my hands to theirs. a long tradition of canning in our family

brings me to this moment, to this jar.

and to keep the final scoops in a little jar for immediate use,

placing all the skimmed foam on top,

ready for some plain organic yogurt. mmm...

a fresh, beautiful bounty...

art+spirit: a session of birth art

long ago, before the birth of her first child, my friend E asked me to create a time of art with her. she knew of my work with creativity and arts, combining art & spirituality into experiences that bring meaning & healing. i was honored.

again she asked and i answered YES! we sat in two sessions. we shared and i crafted a guided image for her needs & desires to meet fears. she stilled herself and became present to her journey though art:

session one.

the finished piece: a tryptic with oil flowing, pouring,

and resting on the sweet one to be born,

held now and always by her mother.

each instance of creative expression both causes me to hold my breath and gives me life by the life sustaining breaths i do inhale. i love witnessing the creativity of others. in this time of birth art, E. is birthing creativity in the same moments new life is formed within her. what a gift of sharing and expression. she has given me permission to share this with you. enjoy.