summer of welcome etsy sale!!!

oh, so much comes with a summer of welcome.  welcoming open spaces.  welcoming friends.  welcoming new life in the garden.  welcoming summer blooms.  welcoming our sweet girl to come.  

and of course, welcoming you to grab those goods made with love at a discounted rate.  i know we put our dollars where we find and create value for our days.  we believe in sharing.  we believe in moderation.  we believe in high quality and purpose.  so much welcome for those of you who have wanted and waited.  i hope that you find what you've hoped for just where you need it to be. 

enjoy. 

xo.  s

from my heart to yours :: a shop coupon that's more than a coupon.

my heart is full.  

appreciation. 

gratitude.

excitement. 

sometimes we're too busy to see it.  feel it.  live it.  

slowing down. 

knowing. 

breathing in.  breathing out. 

in abundant appreciation for those who have shown up

for us in the last few weeks, i'm showing up for you. 

if you're so inclined:  45% off wisdom cards + goods 

in the etsy shop.  24-36 hours only.  

((i'll know when to close the coupon code.)) 

sharewisdom

http://www.silvertreeart.etsy.com

use the cards as a gift for yourself.  

bake and take a loaf of bread, tucking in a note. 

ding dong ditch a neighbor or someone your car or feet are drawn to. 

send a wisdom card to someone who needs it.  

i find folks often receive exactly what they need. 

from my heart to yours.  

xo.

tea + time. appreciation. a recipe shared.

today I'm grateful for the recipe elizabeth shared with me for dandelion root tea. i'm learning to be rooted in the practice of sharing my appreciation, and thus i am mindfully sharing my thanks with others.  i believe in sharing my appreciation here, it sends that beautiful ripple into the world that you end up carrying.  with these words and images you find yourself sipping dandelion root tea with me, deeply appreciative for the tea drinkers and recipe sharers in your life. 

when there's appreciation for something, i try to soak it in.  

breathe deeply.  and exhale love.  

then i believe. 

i believe it reaches out into the world.  ripples to others.  

is caught in their breath.  voice.  touch.  

and apprecation.  deep apprecation.  

lighthearted appreciation.  

all of it. 

makes a beautiful difference.  

dandelion root tea: steep 2 bags of dandelion root tea.  ((i steep 15 minutes.)) 

add 60 oz. water plus 1/4 c. straight cranberry juice and the juice of 2-3 lemons.  ((i use limes, too.))

a little love: for the heart.

among my collections are vintage seals.  

i love this little assortment of vintage valentines seals i ran across today.  

i scanned them and then printed them for my sweet boy to cut & glue to his hearts content. 

you're welcome to use them, too.  i have my favorite.  do you?  

xo. 

daily bread: good quotes no. 6

i know i've shared this one before, but it's such a good quote for the front cover of a journal. you can put it in just the right space for your words. dream words. be creative. be bold. do you delight in the sound of your inner voice? what word is speaking to you right now? what word are you speaking? say it aloud. speak to yourself.

the 65 roses project

my friend Nikole is awesome. she's an amazing women, mother, artist... aunt. read about her project on her blog: a happy nest. she's making 65 roses in honor of her beautiful niece caroline. i won't add my words except to send you to hers: go. go now. take your favorite mug filled & read. take a look at the amazing work of her hands in making a happy nest for her & her family. indeed: she is awesome. i look forward to selecting one of these and wearing it for caroline...

called to create, converse, love, cook, live...

each day i live. each day i breathe. we all are in the same boat, right? these days: i'm training myself to be present to the moment. i'm aware of each breath (almost) and each step of life (getting there) so that the moments and the whole are one in each experience. my soul feels the depth.

the way i view my call to ministry is much the same. each experience leads me to the next. my call is an evolving call, never static. it moves within me and my space as god moves. each moment in ministry to one is a moment that will impact the future, but in a way that i will not see. i have moved through my ministerial roles long enough to know this truth about my call, and i experience it with relish. so i don't balk at the opportunities that come as i'm not climbing a ladder. i'm not seeking anything "bigger" or "better" but present to be sought by god at work in and among us. i believe by that, i'm present to each opportunity, each nudge.

these thoughts are some that i've shared this week *in person* with people face-to-face. i am a talker, so it's good to be able to converse in a dialogue as well as to write here. balance. i am constantly impressed with the way in which the spirit moves & works among us, connecting us to each other and inspiriting us in the way we live creatively. i've witnessed it beyond my life, so i speak beyond my own experience. i've even found those connections in moments on twitter & fb. i've seen the connection through images on flickr. it's the shared experience that i love and connect to in so many ways. so i'm sharing a few of both: the spoken conversations & the online connection in image & words:

reading the article in the wish studio this week, i found an immediate connection. read the article yourself & hopefully you can post here if you find connection, too. there have been a few glitches in commenting on the blog. do try.

the small object always connects. her art, her path. there's a creative flow that i feel we're tapping into that it's sometimes unreal. she's a few steps ahead on this great project. while i'm cooking up ways to share inspiration to those i love, especially so far apart, sarah has it through a grand but simple birthday expression! don't be surprised if some of you see these walnut votives as seen via another inspiring favorite: little red caboose.

called to create continues to capture a creative act a day in my life story. and i'm practicing a path that's mellow, without struggling with which act to record. just deciding and moving forward. i'm sure that there will be a lovely stringed effect, like creating a beautiful vintage fabric bunting for your son's first birthday, oh those three years ago.

so as i type along, i'm tapping into the creative energy among us. how the creative spirit moves is a mystery and it's welcomed. here's to conversation, creative energy, sharing, and the love shared in each creative act.

creative peeps: Real Small Art

Real Small Art is a really creative project that I've just learned about. From the site:

Real Small Art League is an ongoing effort to inspire random acts of artistic kindness and creative awareness. A growing number of artists make, post, document and give away tiny works in surprise locations. We believe a little work of art can go a long way.

Real Small Art League members only post original artwork in publically approved areas, like community bulletin boards or creative businesses with a mutual agreement.

In 2009, Real Small Art 2.0 began includes posting creative work in geocaches.

In 2010, Real Small Art began Free to a Good Home, sending tiny paintings to nominated recipients.

You can submit the name of someone who should receive a really awesome piece of art. one of 500. Very cool. Share kindness. Share creative love.

creative fall love & inspiration

ages old image that makes me laugh today in a moment

that laughter offers a moment of healing.

these days are the days that my need to sew and knit kicks into full gear. if you've seen my hands at any time, you know that they appreciate being used. you'd know that when my hands are working they are doodling, carving, stitching, loving, chopping, kneading, or gardening. these cool turned colder days where the sky is a shade of gray calls for charcoal gray polish (yes, i love it but am still in search of the perfect shade), earl gray tea (or some other favorite variety), and something warm to work with.

in seeking distraction this morning while my grandfather's recovering from multiple surgeries yesterday, i looked up some great tutorials on one of my favorite sites: Grosgrain. check out this incredible list of scarf tutorials. one of my favorites, #14 could easily translate into a liturgical stole. in fact, i maybe creating one or two. i've had one that's a granny quilt style cut for a few years that hasn't come together. one that i wanted to reflect how our edges, however jagged can fit together and also resemble something of beauty. we'll see. in the meantime, i'm completely inspired by this soul and her sweet attitude of sharing.

clergy friends: picture a collaborative project on a wednesday night or in worship whereby members of your community pick out a piece of cloth that can be placed on a cut fabric using a safety pin, where each person's piece can represent peace, hope, love, healing. something that they release. the possibilities of meaning are endless, really. these scraps of fabric can overlap, but should never fully cover another's. later hands in the community can gather together and stitch the pieces onto the stole or parament. what a visual image of community and coming together. piece work becomes peace work. perhaps a tragedy in the community, betrayal or reconciliation. take the inspiration and incorporate it into your work and ministry. a gift for you. this can work in a family space as well or among friends or other groups.

sew well. sew complete. sew the pieces into wholeness. each moment of our day can offer an opportunity to sew together good wishes, prayers, and attitudes into one warm, rich, loving bundle. today's project will be shared as i create an appliqued shirt from my son. it's richly entrenched with meaning. i find it particularly appropriate that as i applique i pray for and celebrate the man for whom my son is named, adding more meaning and ritual to this shirt.

always: more to come. peace. love. healing. touch. grace. joy. thanks.

life stories: seeking the creative balance

new routines have become a part of my daily rhythm. lessons come, but with time between to ingest. among my favorite new routines are those from days past, now picked up again. i've come to believe that to achieve balance, you must begin with your body. both what you do with your body and what you put into your body. using concentric circle imagery, these attitudes toward balance are stacked on another, flowing together in the pursuit of wholeness and peace:

be-ing. attention is given to how breath & presence through previous posts. so, so important. to be in my own skin. to be still and aware. breathing deeply brings so much awareness to my moments. the present moment is here and i am aware.

breath work + exercise. daily pilates and/or walking. when i didn't give myself enough time to exercise before heading out to set up for an art show last thursday, my energy & attention wasn't so hot. i exercised a little later in the day, but wasn't quite myself come the evening's bereavement support group. my body's rhythm was "off". learning, i built in more time on friday morning before dashing to the show. there's new rhythm to my body's workings: my attention, my appetite, and my energy. over the last 6 weeks, exercise has said: "i'm here to stay. you've made room, and there's no turning back." while i've said for years that i couldn't run/jog because i didn't know how to breathe. now i'm learning: deep breathing in meditation plays into the way i breathe in exercise. connections.

listening to my inner wisdom. do you have those moments where you're aware, so aware of a choice you should make, or a move you should pursue? then, for some reason you don't go with that wisdom. well, each time i find that i learn to trust my inner wisdom. each chance to listen is a deepening of understanding. hopefully i'll find more balance with wisdom's call.

attending to my 'gut instincts'. while i think i was once one to say exactly what i thought, to be with those who were most in tune with me, and to attend to my own needs, i'd lost some of that over time. i think we clergy can forget ourselves in the pursuit of caring for others. in this attempt to find wholeness, i've had to strip off some of the layers of caring what others think. i've needed to move into borrowing something of Empty Space Coaching's question: "does it love me?" while heather explores this question surrounding food, i'm exploring it around people and attitudes. does everything or everyone have to love me? no. should i expect to surround myself with only love? well, given the choice i would, but is it even possible? not everything or everyone will love me. but here's the trick: i only want to hold onto the images, people, and comments that do love me. the negative thoughts, critical comments that don't produce good energy or deepening thoughts or welcomed work within shouldn't hang around. nope, nada. gone. even those comments that i may have mis-understood and held onto are getting tossed or challenged. i'll just ask that person if that's what he/she meant (something i heard as negative or uncaring) and move on.

friends. i love surrounding myself with my friends, but as friendships change and i adapt to new rhythms, i'm learning that's OK. i have not been investing as much energy into calling, scheduling, & running around. there's need for balance in relationships, and i've been noticing when it's not present. i don't mind work, but a new way of working is in order. so i'm making efforts to balance energy-giving with energy-receiving relationships. we'll see where these go.

food. i'm eating good food, but only what i need. i'm not as hungry. i'm more disciplined in the types of foods i am eating, and in the timing in which i eat. my husband and i talk about the power of a good breakfast. wow! you mean what nutritionists say is true? maybe so.

by caring for myself, giving myself time for exercise, breakfast (i skipped this most of the time), sweeping the floor (yes, it's on the list), and all the projects between i'm feeling good. i'm feeling closer to wholeness, closer to my core self. it's a good feeling.

there's a search for balance and re-balance. a search for wholeness and peace. while each day brings promise, i am aware of life's challenges, too. many of my sweet friends & clergy friends say that my facebook/twitter comments are so upbeat and cheerful. we'll see how that goes through the gray days of winter. for now, these crisp fall days bring hope. i feel good and i want to share those good feelings and energy with others.

time for self, family, and art + spirit restores me to the core of me. i'm ready for those friends who just "drop by" and brighten my day. i'm ready with tea and baked bread (some days) and mostly, i'm ready for the good times ahead. i'm getting to know myself all over again. i just hope that as you know me, well, like anyone, i hope to be accepted and loved for who i am. i will be hopeful and upbeat all the while the same truth-teller and pastoral support that i am.

Inspiring Spaces: Alabama Chanin

With our recent Tour of the South, I spent an afternoon in AL receiving hospitality, inspiration, and appreciation from another creative spirit whose work I am in awe.

it is not the length of life, but the depth of life.

These words are carved into this old chair at the Alabama Chanin @ The Factory, in Florence, AL. Natalie Chanin, author and designer, impresses me so much with the details that go into her work. In the chair above, she has woven men's ties, leaving the ends to hang underneath the chair. I love her quote as seen above, which is likely to inspire a new block print or drawing in my upcoming quotes/mantras series. So lovely.

A glimpse of one of the table spaces in The Factory. So much of what we vintage-loving gals enjoy: silver, glass jars, milk glass, wooden spools of thread, scissors, and worn wood. The assortment carries me to the windows in my grandmother's home, with the glass elements catching the light.

A wedding dress with so much detail. Really lovely.

A headscarf, as seen in Natalie's book Alabama Chanin. You can attend workshops in The Factory where you can make one of these great pieces.
the simple beauty of strips of cloth hanging near the cutting tables.

A burst of rainbow colors from the stores of t-shirts. The cotton jersey fabrics are so soft. You just want to run your hands over them or possibly curl up in one!
Inspiration. I love to see so many good books lining these shelves. Some of these are on my wish list and I was so pleased to preview them. STC Craft/Melanie Falick Books are just so good. (All that I have & have previewed have been good. Really good.) What makes me happy is to see that our library system carries many of them, and if they don't you can request a library purchase, just as I did for Natalie's book: Alabama Stitch Book: Projects and Stories Celebrating Hand-Sewing, Quilting, and Embroidery for Contemporary Sustainable Style.

My favorite finds: vintage quilts reclaimed, repaired, and loved. Natalie has written in script on the quilt and then it's hand embroidered. I love that these quilts are tended so well and cared for through repair. They are given a new spirit, transformed through the details & work going into them. Such artistry inspired me to transform my women's retreat with a quilting projects The Work of Our Hands to include an existing quilt in need of love as a part of the project. Inspiring spaces. Inspiring women. And don't you love that a quilt says buttermilk?

Inspiration flows from hands a century ago to hands today. I love the work of many hands that touch these pieces of art.

Like the art and the space the folks at Alabama Chanin are a treat. Hospitality was shared. I was attended to effortlessly as the work day continued for these folks. Busy, busy bees. I found inspiration and learned a great deal through Natalie's success and style. Natalie is as gracious as her team. I appreciated the moments meeting her. My time there was well spent and continues to inspire me. I'm sure that as I continue to make way re-creating my studio upstairs, I will be inspired by my visit to Natalie's wonderful space. Thanks, Alabama Chanin!

nature lacing cards

nature lacing cards, originally uploaded by silvertreeart.

a sweet set of hand drawn lacing cards for your downloading pleasure to go along with the spring lacing cards. enjoy these as much as jo has! the "squiggly wormy" as jo calls it can be anything your child sees: worm, snake, caterpillar...  these cards will follow us indoors and out as we work together on our sewing projects.  we love the signs and sounds of spring!  jo enjoyed digging up lots of his own squiggly worms this weekend after all the wonderful rain.  enjoy!

as i create games and activities for jo, i'll be sharing them here. let me know if the process through flickr goes well for you!

spring lacing cards

spring lacing cards, originally uploaded by silvertreeart.

lacing cards for spring. these are hand drawn images for my son, which are now shared with you. the directions on my suggested us are on the flickr page that you will be directed to by clicking on the above image. feel free to print these and use them with the young or young in spirit. jo wants to be a part of my sewing adventures, so this has been good practice.

you can find the nature lacing cards for downloading also!  check back for additional lacing card fun!

music that makes us smile

Dan Zanes + Amazon = smiles.  A fun free music sampler (from one of our family favorites) to any or all who like good music for all ages.  i've written on his great music before, as family friends introduced us to his music last year and we have expanded our collection + love since then.  the big "three" celebration included a trip to his local show.  what a fun treat.  that's how good music is shared, right? one telling another and suggesting a listen.  so read on about this special act of sharing from this month's Dan Zanes Newsletter: 

the good people at amazon.com are taking a break from selling things and have decided, along with the good people at festival five records, to give you some music for free - in this case a digital sampler with many of our greatest hits called smile smile smile. the sampler includes catch that train, house party, colas, hello, pay me my money down, jump up, down in the valley, and smile smile smile. wander on over to amazon.com for your copy now. here's a wild coincidence: they also have our full cd catalog on sale from march 24th - april 21st. 

food for your mind, body, and spirit

last year we participated in a Community Supported Agriculture program with our friend-farmers darbi & adam.  their CSA was great!  the food, which i blogged about here from time-to-time, gave us such inspiration for good food throughout the 20 weeks.  this year we will be canning more to carry even more of the good tastes into the fall and winter.  

you can view their site (which i am helping create) by visiting www.fertilecrescentfarm.com. they currently have space available for the 2009 growing season.  i'm spreading the word this week, because i'm getting excited for the beginning of that season in may!

if you aren't sure that you can use, can, or freeze the amount of food they describe per week, you can split your share with a friend or colleague.  

fertile crescent farm is giving some of their seasonal food toward our Feast: Festival of Word, Table, and Image.  Another YCW member and I have organized this celebration of women's voices through sermon, food, and art to take place on Friday, May 1, 2009 in Richmond, VA.  Take a gander at the amazing list of women that will "feed" us during this day!  www.vbwim.org  

We're gaining such support through sponsorships and excitement toward the day.  We have lots of space for the festival, so register today!  The first 60 who register will have an extra-special handmade "treat" in their participant bags.  

You have a taste of why I'm so excited!  and a busy bee!

tiller, anyone?

as a random approach, i thought i'd see if any of you readers might have a tiller in the richmond, va area that we could borrow, clean, and gratefully return to you.  IF so, please contact me!  we're looking for one of those more "i really mean to till" sized tillers, too.  we've used the cute small one, but our ground takes the larger, gutsy midtine tiller.  

while we will happily rent one again from home depot as we have the last few years, we'd much rather borrow and bake for you! 

here's hoping...