beauty. life. abundance. a video shared.

there is such beauty in this video.  such purity.  such love.

i watch it again.  tears come.  and again.  tears still there.

the tears of knowing.

tears that say :: ((truth.))

there is joy.  there is presence.  there is life.  and simplicity. and abundance.

((if there was ever a prayer for my life, i believe this is the visual.))

i am thankful for soulsisters. casey who introduced me to this video and nikole who reminded me through her recent post to watch it again.  ((thank you, wonderful women!))

xo.

how do you receive Maia's goodness this fine ((or otherwise)) day? 

life stories: the perfect afternoon.

a perfect afternoon should have flowers, such as these in my friend casey's fantastic garden. ((remembering i use garden beyond the traditional sense. her yard is a garden, fruit grove, and playspace all in one!))

a perfect afternoon should have sangria and blue toes and water ready for swimming.  a perfect afternoon should have laughing children and kindred spirits.  a perfect afternoon should have tears and heartfelt conversations and truth telling. 

a perfect afternoon should be imperfect and perfect all at once.  and i am thankful for the afternoon spent with two of my favorite people.  what a gift. what a gift. 

kindred connections: my dear friend r

we've been friends since we were 12.  i'd said 13, but she corrected me.  

that seems fitting, as she has the better memory of the two of us.

we ventured around the city and stopped in hollywood cemetary to look, to listen, and to capture.  it was a beautiful day. 

there are many layers to our friendship, so many that are present but don't need naming.  we know them. we've named them over the years.  we know the source of that first meeting, the spaces that we have been, and know that we're present to each other no matter what lies ahead.

we found adventure out in the city, locating treasures here and there.

we savored our time together, drawing close.  we dined well.  we laughed well.  we recalled stories of living well.  we're present to each other in this weekend together and in these spaces of away.  she's one of the reasons that i have my heart in two places, for she's my kindred, my family, too.  

in the studio: Birthday Celebrations + how to have your own!

here you see the inside of a mini creativity kit for the birthday gal soon to have a birthday celebration in the studio.

vintage stamps, buttons, sequins, rik rak, fabric, feathers, papers... a sweet sampling for mixed media fun.

coin envelopes and acid free paper are ready for mixed media invitation creations.  these can be uses as little gifts for the guests to receive when they attend the celebration gathering as well.

the box is lovingly wrapped with a sweet little card from me.  a photo from called to create adorns the front, with a lovely little clothespin.  i may add a little wooden print circle to the clothespin as an extra special treat. 

for your own Birthday Celebration in the art+spirit studio, which includes a Birthday Celebration Menu of art+spirit projects that you can select for you and your guests to create during the gathering. 

We celebrate together, enjoy the food and drinks (you provide your own) with a table set banquet style with art materials (i provide). Birthday Celebrations are meant to be a time of creative party in a sacred space honoring the birth and life of those we celebrate and love. i lead you into a celebration of friendship through guided imagery and our hands create.  we create our own works to take home and create a piece for the birthday celebrant. in the process, we name the one we love and what he or she adds to our life.  we name these blessings aloud and write them on paper.  we bless the birthday gathering through our time, creative energy, and presence togther.

Birthday Celebrations are a way to bless those we gather with and a way to bless the one who gathers us together.   i love that a fellow sister & kindred spirit speaks to this as similar to a blessingway. what a lovely comparison. we bless the child within. we bless the soul we are now. we know we are loved and we share the love we have for others in this sacred space together.

read about my son's Birthday Celebration & a local author's Birthday Celebration.

How to book your Creativity Circle Birthday Celebration!

    if you love to gather with your kindred spirits, family, and friends around a table, share stories, and celebrate through creativity, your next birthday should be celebrated in the art+spirit studio!  we gather together in celebration with food, drink, and craft. projects are created around the table with the invitation to create provided by the artist & hostess, suzanne l. vinson. to schedule yours, contact suzanne at slsvinson@me.com.

picture a table filled with food and drinks and a banquet style table filled with vessels of colorful ribbons, vintage buttons, thread, sequins, rik rak, ... with colorful candles lit.  sewn goodness sample project: each brings his or her own felted sweater and we create in celebration of life and friendship.  each works to create a custom wreath for the birthday one and leaves with projects made with willing hands.  other project choices are on the birthday celebration menu, which you will receive when you contact suzanne.

$225 + food & drinks (or bring your own) for a 2.5 hour party for up to 12 guests. you can extend the length to 3.5 hours for an additional $75. 
$2-4 material fee per guest (varies depending on the project) 

life stories: mindful change ((reposted))

life stories: mindful change was originally published on 28 October 2009.  

i'm beginning to think that if we each spent 10 minutes (or more) a day in still, mindful meditation we'll change the world. that change will begin within each of us, and the possibilities are limitless... i'm not the first to think such thoughts, but i join in the belief system that exists.

as i remove myself from social media, as i quiet our home with no sounds other than those natural "home" sounds and the sounds from outside, as i breathe deeply & sit still, there's something that takes shape from within. there's an inner stillness & awareness that wakes up within me and speaks to the world, the universe around me. there's a loss of time and space and an new creation of presence.

each moment that i spend still, quiet, focused, mindful i find myself using fewer words. i find my comprehension & thoughts focusing and i am in love with the ability to speak well. i am in love with the ability to be centered and positive.

what has surprised me are those moments of recognition where sarcasm, once practiced, is not so present. i even read & hear sarcasm in others as complaint rather than humor. [friends, i'll still love you, but i may distance myself from some of those tweets or comments on facebook.] you likely won't know. i'll just bid you blessings and peace.

when another friend called this week and spoke of my status updates & desire to be at a table with me, to sit and be in a thoughtful, well-intentioned conversation, i was humbled. during our conversation, memories of what i read that day that weren't so thoughful or well-intentioned (says the inner critic) poured into my mind. my conversation with this beloved friend wasn't as focused or centered. my mouth opened with questions and concerns. i said OUT LOUD some of my gut's instincts over recent days. i'm not sure if it "felt" good to be unburdened and share these thoughts with this kindred spirit or not. there's no guilt or regret, just questions of why so much welled up within. what i do hope is that we have the same desires each time we speak to want to be with the other person at table, sharing a meal or coffee together. to know that when we are low, there are folks who can help us to retain our balance. to know that we can first sit in a quiet stillness, listening to the sounds of our breathing, acknowledging our own thoughts that come into play as we sit and breathe.

we have so much potential inside of us. we are full of infinite possibility. (says one of my mini mixed media) while i am not attempting to share fortune cookie-like comments, i do feel full of good things. i want to express those good thoughts & share my life story. if negative thoughts or emotions come, i don't ignore them, but send them on their way. there's no room, no space left for them.

as my loving husband told me last night, "your mind is on other things." and he's right on target: my mind is on other things. mindful, thoughtful, peaceful, loving things. still in recognition of illness, death, and sorrow. much of that is spoken of in conversations with family & friends & those in the bereavement support group. i am in tune with that reality as well. awareness is so much of what brings that mindfulness through the creative spirit. then i can create & pray. i can be mindful that life is good, even when it's not.

life stories: self portraits.

there just aren't many images you'll see of my face. you'll see my hands. oh, yes. you'll see my feet, of course.

i'm not sure why that is. it's the hands and feet that i enjoy taking photos of. i love seeing feet mid-step or pausing in the spot where they stand. i love seeing photos of hands holding objects at work, or at play.

i feel that you get a glimpse into my soul more through the work of my hands and the steps of my feet than you would seeing my face. though, it's the face-to-face interactions that i yearn for with my kindred spirits. i want to see you. to see you that sits before me and to see the you that is more than the skin and bones. the you that is singing, dancing, delighting within.

maybe that's why i know my studio is for me but for others, too. maybe that's why we believe in sharing family meals with folks beyond our family of three, but to our larger family and friends. maybe that's why i love leading retreats, facilitating small groups and worship services. maybe. just maybe.

and there are spaces where i hope to connect: in the studio, here on the blog, via FB and twitter. there are spaces that seem to take a lot of time and energy, but just don't. i don't let them overwhelm, but let them lean into my day for a moment and the i move on.

i make the bread. i bake the bread. i chat over coffee. i create art. i do a lot of things in a short amount of time. and i've learned a few things about myself on the way that i have a feeling might be of service to you.

i begin the day. whatever mood, whatever day. it begins. there's a time and space for the day that's at hand. all i have is the present and i need to be awake for it, whatever happens in that moment. then when it's time, i end the day. i close my eyes and rest, allowing my mind + body + spirit the time and space it needs for a fresh start. {repeat}

rather than dwell, i breathe deeply. breathing in, breathing out. releasing whatever anxiety or stressor that's set me into the spin cycle mentally, i exhale that churning out into the world. for instance, if someone has entered into my brain, like the inner critic, i listen and release. then move on.

i open my eyes. rather than ignore the pain of others, deny that death happens, hold my breath when fear begins to show up: i open my eyes wide. when i was a child, i believed that someone, something was in the room after dark with me. instead of hiding under the covers, i let my eyes adjust to the darkness so that i could see everything in the room. then i'd inventory what was there to make sure it was in its place. i believe i do the same now, in real and present ways.

as jayme and i were on one of our many walks & talks, i tried to articulate that i'm not good with drawing people, but i'd like to be. what i've realized recently is that i'm pretty good at drawing people out of themselves, shedding light on some of the goodness that radiates from them. while i'd still like to create lovely portraits of folks, i'll accept what i can do well and move from that space. hopefully by allowing you to see me through my inner workings & processing i can see you more clearly.

in the studio: a birthday celebration creativity circle

a birthday celebration creativity circle. women gathered, the table is set with supplies ready to be used. each pair of hands are moving freely, creating something new from within.

a special gathering for a special woman

celebrating the day of her birth.

the table shows the creative joy in this sacred space.

a candle is lit in celebration. food is shared.

creativity abounds amidst stories and laughter.

truly a joyous occasion.

cheers to this delight. cheers to this space &

this creative circle of kindred spirits.

life stories: a prayer wreath

it's been the season for wreaths. for a number of months, I've been creating this wreath as an act of prayer for a sweet one & her family. each time I code fabrics, ripped fabrics, cut ribbon, tied them on, and looked upon it, I prayed.

a old friend now new friend prayed through selecting fabric, then constructing & creating birds to represent these sweet three.

we are honored to have presented this wreath and invite you to share your prayers as you look upon them here. take the idea and use it. share love and prayer and goodness.

reverberations: party: day 9

December 9 – Party Prompt: Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans. (Author: Shauna Reid)

shenanigans. love that word.

my recent studio blessing rocked my socks off. it was amazing, soulful, filled with laughter, light, good food, great company, and brought together every aspect of motherhood, ministry, and the arts. some cross over the lines, weaving between one groups and another: folks from bereavement groups, friends, creativity circle folks, women in ministry folks, arts community folks, kindred spirits, clergy friends.

women, vino, and soul food. oh, my. it was enchanting. i have photos, but they are at the studio and not here with me. photos to share soon.

daily bread: good quotes no. 7

live with intention.

walk to the edge.

listen hard.

laugh.

practice wellness.

play with abandon.

continue to learn.

appreciate your friends.

choose with no regret.

do what you love.

live as if this is all there is.

~mary anne radmacher

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.

daily bread: good quotes no. 5

daily bread: good quotes no. 4

amen! ah, the spirituality of sweeping. what encounters of the everyday connect you to the presence of God, the Holy, or the Creative Spirit?

daily bread: good quotes no. 3

a little wisdom of my own.

daily bread: good quotes no. 2

right? where are you saying YES?

daily bread: good quotes no. 1

good quotes speak well. they connect souls. they inspire. they stir something within you. i attempt to do some small piece of that as i type words to this blog and follow wise words of other blogs.

as i prepare myself, offering myself daily bread in the form of books, art, coffee, vino, and conversations, i want to share some of those savoring words, quotes, and insights through images you can copy and carry with you.

may these words serve you well.

a good word worth sharing: Joie Magazine

Read the premier issue of Joie online. I've contributed a little work of art in the mag. enjoy!

life stories: called to create

here are a few of my recent images for called to create. some made it to the blog while others were the second choice in a given day. enjoy these as we continue to rest and renew, pausing to reflect on the goodness of sunshine, the fellowship of friends and family, and the renewal that comes in creating daily. my creativity is flowing, but in a few directions that seem to require love and attention.

my sweet son & my love are on summer break, so when i'm not vending at markets, caring for groups, or leading in vbs, i'm with them enjoying the break that is so needed. these academic breaks have always been infused within me with my mother a retired school teacher of 33 years. we know summers well: the heat and humidity staved by a good swim, the day trip to the beach, the homemade ice cream served in a mug that's turned up to recover the last sip, time with friends and family in various spaces, and gathering with good friends as we share a meal together one night a week.

during the days to come, i look forward to bringing more images of rest, renewal, creativity, and the work of my hands. peace to you and yours these fine summer days of august.

enjoy these images of the last week (with one the week prior tossed in).

a simple set designed for vbs.

a break in staining a cabinet made by my love.

a sweet dress for an 8 week old.

new yummy fabrics from my favorite local fabric shop.

one of three caterpillars found in the garden after pulling carrots to take to vbs.

a glorious sunflower duo greeting those who enter a friend's home.

creative spaces: Fertile Crescent Farm

i love visiting our friends on their farm. i've known darbi for a number of years and am always so impressed with what she's able to accomplish, the care & love that goes into the spaces that surround her. the home is worthy of a magazine spread or blogging love for certain. i couldn't help but take images of the farm and the home. today i'll share images from around the farm.

these are full of the life of the land, but only the smallest of tastes. there's so much to see and do when you're there. mainly, you just breathe deeply and listen to the sounds around you: the wind, the dogs, the chicks when you're near them, and that all knowing presence that is in well cared for spaces. the Creative Spirit that is present to us and through us. oh, it's a sacred space. any place or space this family tends will be blessed by their hands.

of course, i am a farm girl at heart. i want bees to tend, chickens to raise, and the sound of the all knowing presence to surround me in the air i breathe every day.

visit Fertile Crescent Farm's Site: they have a fabulous CSA we'll enjoy for the third year! Visit Fertile Crescent Farm's Blog for the latest on life on the farm & great recipes!

sacred space: jayme's quilt

a quilt created for my friend jayme. design by suzanne l. vinson, 2008.