Pink Coyote

Totemania

"You cannot have too many tote bags" --Lotta Jansdotter

Thank god someone finally said it.

Number 2 measures 13"x14" and I will use it to carry to work because ALL of my stuff including my appointment book fits.  I used canvas that I washed about 4 times for the bottom panel since I beat my things up and my car is generally dusty all the time.  I also created a ton of shortcuts so I can whip one of these out in an hour or so.

Here is a little 8x9 that is perfect for M to carry his many trains in.  "Mama make Miles owl bag," finally resulted in some action.  Tote #3 was the fastest yet.  And I think the most fun because of it's cuteness factor and the fact that M was milling about my feet picking up threads and talking with me as I sewed.

Drinking so much Mighty Leaf that I should have about 50 totes by the end of the day if I keep it up.  Green Tea Tropical is my pick today-since quitting coffee I've found a new vice that lights me up almost as much but without the muddy feeling java left me with.  Mighty Leaf does not fill their silky biodegradable mesh bags with tea dust, but rather with proper looking loose-leaf tea and flowers.  Pretty!

How are you? 

Tote-ally

I am crafting up a storm.  Recycling the hub's old jeans, you name it.  Got one of these babies from Santa.  Can't stop.  People I share my life with are beginning to wonder why I don't come to bed anymore! 

This is my favorite ribbon to date and this is my next fabric purchase.  I've not been moved by Japanese textiles until now, I'm not really into cutesy.  But they seem to be getting really interesting lately.  It's like Japanese-Scandinavian lovechildren.  I can't get enough. 

M played his ukelele that we got him in Hawaii for us at bedtime last night.  He sang "Puff the Magic Dragon" many, many times.  I'm not coming close to keeping up with all of the mindblowing things he says and does.  I'm now entering with full membership into the phase known as Where Does the Time Go? parenting as we'd been warned of, cousin to the wistful, They Grow So Fast....

Circling

I met with my mountain circle this weekend for our quarterly pilgrimage inward and into nature, and my heart always comes back feeling so full.  I LOVE retreats.  It is the way I  most love to formally recharge.  Each new year I make lists of how I plan to take care of myself better so that I'm a happier mom & partner, better bodyworker, savvier businessperson, fulfilled artist...often the lists include eating more whole foods, planning more creative excursions, taking workshops from people I admire and want to learn from and stretching my comfort zone in all areas of my life.  I find that retreating with women-for a day or for a week at a time-gives me the longest lasting and most inspiring results to step forward into my world with.  A shaman brings medicine to the tribe after journeying into the outer realms of consciousness for information and guidance.  When I come back from time away, I always feel like I've grown in some sacred way.  I always learn something valuable about myself and those I'm circling with.  I've come to rely on this time with other women.  I'm pretty sure my life depends on it.

Full Swing

We're back in the swing of things in the den and enjoying the bursting creativity the new year always brings.  We're painting, sewing, cutting up paper, drawing and making a general mess of things.

I'm on quarterly retreat this weekend in the mountains and hope to bring back pictures of ecstatic skirts swirling and half-filled wine glasses.

Wishing you deep and honest self-expression today...