unfinished, just begun, done……

I have been working on some lovely projects over here this week, and I have been working back and forth between rooms, lovingly looking at one project, touching up another and finishing yet another….

This way of working has been transformational since I moved into my new craft room, as the same piece I left off with the day before, does not always call me when I wake up in the morning, so I need to move on, in order to listen to what is coming through in that moment…

It may mean that something that only needs a clasp does not get finished for a week or so, or something that is half finished and needs to be done in a timely manner gets left{like soaking rattle skins in dye for three days} only to be discovered that they did  not in fact rot, but rather the skin went really soft and the dye permeated it in a way I would have never known had I pulled them when I was supposed to!

Things happen, they succeed or fail, I never know which it will be until it is actually finished- and it is time to either take photos of it, or take it apart!

This morning I had a dream that I was walking into a room to teach a drum making workshop and to my great surprise the class was full–in fact over full and filled with both men and women. I was thrown off and then I realized to my horror that in my excitement to be teaching I had forgotten the actual drums!

The students took it well and agreed to come back the following week–I wonder what that could have meant? I do have a drum making workshop coming up but…..

Today my projects have spilled out into some photos for here, as my camera called to me this morning to the chagrin of my unfinished wolf necklace…….

And the Swan smudge wand I am working on using beautiful Swan feathers  found in England.

Oh- and the Deer antler rattle I am smoothing out to make a large rattle with, I can see this going to a wonderful and spiritual man with big hands.

Then there is the wonderful Maala using beads from Shanti Uganda, I have been asked to make for the Journey of 108 beads, I am praying and saying the Om mane padme hum, mantra over each bead, so I have to be calm and centered for this work, it is slow going but wonderfully meditative.

Once done the beads will travel all over the world and be used and prayed over 108 times, when the last person has worked and prayed with them they will then be sent back.

*sigh* And my bee boxes, which I am prepping to paint using the natural powder paint pigments I bought in England this past summer.

Setting up my silversmithing studio and getting my new soldering torch fired up!

There is so much to do, with updating my etsy shop and re-taking all of my jewelry shots to show them actually being worn...well it is fun and I am truly amazed every day that I sold my business in order to truly embrace my souls calling, that I had the support to do it and am following the call, wherever it takes me….

Welcoming the New year

Wow what a holiday whirlwind!

I find myself here Tuesday morning tea in hand, kids back to school and hundreds of photos to upload and a new year full of possibility to boot!

Yule this year was wonderful  and relaxing and full of abundance, everyone got the goodies they hoped for and as usual Santa came through! For example the Silversmithing torch and accessories I hoped for magically appeared under the tree–as well as a box of feathers from Ontario that came to the door days before christmas day–how wonderfully fortunate I am!

Right after Yule our family hit the road and drove up to San Fransisco from Vancouver, the kids were bundled into the back of the car with their books and snacks and we stashed our coffee mugs in the front and off we went.

What struck me most was the sheer beauty of this part of the world we live in, which is kinda funny since I have made this drive 3 times before, but for some reason never really took in how stunningly beautiful it was.

I think it may have something to do with the age of our kids as all of the times before they were quite little and I spent most of my time leaning into the back-seat helping the with something or other.

Now that they are a little older they no longer require me and so I was free to enjoy the drive and take it all in for the first time!

Oregon, Salem, Ashland, Eugene, Grants Pass and on and on–they were all stunningly beautiful, what a gift to live here, it was really a beautiful trip!

Once we were there it was another whirlwind of family, the New year Party and of course a few little shopping excursions into the city, as we do not have a Trader Jo’s here, nor an Anthropologie*sigh*

I spent at least an hour at Anthropologie and managed to find a few things to bring home!

All in all it was a fun time had by all and now we are back to our normal lives again, the new year has brought with it all of that wonderful feel of new possibilities, and I am feeling deeply grateful for my life, my friends, family and home.

This year for me comes with some exciting new beginnings, both in the shamanic realm, and the bee realm.

I am looking forward to continuing on in my shamanic apprenticeship with a new teacher and to taking the reins on bees that will belong to our family and become our sole responsibility as my beekeeping apprenticeship continues into it’s third season.

Next week my priority is to get my bee boxes and begin painting them in preparation for the upcoming season I can feel the creative fires burning already–Welcome New Year!

Thirteen things for the new year…….

Many of the ancients believed and celebrated the coming of the New Year on the Solstice.

This year marks a very special Solstice as tomorrow morning-Solstice day we will be able to witness a Lunar Eclipse! It is said to start around 12:17 pst tonight/tomorrow morning.

Every year  around this time I like to make my “List” this list is filled with fun things that, I want, and know in advance I can get done in one year.

Nothing goes on the list that I can fail at–this is the only criteria!

This year my list will have 13 things.

Why 13 you may ask? Well-Thirteen is my favorite number!

Did you know that there are thirteen full moons in a year?

That the number 13 is the number of the goddess{for the reason above} and this number vilified by clergy who wanted to eradicate all traces the goddess. So they made the number 13 evil and said that it represented the devil and they said that witches covens had thirteen women in them like the thirteen moons{ they do now as a reclaiming}.

In her book The Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, Barbra Walker says this

“In general, the symbols of ancient matriarchy came to be known as the night, the moon and the number 13, while those of patriarchy were the day, the sun and the number 12.”

Hmmm perhaps this explains the 12 month calendar… and oh I have so much to say on this, but I must wait to share for much of it is in our upcoming book Moon Mysteries-Reclaiming Woman’s Menstrual Wisdom. A 13th month journey with the cycling moon. Due to be in our hands this spring!

I could go on and on about the unjust-ness{is that a word?} of my beloved number 13, but what purpose does that serve-I hereby reclaim the number 13- and love her so!

My list of thirteen things for 2011:

1.Finally get around to making and mastering- the recipe on page 233 in my book The Bread Bakers Apprentice-Basic Sourdough Bread.

2. Have Zahra teach me how to make the amazing paper snowflakes she has been cutting up all month.

3. Paint my new bee boxes and have them ready for May when my new bees arrive.

4. Plant more bee friendly flowers in the garden this summer, and take better care of the garden–That means watering it and weeding it!

5. Make Chocolate Creme Brule in my new Red ramekins–and share!

6. Love my body more, and celebrate it’s beauty with healthier food and less cookies!

7. Take more long walks outside–and walk the kids to school more often.

8. Set up my silver smithing studio so I don’t need to rely on classes and other studios when inspiration hits!

9. Spend more time drumming, journeying and connecting to spirit and source.

10. Offer my time to help at the kids school more–those teachers need a break!

11. Stop what I am doing when the kids want to talk–even if it is distracting and annoying at times-try to remember it makes a difference for them! oh- and pick up that book How to Listen so your Kids will Talk book again.

12. Come up with an “Elevator pitch” for Red Moon Designs–no more stuttering and long embarrassed pauses when I am asked what I am doing now that I sold Mama Goddess-I know it, I love it and am SO happy now–so why do I freeze up when asked?!

13. Kiss my hubby more!