Gratitude

It's Thanksgiving Day in the USA.  As I reflect on all the blessings that have come my way in this past year, I cannot help myself  from being consumed with JOY!  Among the many blessings for which I give thanks, Grandchildren have to be near the top of the list.  Little Gavin Mathew joined our family in June.  He is such a good boy.  We rarely have heard him cry.  He sleeps like an angel and awakes with a smile on his face.  Just a very pleasant, beautiful soul.  He joins his sister Morgan Luella and cousins Nolan Reinhold and Tatum Marie to complete the jewels in the crown of  my Life.  Family is so very important to me.  These little "angel babies" light up my life with unconditional love and laughter and inspire me to play and create colorful art.  I'm looking forward to seeing them today.  I wish you a day of Thanksgiving, Peace and Joy with your loved ones.  Let's treasure our precious moments.  Oh, and by the way, I am extremely grateful for YOU, the reader of my posts.

Dancing with Love

 This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take a  Nia class, my exercise of choice, with Carlos Rosas, one of the creators of this form of movement.  He and Debbie Rosas began creating this technique in the early 1980's with the promise:  Through Movement We Find Health.  The class was exciting, not only from the aspect of meeting our sensei, but also from the energy that was present in the room.  It was AWESOME!  We danced barefoot in front of a wall of mirrors and huge windows with views that overlook the beautiful lakefront and downtown Milwaukee area.

"What does exercise have to do with fiber art?"  As an artist, one is expected to draw from the vapors a tangible form of an abstract idea.  This process takes a certain quieting of the mind and getting into a 'zone' and expends a considerable amount of energy.  Things are not always what they appear to be.  I credit Nia with helping me to balance the body, mind, and spiritual aspects of my being to be able to function and bring forth the work of my hands.

 
I met Barb Wesson, black belt  Nia instructor and my friend, when her vision of a studio for movement at Core El Centro was only a dream.  We danced in the space of a church fellowship hall to the music of Jana Stanfield and I listened to Barb dream out loud about this new space.  At the time, I also had a dream, of sharing my Art.  I was working on a challenge piece for MArQ (Milwaukee Art Quilter's Group) under the theme  "Circle of Life".  As the weekly dance sessions progressed and the art piece came to life, it was only natural to gift it to Barb for the grand opening of her dream space come true.  I am honored that she accepted this labor of love and installed it in the movement studio.  It represents my first leap of faith in discovering my talents.  I will  forever be grateful to her for introducing me toNia.  It is  motivating, spiritual, fun and the only thing that I have found that keeps me committed to taking care of my body.  As an active grandmother of four, and a passionate fiber artist, I need all the energy help that I can get.

A closer look at "Dancing with Love", my Circle of Life challenge art piece, that hangs on the east wall of the Movement Studio at Core El Centro.  The rainbow colored band represents the chakras of the body while circling the One at the center of the universe.  A LoveLight of  movement!

When was the last time that you got up and moved around?  Go put on some music.  It's time for a dance.    Get moving!

Finding Your Bliss

In this sometimes confusing and chaotic life it can be difficult at times to focus in on one’s bliss. I find that whenever I am able to take myself into my studio, the stresses of the day melt away as I get into the rhythm and practice of ‘playing with a purpose’. My hands busy themselves with fondling the fabrics. My eyes focus on the textures and colors and my Spirit jumps with joy to be ‘home’. I find my center. The MUSE shows me the way and creativity takes over as a new piece of art is born.

Mandalas are my obsession and sharing them in my fiber art is my passion. Somehow, no matter where I start a new project idea, it finishes involving some circular design element. I no longer make apologies as I have decided that this is my ‘voice’. Drawing the viewer’s eye into the center of these LoveLights © (my mandalas) has become my mission. I am eager to share my bliss with everyone who will take a look.

Reunions

"Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other Gold!"  These lyrics from a familiar Girl Scout song ring in my inner ear these days as I think about days gone by.

Last month, I wore several hats all at one time,  Can you relate?  They were the hats of:  Devoted Wife, Loving Mother,  Joyful Grandmother, First Daughter, Wise Sister, Artist, and Fun Friend.  I wore these hats simultaneously  as I attended my high school reunion of 40+ years.  In the past, this type of event would really unnerve me.  But for some reason, this time I was very comfortable in my skin.  Is this what happens once one crosses the bridge to the new decade of the 60's?  A certain aire of acceptance and confidence seems to take over.

I was pleasantly surprised by the numbers of  former classmates that attended this very casual event.  One of our classmates took it upon himself to organize this reunion via the internet using email.  We met in the pavilion at our community annual fair.  After signing the guest book and donning name tags, we were encouraged to mingle and visit with our peers who had gathered.  It was crazy to greet former classmates who knew me when.  We talked, hugged, laughed and shared a toast to the fact that we survived!!  It was somewhat shocking to see the list of our fallen classmates grow over the course of the evening,  Bless these friends who have moved on - -

I especially enjoyed watching my parents and sibs greeting and hugging and visiting with these 'dear ones' who at one time were a very special part of our lives.  Yes, my 80+ year old parents were there to greet the "kids" who used to hang around our house looking to be a part of the action of a big family.  Did I mention that I have 4 sisters and 3 brothers??  Life was never boring and there were always chores to be done that went a little faster when the friends came to call and helped speed up the process.  Those were the days - - - -