Enough

I'm reading this great book about being, having, and doing enough. It seems in this life we never feel like we are enough to our friends and family, have enough to be happy, or accomplish enough in one day to be satisfied. I took this book to Ocean Grove this past weekend to read on the beach. The day was overcast and cool (not ideal beach weather). Yet it was enough. The salty air, the sound of the waves, my husband beside, long walks to empty my mind of thoughts, the best ice cream in NJ, and a day to just Be--it was plenty and I felt rich.
I envisioned this blog to be a chronicle of living an inspired life, not just me posting pictures of the things I create. My dream is to live a creative life, and I have to acknowledge the small ways that I am doing that now. I still dream of living that creative life on a small farm, with a small family, and a barnside studio stocked full of fabric and yarn. But if I wait until I have all of the perfect environmental factors in order to feel happy and content, I'll be waiting for the rest of my life perhaps--and missing out on the joy of today in the meantime. To me, living an inspired life means enjoying each day as much as I can, doing something that nourishes my creative spirit. I learned from Julia Cameron (The Artist's Way) to take myself on "artist dates" in order to fill the creative well. Going to the beach this weekend, despite the less than perfect weather, was just the artist date I needed to reconnect to that inner peace that had been stifled by all the DOING I have done in the last 9 months.
I have made time for myself this summer to have more nourishing days full of inspiration and relaxation. My wish list for this year had included taking classes at FIT, learning French, and going to San Juan. But instead I'll go to Cape Cod (want to stay close to home due to baby on the way...) and take a class with Julia Cameron at the Open Center (FIT had no interesting summer classes this year.) I want to save learning French with my daughter so we can both be bilingual. :) I will make "playdates" or artist dates with myself, friends, and family to enjoy my own backyard (NYC). Riverside Park is at my doorstep for daily walks, Central Park has the zoo and summer stage, there are museums everywhere, Brooklyn has the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend, there's a boat to Sandy Hook from Midtown, and I'm a short 2 hour ride from the Hudson Valley. Best of all, I carry with me all the time the greatest gift I have ever been given: a child of my own. I'd say I have more than enough.

Socks!

I'm finally going to learn to knit socks! (Trish, I know you'll be happy and you'll get my first wonky pair....) I just signed up for a 2 day class at White Barn Farm in Gardiner, NY. http://www.whitebarnsheepandwool.com/ Ironically, I discovered White Barn Farm by chance on the day I moved to the city while I was dropping off some stuff at my friend's house to store in his attic. On my way back to the thruway, I spotted the tiny sign and some green Adirondack chairs out front. I skidded to a stop (dust clouds and all), backed up, and drove down the driveway. I walked out with an armful of delicious smelling local wool yarn and a smile. I'm so looking forward to driving up for a couple of Sundays to take this class. Yay socks!

Woodland Cottages

I finally got moving on these little wool gnome homes, and now I can't stop! The little pile of tartan wool I picked up at the Sheep and Wool Festival is being transformed into woodland cottages, each one of a kind. There will be 6 in the series when I am done, and with the day off from work today, I may be done tonight! Although products for the spring are popping up on Etsy daily, I can't help but love these little winter pillows and will post them as soon as they are all finished. Hope you enjoy them too!