thankful for...

All morning, I was thinking about what I should post today. I was trying to come up with some profound thing that I was thankful for and maybe some beautiful picture to go with it. Of course I'm thankful for my family and all of my many blessings, but I was trying to think of something a little different and I was having a hard time coming up with something great. So, I decided to wait until later to post and I went off to do some laundry. And as I stepped into my cellar, my toes got a little wet. Uh-oh. So, there it is. Today, I am very, very thankful for plumbers. Especially ones that come quickly on the day before a holiday. Sometimes it really is the simple things...

random projects...

...this pile of body parts will be transformed into a "really cute something" for a "really special someone"...

...still sewing slippers almost every day... here's a recent pair...

...experimenting with fabric dye... I love how it came out... I have various plans for this pile...

...playing with tiny paper and leather scraps... not quite done yet...

...some necklaces in progress...

...and that's what I have been up to... what about you?

holiday things...

What have I been up to? Oh...making holiday pretties for my shop... Here are some of my favorites. The walnut shell is filled with tiny, wonderful treasures. I call it "inspiration in a nutshell".

small offerings...

...a tattered fabric flower found on the road...

...tootsie rolls from their almost spent halloween stash...

...little chalked notes, tucked between my to do lists...

...dried grass from a walk outdoors...

...small offerings for mom...little "i love u's"...to keep me going through the more difficult moments of this adventure they call "parenthood"...

ahhhh...

It's so beautiful out today, that even though I have a lot of work to do, I couldn't resist going out on the deck and putting my feet up for a while. The sun is shining through the shedding trees and it's so warm and inviting. The leaves are at their peak of beauty. I can hear geese nearby. Just too good to miss...

a dream...

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt - marvelous error! -
that a spring was breaking out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life that I have never drunk?

Last night, as I was sleeping,

I dreamt - marvelous error! -

that I had a beehive here inside my heart,

and the golden bees were making white combs

and sweet honey from my old failures.

Last night, as I was sleeping,

I dreamt - marvelous error! -

that a fiery sun was giving light inside my heart.

It was fiery because I felt warmth as from a hearth,

and sun because it gave light

and brought tears to my eyes.

Last night, as I slept,

I dreamt - marvelous error! -

that it was God I had here inside my heart.

---Antonio Machado---

believe in yourself...

... because if you don't, who will ...