Magic and Myths

The moon tonight will be the farthest and smallest of the year, but only those close to the ocean will notice the weak pull upon the tide. In preparation for this years astoundingly beautiful curriculum of geometry, Ancient civilizations and botany, we are drawn into the mythology once more of India, Babylonia, Egypt and of course Greece. I spent much of my childhood exploring various greek islands, and can see than an immersion of food, culture and stories will bring an important year of learning to the ever growing fount of knowledge - Donovan Boy!

The magic is already built in!!

All this while Little Gandalf will delve deeply into his fables, animal myths and a large quotient of knitting I suspect! In the meantime, off we go for one more short family excursion, this time to the farthest south of California, and after the recent return from the mountain top of Big Bear, we are happy to have breath to do so!

Ray of Light, always seems to find the prefect spot
( my photo shoot area this time)

Summer is finally here and I haven't had a single Margarita yet! The legs may even see a light shade of brown before I'm done, I may even finish the trashy vamp book :-), snooze outdoors in the middle of the day and possibly, just maybe, not answer the phone for a few days!
Happy Day!

some of my favourite summer colours - in the dye pot of course!!

I proudly managed to get into trouble for this lovely array of silk hanging on my balcony!!

Planes and Cranes

The beautiful work from the Planes and cranes day to the wet felted
treasure pouches completed today...tomorrow, the volcano erupts!

For want of a better term, I've been MIA since mid June only resurfacing from teacher training for a quick birthday trip to the much improved L.A. Zoo and for the children of this years' Phoenix Academy Summer Camp, who have marvelled at the art work they have done this week and they never cease to amaze me!

"It's not poison - it's a vegetable." Overheard at the snack table...

I am too knackered to really write a bevy of fantastical stories about my observations this week, but will do as soon as time allows! Rather I wanted to share a slice of life for us over the past couple of weeks in picture format. I do have some recipes brewing, some gardening exploits and I haven't even shared the illustrious work of some talented felters from a recent fantasy playscape class either. After the fast approaching California Homeschool Expo this weekend, where I am tasked with speaking about Waldorf education in the home, I will have more stories to share and hopefully some pics too, that don't embarrass me too much!


Ah! The out breath of Summer shines on everyone it seems.

best way to keep cool in the midday sun, munch on cactus leaves?

Just loved this shot from the zoo,
doing what he does best.

Summer Rounds

As I move through July in a maze of birthdays, gray skies and limited time to ponder the world or relax, I wonder about the shape of things to come, how they morph and how I may meet them in the future.

Donovan Boy reached the grand age of 11 today. Last eve, we retold his beautiful birth story, I stayed up until 1.06am, fave foods of spaghetti and choc pudding pie were on the menu, a big day out with friends, where we were freaked out by some ancient mummies from around the world and all culminated in a final bloody battle of a 3 day old God Storm Risk!!

Today is about loving ...
my silver hair
my mothers voice far away, singing
family - and friends are that too
an answer to a question....please.

Ya know, Thursday's are the worst ( unofficial) traffic days, have you noticed too?

Campy

Campers at the Phoenix Academy Summer arts program spent their days walking in imagination filled nature, singing silly songs, playing games and engaging in artistic endeavours each day. With budget cuts slashing even the programs in schools, that are supposedly arts-integrated, the children lapped up the painting, collage, sculpting, wet felting pictures and cooking! Held together with a unique Super Me! game, and as much swimming our poor cold bodies could bear in this abominable atmospheric condition California is trying to call 'Summer', we all had loads of fun!


Now I am gearing up for the next intensive - but splendid - week of Eurythmy with WISC (Waldorf Institute of Southern California) with the hope that I can also pull off starting and completing successfully, a UCLA early childhood course during the next 9 weeks.

So long summer vacation!

Sloshin' around...

The oceanfront in Encinitas, San Diego, was certainly a treat to visit and stay for a first of several days attending Waldorf teacher training with WISC. The amazing patience and wisdom of Steve Spitalny coupled with the charismatic eurythmist Dean Pollard threw caution to the early childhood winds and inspired those present with their thoughtful insights in the realms of the 12 senses of the developing human. I'm still processing all that today...thank you!

Food for thought by Dean Pollard

A prelude to this amazing week was a trip to The Black Sheep Gathering in lovely and friendly Eugene, Oregon. The hippest of neighbourhoods there has to be the one where art is created at the roadside curb on every turn! This curbside garden came complete, with cycles aplenty and plumes of cabbage and runner beans climbing stakes.

This is not my garden

When the heat like a mist veil floats,
And poppies flame in the rye,
And the silver note in the streamlet's throat
Has softened almost to a sigh.
It is July.

–Susan Hartley Swett (1860–1907

Gathering, not hunting

fuzzy logic....well I couldn't very well leave the basket there could I?

I'm all of a dither while I pack for the wet and woolly Oregon, to experience the Black Sheep Gathering wool festival. Relaxing for me, is nothing to do but explore new territory, in the company of fellow fiber gal nerds; learn some new skills, meet some cool artisans and take couple of classes from the one and only Ayala Taipai, the elven lady who is my first inspiration to the art form of needle felting over 5 years ago!

Ayala, the original wild woolly woman!

update...
Upon my return last evening from a week long conference, I remembered that I had also spent 3 blissful days with friends making stuff and visiting sheep and never actually pressed the 'post' button, so it appears to me in a fuzzy memory when I see the beautiful wool, mohair and dyed felt, I can sigh happily and wonder when I may make something of it!

insert smiley face here

Moveable feast

the most dangerous place for visiting fiber fanatics...

'Making' part Ⅲ

Private Sphere
by Stephanie Metz
featured by permission

Hand made is a concept that seems to imbue quaint or folksy feelings in some people. It eats up time which of course is either a joy or mostly inconvenient, uses muscles you never thought you needed or had and may not turn out the way you had desired upon starting a project...however, it is a natural internal knowledge that this hand art is nourishing the soul, feeding my spirit and healing all sorts of wounds that I never knew I had.

I 'make' things in my sleep, going through the paces, processing an idea or forming a picture in my head before choosing to start something. Sometimes the work is complete in the dream world and it may never have tactile form. Other ideas are worked on and through for many months ( maybe years) before they are ready to be brought into being and where I'm ready to start the physical journey with an art project.

Terra Firma was started two years ago and stands today incomplete and a useless waste of space in my tiny woolly retreat until I had that ah-ha! moment. There was something lacking and I think now SHE will share half with HE and be true to the numerous first man and woman ancient mythology stories. We shall see shan't we!? I suspect some amusing surprises that may take hold when I get to work on her this summer!

This contemporary fiber artist was so gracious when I contacted her about ya'll enjoying her work...as she has popped up a couple of times now and I thought it about time to feature her here as another fabulous artist who is pushing the form of felt to it's edge!! Way to go Stephanie! Enjoy her site HERE!

Meditation by Stephanie Metz

In other news....

new rescue kittens came to stay and play this month..
Donovan Boy named the orange one Jupiter and Ray of Light's moniker care of Little Gandalf
hope they don't wreak my wool boxes!

Lady Spring

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"

Lady Spring has come indeed and the new moon tomorrow marks a planting time that will feed you into Summer!

Whew! I just spent FOREVER re-typing, finding and resetting passwords, trying to rack the old gray cells for something of a clue to get into blogger through Gmail. Finally here again!

Ah Springtime - maybe I'll feel like I've caught up enough one day, to fully enjoy it! It's been a busy time with the usual springy mood imbued, spiralling up and out and all about!
The obvious peeking blooms from new pale green leaves, chattering squirrels and tell tell signs of deep Spring give way for me to seek the undertones of the colour, sounds and smells that I remember from year to year.

With every turn I hear children full to bursting of giggles, I spot silly faces and riddles aplenty, ducks are dunking each other and becoming increasingly talkative and friendly, the blue heron family nests-in, with the now noisy babies and are finding the Great Green pond a great place to dine on the cheap! Apparently turtle soup is dish of the day :-(
Somethings afoot in the forest, menacing and hungry. Menu items for this lurker include skunk, a mouse, two red-eared sliders, and today a large bird. Feels like that book where the caterpillar eats through an abundance of stuff before curling up for a snooze?
UPDATE!!! We found out today that it is red tailed hawk, feeding it's family, so hard to be sad for the critters!

Tall Tale Tree creative writing and felted tree workshop coming up soon JUNE!
More info to register HERE!

Quickie miniscape 7"x5 - Storyteller Playscape class HERE in July!

The mer-gals are back ready to rock and in stock, buy your kit HERE!

Don't forsake, Create!

There's something magical about sharing a creative experience with strangers! This synthesis of energy seems to occur every time I teach a fiber art workshop and it's so lovely to see new friendships being made as well as embracing creative angst when we are struggling through or challenged.

Taking time to make art 'just because' is so important to our bodies and souls. I'm always inspired to make something after teaching and honoured to help guide the process along. Helping a person feel they accomplished something and gained knowledge along the way is quite lovely!

My workshops for this Spring and Summer are continuing through August, the next one is this Sunday April 25th to create Spring Maiden, more details on all the workshops are here...

A watery elemental sprite

A rainbow in the skirts of a birthday doll

Got back just in time as flights were cancelled all over Europe started in the UK. I wouldn't be true Brit if I didn't mention the weather at least once, so can I just say how skewed my boys vision must be of England! We didn't see any rain all week, just sunny days with some wind coming from the north, pathetic! We took all our best rain boots too and had no use for them except to whip them off in the security lines at the airport! Fake complaining aside, it was a fabulous week of visits to many family members and old friends, ranging from 6 months old to 101, thank you so much, all of you who travelled to see us and hosted long playdates!!

So it's Back to the grind of making up a Spring circle for the kinders, doing my WISC homework, cooking in my own kitchen and making wooly stuff for a faire - yep I know it's not so bad!

Courage!

Many are destined to reason wrongly; others, not to reason at all; and others to persecute those who do reason. Voltaire.

Jet lag fully behind me now and a flight just in time before icelandic volcano plumes of ash grounded european flights, I was happy to be back for at least 24 hours! Benefit of doubt gives sway to those who are confused about apparent character assassination and should look to truth in their hearts before judgment or gossip is entered into.

Traitors Gate

I tried to get this taken at exactly 4.20...but was a little off....

A busy week ahead with 2 felting workshops to teach, a kindergarten circle to complete and a mass of damaged egos to contend with. Oh and it's my birthday on Tuesday, joy! The answer to life, the universe and everything year is set to be complete with it's own eruptions of passionate opinions, change and choices - ha, whats new!

Got the time to laff around...

Southend without Sea!

Just lion around, guess where?

Up and Away..

Planting is one of my great amusements...Thomas Jefferson (April 13th birthday and 13th prez.)

Rain in the Spring is as precious as oil - Chinese proverb

OK I haven't checked the weather report yet, but am still in hope for a break in the rain in the UK after all the crazy storms recently, I've packed the wellies, hats and gloves and will hope for the best and it certainly won't stop us from having at least a couple of visits to Rossi's ice cream parlor! Seeing my new young niece and many old (wrinkly) and just old friends will be the highlight and among various (great) Aunts, Uncles, cousins galore (1st, 2nd and 3rd) my boys will be spoilt rotten!

Happy Birthday to all my fellow Avrilites, (in particular, Domenica, Leenie, Mayo), what a great month full of wild windy and wet weather; quakes; Earth Day; Arbor Day; Easter; St Georges Day ( patron saint of farmers) and a fab Full Pink Moon!

This years' eggstravaganza....

Sign up for the Spring Maiden workshop on April 25th HERE!

Mermaids in trepidation ....

Sapping me MOON

yes this full moon is what's commonly known as the Worm Moon but also Sap Moon in regions when the first tapping of the maple sap begins...in my case however the sapping is of my energy!

Phew, what a week so far....teaching my first workshop this year on Painting with Wool. A truly great Pesach (Passover) celebration last eve complete with singing, drinking and a very late night for the kids thanks to dear Topangites......yes still recovering, and Easter is just around the corner right before the boys and I head out to Old Blighty for a spot of puddle splashing in my home town. The word 'busy' doesn't quite encapsulate or begin to describe what's really going on here!

A mother and baby by Aurora in slight bas relief

I love that gefilte fish (yummy first course) often is shaped into an egg and the elliptical egg often symbolizes spring, rebirth, and the season’s renewal of life. Perfect.

and off they go.....

A lovely table set for revelry!

Using eggs as a holiday tradition is found across cultures. During the Jewish Passover (starting March 30), a roasted egg sits on the Seder plate. Eggs associated with Easter (April 4) are fertility symbols and reflect ancient spring renewal rites. For Christians, eggs were traditionally forbidden during Lent and always eaten on Easter Sunday.

Lovely Summer sunset by Safi inspired by our hot snap of sunshine

Peaceful breezes by the beach, caught by Brooke