art-full moonday

I'm calling the January full moon flying moon. Flying fascinates me in both dream life and earth life. Last night I went outside to see the night sky three times -- first I noticed the moon was a lovely soft yellow in a deep lavender sky. By my last visit, it was stark white in black night. For flying purposes, I preferred the former over the latter. Painted on a 3" square mini canvas.

If you already have or are still stitching/painting/drawing/photographing full-moon art this week, see the end of this post for how to link so we can share with each other.

Today is a full moonday in the sign of Cancer. For some of us, this technically occurred yesterday, but let's just say we all have a full moon right now. The full moon is a time to recognize and celebrate the fullness in our lives. I make a list on paper sometimes, when things to recognize, much less celebrate, don't come to mind easily. And it's always surprising how large that list turns out to be once I get going. Think of creative projects completed, organizing goals and officework/homework/housework accomplished, and relationships in a good place. Include questions that have been answered over the last weeks and new directions you've thought of or begun. Eating healthy food, walking more -- there's lots of reasons to celebrate in my opinion.

The sign of Cancer influences parts of both the respiratory and the digestive systems -- the lungs down to the gall bladder. Later today, the moon will move into the sign of Leo -- Leo affects the heart and circulation and is a mover of energy. While Cancer is watery and introverted, Leo is fiery and outgoing so hang on to your hat (or hair).

Share your full-moon art! Leave a link in the comments or email me a photo.

Blogger doesn't make a comment link active automatically like other formats, so I poked around a little to find out how and it's really easy. Just copy exactly the following black letters/symbols and fill in the green ones with your information. Don't miss that space between the a and h at the beginning and don't forget the quotation marks.

<a href="url address">words you want to appear</a>

Or, you can leave the URL within your comment and we can copy and paste to visit you. Either way is fine and this will be open-ended with no deadline! And I'll set up a separate full-moon art page at some point.

through the kitchen skylight

greencraft: prayer flags

My 2012 good vibe prayer flags have been started. I love making these simple little drawings with words of hope for all of us here on Earth. It's also nice to make at least some of the flags by candlelight -- maybe because it seems to create a sacred space. I'll continue on these here and there and by next Friday or so, they'll be hand-stitched onto a long strip of cloth and hung in the garden. Last year's flags with a little tutorial are here and here.

When I was writing morning pages today, I accidentally wrote "prayer lights" instead of prayer flags. A slip of the pen? When you think about it, hopes and wishes are sort of like shining lights.

The January full moon is this weekend. That means full moon art! I'll be painting or stitching a simple moon piece and if you'd like to join me (in spirit), that will be fantastic. Then whoever would like to share their art can leave a link on Monday's post. And if you don't have a blog, send me a photo via email and I'll see what I can do.

A several-years-old amaryllis plant close to blooming -- always feels good when it happens, like we did something right. Happy weekending! xo

taking it further: stitching x 3

With the moon growing into fullness once again, this is a great week to take things further. So I've been stitching. Yesterday I closed up the neck opening on a brown peasant top that's been hanging in the closet for too long. Up to the pin up there. Because of cleavage and the desire to not show it. I don't get why an age-appropriate top would have such a low opening other than it's a ploy to sell a cami to wear under it. This is the second top I've done this with lately and I have one more to do. Has anyone else been noticing this?

Then I practiced a little frankenstitch.

This morning it was back to the hand for flying dreams. I'm loving red thread lately.

Speaking of, today I'm taking my thread stash further, too, for the frankenstitch class. Going to the fabric store to stock up. I think this'll be the first time I'll have made a special trip just to buy an assortment of random threads! So decadent -- does anyone ever do that? But, of course, I need to. For the class you know.

another trade-off

Fudge. The kids took most of it home with them, but we have nine and five eighths ounces left. Wouldn't you know, the fudge turned out the year I'm on a diet -- even though my daughter didn't use a candy thermometer (I couldn't find one) -- even though it hardly ever turns out right even with a candy thermometer. It turned out, all right -- it's so good.

The trade-off is having a poached egg instead of my usual breakfast. At the other end of the day, I get an ounce or so of fudge.

This trade-off thing is okay.

trade-off moonday

I've been getting ready to shift gears and needed to do some rearranging. The Viking moved backwards into sleep mode, just started playing around with enshrining it during its hibernation, only some treasured stones so far but I've only just begun. Then my sewing basket moved front and center and this is where I hope to focus my energy now -- on handwork for the two classes I'm involved in, Magic Diaries and Frankenstitch. It's a trade-off. I'm noticing a lot of trade-offs in my life lately, and that's okay because we can't be all things at all times, right?

Today is a waxing moonday in the earth sign of Taurus. I've read that we may be inclined to hold back under a Taurus moon and maybe that's where making trade-offs is a good course of action. Once we're comfortable, then we can be focused and consistent with whatever it is we're doing. Stability and security are other needs of Taurus at the forefront now.

Taurus influences the health of the jaws and neck including the teeth, vocal cords, ears, thyroid gland, and larynx. Speaking out and being heard are important now. The color associated with both Taurus and the throat chakra is blue -- I'm thinking I'll wear a blue scarf today to self-nurture as I find and use my voice. Join me?

goddess bookcloth

Goddess bookcloths are my Solstice gifts this year. The triangular shape symbolizes the three lunar phases --growing, fullness, letting go. Giving moon phase cards has become a tradition, maybe bookcloths will become one, too. Some have found their way out into the world already, but a few more are being made and mailed every day.

The bookcloth was inspired by a beautiful soft sculpture Venus doll I saw in a magazine. My take is sewn from homemade cloth -- remnant strips sewn onto a remnant backing -- and homemade fringe. I played with interfacing as a stiffener but decided a bookcloth should be nice and thin with just a little bit of fringe to mark the spot.

I'm hoping to set up a page on the sidebar with a few goddess shapes to use for various projects, in case anyone is interested.

Happy weekending and, of course, happy new year! xo

this dark morning

 I love getting up in the morning when the house is still dark. Only in the winter though, in the summer that would be too early for me. Some mornings I'll turn on the party lights in the kitchen -- they're up year-round so I don't call them holiday lights. This morning, after letting the dogs out and making my latte and going back to bed to write morning pages, I lit my Solstice candle. And took pictures. Then I went back to bed again and just waited until it was light enough to start writing.

I'm still focusing on making my Solstice gifts. I think we're are at the point where I can call them New Year's gifts. A little early for Valentines.

Anyone else in my position?