Its Summer!!!

Summer has finally arrived.  I have found my long neglected blog and maybe some time and energy to write something inspiring. Whhoohoooo!!!

Spring has really been a busy time for me this year.  And sadly it has not left me much time to write on my blog or dedicate as much time as I'd like to my Etsy shop.  There has been a lot of personal issues come up in my life that have really needed my attention and energy, I am trying to flow with that.  Dietary issues have been a major factor; gluten, dairy, soy and peanut intolerance to be more exact.  Both my eight year old son and I have be presented with the challenge of these intolerances, and although we've had a few bumps in the road both of us are quite happy with our diet and are adjusting into healthier and much happier Mother and Son. 

Spring is about New Growth, and that is something I have been very busy doing.  Its also about letting go of things that are no longer useful to you.  I have been doing housekeeping within myself and in my house.
Meditation and mindfulness have been two things I have been bringing into my everyday life.

Have I been crocheting up a storm?   Oh, yes!  I have been hard at work doing alot of things I never seem to find the time for in the Fall and Winter.

This summer I decided I was going to take more time for my family.  I am really not putting a huge effort into my shop right now.  My garden always consumes so much of my time too, not that I don't enjoy it.  :)  I also wanted to be able to just crochet when I felt the desire, I do often feel the desire, but if I wanted to not be held down by getting orders out on time.  This will also allow me to get ahead for the Fall/Winter season and have some items in stock and ready to go!!

Not to mention we have decided to add a dog to the mix.  The dog is 5 years old and in need of a loving family home.  We are pretty excited to have him join our family.  I will post pictures of him when he is settled in. 
Summer is leading us out doors for bicycle rides, hiking, camping, swimming, not to mention our garden.  So amongst all this busy energy I am finding opportunities to just enjoy the moment, and flow with life.

Cycling into Spring............

I know its still cold out and the ground is covered with snow in many places but Spring has definitely arrived here on the West Coast.

I have found myself designing some new fingerless mitts lately, using some of the hemp wool blend yarn I dyed this winter.  I am also incorporating some the buttons my husband made from fallen tree branches off of our property.  I love the character they give each piece.  He cuts and sands them, and I polish them with orange oil and bees wax. 

The hand dyed yarns are so fun to create with, I love mixing and matching leftovers from other projects to make one of a kind items.

I am also working hand crocheting little appliques like leaves and such to add to my woodland collection.  Its a great way to use up any little pieces.  


Spring is a time for renewal, for letting go of things that are holding you back and down.  This could be anything, poor eating habits, emotional baggage that is not longer serving you, bad behaviors.  Learning to take a step back from the situation, calm down often time our perspective changes so much.  I used to think it was just better to deal with things right away, this isn't true.  Its healthy to calm down and collect yourself.  Getting emotional about situations only complicates things and mars your perspective.  

“It isn’t what happens to us that causes us to suffer; it’s what we say to ourselves about what happens.” -Pema Chodron

I have been finding myself mindfully breathing a lot lately.  This puts me in the Present moment, not thinking about how I did this wrong, or what I could've said better...etc. At any given point I will stop my monkey mind by breathing in peace and then breathing peace back into the world.  This is so detoxifying.   

I have found myself rediscovering songs that so inspired me as a kid.  Here is one of my Favorites:

True Colors by Cyndi Lauper

You with the sad eyes
don't be discouraged
oh I realize
it's hard to take courage
in a world full of people
you can lose sight of it all
and the darkness inside you
can make you feel so small

But I see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow

Show me a smile then
don't be unhappy, can't remember
when I last saw you laughing
if this world makes you crazy
and you've taken all you can bear
you call me up
because you know I'll be there

And I'll see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow

Namaste,
Chriss

Creative Cycles and the Winter Solstice.........

This winter more than ever I have been paying attention to cycles in my life, a new awareness so to speak.  I have noticed that like the plants and animals I have less energy in the winter.  Less energy to cope with stress, to be physically active, even to create.   At times I find myself fighting this nature.  Even though deep down I know that if the kettle is always boiling, sooner or later the water evaporates.

I do notice that I seem to be a in cycle of reflecting, on what I want, where I was, what happened, how I felt, I am practicing or putting ideas into practice.  I am hibernating, slowing down some.  This is ok.  I need to recharge my creative center, my soul.

I know that I go through times where I don't create anything new.  I make items that I have already mastered, just enjoying the repetition and zen like quality I get from something so familiar and simple, easy.  These are the times that I cherish as much as I do when I am exploring new ideas and experimenting. 
I cannot create and explore new ideas and inspirations all the time.  I cannot force them to come to fruition either.  The more I force them, the more stuck I feel.  These are times I need to retreat and find quiet, to rest with my ideas and nurture them.

How am I going to do this:  Eating warm and spicy food, walking, warm baths, meditating, just enjoying the slowness of winter.  Reminding myself daily that there is a time for planting, for growth, for pruning, for harvesting and for rest.
When I am creating I am making items that are not overly taxing on me.  Just sitting and cuddling with my children, reading books.  Cooking simpler meals even that I am not slaving over, but that are nourishing.

Being gentle with myself, understanding that I too need to have my cup filled once again.
That the things that really matter are the people I love in my life.  Not how much money I have, not how fancy of a car I drive, not the uber trendy clothes I pay too much for, not what I give people except, of myself.  My love, my attention, my acceptance, my understanding, my compassion, my laughter, my ability to listen, my hugs and kisses, my smiles, my tears, my silence, my dreams, my nightmares, my hopes, my fears, my strength, my grace, my kindness, my virtues.

My cup is really always full, I just lack the perception to conceive of it.

Shima and Shanti,

Chriss

The Winner of Our February Giveaway is..............

Allison Lore.  Congratulations! 

Allison has won A set of her choice of Either Hemp or Organic Cotton Produce Sacs.

Thank you to all who entered and please look out for March's Giveaway!

February Giveaway!!!!

Its time to show all my wonderful followers some love!!

How about a giveaway?  Yay, a giveaway?  A giveaway.  But what to give?

Seeing as I am giving love, I want to give something that will love the Planet too.

I wanted to give something pretty because I think we all need to feel inspired by beauty this time of year.  But something practical too, something someone could use a lot!!

Produce Bags!!!  This time its your choice though.  You can choose from the Hemp ones or

the Organic Cottons ones.  Any colors I have available.

This time around you will receive 1 Small 17cm wide x 22cm long, (6 1/2" wide x 8 1/2") long and 1 Large bag that will measure 26cm wide x 33.5 cm long, (10" wide x 13" long).

Now, for how to enter.  Please Follow the Directions Carefully. 

1) Become a Fan on my Blog.  :)
2) Visit my Etsy Shop: The Art of Zen.......Crochet  have a look around and find your favorite item.
3) Email me at theartofzencrochet(at)live.ca with the February Giveaway in the Subject, telling me your favorite item and why!

Please do not leave your email on my blog, this will be deleted and you will not be entered. 
Entried will be accepted until February 13 2011 and the Winner will be announced on February 14 2011
Thank you for entering and have the Best day Ever!!

Another Video to share!!!

So here is the second video in my series.  Please feel free to comment and share.
This one shows you how to make over your old bangles and bracelets by wrapping them with yarn.

 

 

Are you looking for ways to use up your yarn scraps?

If you are like me then you kind of dabble in a bit of this and a bit of that.  I have done some Jewelry assembling and modifying.  I have done some sewing.  I kind of get into doing mixed media fiber art.  Sometimes I just need a break from crocheting.  It gives me ideas in other ventures too.

So I made my First youtube video.  This video shows some really amazing Recycled Sari Silk Yarn fiber beads I made using Glue/Homemade Paste, Recycled Sari Silk Yarn scraps and leftovers, repurposed plastic straws (they have been in my cupboard for about 6 years!), and it shows a project idea for an earring.

Here are some photos of the 2 types of earrings I made.

 This is the one you see in my video:  I used reclaimed peacock feathers, one of the "Hard beads", and a leaf from an older pair of earrings. 

I used some jewelry wire, some reclaimed peacock feathers and a "hairy bead" on this one.                                             

I hope you enjoy my First Video, and it inspires you to explore new avenues and to craft greener! 


Shima and Shanti,

Chriss