Sneak Peek

New clutches coming soon to my etsy shop. Meet Siren (revamped) and Briar Rose. Which side is your favorite?

Pretties

Progress

Four little clutches drying in the breeze

Meet soon-to-be Harlequin, Siren, Something in My Drink, and Briar Rose, if you please.

Round We Go A-Merry

What is it about a carousel that makes us giddy, giggly, and a-kid-again excited? The music? The lights? The brightly colored animals take flight to the calliope, soaring up and down, round and round, while we squeal and laugh and wave to the strangers as we sail by. For a moment, the forward motion of the merry-go-round carries me backward to girlhood, to carnivals and Coca-Cola glasses, 6 balls for a quarter, and lemon shake ups. And all is right with the world.

This is the newly unveiled carousel at The Living Desert zoo in Rancho Mirage, a magical place that may just be between the worlds. I sat astride the bejeweled zebra, and squealed and laughed and waved to the strangers as I passed by.

Hopes

So, I don't make resolutions - too much pressure and so very cliche. Instead, I have "hopes". This year, my big hope is to develop my Etsy shop KiKiBowns to it's fullest potential. That translates to more inventory, MUCH better pictures, and rewrites of product descriptions. Community outreach - approaching various locals shops about product interest. More craft shows. Once I have done as much with it as I feel I could, I am opening another shop: wakethemoonmuse.etsy.com. As a diversion to all of those clutches I made for the holiday season, I started knitting wintery accessories - cowls, wraps, fingerless mitts. They were a hit, and I almost couldn't keep up with the orders that came in from my show. So, why not? A wider market and lots of fun! Plus, I like the challenge of creating in new and different ways.

I hope to read more. I was over a dozen short on my 52 in 52: I think from all of the damn knitting I was doing for the holidays, and I could only take so many books to Africa.

I hope to do more yoga (yogahhhhhh). It's all a matter of finding the right class at the right time. I am stronger than I have been, well, ever, and I hope to challenge myself more during my gym time. Perhaps now I don't need to modify as much. Come on, knees, you can do it!

I hope to spend more time with friends and family. We are planning a trip to Chicago in June, and I hope to see as many of my friends and relatives as possible then. And, meet friends that I actually haven't really met yet (in person, anyway).

Lastly, I hope for inner peace and balance.

It's A Wrap!

Yes. I've been absent for a while. Much busy-ness, life lessons, humility, and sincere heartfelt gratefulness. To wrap up the old to welcome the new:

a re - entry into the familiar, and re-adaptation

illness, hospitalization, recovery

knitting, knitting, knitting

worry, worry, worry

rejoice

a validation of art, and success

blessings of friends and family

hopefulness

May you all find joy, peace, health and humility in the New Year. Hold your friends and family close. Be well.

Doors

I've come to the realization that I have a fascination with doors. I love the mystery, the mystical possibility of a doorway, the something wonderful awaits one on the other side.  It's the Alice in Wonderland of it, the what's - behind - door - number - one of it, the path to another dimension of it.

These were all taken on Goree island, best known for its role in the Atlantic slave trade. According to John, it represents a perfect example of French colonial/creole architecture. Gorgeous, breathtaking, and magical.

Door, where you been, door?