Inspire Me: Celtic Cables

Here's a screenshot I took from one of my latest Google searches. 

I've been focusing a lot of time learning about these beautiful intricate looking celtic cables, sometimes called knotwork.  Its been quite the math lesson to learn how to design the perfect cable.  Last week I was reading articles from a mathematician and this week I've been focused on geometry and how that applies to the symmetry I so love in my designs. It is positively hilarious that I used to hate math. In high school math made me miserable. Now I know its because I didn't fully grasp how those concepts could apply to a real life situation.  I'll be honest, sometimes math still baffles me.  I do have to take a few breaks between my studies just to let my brain rest.  Every time I have a "breakthrough ah" moment, I say a quick mental thank you to all the math teachers I've had over the years. (Ms. English would be so proud.)

Isn't it strange how easy it is to discredit something that's super challenging in the moment? More often than not, we just focus on the difficulty and not what future rewards it might bring. Tonight I'm thankful for all those difficult days and nights studying mathematical concepts and what seemed like endless hours of completing problems that surely no one would ever need to use again.  Now all the hours I put into figuring out a problem end in the joy of finishing my knitting. Challenges can indeed bring joy in the end.

A Housekeeping Note: I'll making a few changes to the blog.  Inspire Me posts will now be made twice a month instead of weekly. 

Inspire Me: Color

I'm a colorful person. I don't shy from color in everyday life or my designs. I have plans to do more dyeing in the spring so I've been doing a little bit of study on color theory. To keep things fun, I spent some time scrolling through color palettes on Pinterest this week. Here's a few of my favorites. 

Nature Color Board
Color Board

I also have a love for nature (which you could probably guess). There are so many unique color combinations in nature. I often find myself staring out a window and imaging a beautiful yarn or braid of fiber dyed in those colors. Sometimes I envision a lacey shawl with the ebb and flow of those colors in an interesting motif.  I'm very blessed to live in such a beautiful area. Many people vacation in this valley to enjoy the view of the mountains.  I hope to share a few of my own photos in the coming months.

Inspire Me: New Studio Space

Just a few inspiration pictures from my Pinterest board

For some time now I've been gathering ideas about how to downsize my studio. Yesterday I even noticed that one of my favorite bloggers, Soulemama, posted pictures of her renovated studio. (I start writing my blog posts a bit in advance so she wasn't included in the above Pinterest board capture.) There are some beautiful studio spaces out there.  Its very important for a creative person to have a space dedicated to said creativity.  It's not just about a place to store your items, its a place to house ideas and bring them to life. To be truly inspired to create, you have to feel comfortable and inspired in the place you create them.

I took a long time to create my old space. It was a dedicated room (the 3rd bedroom) in my home.  Shelving full of fabrics, yarns and fiber and bulletin boards pinned with inspiration, artwork and my drafted sewing patterns filled the walls. There's a desk area for scrapbooking and general designing on one side with drawers and bins of notions, paints and yarns underneath.  The other wall houses two sewing stations; one for the regular machine and one for the serger, with a rolling cart of sewing items close by.  There's a bay window who's sill houses a couple of extra sewing machines and storage boxes. The closet of that room houses overflow craft items, seasonal fabrics and painting canvases. I think there's a few musical instruments in that closet too.  But the time has come for me to give up my traditional studio space, at least in this house. I'll be giving this room to my son in the next couple years or so, since its the larger bedroom of the two.

I also desire to let go of the items and crafts that I no longer need.  In recent months I've sold a lot of my paper scrapbooking things.  I mainly only digitally scrapbook now and that requires little more than my computer and some hard drive storage.  I'm planning to go through those paints, fabrics and yarns too.  I imagine its going to be hard both physically and emotionally.  I get emotionally attached to things far too easily and so I hold on to them forever. Not only is that unhealthy for my small space, but it's not healthy for me either. I need to learn how to let go.

I made a Pinterest board of small office/studio spaces that inspired and motivated me to continue my downsizing.  I've been reading a few blogs about living in small spaces too.  Slowly but surely I'm learning how to be content with less stuff.  The photo above in top center is the one that most inspires me.  It even looks like the corner I've chosen in my master bedroom.  I need just a few storage shelves above my desk, a bulletin board to the right, my computer and a comfy chair.  I'll be moving my sewing area to the dining room for now. That gives me the ability to watch Dealan play in the living room while I sew and cook at the same time. We have two safety gates on either side of the living room and hallway so his little curious fingers will be safe from my machine. 

Over the coming months, I'd like to share my progress with you. I'll be doing a series focused on living in a small home and how that practically works.  I'm sure that you'll be seeing more posts about small living that inspire me. Be sure to check out my Pinterest board if you need a little inspiration for your own studio space.

Anyone else downsizing a room or a creative space? I'd love to hear your experiences as well in the comments below.

Inspire Me - Family

I suppose it's only fitting to talk about family the week of Christmas.  We are very blessed to be surrounded by lots of family. My son has several sets of grandparents and great parents.  This past week, we have taken time to visit with them all.  There are special things about each one of them.  I draw inspiration from not only their love, but also their personalities.

My Mammaw, my maternal grandmother, has such a gentle spirit.  She is kind and patient while paying the utmost of attention to you.  It's encouraging to be in her company because you know she truly values that time with you.  She inspires me to be more attentive and intentional in my every day life.

My Granny and Papaw, my paternal grandparents, both have a lot of spunk. Its not uncommon for me to be surprised by something they say.  They say what they think and you don't have to wonder about any hidden intent.  I love how Granny is very serious about time spent with family.  There are no excuses accepted for time not spent with family. They inspire me to keep my priorities in order and to be who I am with no apologies.

This year there were a few changes in our families' traditions and one old tradition brought back from my childhood.  I, of course, had these grand plans to capture everything in pictures so we could replay the memories for years to come. But at the end of Christmas day, I was left with just a few random pictures of Dealan opening his gifts and a couple goofy family shots.  In the end, I chose to just sit back and mentally take in everything.  I looked at my son's face as he opened up his gifts and saw his true reactions face to face.  Sometimes I think we loose those moments when we are so focused on capturing the 'best' photo of the day.  I didn't want to loose those moments this time around.  Dealan kept me on my toes most of the day chasing him around.  He's a full on little guy, who very rarely slows down.

Merry Christmas everyone.  I hope your day(s) were filled with family. May they ever inspire us.

P.S.  I did get all my Christmas gift knitting finished...before Christmas Eve too !

Inspire Me - Brokenness

A few months ago an article came across my Feedly feed that featured relection photographs of broken mirrors. The images stirred me and I saved the article away to use as a future design reference. I saw such beauty in those broken shards of glass.

In my lifetime, I've experienced many times of intense brokenness. I identify well with the mental, emotional and physical roller coaster ride that brokenness brings. The thing I find most amazing about brokenness is there is still beauty found right in the mess of it. I often find myself looking for that beauty. Pushing through all the layers to discover that one special gem inside. Countless times I've been inspired and moved to tears by reading someone's story. Most of the time, I never relay those feelings to them, but always say a word of prayer and thanks to God for that brokenness.

Broken pieces make beautiful masterpieces.

.

Broken Mirror by Bing Wright
http://www.fubiz.net/en/2014/05/24/broken-mirror-by-bing-wright/

Inspire Me - Simply Enjoy The Moment

This evening I find myself sitting by the pale white light of my sparsely decorated Christmas tree with my sick little one cuddled close to my breast. He just awoke from his nap in need of some momma milk and love. I'm just sitting here breathing in his sweet smells and listening to the gentle rhythm of his little stuffy nose. He has rolled over now onto my chest fast asleep in the most comforting place he knows.

My mind has been drifting all day wondering just what was inspiring to me this week. As I sit here, I can think of nothing more inspiring than moments when you can take a breath and simply enjoy the moment. Nothing else matters, requires thought or your direct attention in those precious and often elusive moments. I hope you too have a few of those moments roll your way this week.

Inspire Me : Goodbye Fear

[I'll be posting an Inspire Me post weekly (for now on Tuesday). These will be anything that was particularly inspiring to me at that time. I've set up a few new Pinterest boards to store away sources of inspiration. I may link to those from time to time.]

This week I bring to you a quote by Joseph Chilton Pearce. (Graphic from me...courtesy of my Christmas tree)

My biggest struggle in life and creativity has been the fear of being wrong. I've pushed myself and been miserable trying to avoid failure at all costs. Through the years though, I've learned that living with this kind of fear isn't living at all. If knitting has taught me one thing, it is that being wrong is ok. Afterall, its only yarn and some needles. Pull those needles out, tug the end of the yarn, and suddenly all those tiny loops fall free to leave a pile of yarn waiting to be balled up again . The error is gone and you are presented with a opportunity to try again or make something completely new. The creative life presents so many ways to stretch yourself and learn. Goodbye fear, I no longer need you.