#magicmonday
)o(
Love and Light,
Amanda
Monday, July 29, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Plastic Canvas ~ Stitching My Way to Freedom
I can't believe it's been 20 years since I bought the "Fashion Doll House in Plastic Canvas" by Kooler Design Studio. I remember seeing it at the now defunct 'Lewiscraft' in Lethbridge AB, all those years ago. Normally, cross stitching was my craft of choice, but this stopped me dead in my tracks.
Trying to convince my mother, the one who was going to fork out the $40 for me to have this, was a challenge. "You're 15, you don't even know if you're going to have a daughter." This was one of those moments where I needed to revert to childlike behaviour. I was ready and willing to throw a toddler like tantrum until my mother caved.
Amazingly, my mom gave in, and I won. I walked out of that store eager and excited to make this doll house, knowing in my heart, my baby girl was would enjoy it... sooner or later.
If we FWD ten years later (sooner than I would have guessed) to February 28th 2004, at the foothills hospital and just after 30 hours of labour, there she was... my Mini Starlite, the love of my life. Of course, in my minds eye, I had pictured finishing the doll house first, getting married, decorating the nursery to match the doll house, and presenting it when I arrived home with her bundled in my arms.
My first real attempt at making this blasted thing, I mean... family heirloom... was just after getting home from the hospital. Excited to get out of the house and introduce the best baby ever to the world, I took my Mini Starlite to the craft store. Overweight, sweaty, lactating and pushing around a stroller the size of King Kong in a craft store... was not my one of my best ideas. I did not have enough life experience to understand what I was getting into, namely, the needs of a new born. Needless to say, that doll house was going to have to wait another day.
FWD another five years and I find myself back in Ottawa. Not happy. I still had a few months left before having to go back to work. Very happy. I unpacked for like the 7th time in 3 years. Not happy. I find the FDH craft book. Very happy. Back to the craft store I go, only to find out they no longer carry plastic canvas. Not happy. A quick search on the internet and $300 later, I have a box FULL of plastic canvas. Me happy. The Man Star, not happy.
Around the same time, I decided I was going to commit to finishing all projects that I started including, obviously, the doll house. I started this whole "clickity clack" business, as mi familia likes to call it, in September of 2009. And the lessons I've learned about life, my life... has been detoxifying, motivating and self inspiring.
2009'ish:
The foundation - This is going to be big. Much bigger than I thought. I wonder if I chewed off more than I can handle. Whatever, I just want to get started. The foundation is actually quite boring. I want to get to the good stuff, I'll come back to it.
The living room - Now this is cool. I love the colours and the way every is coming together. Might not be my best work, but I'm figuring it out, getting better at it every stitch of the way.
A Lesson from Tarot ~ The Fool in Rev: You cannot win the race with a false start.
2010'ish:
The Kitchen - Dang. This is much harder than I thought it was going to be. Why does a doll house need so much detail? Can't wait till this is done. Okay, a million pieces stitched... and I still have to put this thing together. Boy, my daughter better love playing with this thing.
A Lesson from Tarot ~ Ten of Wands: I have three choices, carry on, delegate, or walk away.
2011'ish:
The Hallway - I should have followed the instructions. There is strategy in instructions. I can only blame myself for making this so hard.
The Bedroom - "You want it purple? But the instructions say pink. It is a Barbie house." "But I have to play with it and I hate pink." "Purple it is."
A Lesson from Tarot ~ The Emperor & The Empress: While there is stability in structure, there is Spirit in creation.
2012'ish:
The Other Hallway - Whatever, lets just get this thing done and forget about it. This isn't fun anymore. I give myself the weekend to focus and finish.
The Bathroom - Okay, good. Temper tantrum over. I've stepped away. Inhale/exhale. I can see the finish line. I can see a house. I'm am learning some new techniques.
A Lesson from Tarot ~ Five of Wands in Rev: Face your challenges. The reward is in the resolution.
2013'ish:
The Attic - Well, I've pissed around long enough now to realize... my baby is no longer plays with Barbie. Oh well. I've come to far to give up.
The foundation (again) - Who would have thought. Four years later, and I'm re-stiching the foundation of the house, because I didn't do it the first time. However, this time it looks fresh. Complete. And it's some of the best stitching I've done to date.
A Lesson from Tarot ~ Eight of Pentacles in Rev: Do what you love, and avoid the search for self worth.
Of all the things I coulda, shoulda and woulda... this is my #magicmoment: I will finish what I start, but only if it has value and because I really want to.
Goodbye books that that I've held on to for years, but have no desire to read. I hope someone else enjoys you. See you later material bought in the '90s, may your retro'ness be repurposed. Crafts, clothes and other crap... you'll be great $5 fillers at the garage sale.
My heart races and my hands itch... I am so excited to have finally learned to let go. In the process of letting go, I am opening the door to new adventures. Adventures that will forever be #indigospirit inspired.
In love and light,
Amanda
 |
| Kooler Design Studio |
I had to make this for my daughter.
Trying to convince my mother, the one who was going to fork out the $40 for me to have this, was a challenge. "You're 15, you don't even know if you're going to have a daughter." This was one of those moments where I needed to revert to childlike behaviour. I was ready and willing to throw a toddler like tantrum until my mother caved.
Amazingly, my mom gave in, and I won. I walked out of that store eager and excited to make this doll house, knowing in my heart, my baby girl was would enjoy it... sooner or later.
If we FWD ten years later (sooner than I would have guessed) to February 28th 2004, at the foothills hospital and just after 30 hours of labour, there she was... my Mini Starlite, the love of my life. Of course, in my minds eye, I had pictured finishing the doll house first, getting married, decorating the nursery to match the doll house, and presenting it when I arrived home with her bundled in my arms.
I don't think there is enough online blog space to write what actually happened. So let's just say this... life happened. The doll house didn't.
My first real attempt at making this blasted thing, I mean... family heirloom... was just after getting home from the hospital. Excited to get out of the house and introduce the best baby ever to the world, I took my Mini Starlite to the craft store. Overweight, sweaty, lactating and pushing around a stroller the size of King Kong in a craft store... was not my one of my best ideas. I did not have enough life experience to understand what I was getting into, namely, the needs of a new born. Needless to say, that doll house was going to have to wait another day.
FWD another five years and I find myself back in Ottawa. Not happy. I still had a few months left before having to go back to work. Very happy. I unpacked for like the 7th time in 3 years. Not happy. I find the FDH craft book. Very happy. Back to the craft store I go, only to find out they no longer carry plastic canvas. Not happy. A quick search on the internet and $300 later, I have a box FULL of plastic canvas. Me happy. The Man Star, not happy.
Around the same time, I decided I was going to commit to finishing all projects that I started including, obviously, the doll house. I started this whole "clickity clack" business, as mi familia likes to call it, in September of 2009. And the lessons I've learned about life, my life... has been detoxifying, motivating and self inspiring.
2009'ish:
The foundation - This is going to be big. Much bigger than I thought. I wonder if I chewed off more than I can handle. Whatever, I just want to get started. The foundation is actually quite boring. I want to get to the good stuff, I'll come back to it.
The living room - Now this is cool. I love the colours and the way every is coming together. Might not be my best work, but I'm figuring it out, getting better at it every stitch of the way.
A Lesson from Tarot ~ The Fool in Rev: You cannot win the race with a false start.
2010'ish:
The Kitchen - Dang. This is much harder than I thought it was going to be. Why does a doll house need so much detail? Can't wait till this is done. Okay, a million pieces stitched... and I still have to put this thing together. Boy, my daughter better love playing with this thing.
A Lesson from Tarot ~ Ten of Wands: I have three choices, carry on, delegate, or walk away.
2011'ish:
The Hallway - I should have followed the instructions. There is strategy in instructions. I can only blame myself for making this so hard.
The Bedroom - "You want it purple? But the instructions say pink. It is a Barbie house." "But I have to play with it and I hate pink." "Purple it is."
A Lesson from Tarot ~ The Emperor & The Empress: While there is stability in structure, there is Spirit in creation.
2012'ish:
The Other Hallway - Whatever, lets just get this thing done and forget about it. This isn't fun anymore. I give myself the weekend to focus and finish.
The Bathroom - Okay, good. Temper tantrum over. I've stepped away. Inhale/exhale. I can see the finish line. I can see a house. I'm am learning some new techniques.
A Lesson from Tarot ~ Five of Wands in Rev: Face your challenges. The reward is in the resolution.
2013'ish:
The Attic - Well, I've pissed around long enough now to realize... my baby is no longer plays with Barbie. Oh well. I've come to far to give up.
The foundation (again) - Who would have thought. Four years later, and I'm re-stiching the foundation of the house, because I didn't do it the first time. However, this time it looks fresh. Complete. And it's some of the best stitching I've done to date.
But wait...does this mean... I finished what I started? Why am I not over joyed? Why am I not crying? Where is that sense of... Yes! I am a superstar!!
A Lesson from Tarot ~ Eight of Pentacles in Rev: Do what you love, and avoid the search for self worth.
Of all the things I coulda, shoulda and woulda... this is my #magicmoment: I will finish what I start, but only if it has value and because I really want to.
Goodbye books that that I've held on to for years, but have no desire to read. I hope someone else enjoys you. See you later material bought in the '90s, may your retro'ness be repurposed. Crafts, clothes and other crap... you'll be great $5 fillers at the garage sale.
My heart races and my hands itch... I am so excited to have finally learned to let go. In the process of letting go, I am opening the door to new adventures. Adventures that will forever be #indigospirit inspired.
1000's of stitches... 100's of hours... and even more curse words later...
I've built the house. It is a home. And you are Welcome...
just don't forget to BYOBarbie
)o(
In love and light,
Amanda
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Throwback Thursday ~ My Mom, the Rock Biter
"They look like big, good, strong hands..."Rock Biter
It's a weird thing to come across Rock Biter after all these years and have him remind me of my mother. And no, before you get ridiculous, my mother does not bite rocks.
My mom was never really one to self-criticise, at least not in front of us kids. Ask my Mini Starlite what her mother doesn't like about herself, and I'm sure she'd come up with a list (I know I know, be careful of what you say in front of the little ones). I digress...
The one thing I do remember my Mom talking about was/is her hands. Her "big farm man hands", as she refers to them. As a child she worked hard on the farm, which served to be her course in life. The strength of her "big, good, strong hands..." has allowed her to care for her family, physically and financially.
On the flip side, it was difficult for her to find something as simple as a pair of leather gloves that fit. Bracelets and watches were always to small. Not until recent years did she ever feel like her hands were pretty enough for manicures. And now as I watch the arthritis manifest, it saddens me to see the strength slip away.
The physical strength only. Because deep inside those "big farm man hands", was love, compassion and caring touch stronger than any rock. If the day comes when things start slipping through her fingers, and she can no longer hold on... I will be there to hold her hand.
Those "big, good, strong hands..." raised us with a gentle touch. Their tenderness will not be soon forgotten, and their Spirit will live on forever.
)o(
Love and Light,
Amanda
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Wisdom Wednesday - The Way As Led by Inukshuk
It has become a yearly family Starlite tradition to build an Inukshuk. This little hobby started when we moved out East, and came across these little guys along the Trans Canada. Growing up Canadian, this is not a new sight, I mean most of us have seen these somewhere in our adventures. And if you haven't noticed them since the Vancouver Olympics, you've essentially been living under a rock. Pun intended.
In Ontario, however, these seemed to pop up more and more the closer we got to Ottawa.
At one point we found ourselves in North Bay, on a tiny little beach and the sun was setting. My Manstar decided he was going build an Inukshuk. This little stone statue was a poignant mark in our journey as little arms stretched from east to west... from one home to the next. Every year since, he's built one, marking another step on our adventure.
It was a pleasant surprise when I came home one day to find the above StoneMan in my front yard. The message within the gift let me know that this is home. My home. Our home. A home in which you are welcome.
)o(
Love and Light,
Amanda
Do you have a family tradition? What makes your house a home?
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Tarot Tuesday - Wishing Stones, a Poem
Wishing Stones
An old, frail woman sits in a rocking chair.
Rocking slowly, gently, back and forth.
The floorboards beneath her creek softly.
She is dressed in black.
Hair held back with two hair clasps.
A pouch dangles from her arm.
A drawstring wrapped around her wrinkled wrist.
There is a rustle heard nearby.
A small girl appears.
Dress in white dress, with small imprints of daisies on it.
Hair tied into a braid.
Timidly she inches over to the woman.
The woman unravels the drawstring from her wrist.
She opens the pouch, and five small stone fall into her lap.
Each stone is unique in its own way.
Different sizes, shapes and textures.
The little girl is face to face with the woman.
She hands her each stone carefully, and with great care. She holds
the stone and with each stone she tells her wish for the little girl.
The first stone with the inscription STRENGTH
My wish is that you have the strength to endure the past, the present, the future.
To fight all the evil and conquer it in the name of good.
Next comes CREATE
My wish is for you to create memories. Some of them good and
some of them bad. To even life out. And that each bad memory you
create only equals more memories that are good.
Then DREAM
My wish is that your dreams come true in your life, as well as the people around you.
Next MAGIC
My wish is that your days been filled with magic, both unreal and
real. Both created by you, and created by other people around you.
Finally WISH
My wish is that these wishes as well as many others to come your
way. Also, that each wish is better then the last one.
The little girl admires the stones.
The woamn opens the pouch and picks eachs tone one at a time,
and places them in the pouch.
The woman hands the pouch to the little girl and says "For safe
keeping"
The little girl smiles an runs out the door.
Giggles are heard.
The woman continues to rock.
I came upon this poem and so dearly love the story and message behind it. It inspired me to create the "Wishing Stone" tarot spread. I hope you enjoy the poem, and are inspired to ask Spirit for guidance with your next wish.
This is a fun spread to do if you already have a "Wishing Stone". If you don't, now is a great time to out and spend some time with self and find one. No rules. Wherever your heart leads you, is where you must go. Specialty store... the riverbed... even your own backyard. Once you've connected with your wishing stone, hold it in your hand and think of a wish you'd like to manifest. Place the stone in front of you, and pull five cards, laying each one above your stone like a crown.
3
2 ... 4
1... Stone ... 5
Spread Interpretations
1. What you will need to let go of in order to move forward with making your wish come true.
2. What you need to be open to in order to create space for your wish to come true.
3. How helping others can help you to fulfill your own dreams.
4. How Spirit is already helping you achieve your wish.
5. The outcome of your wish. How your wish will most likely manifest itself in your life.
)o(
Love and Light,
Amanda
What was your last, full bodied, heart set wish? Are you still waiting on that wish to come true? What have you done lately to remind universe of your desire?
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