Perhaps too much of everything is as bad as too little. Edna Ferber

Interesting quote on today's Simple Abundance journal. Considering I just ate an entire roll of sweet tarts. Anyone who knows me knows I have a weakness for candy, and a bigger weakness for sweet tarts. I've also been off sugar for a couple years now. So, eating a whole roll, bad idea!

And I start

Today was one of those days, things felt slightly out of whack all day. I felt like I didn't fit, like I didn't belong. From the moment I got up, which was hard as the cat was happily perched on my chest drooling, I felt like the day just wasn't right.

But I plunged forward, forgetting about the spaces in between. Couldn't find a place I was looking for. Didn't fit in at a group meeting. Got stopped by every stop light between Nanimo and home, was late feeding my horses, then, I stopped.

Indy who is constantly on a diet, and was very upset dinner was late made me stop. He kicked the gate, ran about, fussed, grumped, moan and groaned. He is pretty vocal when he's upset. When I went in with his supper (which by the way has herbs in it he is NOT fond of) he bolted a mouth full of grain, and stopped.

Chewed his grain, slopped a bit on my shoulder, and rested his head. One big sigh from him reminded me my goal is to try once a day to stop. To let the spaces in between to happen.

And so I stopped. Listened to my good friend enjoy his supper, listened to a frog croak to someone, watched a hawk float on a breeze.

Then, Redman let out a beller and reminded me he too was waiting on supper. But that small moment where the space in between slipped in was wonderful.

The space between

Stefanie Travers is an old friend, well she herself is not old. I've known her for a long time, she used to shoe my horses. Now she's moved up north to live a lot of people's dream, breaking and training horses. I've been a fan of her blog for a while now, interestingly enough it motivates me art wise. It makes me think, makes me smile, sometimes it hits something and makes me cry.

Her blog post about the spaces between really made me think. She talks about meditation, which I desperately would like to tackle but just can't seem to. I've got a meditation idol picked out, a wonderful creature from Pipyr. Sadly I've had it for over a year now, it sits on my kitchen window ledge, waiting, for me to utilize it's energy. And it does have energy, with horse hair additions it really speaks to me. Yet I still don't meditate.

Stefanie talks about the "spaces in between". The small moments between what we want, need and work to make happen are where the little moments in between happen. Where things just happen, where we learn peace, acceptance and grace.

It's hard to let the universe in when you are stuck, working hard, plugging forward. It's incredibly hard to just be, to listen, to be at peace for just a moment. The spaces in between are my goal for this year. I didn't know it when I started the year out, but reading Stephanie's blog post made me realize I need to try and step back, for at least a moment a day and just be. To let the universe in, to learn peace, acceptance and grace. It may be one of the hardest things I do, but the universe is out there, waiting for me, why not let it in? Will I learnt to meditate? Well we shall see, my question at the moment is where do I start?

Japanese Plum

Beauty is all together in the eye of the beholder. Margaret Hungerford

Have I mentioned how much I love Cleo the new Double Helix glass? The bead above was made using it and some silver wire from my etsy shop. I use 32 gauge wire in my beads, I find the dots it leaves are smaller and less likely to pop off. It also have wonderful reactions with the Cleo glass.

Spring Creativity

Good taste shouldn't have to cost anything extra. Micky Drexler

This weather is making it hard for me to focus. It's currently blowing a good wind and hailing. Today was sunny? I can't seem to decide if I'm coming or going? Spring, winter, summer, what season is it?

Instead of treating myself to my typical Dark Cherry Mocha while I was out running errands today I decided to treat myself to some spring creativity. I got my errands done in record time and got home to torch up a ton!

I picked one (well actually 3) bright spring colors, along with my Cleo obsession and just played. All in all not a terrible day, I got some not so good news half way through, normally I would have quit for the day. I think the bright colors helped me push on and finish my day.

What are you doing to help your spring creativity?

Diamond Blue

Sorry for the lack of posting I've been a bit swamped. I'll get back at it soon! In the mean time Diamond Blue, new beads in my etsy!

The artist inside all of us

Learn the craft of knowing how to open your heart and to turn on your creativity. There's a light inside of you. Judith Jamieson

I really like this quote. I think everyone can be creative, there is a artist in all of us! Granted some artists are hard to find, they hide, are often shy and don't like crowds but if you nurture them they'll always come out.

Spring is a time for trying new things, let your artist come out. Try a weekend class, Coast Collective has some wonderful classes! I teach, beginner jewelry making, byzantine and viking knit there. They have painted, mosaic's, stained glass and the list goes on and on. It's a wonderful setting, try one!

I've got a fun set of pandora / troll beads in my etsy. They were fun to make I may do more of these in different colors!

Newport Blue