Scatter: Artist Reflections

19. Never!

                                Image credits: Korneel Jeuken

Salman Rushdie has these words in response to Wednesday's attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo:

Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms. This religious totalitarianism has caused a deadly mutation in the heart of Islam and we see the tragic consequences in Paris today. I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity. ‘Respect for religion’ has become a code phrase meaning ‘fear of religion.’ Religions, like all other ideas, deserve criticism, satire, and, yes, our fearless disrespect.

Other artist responses:

2. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

        Image credits: Banksy

15.

         Image credits: Orgulloy Satisfaccion

23. Without humor we are all dead

    Image credits: New York Times

See more powerful reactions here.

As I reflect on yesterday's attack and the tragic chronology of violence we've witnessed over the years in the name of religion, I have many questions--indeed many more questions than answers.

What I know and believe is that this work--the socially engaged, critical expression of all artists--helps to keep us from turning completely inward, from shutting down and retreating into the narrow confines of our own limited thinking, helps us stave off complacency, and does ultimately promote change.

I stand with Charlie Hebdo and I hope for peace.

(Images via www.demilked.com--thank you.)

Daily Routines: Part Rant / Part Plan

I've been mesmerized by this chart found in Mason Currey's book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work. What I find admirable {and hopefully imitable} are the incredible blocks of time these artists devote or devoted to their "creative work." Look at all of that pink! Perhaps even more interesting is when and where the green "day job" time takes place. Some of these artists weave their day jobs into their schedules in bursts of a few hours at a time, others manage to make their creative work their full-time job, Okay, duly noted. This will be my next book purchase.

It's often said that one of the most important skills to hone as a writer has little to do with the craft itself, but the sheer discipline to devote time to the craft everyday.

And it's the real kicker of the trade: how does one call herself a writer if she doesn't make time to do it? Ouch. There's truth in this of course, but there's also the truth that no single artist is going to have exactly the same creative rhythm as another, and there may be large gaps here and there. I take comfort in this. I think it's also important to be kind and patient with one's self. There's really no other option when thinking about time, the passing of it, and the unfinished story or novel that sits, waiting for us to return...

While I'm not one who typically fixates on New Year's resolutions, there certainly is something to be said for periodically taking stock of what's working and what's maybe not working so well in a daily/weekly/monthly routine, and determining where change might take place.

As a writer and the occasional crafter, the question of how to find balance between the work I do for money from 8-5, and the work I do to for me, is one I face everyday. It's true for me that when I work on my stories and make a little headway, or particularly when I start something new and feel the first few lines pulsing on the page, a narrative slowly unfolding, sometimes three, four hours of writing tucked under my belt--this is when I know through and through that I've done my day's work. I sleep better, I feel lighter, happier, and more peaceful. I feel like me. When I write, I know that I'm nourishing a very important part of myself, which is a way of honoring who I am.

What is also true, is that at the end of a work day at my 8-5 job, I don't have much left in me for creative output. What I crave is a glass of wine, reading my current book group book, catching up on my favorite blogs, and most importantly, eating food and sharing my day's stories and experiences with my partner. And this is just fine. It's wonderful in fact. The balance of my current workday can easily be broken up into the following pattern: wake up, work, exercise, work, come home, unwind, sleep (hopefully). One could look at my pattern and say, "Yes. That's what it means to be a contributing member of society. You do those things in that order." Fine and good.

But something big is certainly missing for me when my creative time is absent.

Our daily rhythms are essential to our sense of well-being. When key elements such as sleep or food or say um, creative release, are thrown off or are suddenly removed, we often don't feel like ourselves. We don't recognize ourselves in the sequence of our own day, which can be a very, very disheartening experience.

Sometimes I imagine it like this: If someone were to hold a mirror up to me at any given point throughout the day, how many times would I see my reflection and say, "Yeah, totally. This is me. This is what I do. I love this," and how often might I respond, "Oh, yeah. This doesn't really feed me, you know, spiritually, creatively, or otherwise, but it's what feeds me. I earn money for this."

All of this to say that when I really take stock, it's evident to me that weekends and holidays, and anytime maybe in the middle of the night when I'm not sleeping (because perhaps I'm restless and feeling as though my day's work isn't quite done), are all times when my creative self needs some time. And this isn't simple. Truthfully, I'm kind of a busybody, and when I've been at my desk for long stretches of time during the week, what I crave less than anything, is more time at my desk, even if it's for writing this very important-to-me thing.

But alas, this becomes the challenge: How can I add some additional writing hours to the week so that I'm feeling just a little more balanced? Drastic changes aren't easy to follow, nor are they very sustainable, but what about an hour in the evenings? What about three hours on Saturday? Maybe three hours on Sunday?

Maybe just start with an hour on the weekends and see if I can turn it into three? This might be a manageable task just to see what carving time out does to my sense of well-being as an artist/writer. I'll keep you posted (and keep myself accountable) here in this space, and as far as timeline?

In true new year spirit: I'll begin today (as soon as I'm home from the day job).

Please feel free to stay tuned for updates & a very happy Tuesday to you!

(thanks to Colassal and calmingcalamity.tumblr.com)

Adventures in the New Year

Spokane was engulfed in a gorgeous snowstorm yesterday, and the above photo was taken from my apartment window at sunset. This view is such a balm in the cold winter months--a sight that is still a marvel to me every year.

Speaking of the years, sending each of you very warm and happy wishes for 2015. I am excited and hopeful for these brand new months ahead, and ever grateful to be here writing and sharing words, ideas, discoveries, and projects.

Here's how the turn of 2014 into 2015 has looked these past few days:

 

This awesome backpack was a gift from my older sister for Christmas. It holds everything from books and notebooks to gym clothes and my lunches. 

{It also has an adorable grimace, which I discovered the other night.}

One of the very first meals of the year was from this amazing cookbook, Toro Bravo, a collection of recipes inspired by and also served at its namesake restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Joe and I were lucky enough to eat there last October, and we absolutely loved the cocktails, the grilled flat bread with arugula and truffle cheese, and some amazing seafood dishes, including the Paella Toro--beyond delicious!

Joe made the flat bread and he also found a new recipe for us to try: sauteed chard with egg--both were perfect. We're excited for more tasty new recipes in 2015, and I'll keep doing my best when it comes to the baked goods--pies and breads ahead, methinks.

This adorable couple greeted us when we arrived at Manito Park yesterday. Apparently not all the ducks have flown south, and I'm not sure what this means, but they were pretty cute.

{So is this guy.} 

 

There were dozens of cross-country skiers and sledders in the park, too. I've never tried cross country skiing, but this looked like a wonderful way of getting around yesterday--far better than driving, for sure. It was one of the busiest Sundays we've ever seen, and the snow just kept coming for hours. *Breathtaking*

And more ducks. It's a mystery to me, but it looks like they're here to stay through the season. The snow was here for a day and was replaced by rain in the middle of the night. We woke up to sloshy puddles and a lingering fog, which isn't nearly as thrilling, but alas, it's probably just right for a Monday. I hope you're starting your week off in good spirits and with happy memories from the holiday weekend.

Before I sign off, here are some older, but still very relevant words from writer George Saunders on kindness in The New York Times. This is one of my favorite passages:

Some of this “becoming kinder” happens naturally, with age. It might be a simple matter of attrition: as we get older, we come to see how useless it is to be selfish — how illogical, really. We come to love other people and are thereby counter-instructed in our own centrality. We get our butts kicked by real life, and people come to our defense, and help us, and we learn that we’re not separate, and don’t want to be. We see people near and dear to us dropping away, and are gradually convinced that maybe we too will drop away (someday, a long time from now). Most people, as they age, become less selfish and more loving. I think this is true. The great Syracuse poet, Hayden Carruth, said, in a poem written near the end of his life, that he was “mostly Love, now.”

Cheers, xo

DIY Puppies

I have a confession: I really, really want a puppy. I realize I'm nowhere near the first to feel this way, and I know there's a very good reason there are thousands of blogs and Youtube videos devoted to capturing canine cuteness, but be that as it may, I'm adding my voice to the masses on this one. I adore pups. I'm smitten with their velvety ears, their heartbreaking little faces, their sweet puppy love, and their paws. Oh their paws!

But, because of living arrangements and my current work schedule, dog ownership is not necessarily in the cards right now. Not yet. For the last couple of years, ever since my puppy-fever really took hold, I've managed to adore dogs and puppies from afar, or if I'm lucky, I cuddle my friends' pups, which does indeed help.

And while this is not a post dedicated to the introduction of a new furry family member, it is in fact highlighting a very happy addition to the home! One of the best surprises this season did not come under the tree, but was gifted just days before Christmas when Joe came home and couldn't wait until the holiday to give me this:

That's right. It's a book that teaches you how to make your very own tiny pup! Doesn't that little face look real? I was thrown at first--the pups are so intricate and expertly crafted in the pictures--but when I leafed through the pages, I saw that in fact the author, Chie Hayano gives very detailed and often funny instructions on how to craft twelve different breeds of pups--no bigger than the size of your hand. Amazing.

The pup on the cover is a longcoat chihuahua named Milk, and he is probably the first one I'll make once I'm ready to tackle my next craft project.

For those who don't know me well, this isn't nearly as random as it may seem. I have a new and growing interest in making softies, puppets, and small creatures, in all kinds of materials. I've made a few things so far, but nothing this tiny--not yet.

I still need to fetch some essential crafting materials for these guys (little eyes, some faux fur, special thread), but until then, and before I have anything of my own to showcase, here are some adorable handmade inspiration pups from Etsy:

Miniature Bulldog by Willane

Mini Spotted Dog and Rust and White pup  by Walking Olive

Felted Husky and Schnauzer by Dr Nancy's Felted Pets

Here's to bringing puppies into the home in 2015, and to lots of crafting/diy-ing in the near future! 

Cheers! xo

(top photo via buzzfeed--thank you)

Sift: Moments of Making and Doing

It's been a lovely whirlwind of family visits in Spokane and Seattle, the Christmas holiday, and a few fun gatherings with friends, all before the year comes to a close. We've been busy in our tiny corner of the world, and while I love the holidays for bringing people together with good beverages nearby, it is so nice to be back at my desk writing and reflecting on the past few days, staring out my window as the last half hour of light pours through the apartment. I feel happy. It's important to write these words down when they are true and when the experience is present: happy. It feels good to name it.

I've also felt a lot of other things over the last few days: caffeinated, tipsy, sleepy, nervous, relieved, overwhelmed, and overjoyed. The holidays do all of this to me, or I suppose if I'm taking more responsibility for my emotions, I could say this is how I choose to respond to the holidays. All trappings of language aside for a moment, I'm just glad to be sitting here now, in the quiet of this space. This is all.

As for the past week? Here's a handful of all the fun things we've been up to:

I was Secret Santa for my younger sister this year. My family has a tradition of drawing names, and I was happy to pick Natalie's from the basket this year. She's moving to Hawaii in just under a week now (lots of bittersweet emotions this holiday season), and I wanted to give her things that would not be too burdensome to travel with, but which would also remind her of home here in Spokane.

One of the gifts I gave was from a craft project I did last summer, found on Sugar & Cloth: DIY animal magnets! It's super easy, with the exception of cutting the plastic animals in half--this takes a bit of elbow grease--and they wind up looking pretty cute: little animal heads and butts jutting from the fridge.

I decided they'd be perfect for her new home, easy enough to travel with, and she might just smile and remember her adoring older sister when she grabs OJ in the morning.

This is what they look like after they've been painted gold. Nothing says *fancy* or "Merry Christmas" like a gold rhino butt, am I right?

It took a couple of paint coats to achieve a perfectly bright gold exterior, and it happened to be a brisk, windy day when I did this, which is not something I'd recommend for spray-painting jobs in general, but alas, the holidays were fast upon me at this point, so it was caution (and gold paint) to the wind.

Then I put all of the gold safari creatures into a little pouch--a bag o' gold for Christmas!

When all was wrapped, packed, and ready, Joe and I settled in, lit our new little Christmas tree gifted from my sweet mom, who knows all about our Christmas Sans Le Tree, and we got to work on baking cookies, which didn't turn out as perfectly as I'd hoped (too crumbly), but tasted pretty good, nonetheless.

How cool is this tree? Metal, light, and simple, with little gold cross-hatching painted along the edges of its frame. It's perfect for the coffee table and lighting a candle inside makes it feel very festive.

 

Cookie action:

After Christmas when we were back in town, we stole away to Atticus, our favorite Spokane coffee shop, where we read, did the Saturday crossword puzzle, drank tea, and watched the snow fall. 

Later that evening, we met up with our friends Amanda and Mike for beers at Iron Goat Brewery. A nice way to ease back into Spokane. Note my new mittens below! (Winter Wishlist)

Tomorrow it's back to business as usual, and in just a few short days, we welcome a fresh start: 2015. I know I have a lot of ideas, projects, and plans for this coming year, but for now, I'm happy to say it's been pretty darn good these last twelve months. And that's rad. 

Happy Monday to you! Hope your week is off to a good start.

(top photo via withgraceandguts.tumblr.com--thank you!)

Solstice Tidings

These have been some dark days, somehow darker than I remember them ever being before. Of course there may be some selective memory at work when it comes to winter, and the inevitable cropping of days, the diminishing sunlight, the brief bursts of sun before it sinks low in the sky.  But it's also an exquisite time of year, in spite of, or perhaps because of its somber, more severe character.

I struggle with the lack of sunlight, like many people, but I also feel a comfort in the steady rhythm of the seasons. There's something magical in the shortest, darkest days of the year--we must seek it out in the same way we chase the light, and in some instances, we must struggle to stay grounded, to remain calm and carry warmth within us when December presents us with its abbreviated, and sometimes bone-chilling days. 

I feel a deeper compulsion this time of year to relish even the most fragmented moments of light, whether it's the sun suddenly piercing through my windows at work, beckoning my gaze toward the trees outside, or if I'm lucky to be out of doors, when the sun suddenly breaks through the grey and the winter sky takes on a muted pink glow, illuminating everything--the sidewalks, the tops of buildings, the trees, passerby--everything seems to sigh with relief, even if only for a moment. The good news is, we've reached and have now officially surpassed the winter solstice, and little by little, the sun will slowly return.

On Saturday, the eve of the Solstice, we woke up to a rainy, soggy winter's morning, and though the weather persisted all day, we were determined to find our way into the woods for a much-needed hike. While we were a little worried we'd be forced to abandon our trek due to soggy clothes and muddy boots, we had a happy discovery: the trees provided a warm, protective canopy over us, leaving us to wander up the trails in a cloud of mist--which felt very much like being near the ocean. 

The cool air, the bursts of green moss creeping along the sides of rocks and trees, and the sounds of geese honking and trumpeting in lovely lines and V's across the sky were all such hopeful, bright moments in what might have otherwise remained a very dark, very short day.

We spotted this cute little tree all on its own, a solitary vestige of autumn days.  We wished it well and wondered how its orange could persist like this?  Such a sweet little one.

Joe was excited to see what had become of the eagle's nest we'd spotted in the late summer.  We saw the nest, but no eagles this time. My assumption, without being keen to the migratory patterns of any bird, is that they've found a new haven for the winter months. I'll have to investigate this one further...

Perhaps one of the happiest moments of the hike: Happening upon a foursome of deer eating a late lunch in a bed of grass. My head was down, checking my footfalls, trying to avoid stumbling, and when I looked up I locked eyes with this lovely creature. We were at a comfortable distance not to frighten them away, and to avoid ruining their grazing hour, we cut off the trail and veered left so we could peek back from time to time, but avoid coming too close.

This photo is a little foggy, but I was happy the outline of our deer friend came through. I'm also happy to report that they all remained exactly where they were, undisturbed, though a staring contest ensued for a good while there.

It was completely dark as we drove home, the rain beating down on the windshield, and I felt so relieved that we'd had this time outside. So quiet, so still, so much brighter.

And then there was this hot toddy after dinner. (Yes, that's also chocolate cake in the background. Not homemade, but absolutely divine. Both a very good idea this time of year.)

Cheers to you this post-solstice evening. I'm excited to share other holiday projects and treats this week, and so very happy to have some much-needed time with family and loved ones, both here in Spokane and in Seattle for the Christmas holiday. We wish we could be in two places at once, but a few hours apart from our home bases isn't so bad, either.

What are your plans this week?  Is a stroll in the woods in the cards?  I'd love to hear.