For the Moment

Hold me in your arms and

look into my eyes

don't look for forever, just

for the moment

Peel the onion before you

layer by layer

the reveal slowly unfolds

for the moment

I have to say.......

I don't know what to say

I'm speechless

for the moment

Words pour out and 

beauty reflects from my eyes

and I am captured

for the moment

"Flower" by R Shaffer

My Knit Masterpiece

I realized the other day when reviewing my blog that I never posted anything about the sweater I knit earlier this year shortly after teaching myself to knit! This must be rectified as my summer cardigan was a smash hit that I wore many times during the summer months. Many of my friends will immediately recall seeing me in it a number of times.

It began with a trip to The Swift Stitch in Santa Cruz, where the sales attendant was wearing a delightful little short-sleeve, cropped length cardigan she had knit herself. I immediately loved it and asked her about it. I explained I was new to knitting, but had really taken to it. When I showed her my current project, she felt confident I could get through the sweater's pattern. She pulled it from her stock and help me select some luxurious yarn. I went home excited to tackle this next knitting challenge.

After a quick check of my gauge, I began. The cardigan is constructed in five pieces with some knitting completed after the pieces are sewn together. Here's a pictorial of the entire process. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of me wearing the sweater, but I'll work on that!

The sweater is knit in five pieces from bottom to top. This is the beginning of the back.

Almost done with the back. You can see the increases for the back shaping and also decreases for the armhole.

Back is complete, but unblocked. Right front started.

Tilt your head... right front complete.

Blocking all the pieces. You can see one of the sleeves and both pieces for the front.

Once the back and front pieces were sewn at the shoulder, I was able to knit the neck band and also the button band. Saving the buttonhole band for last.

The very last stitch of the construction phase!

All sewn together. Now I just have to do that buttonhole band.... 

All finished and I found four fabulous buttons that match perfectly.

My Next Calligraphy

I've been feeling a calligraphy for a while now, but was unsure of the words it would entail. When I'm feeling a piece of artwork bubbling up, I truly enjoy the anticipation of what will emerge and capture my desire to create. I rarely sit at the table wondering what to create. Rather I am urged to my table, no longer able to contain whatever has taken hold of my creative spirit.

It is with this wonderment that the past few days have passed, until yesterday a quick peruse of my Facebook page showed me the words of my next calligraphy.

Before I share them, let me say this: the past couple months have been a deeply introspective time where I have not only looked inside myself, but also outwardly to the world as I consider how I will again rebuild my life after a time of difficult changes.

I'll thank my Facebook friend, Ajay, for the inspiration:

‎"Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens."

                                                                         - Carl Jung

This quote perfectly captures my current experience as I both dream about my future and further awaken to myself and I knew the moment I read it I would calligraph it. The bubbling inside is now at full boil and my art table beckons... my pens and brushes yearn for my touch.

Stay tuned... I'll share pics as this one comes to life!

Dancing With Desire

My heart brims with desire

With the luxury of time, 

I bathe my mind in 

warm and bubbly 

thoughts of pleasure

Time pauses and I soak in rapturous delight

Floating from thought to thought

with each permeating 

heart, body and soul

I am quenched

Intimate love is life's gift to each of us

Even without a partner

I will dance in this playground

if only in my mind

with all that I am

Choices

Life is about choices and about learning the only control we have is over our own.

The choices of others can destroy us if we allow.

But another choice can be made.

A choice of renewal.

A choice of embracing the unknown with loving arms and depths of hope and without fear.

Never alone, I choose to live, I choose to laugh, I choose to love.