Ave Maria on Piano

Since playing Ave Maria on my flute for Christmas Eve, I've completely fallen in love with the piano part and have been trying to learn to play it.  Once I can play the piano part, I can record it on my little keyboard and then play my flute along with it!

Here's the first three pages.... still a little rough, but given I don't really play piano that often, this is pretty good!

Happy New Year!

K

The Longest Night Has Passed

We've endured the darkness
but the longest night has passed
light has returned and we turn
towards it, accepting its
warmth and radiance

With each day, the light grows
and we can accept its gift
and open ourselves to
new beginnings with
hope and wonder

And as the light fills us
we reflect its beaming glow
of life back into the world
for all to know the deepest
joy and peace

Living in the light
the world shines
with all the dreams
we've dreamed......
you and me

Just Enough of Everything

The unexpected brings what's new and

smiles, words and energy prevail

and you bask in the moment, 

with wonder and joy at it having

just enough of everything

Surprise, surprise

who knew the next corner

would be the one to reveal

and with it came the needed eyes to see

just enough of everything

This thing.. this moment so sweet

captured in the reflection of beauty

so attentive and awkward and

brimming with many delights that are

just enough of everything

Dancing in the light with music

swirling in the air, life takes

my breath away as the sun warms 

my face and my day is filled with

just enough of everything

Got Yarn?

My first Christmas present arrived in the mail a few days ago and I've been delightfully busy ever since. I had asked for a ball winder and my wonderful mother sent it along with a cute note saying "Hope you enjoy it - whatever it is!" I have the best mom!

Armed with my new ball winder, I spent yesterday searching my house for my entire yarn stash. I'm actually still finding yarn today! Then I began the process of winding balls... oh, so much fun! I know, I know... I'm kind of a dork, but - hey! - I love my yarn stash! Having my hands on all this yarn is certainly inspiring... I'm sure I'll be back to knitting soon!

I hope something has your creative juices flowing, too!

K

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!