"What do you want"?

I think it is safe to assume there has to be an "art" to wanting something.  One must sit down and step by step make a decision, see what it takes, review options, do the research...and so on.  But how do you get to the place to want it.  Did you see it, did someone else have it, does it fit your needs, is it in your budget, will it help someone else...again, and so on.  Well...my want is a "New Beginning...dipped in Purpose"  Not like I want to start over, I would not give up my journey for nothing in this world but I would like a new story and to get unstuck in my old one.  Maybe even a new book jacket, one that has the same title but when you look at the book cover you get a different vision of the story.  Maybe the new intro would start like...as I look back over my years I now know what I can do, what I can control and what I can be...also another so on.  All this is very general but something to ponder...I'm just saying. 

This brings me back to my love for my crafts.  Last month I sold my much needed therapy session...my spinning wheel "Daisy"  she went to a great home and the new spinner is embracing the wheel, this makes me so happy.  I felt the need to lighten my load and maybe try something new.  I realized I love spinning, not the wheel.  So I am softly looking around for a replacement because that activity offered much peace and maybe I had to free up my time so I can focus on other things that required my attention.  (too much peace!)  Nonetheless, I purchased a much "wanted" spindle and when I received the package I was so excited, took it out to spin and thought I'm so excited, so I can't spin well with it, then I tried again and still no real satisfaction and then again.  My want was disappointing!!  So instead of allowing this beautiful item to just sit and since I love to spin I decided to release and let go.  What do I want?...to spin, simple-well maybe.

CLARITY

I think there comes a point when the "A ha" moment is so loud that you can't even think to turn down the volume. The past few weeks have been full of those moments - when I wake up in the morning, walking around during the day and before I turn down to sleep at night. People I meet, people I don't meet and just total random encounters. As I seek peace in these moments, I also seek firmness in my steps and joy in my heart, which finally provides clarity for my soul.

Something to share from the "Purpose Driven Life" a driver in my life...
http://purposedriven.com/blogs/dailyhope/index.html?contentid=10448

Changing My Heart

I encountered a quote last week that has been trying to sink in my soul but I feel like I'm putting up a good fight..."You don't need a new start - You need a change of heart" This is tough spiritual crossroad. It is so easy to dump everything and move on but in my world that is not realistic but...man, just the thought. So here I am praying and working to change my heart. Sure happy it is National Craft Month to keep my busy and focused on the activities I really love. The pictures I have in included are singles I am spinning from my 1st batts of fine merino wool, angora, silk and hand dyed merino from Wiltons. I am very excited with the results and can't wait to see this knitted up. Additionally the top photo is from some spindle spun fiber that is now new to my handspun stash!

National Craft Month 2012

So what is on my craft calendar or wish list...

I have been dyeing, cleaning fleece, blending fiber on a drum carder, spinning, knitting and trying to find more to do. I think I will work on my family scrapbook and maybe some weaving.

Very excited of what I got thus far...

COMMITTED

The word "Committed" comes to mind has I push forward towards the end of February 2012. Here is what I'm committed to...my spiritual growth, my faith and trust in God with all things, my motivation to stay focus on the things "I can change", my new Mary Kay Business, opening an online Fiber Craft shop, new employment that takes me closer to financial independence, education, my family and their spiritual growth and success, all the fibery craft things I love and want to learn and lastly the plan that God gifted to me. Okay, I know that is a lot but motivation is key and I love the Kaiser commercials that ask where is your motivation??? Did you leave it at the gym or under the bed...as for me...I have to back track this week to see where I left it!!

Very excited to enter this Lenten season last Wednesday, I trust God will continue to work and push me through all my many different levels.

So love attending the GLASG meeting on Saturday. I just love meeting up and spinning with some amazing people. I rented the fine wool carder for a month - stay tune for some amazing batts (I hope). Maybe I will card some of my Dorset Fleece. I also ordered my Priss pad for my Indigo Hound Viking 2 pitch combs. Fleece processing here I go and I can't wait.

Very excited for my son's travels to Beliot College in WI, Depauw University in IN and next on March 1st to sing in Carnige Hall in NYC what a journey!!

The pictures above 7oz of gifted Shetland, 9 oz of gifted Yak and a completed Sweater (yeah)

A Wonderful Thing

I missed my posting last Sunday - Why, my son performed at his Carnegie Hall Send off concert and I didn't plan early enough to complete my tasks. I think it is a wonderful thing when you finally come to "your place" of understanding. Not someone elses place but your very own personal place. A place where "you" can get it and shout okay already I get it. And what are you getting??? What ever it is that you don't seem to get and it keeps happening (I think that is the main sign that you don't get it). Such a wonderful thing, just simply wonderful.

My crafts have been moving very well...I have been washing my Dorset Wool Fleece that I recieved last year and I am have a ball washing that thing and watching it turn to white or off-white, or not dirty. Did a cable cast on for a sweater, finally decided to join the Knitting Guild and my Homesteading with my Lemon Cucumbers, strawberries, peppers and sweet peas are still alive and doing well.

Finally, since my last post, I have returned to my business owner spirit and have re-opened my Mary Kay opportunity and will be opening an online fiber store in March. Pulling it together for the 1st quarter of 2012. Now if I can jump start my career or obtain another job I will be within my goals as I look towards the 2nd quarter of 2012. Let's get this wonderful thing started....

BELLY FAT!

Well I got a chance to review some of the causes of belly fat and now I have posted a BMI chart in the kitchen. Praying real hard for guidance towards correction. This could mean big big changes - this must be spirit lead, one of my many lessons I keep learning this year.

"7 Ways to Blast That Belly" from Eating Light Winter 2012

1) Sip Green Tea

2) Don't be afraid of the right fats

3) Lose the Trans Fat

4) Pick Purple

5) Work on Your Love Life

6) Watch What You Think

7) Get A Massage

So I'm thinking I can work with all 7 let us pray...

So I did a vision board and I feel pretty good about the results...Slow and sorta low week...pressing on and moving forward...

Additionally, my son had his Senior Basketball Game this week and it was wonderful to see his jersey and picture in the gym entry way...nice highlight for the week!!

Once Upon a Time...

...There was a spin along and she choose to spin the colorway "Emma Swan" She spun the Alpca mix into a two ply lace weight yarn and she lived happily ever after.

Well I haven't completed the 2nd 2oz but I hope to complete that this week. Really loving the Alpaca mix so soft and pretty. I think I would have carded more bling into the batt. But I am happy with what I have.

"Don't quit even if you slipped" - that is my lesson learned this week. Really struggled to keep up with the items I set before myself and it would have been so easy to just don't do it - but I caught up and pushed on.

Another note to my crafts...I can't seem to get into my Mystery Sock (so sad), Still trying to get to putting my completed sweater together and of course everything else. So many things and so little time. Keeping it short and sweet this week.

Don't quit and Don't do drugs!

CONFIRMATION

Currently I am falling in love with fiber batts!!! The 1st batt is from Tomorrow Farm and is an Alpaca mix inspired by the TV show "Once Upon a Time" on ABC Sunday. Great show show and the character color I choose is called "Emma" who is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming (lol). It is a yummy batt!!! The next 2 is the same batt photographed from different angles. This is my 1st carded batt done by me...life inspired by me with a merino mix including firestar and silk. I can't wait to do this again!!! And of course I now want a carder - not!! So that is my fibery fun for the week, I say that was a good week.

My lesson this week is confirmation - trusting you really hear what you think you hear. So often I doubt myself and what I know that I miss the timing of my blessing and in some cased I have to start all over again. Working hard to correct and adjust now!!!

Umm...Got Swag?

So I had lots of fun with my dye pot in December and then I completed the spinning and plying this week. Got almost 600 yards of fingering wt. 2ply of unknown wool. Love the color surprises and this will make a nice larger shawl - I think. I completed a sweater just need to sew it up, received some wonderful Alpaca mix for a Spin-a-Long and casted on some Cherry Twinkle berry Socks. Good week for Fiber goodness. I will post pictures as the projects move forward.

My lesson I learned this week...
I realized on Wednesday that one of my personal tests to tell if I wasn't being lead by the Holy Spirit...#1- Was I being an idiot by doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result?? Do I contact the same people, submit the same information, hang with the same crowd, work in the same circle...etc and expect something different - for me this is a good test and for #2-When I finally look up from my situation in the valley or hallway and see there are no new doors, just the same one I came through or the same doors that lead no where.
Yes we are to wait but while we are waiting we still must be lead by God who truly knows our path. Just from this revelation or Aha moment, I have less confusion and stress. So I'm going to work with this and pray for continued understanding.

Continuing to look forward to 2012 with great anticipation and excitement...stay tune

Sunday Blogging

So I'm into the whole journal keeping - blogging thing this year. It feels real good to open and share more this year. Don't know how this is going to go but it is fun to try. So in my daily journal, I reflect the day and review some of my lesson's learned (if I can remember).

With the new week ahead I will pull out one of those lesson's that really sticks with me and gets under my skin...for this week the lesson refers back to the "Serenity Prayer" specifically the verse that states "change the things I can"...I was walking through the garden department praying and meditating to myself and reciting this prayer, it hit me like huge bricks...instead of focusing on not worrying about what you can't do begin to really hone in on the things you can change. So I am pledging to take the steps on 3 things I can change per day - I mean really pay attention on the spirit lead changes I can make regarding the totally me - where ever the spirit directs.

So much for the reflection - now the things that made me happy this week...

Children are great, son got a B on his AP Econ test, daughter completed her homework for the holidays before midnight. DH is good too! Watching the 1st season of Heros!! and I tried to watch 1st season of the Twilight Zone but decided to return to the Library.

Note to self and everyone else...I am still searching and praying for a full time career driven employment opportunity - just saying.

To my Soulful Crafty Heart!

In December I Wiltons Crockpot dyed some fiber and in January I spun it up in January. Here are the results of the singles. I hope to ply the coming week.