Dreamy Decoration
Almost, ALMOST, the new studio is ready to be decorated. Today, in between the puzzled staring that I did, feeling a bit bewildered with all this strange free time on my hands, my dad and I worked on the walls and the ceiling, preparing them for the paint of my choice. Now all we need are the window glasses and the last finishing touches and then the decorating can begin. And oh, how I am looking forward to that.
I painted pictures in my mind for ages now, of a studio, no, a creative dream space of my own. I imagined walls with shades of blue, cabinets filled with colourful fabric, flowers on the windowsill and light, a lot of light especially. I browse the internet looking for inspiration and find it in the most diverse places. One of those places is Clothkits and more especially their section of liberty biais binding on beautiful wooden spools. I think they belong in my new studio. I am certain I can make them feel right at home there. And if the rest of the decoration will have to be made to fit them perfectly, well, they are pretty enough to deserve that, don't you agree?
A Mad Magical Tea Party
It was ten in the morning when we heard a noise
a strange man came through our door
He laughed at us and said with a strange luring voice
"Want to know what I have here for you all in store?"
The children smiled warmly, not really impressed
and bewilderd he looked at them, screaming
"I bring party time, it's time to get dressed!"
and then realized they were all looking beaming.
"How wonderful you've come join our party, sir,
it's thrown al especially for you."
"But.. but..", he sputtered, "I don't think that you were
able to do it as I myself would do."
"Oh really?" The boy grinned and showed him the table
filled with all kinds of cups and tea
Those colours, those odours, it looked like a fable,
The mad hatter mumbled: "just like work by me"
"But how about magic?" He then questioned teasing
Sure as he was that they couldn't do that
But oh, he was doubting whether it was pleasing
or not, to see how they just waved with their hat
Suddenly all the cups first filled with tea
now tumbled down spilling diamonds and pearls
and where he just before talked with a child or three
now he was chatting with princes and earls.
The Mad Hatter smiled and decided to go
Enough other places to charm and enchant
And do you want more of this party and show?
You can follow him into this magical land.
You Have A Voice
People think a thousand thoughts every day again. People feel innumerable feelings. People complain, they sigh inside, they are happy, angry, excited, sad, passionate, lonely, opinionated, scared. Every day again.
How many times do you not share what you think and feel? It can be scary to say what you want, when people are listening. It can be frightening to express your opinion when you know you can be criticized. It can feel a lot safer to just keep your mouth shut, to be sure you are not hurting anyone, not irritating anyone, not making people like you less.
And funny enough it can be just as difficult to share positive feelings with the people around you. Sometimes it feels strange to tell someone you really like them, or even love them. Maybe you are scared that they would laugh at you, or tell you they don't feel the same way. That would make you feel very vulnerable, wouldn't it? But still...
You have a voice.
Speak up. Let the man next to you know that you love him. Share your passions with the people around you, inspire them. Talk about your opinions, teach people new ways of looking at things and learn some new viewpoints yourself by listening to their reaction. Don't complain, but discuss your dislikes and find a solution, together.
Your opinions, views, thoughts and feelings are important and ought to be heard. Because that is one, and a meaningful, way to help make this world evolve and improve.
Tomorrow is election day here in the Netherlands. But ofcourse this also counts for every day again.
You have a voice. Use it.
What Do You Have To Give?
When I was little, I wanted to become a ballet dancer, a prima ballerina, because I loved to dance. Getting a bit older, I wanted to become a vetinarian, because I loved to hold pets. As a teenager, I wanted to become a psychologist, because I was fascinated by the human mind. I started and quitted many different college educations, changing my mind every time again about who I wanted to become and what I wanted to do.
Now I am a mother. A couple of days ago I was talking with the little ones about what they want to become when they grow up. Sarah answered:"I want to become a mama. And a doctor. Because I think I am really good at taking care of people." Then Lucas said:"I want to become a policeman. And an inventor. But mama, I'm not really sure yet. Because I don't know yet how I will be when I'm all grown up, and what I'll have to give."
I stared at them for a while. Then the little ones continued their play, not realising they struck a chord in me.
All these years, when I tried to figure out what I wanted to become, who I wanted to become, what I wanted to do, I always looked at my wants, my needs, my wishes. It sounds so logical now, to me, to look at what you have to give, in ways of what your talents are, and who you are personally, what you can mean to the world around you, when deciding what to do with your life. But somehow, I always have looked at it the other way around. How silly is that?
So, what do I have to give? I have my words and my pictures, with which I can reach out to people, touch and move them. I can see the beauty in almost everything and create from that perspective. Sarah said:"You can make people feel like princes and princesses, mama".
I have no idea where this new way of looking at my goals will lead me. But it certainly feels like I opened up a whole new door in my life, in my mind. And that feels exciting and good.
So tell me, what do you have to give?
PS. Now we're on the subject of giving: There is still one more day to enter my giveaway!
White And Grey
I had a lot of fun this week with Curious Girl's colour week, finding the colours around me, looking closely at the little things that you normally would walk by without even glancing. And somehow this week I didn't really get to sew either. And even though most of the times I feel kind of restless when that happens (so many ideas that are itching to get out and be transformed in garments and so little time), this week it felt kind of good. It feels like a fresh and colourful wind blew through my mind, making room for a new sense of fun and creativity.
Today was the last day of Colour Week. And this day was a great closure for this week. We spend the afternoon at my parent's house and there I found my whites and greys (I cheated a little and decided that silver/metal can be counted as grey too). In their garden we played and shared a meal. We talked, enjoyed the sun, admired the flowers and listened to the birds. It was perfect.
And tomorrow? Tomorrow I am going to use all this new inspiration and start sewing again!
For more white, grey or rainbows, look at Lisa's blog for a list of all the participants.
My name is Karin. I sew, cook and
take pictures. I tell stories. I dream. I love books, fashion, hot
baths, conversations that make me re-think my ideas and opinions. I
fantasize and realize. And above and beyond all, I am mama to
Lucas, Sarah and Olivier.
