nine {with christina rosalie}

Today's Nine interview is with the rock star who is Christina Rosalie. Back in 2006, a group of creative bloggers began working through The Artist's Way together (so many bloggers I still read today were part of that group), and I remember coming across Christina's blog, My Topography, during that time. I recall that I paused and settled in to read into her archives that day knowing I had found a blog of truth and beauty and real-ness. Watching her journey from afar these last few years has been a joy as she shines as an example of someone making her creative dreams a true reality. Her recent project, her book A Field Guide to Now, has invited me to think about the importance of claiming what we want and living it into being. You will want to check this project out and find out more so you too can hold this book in your hands one day soon. 

Sit back and enjoy this glimpse into Christina's world... 

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Question 1: Who are you?

  

Question 2: What do you love about where you live?

 

 

Question 3: What might your perfect afternoon look like?

 

 

   

Question 4: If you had an hour alone in your studio/creative space, what would you do? 

 

 

Question 5: Right now, what are some of your favorite things?

 

 

  

Question 6: What foods nourish your soul?

 

 

  

Question 7: When you need to simply take a breath and reground yourself, what do you do?

  

Question 8: How do you nurture your creative dreams?

  

 

 

Question 9: Does your heart have a secret wish you want to share?

 

*****

Christina Rosalie is a writer, a mixed-media artist, and a mother. She has a knack for leaving things on the roof of her car, and a habit of eavesdropping in cafes, and a pocketful of wanderlust. Christina lives at the end of a long dirt road in Vermont with her two boys, her husband, and a flock of chickens. She is currently working on an illustrated collection of essays called A Field Guide To Now ( http://kck.st/aCtHbL) and writing her first novel. Her short fiction and essays have recently appeared in the Sun, Mothering, and the Blue Print Review; her story "If You Fall It Is Your Fault" is  forthcoming in the Los Angeles Review (http://redhen.org/losangelesreview/) this fall. You can find her at  www.mytopography.com.

(all photos copyright Christina Rosalie)

*****

Nine is an interview series with creative folks that began in the Spring of 2009; the interviewees are asked to respond to the interview questions in photographs (or video). You can scroll through all the interviews here.

in this moment.

the thoughts of this moment...

there is a foot firmly planted in my ribs yet again tonight. it feels like it is slowing prying them open. i am trying the exercise ball as my new chair to gently hold her like a hammock and invite her to turn turn turn to a better position. one month from today is her due date and more than likely we will be getting to her meet her (if not before then) around that date. i breathe through words like induce and instead focus on the image of dancing her down into my pelvis. this is something i learned about myself at our incredible birthing prep weekend workshop: i want my labor to be about the dancing. for some reason i was thinking i needed very calming music, but when we were invited to imagine dancing our babies down into our pelvises, i found my groove. i found my hips. yes. i have this image of early labor at home being about this dancing and moving and breathing. time for just me and jon to celebrate the journey we are on together and all that is to come. and of course, i know, oh how i know that i cannot know what things will be like when she decides or when someone else decides it is time for her to arrive. but, no one can stop me from the hoping and the positive energy i am pushing toward that moment when we first look at each other and know that yes, it is really happening. but right now this rib pain is breathtaking, literally, in its intensity. payback i suppose for my doing the same thing to my mother as she stood in front of students and taught thirty-four years ago. tonight, millie sleeps while jon grades and i write a bit and work a bit. it is nice. this little family all together. and even though i might be breathing through a little bit of pain, sighing at the idea of trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in when i head to bed soon, this little foot pushing into my ribs reminds me of this truth: i am so blessed

seeking emerging things

an afternoon pause
(through the lens)
seeking emerging things

{sixty seconds of} finding pieces of me

*****

the sixty seconds project: snippets of moving pictures poetry that make up moments of my life. see more sixty seconds here.

nine {with leonie wise}

The Nine is an interview series with creative folks that began on my blog, Be Present, Be Here, in the Spring of 2009; the interviewees are asked to respond to nine questions in photographs (or video). All the interviews can be found here.

Today's Nine interview is with lovely, spirit-full woman who is Leonie Wise. I was lucky enough to meet Leonie in person at Squam last fall, where I learned that her laugh makes me very very happy. To me, her spirit is full of adventure and open-heartedness, and she seems to have such a quiet wisdom about her. A few weeks ago, I ordered Leonie's exquisite new book, all of a sudden, and when it arrived, I slowly savored each photo and poem. If you are a searcher, a person cracking open, a lover of poems plus photography, a person seeking your words, well, this book is one you need to hold in your hands. Yes. I recommend settling in for an afternoon spent with a cup of hot tea, some dark chocolate, and Leonie's book. You might want to have a little poetry reading and read her words aloud.  That sounds about perfect.

Here is a little glimpse into Leonie's world and some of her adventures through her answers to the Nine...

*****

Question 1: Who are you?

 

Question 2: What do you love about where you live?

 

 

Question 3: What might your perfect afternoon look like?

 

  

  

Question 4: If you had an hour alone in your studio/creative space, what would you do?

 

Question 5: Right now, what are some of your favorite things?

   

 Question 6: What foods nourish your soul?

 

Question 7: When you need to simply take a breath and reground yourself, what do you do? 

  

Question 8: How do you nurture your creative dreams?

     

Question 9: Does your heart have a secret wish you want to share?

*****

leonie is a poet, photographer, adventurer & life enthusiast. she lives creatively, dreams crazy dreams, laughs a lot and is often seen without any shoes.

she currently lives in london, england with her beloved, though will always call new zealand home.

when she’s not writing poetry (and sometimes, even when she is) you can usually find her at the nearest beach.

visit her at her blog.

(all photos copyright Leonie Wise.)

this and that (or the one where i ramble a bit)

there are things i have wanted to tell you, so i am pretending we are having tea and after being alone all day, you are giving me permission to simply babble...

there is this truth that i keep a lot of things private on my blog even though i do consider this a deeply personal space (and many a person has asked me how i can share so much of my life here). i have wanted to come to this page many times to share pieces of how challenging this pregnancy has been. but part of me has just not wanted to explain yet again. and i guess the last thing i want is advice...and (kind, well-meaning) people just can't seem to stop themselves from giving the pregnant girl advice. do you know what i mean? people can simply say the oddest things that are more about them and less about support and listening. but what we have been experiencing isn't something where advice really is helpful...i have learned a lot about my own need to support instead of listen through this experience and am trying to hold the space more and talk less with friends.

from nausea etc. for many weeks to suddenly being thrust into the world of more tests and ultrasounds and "everything is probably fine but just in case it isn't, we are going to do all of this," i have found myself feeling like a yoyo emotionally as we look toward next month and this little one's arrival. i haven't gained much weight (and lost a bit when i was sick), so i haven't looked "super pregnant" (though i am starting to) and the comments of "where is she in there?" have only reminded me of the "everything is fine but it might not be" reality, even though i have just smiled and tried to say, "oh i haven't gained much weight." the truth is we have been in that category of "worrying about 'baby's growth'" for months. and these comments have only reminded me of that truth. the good news is everything IS probably fine (and an ultrasound with a specialist yesterday confirmed that) and she is a perfect size (as her feet and elbows remind me). but the unknown is scary. especially when your unknown has a higher percentage of not so good than the average person.

i miss my grandparents. but spring brings them to me. and i know this. and it is beautiful.

i am so glad jon wasn't the only dad at breastfeeding class last night. and he was some kind of cute practicing bottle feeding the baby doll we were given during class. seriously. the guy is so ready to meet his daughter. watching him shift a bit these last few months has been such a gift. we are going to a couples who are pregnant weekend workshop this weekend and i look forward to continuing to deepen this standing tall together partnership we have.

in the last six weeks or so, i have found myself escaping to books read aloud on my ipod and sewing prayer flags and hammering letters into lockets. this has been a gift as i seem to find my footing as the rhythm of creating surrounds me. of course, it means i am behind on finishing the nursery, but that is okay. it will all come together. it also means my etsy shop is stocked with more things than i have had in there in months (including some fabric items that had been in a gallery for a while and are now back in the little room). there is such a gift of joy when i package up these whispers of hope to send them out into the world knowing someone is waiting to wear or hang them...and knowing i will be going on a maternity leave of sorts in about a month seems to have pushed me to fill up the shop.

i am in the midst of the last few weeks of working on the book. the first round of author review has happened and the designer is making it beautiful. and, i have been invited to know it is indeed real by the powers-at-be at amazon.com because Inner Excavation is available for preorder (right here...so it is indeed real). the wheels in my brain are turning as i think about all i want to share about this experience and the dream come true of putting words onto a page that will be turned into a book that one can hold in one's hands. it has been its own birth of sorts...and i am so glad for the opportunity to share it with you.

i am so excited that a fall be present retreat is in the works. it will be juicy and full of opportunities to sift through our dreams and truths and moments to claim where we are on our path and invitations to spend time in the quiet soaking it all in. yes. it is going to be so good. details will be available by early next month. so stay tuned.

tomorrow brings a new nine interview to this space. the photos from the interviewee will take your breath away. love this series.

and now, in this moment, i would love to listen instead of ramble. please share where you are in your world...what is taking up space in your brain (that you would like to let go of)? how are you? (really. how are you?)

this day.

seeking: where i stand (or my toes beyond the bump)

listening: to laughter and truth and good things while sharing breakfast with a dear friend 

enjoying: little bursts of energy (so more goodies coming to the shop before "maternity leave" begins)

hoping: the sun comes around again tomorrow

planning: curtains + poms for the little one's room

wishing: you were coming for a visit in the next couple of weeks

hearing: "you look really really pregnant from this angle" (said aloud in the backyard this afternoon)

feeling: entranced by this photo (oh and this one)

breathing: through many a moment as the weeks are now filled with one to three appointments to check on the little one (non-stress test does not mean mama is not stressed)

appreciating: jon's endless help (from laundry to lifting to rubbing my back...i am lucky)

knowing: somehow everything is just at it is supposed to be 

the rhythm {an invitation}

 

sunday.

coffee shop.

me + jon.

book edits/rewrites.

deep breaths.

*****

an invitation: share a photo that captures the rhythm of your day.

how are things in your world? i would love to know. consider sharing a photo + a few words on your blog or flickr that capture the rhythm of your day. and then, i would love it if you would come back here and tell me all about it.

dare you.