where the forest meets the sea (a new collection of soul mantras)

This past spring, Somerset Life published one of my articles about the sea and how it calls to me and how I feel at home there. It was paired with photos I've taken on the Oregon Coast, and the beautiful way these photos were shared really pushed me to own that I am a photographer.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

I stand with my toes sinking into the sand with my senses enveloped by the push and the pull of the crashing waves in front of me. The water pools around me as I find my breath. I notice how my mind begins to slow as my breath expands the space around my heart. The seagulls soar overhead and the plovers rush back and forth along the shoreline. The sun bounces light off the sea; I spot bits of blue peeking out behind the clouds; and I begin to find a rhythm within that pushes me to just be right here.

I come to the sea to remember there is magic around me as I watch light shimmer, dip, and twirl where water and solid ground meet. As the tide moves closer and then back again, I think about the conversation the sea has each day with the moon as they keep time with the light and shadow dancing around them.

I come to the sea to remember my stories. It is at the sea that I hear my grandmother’s laughter, see my parents holding hands, feel the joy of finding a whole sand dollar, and remember the first time I was brave enough to wade all the way out to my waist, gripping my grandfather’s hand with each bobbing step.

I come to the sea to let go of what no longer serves me as I ask her to take pieces of grief and all that will not be out with the tide. I imagine all of it tumbling with shell fragments and driftwood until it entwines with the seaweed that sways farther than I can see.

I come to the sea to remember me…

A few weeks ago, I was in the midst of one of those days that was thick with "stuff." I found myself longing for the clarity the sea brings me, especially those sacred places where I'm able to stand right where the tall green evergreens of the Pacific Northwest meet the water.

I was in my studio hammering a few custom lockets when phrases about this sacred place and the wisdom found there began to float through the air. I decided to catch them in lockets and on soul mantras as they appeared. Then I gathered a few of my favorite beads that remind me of the brighter sunny days at the sea and then ordered a few gemstones that remind me of the cloudier days on the coast.

And through hours spent curled up in my studio and in the family room while everyone else was asleep, the "where the forest meets the sea" collection came to be.

 

This is the first collection I've made in a while where I listened to intution instead of thinking about what would sell. Each piece truly calls to me, and I hope you love them as much as I do. You can find these and more from the collection here in the shop.

On Tuesday, I'll be sharing more about the prayer flags sets I've been making that will be in the shop Monday evening. If you'd like a sneak peek, head over here to this Flickr set. (And if you want me to reserve one for you, just email me.)

here

hi.
took this after an awesome conversation with hannah about feast.
this headband is my new everyday look. need about five more.

Thinking about :: Jumping in this year and creating a December Daily album. Right now I'm leaning toward this Simple Stories 6x8 binder (with these page protectors) because I can use so many of my Project Life pieces and that is where I'm comfortable when it comes to memory keeping right now. (Learn more about December Daily on Ali's blog.)

Planning :: After your comments and emails about my last Project Life post, I'm planning to share more about my experience with it in some shorter posts about what's working for me, keeping me going, and the simple stuff I'm using. 

Loving :: Fran's dark chocolate sauce. Seriously. It might change your life.

Enjoying :: Cooking. And thinking about cooking. For the former, I'm turning to The Cook's Illustrated Cookbook and making comfort foods like roasted chicken. With the latter, I'm soaking up Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef's Thanksgiving recipe (with videos!) goodness + diving in Tara's archives. And I'm pinning recipes again.

Reading :: The Way It Is by William Stafford and Mary Oliver's new one A Thousand Mornings are on my nightstand. Last month I devoured The Night Circus and A Discovery of Witches (and its sequel). Those books are creative, magical, smart fun! (And it's possible that I'm reading the Richard Castle books. Maybe. You know when I can't sleep in the middle of the night.)

Singing along :: Walk Off the Earth and their oh my goodness some kind of incredible videos (via Jen).

Playing with :: We're having lots of tea parties over here and baking "heart cakes" (she puts a bowl filled with these hearts inside her play oven) that are, of course, "mac and cheese flavor." And decorating her watercolor/coloring journal with Hello Kitty stickers (her friend at school loves Hello Kitty so it could easily become all "ello kit-teee" all the time over here). And reading Don't Cry Big Bird on repeat (a favorite of my brother's that is now ours. Out of print but available at Powells. Totally about how Big Bird is sad because he is too big to play with his friends and then they realize this and figure out ways to inlude him. Lots of good conversations happening about feelings.)

How are things over there in your corner? What are you reading, playing, loving these days?

in this moment: mornings

This month on Chickadee Road, our theme is "In This Moment: Mornings," and we're inviting you to play along by sharing your photos + words that give us a glimpse inside a moment of your November mornings. You can share your photos + words over in our Flickr group. See this post to read a bit more. 

The Spring 2013 Be Present Retreat

Feast: A Soul Care Gathering
April 10-14, 2013

At the Feast Retreat, we will gather at Frog Creek Lodge in the Pacific Northwest woods and spend time sharing, playing, resting, cooking, creating, and dreaming. Through conversations and creative self-care adventures, we will explore the ebb and flow of life and experience ways we can, as Derek Walcott says in his poem “Love After Love”

Feast on your life.

Joemma Beach near Frog Creek Lodge

During this five-day soul care gathering, Kelly Barton, Hannah Marcotti, and Liz Lamoreux will be your guides as they create a safe space where you can show up as you. As a group, we will cook meals together, make necklace and bracelet talismans to take home with us, explore ways to practice self-care, and circle to share stories and make deep connections. 

When you arrive at this beautiful cabin in the Pacific Northwest woods, you will find a place when you can: lean into trust and your inner wisdom, open your heart to kindred spirits, and spend time playing, resting, and sitting in the quiet.

Note: Only 15 participant spots are available at this intimate retreat.

a peek into Frog Creek Lodge (taken at Unearth 2012 by Beth Hutson) 

Your retreat experience includes: 

• A safe environment that holds space for truth, laughter, moments of quiet, and the opportunity to share your story.
• A heart-opening five-day experience that begins with a welcome dinner and opening ceremony on Wednesday evening and ends with a closing ceremony Saturday evening and farewell breakfast Sunday morning.
• Daily group gatherings that will include creative self-care adventures in photography + writing, cooking meals together, jewelry making, and a few other good things.
• Space to connect with Liz, Hannah, and Kelly as your companions as they participate in the entire retreat alongside you.
• Time in community to explore meditation, ritual, and everyday sacredness as ways to be more present in your daily life.
• Daily meals and snacks that will nourish you and invite you to see food as a form of soul care.
• The opportunity to connect with kindred spirits who might just become life-long friends.
• Time away from your day-to-day roles where you can just show up as you.
• An invitation to come home to yourself.

Your tuition also includes: 

• Four nights of lodging, shared rooms (twin beds throughout the bedrooms with 2 to 3 people per room)
• All meals (except one dinner as the schedule includes free time one evening to explore the surrounding areas at your own pace)
• Snacks and hot tea/coffee/water provided daily
• All group gatherings led by Liz, Kelly, and Hannah
• Evening activities: Opening and closing gatherings, an art & soul brunch (which will provide the opportunity for mentors + participants to share, trade, and sell their artwork), and other activities
• Surprises and treats throughout our time together

When you come to Feast, you will want to have room in your suitcase because we will be sharing some of our favorite soul care goodies with you throughout the retreat and you’ll need some space to take them home.

Learn more about Feast, your guides, Frog Creek Lodge, and register here.

here

Over here, linen + thread + words are being joined together and each stitch feels like a prayer of hope, of trust, of choosing to stay open in the midst of whatever unfolds.

water your soul

December, you hold so much in your 31 days. The hustle and bustle of the holidays. The missing of those we love. The gatherings of family and friends and people we can't wait to hug and those we wish we didn't have to see. The loneliness that so often rests in the quiet spaces. The expectations, ours and others, that almost twinkle at the edges of each day. The hopes and the dreams and "the new year is almost here" anticipation all wrapped up around us, within us. 

There is beauty. And there is messy. There is peace. And there is the longest night of the year.

Many feel moved to go inward even though the world around us pushes us to do and be more.

This December, come along on a journey
to water your soul in the midst of it all.

Gather in community with like-minded spirits and give yourself the gift of remembering you, your soul care needs, your stories, you. Be gently reminded you that you are not alone as you experience all that this season brings.

How this program will work:

Emails to ground you :: From December 1 through December 31, you will receive three emails each week that will invite you to nourish yourself. Each email will include a soul care invitation along with encouragement and inspiration. These invitations might include "being present" practices such as meditations and reflection, short photography or writing prompts, or creative self-care recipes.  

Facebook community :: Beginning November 26 through the first week of January, we will also gather in an optional Facebook group to share pieces of ourselves and support one another. Here you will be able to connect about your experiences with the soul care work, share photographs, and have space held for you as you need it.

Learn more and register here.

pieces of this week

Monday started slow

I voted from my couch (this is your gentle reminder to vote)

Mary Oliver guided me back to myself again

I lit a candle and sent lots of love across the miles as I listened to the news

 

I helped a two year old build a boat and felt like I really had it together as a mama for a little while

I worked on a new collection of jewelry inspired by the magic where the forest meets the sea along the Washington and Oregon coasts

This little girl made my heart grow bigger as I witnessed her joy in the simple moments

I found my way to rest

And I made space for in-person connection and had lunch with a new friend.

As the rain falls and we settle in for a Friday evening, I hope this weekend will be full of time to recharge and have fun and unplug and laugh and read poetry and maybe even go on a date. 

May your weekend be full of lightness and ease...

ninja warrior :: a story, a soul mantra

ninja warrior . in the shop

This is me.

Ninja warrior me.

The me who holds a lunch box, juice cup, backpack, purse, and coat in one hand and picks up her toddler with the other.

Who uses words + a camera as secret weapons of peace and truth.

Who sifts through all of it to love fiercely. Me.

The me who puts a chicken to roast in the oven, colors with crayons, cleans up dog vomit, changes her clothes in the middle of the kitchen, reassures and stays calm all in under three minutes.

Who moves through roles almost seamlessly without even needing a costume change.

Who translates toddler code and social media babbling.

Who feels like she's undercover whenever she walks into Target alone.

Me.

Ninja warrior me.

The me who navigates unchartered lands and keeps her head above water even when she is terrified.

Who hides her stealth behind layers, ruffles, and knee-high red boots.

Yes.

Me.

Ninja warrior, sitting in the quiet, dancing in the beauty, honoring the realness, standing tall in all of it, learning how to rest, me.

***

This weekend, I made this locket for myself because I needed to simply own that being a woman is to be a ninja warrior sometimes. 

I shared it on Instagram and after getting a couple of emails about it, I've added it to the shop in case you need one too. Or you can customize this same locket with your own "this is me" phrase. (If you want help brainstorming your "this is me" phrase for your locket, just send over an email.)

May you stand tall as your warrior, peacemaker, real, beautiful self today.

(Thank you to Jen for our conversation a few months ago where she said that sometimes mamas are ninja warriors. I've held onto this phrase daily since then.)