What I Made Today

ACEOs & Onions

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:31:00 +0000

Today I finished up some ACEOs that I've been working on for a while and got most of them listed in my ArtFire studio and Zibbet shop. I still have a few more to get to, but one thing at a time.

I got a flat of onion seeds started, which feels so good. I'm anxious to start more seeds, but it's still early, so patience will be my companion while I dream of spring and nurse my "Bianca di Maggio" and "Yellow Parma" babies.

As for now, I have dinner to think about and then some hookin' to enjoy!

Peace.

Completions, Connections

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:01:00 +0000

Today was another day semi-dedicated to cleansing and clearing physical space. This recent project of purging closets and other dark recesses of my physical world is proving to be a doubled-edge sword (but what isn't?). I am able to realize an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and feel as though I'm backsliding all at once.

But I haven't done this deep a clearing in quite some time, so it's a process and I must be patient with the process and with my relationship to it. This is the sort of exercise that offers lessons and reminders … clarity and grounding. It is this task that ripened in my mind and heart this past new moon … with my commitment to no longer stow away un-finished projects. I give myself permission to continue to multi-task, for I feel it's necessary to many - if not most - of my creative endeavors … unless I want to be stagnant for days (or even hours) at a time, which is not an option.

Yet, like pages in my art journals, the creative tasks that I nurture may have their place where I revisit them often and see them to completion. I am committed to weaving this discipline into the full spectrum of my holistic life.

With that, I have a journal page to continue …

Peace.

Spirit Cord Page Savers

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:14:00 +0000

Today I finished up some new Spirit Cord page savers. I got most of them up at my ArtFire and my Zibbet shops, but still have a few more to get to listed. I also have more pendants ready, so I'll get to spinning them into the cords in the coming days.

This evening The Boy and I will be making sushi together. We haven't done that in a while, so it will be nice. I think a fire and a little saki is also in order.

Peace.

A Feel Good Day

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:09:00 +0000

Today was one of those rare days where I managed to get more done than I had projected. I put more layers on those mini journals I'm working on, got some state tax work done and in the mail, managed mail, visited with my neighbor, got to the next-to-final-step of determining my seed order for this year. I rewarded myself with a visual meditation in one of my art journals.

It feels good. This day.

That's what I made today.

Peace.

First Coats

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:12:00 +0000

I finally have some new mini journals in the works. I made time to prime and get first coats of colors on several. Next up … the layering!

That's what I made today.

Peace.

A Colorful Metaphor

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:21:00 +0000

Today I finished a physical metaphor. You see, I feel a need to add color to my life. So I purchased cotton yarn in a riot of colors knowing that I would crochet an afghan.

Crochet is a form of meditation for me, especially this continuous granny square pattern. There's no counting, though I find myself repeating, "maiden, mother, crone" throughout the creation.

So now I have a new afghan, in a riot of crazy colors, to wrap myself in on these cold winter days as I continue my plans and efforts to add color to all aspects of my life.

That's what I made today.

Peace.

A Whimsy Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:41:00 +0000

Congratulations Sharkbytes, you won a whimsy!

I'd like to thank all of you that played and offered the 53 comments that created the pool of chances. I appreciate those comments and love seeing to what folks are drawn. Yet, it was Sharkbytes that snagged the "41 spot."

Offer her a loving congratulations!

Now … I have some new blogs to visit and new creations to get making!

Peace.

Repairs, Renewals & Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:45:00 +0000

A couple weeks ago I accepted a challenge from my dear friend, Annie. She gave me a old granny square afghan that she suspects her grandmother made. One corner had been chewed and four squares needed to be made, reassembled to the afghan and the trim crocheted to match the existing trim. I made a few practice squares to get the gauge and size as close as I could to do the repair. I did one repair, took it apart, did another, and while it's not as nice as I would like, I hope it will be passable to her. I have a few more minor thread repairs I want to do now. But for the corner repair, I'm willing to take it apart again and give it another go. I just felt honored to be offered the chance to do my best to restore a simple family heirloom.

But this challenge inspired me to make a traditional granny square afghan for myself. I have many yarn ends of many colors and it really is a charming way to use them up. I also had a collection of solid squares that I had made a year or two ago. So I've been crocheting squares of loving chaotic colors and have now begun to join them.

I'm looking forward to continue the piecing and I already love seeing how it's coming together.

Not only that, but today I received a sizable order of cotton yarn in a riot colors to create an afghan in the continuous granny square pattern. I'm really looking forward to starting that project … though I feel a tug to finish this one first. But hey, I can work on this one in daylight, which is best for joining black to black … and work on the cotton one in the evening while relaxing on the couch with The Boy.

Sounds like a plan.

That's what I made today.

Peace.

PS Don't forget to play Win a Whimsy ~ the winner will be drawn and announced this Friday morning!

Win a Happy 2012 Whimsy!

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:31:00 +0000

To honor the flip of the linear calendar, I'm having a "Win a Whimsy" give-away. While I've participated in various giveaways throughout this past year, it's been far too long - a year! - since I've had one here on my own blog! Shame on me.

My inventory is a little slim right now, but I'm offering you a chance to win an item of your choice from any of my shops ~ ArtFire or Zibbet ~ whatever strikes your whimsy!

The drawing will take place on the morning of Friday, January 6 and the winner will be announced at that time.

So … to enter this giveaway …

Have a public profile, otherwise leave your email address with your comments. If I can't contact you, you can't win.
Post each of your entries in separate comments on this post. Otherwise, entries combined in a single post will only be counted as one.
Any comments determined to be sp@m- or sp@mish will be deleted and not counted as an entry - so please don't leave links unless they're relevant to this giveaway.

How to enter? You have up to six ways to enter for up to six separate entries. Do one, or some, or all of the following, leaving a separate comment for each, each comment being a separate entry/chance to win a whimsy. Make sense?

Leave a comment ~ any comment at all ~ and you're entered!
Visit any of my shops ~ ArtFire or Zibbet ~ and leave a comment about your what item you'd like to have, should you're entry be drawn.
Blog about this giveaway and leave the URL to your blog post as your comment.
Tweet this giveaway and post the URL to your tweet as your comment. You can use the "retweet" button (below) if you like.
Be or become a follower to this blog, leaving a comment to let me know.
Be or become a walkinthewoods1 Twitter follower, likewise leaving a comment to let me know.

So there it is ... Best wishes!

Peace.

Reflections in Popcorn Stitches

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:26:00 +0000

I published my first blog post on December 29, 2004. It's funny to think that I've maintained a public blog for seven years, and even funnier (in a very grateful way) to consider that some folks have been following it for almost as long, from ByRegion to MySpace to Blogspot.

Popping back to that first post, I'm reminded that I started blogging primarily for me - as a discipline in both witnessing and in writing. My secondary emphasis rested in a vague hope that what I shared might inspire someone else in some nurturing way.

Words took center stage those first four years. When I moved here in 2008 imagery quickly took over. This pleased me, and pleases me still, since I prefer visual stimuli and respond favorably to it in most every conceivable way.

Yet, I love words, for they, too, are powerful tools of expression … creative expression … healing expression. And as I conveyed in that very first post, "… diversity is at the heart of the people's medicine. We have choices. We have the will to learn about them. We have the power to choose. And we have the right to change!"

So today, I changed up my morning routine. The Boy was home and while he practiced guitar I taught myself a new crochet stitch, a popcorn stitch. I'm not sure what I'll do with this stitch, or what I'll make with it … but it's a form of medicine for me, and it's another choice, so I learned about it, so I can choose and change when the time is ripe.

And this little exercise demonstrated to me, yet again, my propensity for the visual, given the source from which I learned this stitch.

That's what I made today. Peace.

.

Unfamiliar Blessings

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:43:00 +0000

It's hard to believe that honoring this winter solstice included harvesting two cabbages from my garden. I've plucked kales, collards and herbs, and even mulched root crops in the past, but never cabbage. It weathered the October snow and the several mild frosts we've had with a grace that feels both welcome and suspect.

I'll enjoy this unfamiliar harvest with the seasonal comforts of carrots, garlic, onion, ginger, shoyo, beef and noodles. It's a different kind of winter solstice dinner … yet, if the times are changing, I'm obliged to change with them.

May you rest easy in the heart of darkness and in the promise of light as we move into the deep love of winter (or summer, as the case may be). Bright blessings ~ today ~ and every day.

Peace.

Art as Medicine

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:08:00 +0000

Today I made a little art … me with my paints, mediums and Nature, and The Boy with his pens. It was good Medicine to soothe my soul as I watched the Giants loose so badly. These "peaces" aren't done yet, but tomorrow I'll likely make some time to complete the final embellishments … in between everything else I have on tomorrow's list!

That's what I made today.

Peace.

.

Cords and Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:30:00 +0000

I've been dismantling and reassembling some old jewelry pieces - some of my own and some pieces that have come from others. I'm using these to create some new Spirit Cord Page Savers. I've been busy baking cookies and spinning with these upcycled pendants and some new ones too.

So … that's what I made today.

What did you make?

Peace.

Mini Journals & Baking

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:20:00 +0000

Today I finished listing all my latest Nature inspired mini journals at my ArtFire and Zibbet shops. Then I cleaned the house - especially the kitchen, rearranged some furniture (again), then donned an apron and began holiday baking and other assorted holiday kitchen tasks.

I'm still in the kitchen and suspect I will be for many more hours. I'll do my best to post the outcome of this busy, baking day.

Peace.

A Little Sweetness

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:23:00 +0000

It has been too long since my last blog post and I really must recommit myself to more frequent posts, for surely I make something every single day of this magical life.

The Boy had today off, so we made a pot of morning coffee and enjoyed a rather leisurely morning. I got some new Spirit Cord Page Savers listed at my ArtFire and Zibbet shops before we headed out to tend to errands and wander a local tree farm to listen for the Yule tree that wanted us. We gave thanks to the spirit of the tree, brought it home, set it up, gave it a good drink of water, and strung the lights. Now it relaxes into it's new transient home for a day before the rest of the decorating commences. The hut is pregnant with piney fir fragrance. Not to mention homemade bread that The Boy made.

I made some progress on preparing some base finishes for some upcoming works of art too. Winter vegetables are roasting in the oven and soup simmering on the stovetop. Life is pretty sweet today. I hope the same for you!

That's what I made today. Peace.

Heavy Duty Pot Holder #1

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:37:00 +0000

Remember the great balls of fabric I made the other day? Well, I've created the first pot holder from this batch of "yarn" and it's a doozie, so nice and thick and heavy. I've made these before with thinner strips and they do make nice pot holders … for tea kettles and warm handles and such. But these, these pot holders will protect me well when taking the cast iron skillet or dutch oven out of the hot oven, that's for sure. And they'll last near to forever too.

It's amazing what you can create with a simple single crochet stitch and some old fabric. And a closet shelf lightens a bit in the bargain too.

I'm looking forward to making another pot holder or two with the green "yarn" that's left, and then moving on to the other great balls!

That's what I made today.

Peace.

Great Balls of Fabric

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:56:00 +0000

Goodness, gracious … today, among other things, I finished ripping the cotton strips from the vintage 70's fabric I had targeted for upcoming projects and sat down at the trusty sewing machine to bind the strips together to make these balls of cotton "yarn."

That's what I made today.

Peace.

My Latest Promotion Vid

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:51:00 +0000

Peace.

Spirit Cord Page Savers

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:31:00 +0000

I had a custom order for Spirit Cord page savers to work on today, so while I had the cotton floss out, and my collection of pendants, and while I was spinning like crazy and had a hard time stopping, I spun a few extras. I figure I'll keep the floss and pendants out for a few days and spin more. It's a groove that's so nourishing it really is hard to stop.

That's what I made today.

Peace.

All Work & No Play

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:23:00 +0000

I was without electrical power these past five days … and I spun several new cords, took photos, and doodled …

… and doodled …

… and doodled.

And today I took a hot shower, cleaned, vacuumed, sighed with relief at the state of my chest freezer, prepared packages for the post and started editing those photos so I can get listing more items. I made an offering of gratitude too.

That's what I made today.

Peace.

More of the Same … and Then Some

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:30:00 +0000

Today I owe a loving dose of gratitude to my friend, Sherrie, who came to visit and help me cut up the last of the tomatillos. Together we chopped them along with onion, garlic and hot peppers and got another two and a half quarts of salsa verde fermenting.

Two heads of cabbage were also prepared, and a half gallon batch of sauerkraut started too.

It was excellent help and perfect company as we chatted, caught up, chopped, sipped tea, sampled the fresh-made salsa and the batch that was started a couple of days ago which seemed to evoke some misty memories. In any event, it's gonna be so good! And she went home with a wee jar of fermented salsa to enjoy at her leisure.

That's what I made today. Peace.

Salsa Verde Ferment

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:24:00 +0000

Today I start playing catch-up on a few discretionary tasks, including posting here on this silly blog. So, since this is catch-up, we'll just take a little literary freedom and say that I made this today …

I still have tomatillos to preserve. If you remember, I made a batch of canned salsa verde last month and while it's quite good, I wasn't anxious to make more of the same. I'm glad I listened to my hesitant intuition, because this past week I got my copy of Food As Medicine - The Theory and Practice of Food, by Todd Caldecott. All other praises to Todd and the book aside, one little serendipitous piece in the book is a recipe for a naturally fermented salsa verde. Of course I had to make a batch. I adore fermented foods and honor the method as, perhaps, the premier method of preserving food.

Don't ask me for the recipe … rather, purchase your own copy of Todd's wonderful book. I'm glad I did. I'm sure that over time I will make my own adaptations that I will share with you. But really, fermentation is so simple and safe that recipes are really unnecessary, once you have basic salt/brine ratios under your belt.

I'm looking forward to watching this particular ferment over the coming few days. I'll taste it at every "check" and will know within four days or so if I want to make more of it. I suspect I will.

That's what I made "today." Peace.

("Literary" freedom in a Blog?)

A Comeback

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:23:00 +0000

Ah, yes. I have been remiss in my blogging of late. I injured a toe and I don't do injuries as well as I used to, staying put and all. So I took a break from routine and did my best to heal and recover. During that time I prepped a number of mini journals and today I started the final stages of adding the little blessings of Nature to them. These are all still wet and will change in appearance as the medium dries.

I also worked on some ACEOs that I will be trading with some of my Passion for Painting Guild friends.

Healing is process, just like any creation. For me, to heal well, to heal whole, I must ...

That's what I made today. Peace.

Lacto-Fermented Kimchi

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:14:00 +0000

Today I harvested a lovely head of Napa cabbage, a couple carrots, a nice big daikon radish, some green onions. I gathered my garlic and hot pepper flakes, the organic ginger I bought at the local health food store yesterday and my supply of whey from my homemade yogurt and made ...

Lacto-fermented Kimchi

1 head Napa or other cabbage, chopped

1 bunch green onions, chopped

1-2 carrots, grated

1 daikon radish, grated (or any radish)

3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

2 T. fresh ginger, grated

2 T. hot pepper flakes (or more!)

1 T. sea salt

4 T. whey

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, massage to release natural juices. Transfer to a jar, pack down, cover with a loose lid. Allow to sit in a warm place, out of direct light for 2-4 days. Store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

It's so good and good for you.

That's what I made today.

Peace.

Salsa Verde Variation

noreply@blogger.com (Walk in the Woods) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:58:00 +0000

I still have a lot of tomatillos to harvest, yet I choose to do things in bite sized, manageable doses. So today I made a batch of salsa verde ...

Tomatillo Salsa
11 cups tomatillos, husked, cored and chopped

2 cups red onion, diced
1 1/2 cup green cayenne peppers, sliced in rings 1/2 cup sweet pepper, diced
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup apple cider vinegar
8 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt

Clean and sterilize your canning jars and lids, keeping everything hot until ready for packing. Combine all ingredients in a non-reactive pan, bring to the boil and reduce heat to a simmer for 10 minutes. Load up the jars, leaving 1/2 inch head room, cap and process in boiling water for 30 minutes (for pint jars). More detail can be found at Tigers & Strawberries which is where I found the recipe to adapt to what I had on hand.

If I had waited one more day, or even until evening, I could have added some nice organic cumin, but it arrived with my herb order after I was done. No worries though, I'll be making more because it came out quite tasty and I love the color that the red onion leant to it!

Also, I choose to leave the cilantro out and add it at serving time. I have a "pesto" supply of cilantro in my freezer and I prefer the bright flavor that it adds, when I don't have it fresh from the garden, that is.

That's what I made today.

Peace.