My Creative Space
A new year of 'Creative Spaces' has started. Again we will be able to get a peak into other people's workrooms, knitting baskets, craft drawers and, most importantly, their creative minds. Many times I have browsed through all the blogs that were listed on Kirsty's blog and ended up being impressed and inspired by all the ideas and projects that I read about. As much as I love to admire finished products, being a witness to the process that led to that final item is something I enjoy even more. So thanks for hosting again, Kirsty!
My Creative Space today takes place on our dining table. It's still freezing cold outside and what's better on days like this than to wrap yourself in soft woolen cardigans and curl up in a chair with a book or laptop, while sipping on a cup of hot chocolate?
Right now I am browsing pictures of pizza bakers. Really. I am mostly interested in their hats, because I want to make a couple of those for Lucas' birthday party next week. Any ideas for a (preferably quick and easy) pattern?
Five
Our house was decorated with garlands today. In the morning you could see a large box of lego, wrapped in paper, waiting to be opened. You could hear excited voices coming from upstairs and then a little girl singing for her big brother. On the table you could find invitations for the first real children's party in this house, planned for next week's wednesday. From the oven came the scent of 'appelflappen', the treats he served at school.
All because our eldest turned 5 today. The thoughtful one. The child who tries to take care of everyone he loves. The one who is passionate about learning and building, who lives and loves unconditionally and full. The baby that made me a mama.
Our sweet, oh so smart, funny, shy and opinionated, blue-eyed boy. Happy birthday, Lucas. We all love you so much.
My Boudoir
It's not even close to being finished. I still have to paint and I have a lot of decorating before me. But the room is definitely starting to look like what it's intended for: My boudoir. I have a large table on which I can draw, cut and sew. There are lots of closets with my dresses and other clothes. In the corner stands a cabinet for my perfumes and jewelry. The windows are large and bring in a lot of light. Against the wall is a little couch and in a drawer you can find lots and lots of patterns and magazines. Ofcourse I have a large closet for all my fabrics, my mannequin found a little place on the side where she proudly shows my creations and there are some large mirrors, so I can see how the garments look on myself.
As you can see I am very, very happy (and the mirror could use some dusting) :-)
Do you have a place to retreat to, a place, even if it's just a little corner, that feels like it's all yours?
Gives Me Hope
Image found here.
This morning I spend much more time on my computer than I had planned to. I laughed, I shed some tears, I was really touched. All because of the website GivesMeHope. I just had to keep on reading and when I finally put the computer away I was bursting with inspiration.
What inspires you to want to make the world even more beautiful than it already is? What gives you hope? Almost every day all kinds of little things can be found that give you a sense of hope and good intentions. Sprouting green in an otherwise snowy garden, a kind word from a stranger, a loving wink from a friend, a glance in the mirror that makes you feel all beautiful. We just have to open up and really see what's around us. And a site like this one is a gentle reminder of something we ofcourse all know, but sometimes seem to forget.
Efflorescence
We actually can see the streets again! Well, parts of it, but the snow is definitely retreating. I can almost feel spring coming. It makes me want to start new projects, redecorate the house, throw open windows and change colours. I know, I'm getting ahead of myself.
It's not just my own fantasy that is going nuts these days. Our eldest inhereted my lively imagination and unfortunately this imagination makes him kind of scared lately. He's afraid of the dark, afraid of certain sounds, but most of all, he was afraid te sleep in his room. He had a room in which one wall was completely made of windows and balcony doors and somehow he found that to be very scary. So we decided to move him to another room. And oh, what a shame; The room he used to sleep in now became vacant. What to do with it? It's large. It has big windows and lots and lots of light. I could fit multiple closets in there and a big table, on which I could put my sewing machine.... This is going to be a marvelous atelier for me! (Chris called it my 'boudoir'. I have to say I really like the sound of that too :-))
So today we have been moving furniture. There still is a lot to be done, but right now at least Lucas is in bed in his new room. And he is not scared, he's not crying, he is sound asleep. Like he should be. So that his imagination can sprout through safe and pleasurable paths and he can blossom like these beautiful tulips above.
And I? I'll share my atelier/boudoir when it's done. Untill then, I'll amuse myself by fantasizing about it. Fun!
It's Your Body
In a conversation with friends today about raising our children the subject of spanking came up. Some of them didn't see the harm in an occasional little 'slap on the bottom', but most of the people in the group were strongly against spanking children, whatever the situation and reason might be. I am one of the latter group. First of all because I believe violence, in any way, is rarely the best way of reaching your goals, but most of all because beating my children, or allowing someone else to beat them, would go against one of the most important lessons I want to teach them in life.
That lesson is that their body is theirs. Totally and undeniably theirs. They don't have to kiss anyone they don't want to kiss. They don't have to cuddle with someone they don't want to cuddle with. And they never, ever have to tolerate that someone would hurt them, in any way. So I don't spank them. My husband doesn't spank them. Our hands on their body are only used to protect them, to take care of them, to hold them when they need us to.
We don't only tell them our views on this subject, we also try to show them by example. So we take good care of ourselves. We try to eat healthy, breathe in enough fresh air everyday, and get enough rest when needed. Ofcourse clothing, fashion, is an element too. Clothing is not only important for the protection of our body, it's also a way of expressing how we see ourselves and how we treasure our beings. So now it's cold I clothe myself in soft, colourful cardigans, in which I feel warm and beautiful. And when I feel like it, I put on some extravagant dress in which I feel like dancing through the day. I can make that choice, it's my body. And I feel good about it.
Ofcourse carrying out this message to our children means they have pretty strong opinions on what's beautiful on them as well. And so it can happen that on a dark, snowy day you see little fairy's or princesses dancing through our house or on their way to school and no way anyone will be able to talk them out of their crowns and wings. Because they feel beautiful. And it's their body.
They are so right about that...
Empty Clouds
I wondered why Sarah kept looking at the sky all the time. When I finally asked her, she answered: "I'm waiting to see how long it takes for the clouds to be empty."
It has been snowing all night and day. I can't remember seeing this much snow in years. It's beautiful, absolutely. And I guess it should inspire me to make winter clothing, like coats, hats and warm mittens. But somehow I can only think about summer dresses...
Start Living The Dream
A new year has arrived. We ironed out the creases from last year and face our new beginning. A year filled with new opportunities. A year sparkling of promises yet to be made. A year in which I plan to embrace the chances that I find on my path and treasure all the blessings that we have in our life already.
What better way to start a year like that than with a country covered in soft white snow? It's like we jumped into a fluffy clean sheet, on which we can draw our dreams and hopes, by living them out loud.
I wish you all a wonderful 2010. May all your dreams come true.
My name is Karin and I take
pictures. I tell stories. I sew. I dream. I love books, fashion,
hot baths, conversations that make me think again. I fantasize and
realize. And above and beyond all, I am mama to Lucas, Sarah and
Olivier.
