First Fig and Creative Commitments

 

So I have this habit of striking up conversations in the grocery store. Usually its in the produce department, I usually goes something like this: "What do you make with that kind of cabbage?" 

I am participating in Kari Maxwell's May Creative Commitment Challenge  and when I signed on I was thinking I would collage or paint a little something everyday. I was wandering around Whole Foods today when I was reminded of figs. I have been thinking about figs lately and how they seem intimidating – it seems so silly to type that. I had nearly finished my shopping and was over by the wine and beer when an employee asked me if I was finding everything ok. I must have come across as SO random to him when I asked if he had ever eaten a fig before. He happily walked me over to the snack section and confessed that he had only eaten Fig Newtons, very cute. There was another employee stocking shelves right where the bags of figs were. He hadn't tried them before EITHER so he just opened a bag and all three of tried them! Having a huge sweet tooth, I certainly appreciated the sweetness but I wasn't a fan of the texture of the seeds. And then more people came over and shared their their fig knowledge. One woman said that she had a fig tree in her yard and that her dog could hardly wait to eat them. Super fun and unexpected gathering.

I wasn't able to take a good photo in the store because my phone battery died, so I carried the partially eaten fig with me to the register. The cashier was curious about the fig and so I told him that it was my first time eating a fig and he excitedly told me that I just had to try the Black Mission figs in the bulk department.

Even though I didn't care for the fig, I delighted in the experience and conversation that was created around it. I didn't create anything physical today, but the experience at Whole Foods is a creation of sorts I believe and it made me SO happy.

Thoughts on Creative Idleness as a New Mama

 

I remember (re)reading May Sarton's Journal of a Solitude towards the end of my pregnancy.  I am a huge fan of solitude,  and how it fills my creative wells. As excited as I was to be welcoming my son into the world I felt worried that I would never have a moment to myself again! I believe I was reading it so close towards the end of my pregnancy to affirm what I knew about myself, but also to prepare myself how to navigate through that as a new mother. Graeme actually arrived three weeks early so I never finished the book, but I took that as a sign that I was fully equipped and ready to roll. 

Now that sweet baby G is nearing 7 months I have been consciously trying to allow space to fill my creative wells and I have enjoyed (mostly) redefining what that looks like in my new world. Recently I have been reading Brenda Ueland's If You Want to Write (highly recommend for any type of creating) - what I love about her writing is how she reminds us to show up everyday to our art even if you just sit there and twirl your hair. She says:

I learned from them that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes to us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness.

 I thought for sure my time for solitude would be when Graeme naps - I had always thought as rule babies nap for HOURS!, but he only naps in 20 minute increments. That's when I get the dishes done or the laundry folded. Or sometimes I just sit on the couch in silence. Although I am not alone, I find that somehow on long walks with Graeme and our pup give me a sense of solitude. Or when I am rocking him to sleep I just keep rocking him as he sleeps - I am loving that kind of idleness.

Then there is always the evening. Ideally, I try to get some reading in but some nights I just need to zone out in front of the TV. Just last night I went into our bedroom to read only to fall asleep by 8:30!

Dear Graeme//Week 24

Dear Graeme:

Hello sweet boy of mine. We are nearing the 6 month mark and I can hardly believe it. Your personality continues to grow and expand, as does our connection and bond. There are times when I wonder if I am fully equipped for this gig, and at the perfect moment you give me a look that says, "you've got this mama."

You are absolutely nuts for "Itsy Bitsy Spider", we cannot sing it enough. You squeal with laughter and then I do too because your laughter makes me SO happy G. It is the cheese to my macaroni. You are exploring more and more with your hands. Right now you are really into faces, I marvel at all of your wonder and curiousity. Oh, and my hair, you pull, pull, and pull my hair - ouch! But I feel the love in it nonetheless.

We have determined that when you are happiest your arms flail about, and when you are flustered your legs move about. You have this kick with your right leg, I hear the thud on your mattress when I know you are awake from you naps. I always wonder how such a big sound can come from someone so little. Strong baby G legs!

Every week we venture off to music class, and another endearing thing about you is that when all of the other babies are quiet you are making loud pterodactyl noises. I feel like it's an expression of contentment and excitement for you - so much fun.

Food, you love sweet potatoes and pears. But even with the first bite you still make a funny face as if the the first time you were trying it. And then you eagerly eat the rest.

Oh sweetie, I am SO grateful you are our little baby boy. Love and smooches.

Mama

Dear Graeme//Week 23

Dear Lovie:

Oh my! How I could stare at those eyes all day.

So the big deal around here this week was peas. You tried them, it wasn't pretty. I thought it was going ok. You usually make a funny face with the first bite of food, no matter what it is, so I thought you were cool with the peas. Your faces kept getting more intense and then (poor thing) you gagged and then threw up the peas.

You are in good company though. There is long history with peas and boys in my family. It started with your Uncle Bob when he was a baby, he could NOT stand peas. I believe his initial response was an ewwww face, not unlike yours and possibly some gagging.

It followed him all growing up too. Our Uncle Tommy played a trick on him one year during Christmas, he had this HUGE gift under the tree for your Uncle Bob. Your Nana said that when he saw that box under the tree he was so excited that his eyes were as round as saucers. The excitement grew and grew, and on Christmas Eve he finally got to open the box only to find a CAN OF PEAS! Of course he actually had a really fun gift put aside for him, but the look he must have had on his sweet face. Nana has a picture somewhere, we must find it.

Nana also swears that if she ever needed to get your Uncle Bob's attention, she would shout PEAS and he would automatically gag out loud. Poor kid, huh?

We are so grateful for your love, joy, light and laughter you bring to our lives sweet boy.

Big Love,
Mama

It All Started with a Perrier

I am someone who is REALLY into sparkling water. Like the title of this post says...it all started with a Perrier. Up until about 4 years ago I was a die hard diet soda addict. Like 6 cans a day, yes 6. I started out with diet coke in high school and became quickly hooked. I mean really, 0 calories and I preferred it to the sugary regular sodas. As a chronic dieter in high school and college (that could be a whole series of posts), I was all about quantity so the sky was the limit! Until I gave it up I really didn't think caffeine affected me, because I would drink it until right before I went to bed. Although I love the smell of coffee, I have never been a fan of drinking it, so I justified that diet soda was my coffee.

I think around age 30 I discovered Diet Dr. Pepper, affectionately known by many as DDP, even my doctor said in his friendly tone, you should really cut back on the DDPs. Have you ever tried it? It is SO good, it's like there is crack in it.

Enough about my crack soda, about two years before I quit drinking soda I was offered a Perrier (with Lemon - very important) at a salon while getting my haircut. It was so refreshing and I remember thinking, I could totally be into this. It's the carbonation that I love. But I went back to my old ways despite attempts to quit or cut back on the diet soda.

Fast forward....about four years ago I was aware that there was one soda left in the box. I decided then and there it would be my last. When I was ready, I was READY. I am not in any way saying that it wasn't hard and that I didn't miss it. There were a lot of head aches and cravings. I happened to remember that Perrier from the salon and started drinking those. It was crazy expensive, but I didn't care because my health was worth it.

I have since found alternatives to Perrier, I really love Trader Joes Lemon and Orange sparkling water flavors and Whole Foods has some great choices too. Try the Strawberry and the Citrus Blend.

I am so blessed that whenever I go to a lot of my friends homes, they always have sparkling water for me. I even packed several bottles to take to the hospital when I was pregnant.

For the record, I have nothing against drinking diet soda. I do think those artificial sweeteners are BAD news, but diet soda was the only thing I was drinking. Sometimes even after I run I would pop open a can. I cringe when I think about that. Yikes. 

Cheers to healthier addictions!

Dear Graeme// Week 22

Dear sweet Graeme:

It is hard to believe that you are nearly 6 months old. Hello Mr. Personality. The big deal around here has been solid foods. Your first solid food was avocado. You seemed to go back and forth between liking it and making goofy faces of dislike. However, when we introduced sweet potatoes, you are BOSS of the spoon, making it clear you are a huge fan. I feel like we have some of our best conversations during your meals. Really though, it's me making fart noises and you giggling.

You are definitely exploring your surroundings by way of putting anything and everything into your mouth. Your favorite things to put in your mouth right now are your feet, best toys ever. You communicate excitement through the cutest pterodactyl noises. And always the loudest when we are at restaurants, which lucky for us most people around us find it just as adorable as we do.

This past Saturday after our run on the greenway we met up with our running friends at Panera, you were adored by several "Grampa-ish" men and were held by our dear friends John and Duncan. It is completely heartwarming to see you interact with them and that you have those Grandpa figures in your life. We would give anything for you to be able to meet your Grandads, but we believe they are connected to you in some way, some how.

My love for you expands everyday - I cannot imagine my life without you, I am so grateful that you chose us as parents.

Big Love to you always,
Mama

Finding My Style

The most creative actions I have taken since having Graeme have been such tiny ones, but all that matters to me is that my artist self is fed and I am learning that it doesn't always mean with my paintbrush or scissors.

Doing things like getting a picture framed or even putting together Graeme's outfits are little creative acts that keep my juices flowing. I feel like it has been good to have some time away from the studio to reflect and fill the well. I trust that I will cutting and pasting again soon enough.

 I have been thinking a lot about how my style has evolved over the years. I started out by collaging post cards every day about 7 years ago. I tend to love both a minimal and busy abstract look. In the piece above, I feel like there is actually a balance - there is open space, messiness and scribbles.

Do you ever notice how favorite paint colors pop up in your living space or wardrobe? Here are a few images from my home that have colors that I LOVE to paint with:

1. Duvet cover from West Elm
2. Thrifted canisters
3. Lampshade from Target

Do colors from your paint palette show up in your everyday life?