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My Favorite Autumn Songs

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Music is important.  It is the food of love, the breath of life, everything.

When I sit down to write, I do one of two things:  Turn on Pandora and listen to the Nickel Creek/ Sara Bareilles station, or open YouTube and go to Megan’s version of “Manhattan.”  The second option is sort of difficult, because I have to pay attention to go back to the YouTube tab and go back to the beginning before Megan says, “Hi everyone!  Thank you so much for tuning in and watching that…” but I can make it work.

I have already written about this song, but it has certainly turned into my Autumn Theme Song 2015.  It’s just so beautiful.  Here it is again:

Thinking about how this song has become a theme song made me think back to Autumns past.

Last year I was all about Peter Mulvey and Vlad.  This video always gets me.  I first listened to it in my car, last October.  I clearly remember driving around Eugene, looking at the beautiful changing leaves.  I felt the beauty of our Earth very clearly in that moment.   The way that Vlad explains our culture so simply makes my heart ache.  Autumn is such a good time to hear this message of mortality, and connections, and love.

Please watch:

A few years ago, I was taking a class from Kal about being bulletproof and creative.  It was the same time I was teaching art in a middle school.  This song came into my life and the power of the music and lyrics (from a poem by James Baldwin) moved me.

I don’t know, sister,
what I’m saying,
nor do no man,
if he don’t be praying.
I know that love’s the only answer
and the tight-rope lover
the only dancer.

When the lover come off the rope today,
the net which holds him is how we pray,
and not to God’s unknown,
but to each other–:
the falling mortal is our brother!

If I ever have a song stuck in my head, I use this song to get it out.  I just sing it to myself until it’s in my head.  It’s just such a beautiful piece.

Here you go:

The last song I’ll share here is one of my all time favorite Autumn songs.  It just feels like Autumn.  The mandolin, the imagery, Laura’s rich voice.  It doesn’t feel like Autumn has really arrived until I’ve listened to Laura Kemp sing “Hannah Branch.”

“This is the time the apples lie rotten on the ground, this is the time the supper sees the sun start goin’ down.”

Seen In Eugene

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andthenthey seen in eugene1Tonight I went to an art show where two of my photographs are displayed.

andthenthey seen in eugene2 I think it’s pretty cool.  I submitted a few photos with #seenineugene to be considered for a month long exhibit.  Two of my photos were chosen to be displayed, as well as to be in a photo book.  The proceeds of the sale of prints and books go to a local art nonprofit.  andthenthey seen in eugene3 We went do to the new Barn Light were they have the photos displayed with our friends.  The kids ran around and played. andthenthey seen in eugene4I especially like the photos they chose because both my daughters are involved.  There’s the photo of Harriet and Elsa playing in Elsa’s playhouse: andthenthey seen in eugene5And one of Alma sitting at Humble Bagel.  When Alma saw this photo hanging on the wall, she was pretty excited.  She recognized herself right away.  andthenthey seen in eugene6I know this doesn’t make me a successful professional photographer, but it sure makes me feel like one.  I never thought that I would have my photographs on display, with a real exhibit opening night.

If you want to see my photos, along with 98 other great photos, head down to the Barn Light East, grab a cup of coffee, check them out, and maybe even buy a print or one of the photo books.  You can even say you know one of the artists!

New Summer Dresses for the Girls

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This is funny! I thought one of the things on my Summer 2015 To Do List was to make new summer dresses for the girls.  I just checked that list and my 35 Things to do Before I turn 35 list, and it’s not on either!  Oh well!

So…. Guess what!  I made new summer dresses for the girls for no reason other than the fact that I love doing it, and they are adorable.

AndThenThey Sundresses1

And it was a reason to buy this fabric I have been coveting for months and years and decades.  I absolutely love Sarah Jane Studios and we have a couple of her prints in the girls’ rooms.  I also used some of her fabric in Alma’s quilt.

This is a ‘pattern’ that I made up last summer for Alma’s lion dress.  It’s a really fun, simple dress to make.  I’ve even helped a couple friends make them for their daughters this summer.  I’m toying with a few ideas about how I could get this pattern out to a broader audience.  Maybe a workshop for local sewists, or trying to figure out how to get a pdf pattern put together for download.

AndThenThey Sundresses2Anyhow, I used two different lines of fabric for the dresses.  I made Harriet’s using fabric in the same design of a print in her bedroom.  The kids on parade are so sweet, and Harriet loves, loves, loves balloons.

AndThenThey Sundresses5We spent the afternoon at the University of Oregon art museum, and I took advantage of the backdrops and lighting to get some photos of the girls in their dresses.

AndThenThey Sundresses4 This was post-naptime, so Harriet’s dress is a little wrinkled.  But that’s life when you’re always on a parade, right?AndThenThey Sundresses3 AndThenThey Sundresses6The museum has an amazing program where the kids can pick up backpacks full of activities for the kids.  They are mostly above our kids’ heads, but it’s fun to go through them and see what we can talk about.

AndThenThey Sundresses9aEach backpack has colored pencils and paper, so aspiring artists can copy the art, or draw what they see.  It’s sweet to see what other museum goers have drawn in the past.  They also each have magnifying glasses which are always a hit.

AndThenThey Sundresses9The backpacks have themes to them.  Alma picked one up and the Asian art they have at the museum.  She found some little figurines and coins in a bottle.

AndThenThey Sundresses8We love going to the museum anyway, but the backpacks make our visits even more fun.  I hope they keep these backpacks so we can watch how our kids grow and change during our museum visits!

AndThenThey Sundresses7

 

 

35 Things to do Before I Turn 35

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Yesterday was my birthday!  I am now proud to say that I have made 34 trips around the sun.  Pretty cool journey we get to take each year, flying around in outer space.  For my 35th years, I decided to make a list of 35 things to do before I turn 35. ABM_1424992821Here’s my list:

  1. Read a book a month.  This should be easy since I have book club every month.  If I keep up with the club, this will be complete!  Note to self: must get this month’s book!
  2. Sign up for life insurance.  Not to be morbid, or anything.  But, yeah.
  3. Try a Barre3 class.
  4. Get a monthly massage.  I would love to complete this goal, but I think it might be one of the less likely.
  5. Try acupuncture.
  6. Get a haircut.  I’m pretty much on a once yearly schedule, and my last haircut was last March.  I did this right before my trip to California!  I love it how the stylist thins out my hair.  Feels so much lighter!
  7. Try 5 recipes from my new cookbook!
  8. Spend a weekend at the beach.
  9. Spend a weekend in the mountains.
  10. Can something.  Maybe tomatoes, pizza sauce, green beans?  What do you think, friends?  I know I have some amazing canning friends!
  11. Get our garden going again.  It has been sadly ignored since I’ve either been pregnant or living with a small baby for the past 3 summers.
  12. Focus on getting my Etsy shop going.  Note:  It has a new name and address – CaroMade!
  13. Post one new listing on CaroMade every month.
  14. Do a creative retreat – either an organized one, or organize my own!
  15. Get more chickens.
  16. Get back on my daily chore schedule!  Our house neeeeeeeds it!
  17. Go to Disneyland!  Yes!  We took Alma there with my cousin and his family.  So perfect.
  18. Go to a Broadway musical – it will more than likely be on tour, but it will count and it will be amazing.
  19. Hike 35 miles.  Or maybe 35 kilometers might be more attainable.
  20. Get the trailer set up and go on bike rides with the girls.
  21. Rent a limo.  I’m thinking wine tasting, or Christmas lights?
  22. Make and sew a huge cushion for our hearth.
  23. Get chairs recovered.
  24. Get estimates to get our house painted.
  25. Set up some good seasonal capsule wardrobes.
  26. 5 Days of Christmas crafts on the blog.
  27. Get going on a creative, relaxing morning routine.
  28. More author interviews on the blog.
  29. Plant a tree, or lots of trees.
  30. Take a class.  Sewing?  Cooking? Writing?
  31. Sew some clothing for me.
  32. Make art of Alma’s and Harriet’s rooms.
  33. Go to the Country Fair.
  34. Go camping.
  35. Build a sandcastle or a snowman.

And…. GO!

Sometimes You Just Say Yes

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IMG_6225Alma kept talking about painting all day yesterday.  When the time was right, I went out to the sunroom, set up her watercolors and paper, and she said, “No! I want to paint the fence!”  I have no idea where she got this idea, but I thought it was a good one.  Why not?  Sometimes you just say ‘yes!’

IMG_6184 IMG_6185 IMG_6188 IMG_6190We started with finger paints and they weren’t working very well, so we switched to tempera.  At one point Jesse came out and asked if it would wash off.  I just shrugged.  Who cares?  It’s art.  It’s memories.  It’s beautiful.  It’s yes.  And truth be told: we’ll probably have to replace this fence this spring anyway.

IMG_6196 IMG_6201 IMG_6203 IMG_6205 IMG_6208 IMG_6210

All the pink spots are lions.  She told me that.  Then she said, “Oh!  One’s falling down!”  Do you see it?IMG_6222 IMG_6224

Our Love is Here to Stay

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Our time in this universe is limited.  We are just a blink.  Humanity is just a blink.   When our civilization dies out, I imagine the Earth as a huge ball of love.  As if our lives have burned up, leaving a smoke of love.  After all this, our love is here to stay.

I know that when people die, it is their love that remains.  The happy memories and feeling of happiness and love are what’s left of my grandparents.  Bach left his sonatas, also full of love.  Artists leave their love on their canvases.  Parents leave their love in the children.  Anyone who has ever made anything is adding to that smoke of love.

Sure, there’s war and hatred, in the world and in our lives.  I get that.  But, does any of that last?  Does it have to?

Let’s just do the love.

Watch this:

Pfssst.

 

New “Art” – Pressed Flower Hearts

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aIMG_4022A few months ago, I bought some clear contact paper and asked Alma if she wanted to make some art.  She did, and we crumpled up tissue paper and pressed it onto the contact paper.  Now whenever she sees the contact paper, she says she wants to make art.  Apparently, to her, ‘art’ is anything made with contact paper.  We might need to work on broadening her definition.

But for this project, it was perfect!

On Hattie’s birthday, we went to visit our friend Marilyn, and her lovely garden.  She sent us home with a beautiful bouquet.

aIMG_3985We took the petals off the flowers as they started to fade, and made some ‘art.’

aIMG_3983I taped the contact paper up on a window and let the girls put the petals on it.  We found that throwing the petals at the contact paper was the best, and most fun, way to attach the petals.

aIMG_3989Once we were done, I put another sheet of contact paper on it, sandwiching the petals.

aIMG_3994I pressed it for a few days, then cut it into hearts.

aIMG_4019Ta-da!  ART!

Rainbow Magic Milk

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My old preschool teacher posted a video of this on Facebook, so I thought we should try it.  I mean, hey, she never steered me wrong in the past!  (PS I love that my old preschool teacher is my friend on Facebook).

I saw the video while checking Facebook while the girls ate breakfast.  I pulled out the ‘ingredients’ then and there.  Why the heck not!?

Here’s what you need:

  • Plate, it has to be deep enough to hold a good layer of milk
  • Milk
  • Food coloring
  • Dish soap

Pour a good amount of milk in your plate – when I first tried it, I don’t think I had enough milk, and it didn’t work as well.  You want enough that the food coloring and dish soap can sort of float on the top.

Add drops of food coloring.

Add small drops of dish soap, and watch the colors spread and dance.  It’s really fascinating!

We used this as an opportunity to talk about primary, secondary, and tertiary colors as they blended and mixed.  Just kidding, that’s crazy.

We actually just used this as an opportunity to be amazed and have fun.  Cause that’s what childhood is.

So cool.  Thanks for the continuing preschool education, Mrs. Jones!

Do I need to add that you shouldn’t drink this milk?  No, I don’t think I need to add that.   Right?

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art

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Here’s some great news for those of you who are art lovers, and live in Oregon – because of a wonderful tax loop-hole, we get to experience amazing masterpieces.  As a New York Times article from a few weeks ago explains, when art buyers at the big auction houses in New York buy a new work of art there are huge taxes included; but if these buyers agree to loan their new purchases to museums in tax-friendly states, the buyers can avoid the taxes.

I see this as a win-win, at least for those of us who are able to enjoy these purchases.  Another great thing is that these are pieces that are usually in private collections, so they are rarely seen in public.  Pretty cool.

My dad told me about this, and about how the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art has both a Van Gogh and a Chagall right now.  These are two of my favorite artists.  I usually have to travel quite a distance to see their art in person.

My mom also told me about an exhibit that she really loved.  So we decided to head down after naps.

I have lots of memories of the U of O Art Museum (as it used to be more simply known) from when I was a kid.  I loved the courtyard, with its pool, arches, brick.  Back when I was a girl there was a statue in the water, and koi swam around in the pool.  My dad says that when he was a student, he would read in the courtyard – and when I took some summer classes, I kept up that tradition.  A couple years ago some of our best friends were married in the courtyard.

So, we always start in the courtyard.

After the courtyard, we went upstairs to see the exhibit my mom wanted to show us.  It was very impressive.  Then we went to look for the Van Gogh.  On the way, Alma was intrigued by an installation mixed media piece called “Medusa Smack” by Vanessa Renwick.  I wasn’t sure how Alma would feel about it – it is in a dark room, under a huge umbrella, with strange music playing.

Alma was amazed.  My mom and I spent most of the time watching Alma’s expression change as the images projected onto the umbrella changed.  It was one of those moments when I am so incredibly grateful to get to be her mom.  I can’t really explain it.  It was art, watching my daughter interact with a piece of art.

We decided that we needed to go back a couple days later, with Jesse and my step-dad.

Another amazing program that the JSMA has right now is a children’s program.  They have some backpacks full of exploratory art activities.  Alma didn’t really care about what was in the backpack, but she absolutely loved carrying the backpack around the museum.

And one more stop in the courtyard.

Sarah Guthu – a new painting

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I had a friend in high school who was extremely talented, even back then. We spent hours in the theater at school creating sets, listening to music, and painting.  My most favorite memory of Sarah is when we were doing Once Upon a Mattress and she was tasked with painting a huge sheet of plywood, that was supposed to look like a constellation of a dragon, that would be hung in the wizard’s chambers.  I ended up helping her on it quite a bit, and it was amazing.  It ended up being almost a pointillism style dragon.  Sadly, for some reason (maybe she remembers), the director didn’t use it in the staging.  It should have been used.  I still remember the hours spent making little dots on a huge black board, having great conversations with a great friend.

Since graduation I’m not sure if I’ve even seen her, but I’ve kept up with her on Facebook, and on her beautiful blog.  Sarah is the kind of person who, I’m convinced, has more than 24 hours in her day.  She is always posting about her creative endeavors, culinary adventures, academic pursuits, and so much more.  I don’t know how she does so much, but however she does it, and whatever she does, it is sure to be inspiring.  A couple years ago she posted about making sugar plums, and I commented that I didn’t know they were actual things (I thought they were just fairy/ballet related ideas), and she generously and graciously sent me a box to try.  That’s just the kind of person she is – the best kind of person.

I have been eying her paintings for years.  She has a really interesting, original style.  Just a couple months ago, she started selling prints of her paintings on Society6.   I decided that I needed a print, and luckily she posted one of my favorites right around my birthday.Screenshot (2)

“Breath” has always intrigued me.  I love the motion in the girl’s pose.  I love the colors.  I love the mystery.  Since I hung it in my house, I’ve been trying to figure out the story in the painting.  It’s a little creepy, but really, truly beautiful.  When I asked Alma who the girl was, she said, “Mommy.”  I love this, because part of why I chose this painting is because it reminded me of how I picture both of my daughters looking someday.  The girl in the painting looks like she’s on an adventure, and I hope for many adventures for my girls.

And Then They - Breath by Sarah Guthu

We hung it over our front table, in the living room.  I love that, while a print, it is also a great piece of art.  Not just a poster or something.  Having real art makes me feel fancy (this is making me think that I should do posts about all our art, because looking around the house, I’m realizing that we actually have a lot of original, beautiful artwork!).

Breath Closeup
(the weird spots are glares from the glass in the frame, not part of the painting…)

So, if you’re looking for some creative inspiration, check out Sarah’s blog.  And if you’re looking for some beautiful art for your home, check out her Society6 shop.  AND, if you’re looking for an original, one-of-a-kind dress for a little lady in your life, look for her soon to come Etsy shop of literary inspired children clothes (areyoukiddingme?).

Thanks, Sarah, for your wonderful art, your incredible spirit, your constant inspiration, and for the memories.