Skip to main content

Posts

Round Dance

 When I wrote about ballet , Lily commented on how she enjoys ballroom.  Oooo, me, too! We've had several good ballroom teachers, and (before they had kids) , my daughter, her husband and I took ballroom classes. In the early 2000s, I had a teacher who had both Arthur Murry and Fred Astair training! When his usual assistant couldn't make it, he'd ask me to help demo, telling me, "I know you've had ballet - when I tell you to slide your foot straight back, I DON'T want a rondé!"  Unfortunately - while we had great teachers and classes, there was just the  occasional dance in town! The annual Mayor's Ball fundraiser was fun, with a different theme each year.  With ballroom, women often pick up the steps and patterns more quickly - but the guys need to both learn the steps,  and  think ahead, to be able to  'lead'  their partner! And without regular opportunities to dance, that's hard! During those years, we even got to take a couple of class...
Recent posts

Throwback Thursday

  On Tuesday, my daughter Mary, middle granddaughter Emily (22) and I got to ballet class!  That may not sound like much - but we've often  intended  to go (about 20 minutes away), while Emily's attending university here in town....   Gregory, Emily, my son Josh and me after Nutcracker - 2018 My daughter and I've taken Ballet over 45 years, and Emily since she was around 5. She and her dad were in Nutcracker again this year, and we vowed  we'd get to class in January!  Emma in the studio  - 2020 Our teacher Emma Seth was classically trained by her mother Lynn Marchant, in the Vaganava Russian style. Lynn trained with  Bronislava Nijinska  in Los Angeles. Emma's studio, with its 'floating' floor, grand mirrors and barrés, is in a former wine tasting room in downtown Amity. In the 70s, our little family lived in Corvallis, and came to watch the kids' cousin Tammy dancing in Nutcracker in McMinnville ...  Marchant Snow Scene from ...

Time Angel

 During our Orientation session Sunday, Mariabruna asked us to be attentive to coming on time, during our facilitator training , and I thought my Time Angel! In the mid 90s, my friend Anita suggested we call on the Time Angels when we were dashing to a Reiki circle - and we arrived just a wee bit 'late!' I loved the concept, and since, often invite the Time Angels' help, especially for group work! The indigenous view of time puts people first. If you're on your way to a gathering - and notice Aunt Annie stopped by the side of the road with a flat tire - if you want to be on time, you need to stop and help her! Time Angel I am one who  ... finds the right time moves in and out of time seamlessly tends to Aunt Annie takes timely action. Time is a present.  Take time for Creativitea.  Pay attention to the time signature … There's always time for a cuppa, especially with a friend! I often placed a small Time Angel card on my altar for my  Intentional Creativity ...

Light Dance

  Welcome to Day 5 of our Blog challenge ! My virtual friend Amber offers Woman Unleashed workshops at least annually - and this winter, she chose favorite interviews from years past for the content! ( And free offers from the presenters!) I love the variety of creative offerings - and Amber's 'Permission Slip' to do a much - or as little - as fit our energy and time - no guilt!!  I've participated in WU before, as Amber is also a graduate of the Color of Woman Intentional creativity program. I did a few of this year's sessions, and really enjoyed them!  This collage was from Robin McClendon's collage mandala session.  I did mine in the smaller SoulCollage® format (5×8") - and she's the first card of 2026!  She's in the Council suit. Light Dance I am one who reaches for the light ____ is lit from within and without  ____ captures fireflies - and opens the jar! I loved Lou Reed's session on creating a Spirit Doll, to support our intention/ goal...

Prosperity and Well Being

 As we welcome a New Year, we often reflect on the year past, and what we wish for, in the year ahead.   Over a decade ago, I often participated in a  Wishcasting Wednesday blog roll.   We would offer our wish/ intention, and offer support for each other's wishes.  The phrase we often used in support of the wishes is,  "As ____ wishes for her/ himself, so I wish for them!" One of my wishes is for the year is continued well being and true prosperity ... The first thing that comes to mind is Mr Spock's Vulcan Greeting:  "Live Long & Prosper!"  (Did you know, that Vulcan greeting 🖖  came from an experience during Leonard Nimoy's own Jewish childhood?! It is the blessing of the Shekinah  - the divine feminine, light, indwelling!) ✨️  True Prosperity  ✨️  A resurgence of kindness, appreciation for differences, and love of our precious earth Abundance of time with family & friends Balance and connection wit...

Training commences

 Today's post for the Ultimate Blog Challenge is brought to you by the number 4, ᏅᎩ (nv-gi / Cherokee)  Let's honor the ᏅᎩ Suits of  SoulCollage®  (links to my posts last fall on each suit )  Committee (our inner qualities) Community (those around us; family, friends, public figures, pets) Companion (animal guides for each Chakra)  Council (archetypes) This morning, my cohort for our SoulCollage® facilitator training will gather (virtually) for our Orientation . It's an exciting time, standing on the brink of a new adventure! Over a decade ago, my friend Inga and I took a day long workshop, to meet and paint our Creative Muses. Our teacher was enrolled in the Color of Woman teacher training, and one of her requirements was to offer a painting workshop with at least two students - we were those students! Good Medicine -2025 The questions Elisabeth invited us to consider, in preparation for that workshop  are appropriate for my upcoming jo...

Board Book Journal

  In 2020, I pivoted from leading monthly creative circles in a downtown art studio, to offering them virtually! I invited my friend Linda to co-facilitate, and we enjoyed thinking up inexpensive projects we could share with our group! Linda's a big fan of using found materials, including junk mail and other 'throw aways' for booklets and pages.  After one of our early sessions, I painted a cover for the journal in which I was already working, using a sturdy paper bag as the base. My youngest granddaughter grabbed a bag, and came out to the picnic table to paint along, making hers for a spiral bound notebook. I glued the bag onto a board book, ~ 7×7" which has 5 double spread pages. Here are some examples of altered  board books : For collage, you can glue directly to the page! Here's a fun tutorial !  Use your own designs - try making gelli prints! (Now I  need a gelli plate  in  my Atelier!) Write your intention for the book using Sharpie or paint...