Escaping reality, enchanting doors

I don’t know about you, but some days I would just like to open a door into a different world, to escape my own realities even if only for a few moments. Books, movies, music, art and so many other real world options can distract you for a time and often bring with them new insights or at least a diversion. Though the fantasy of actually stepping out of time and the known world we all occupy has some hold on my imagination, and clearly I am not alone. Wandering around on etsy I’ve found a few shops that offer doors that open new possibilities. They may not be large enough to actually get through (unless you have found some of the edibles from Alice in Wonderland) but they are inviting to the imagination and delightfully charming additions to a garden or home.

These inviting wee doors are from:
www.boxnmor.etsy.com
www.lovingleecrafted.etsy.com
www.nothingbutwood.etsy.com
www.woodentreasures.etsy.com

Facing Your Fears

Lessons come in many forms, and teachers in an equally astonishing variety. My daughter is my new hero, inspiration and teacher. Last Saturday morning, despite anxiety (fear, stage fright, what ever you want to call it) she donned her new band uniform, climbed into the car and faced her first performance in marching band. The band rehearsal season started months ago but up to this point it has been all drill and endless hours of instrument practice. While some aspects of this process were fun, there were also stressful moments, as she accepted criticism and correction from the director and section leaders. She kept her game face on and always strove to make the required corrections. I can not say in words how proud I am. Her determination and her outwardly calm demeanor impressed several of the upperclassmen enough that they told her that they loved her, and how she stood up straight and said "yes sir, I will fix that..." She had been told numerous times it would become fun, once the performance season started, but up until that point anxiety often seemed to outweigh fun.

On Saturday the 19th, I caught up to her shortly after the band left the field after the halftime show. When I asked her how it went and how she felt she said "it was fun." As the day went on I & other family members checked in with her to see if it was all worth it, and each time she expressed more enthusiasm. Like many performers, once she was in position the hours of hard work were a memory and she could just enjoy performing. Fear fell away and joy filled it's place. This Saturday was a new test, she sailed happily through the performance at the football game but then had to prepare for a competition on the same day in Hershey, PA. The band had a little down time as instruments and equipment were loaded into trucks and buses and the mom's prepared to feed the band. Once fed and once their uniforms were packed up we loaded into 3 buses and a van and some trucks we headed out to face our first competition. To add to the challenges it had been raining in Hershey since 1pm and every band went on the soggy field soaked. They put on their game faces and performed like troopers. We returned to the buses so the kids could change and try to stay dry while we waited for our scores.

I had assumed that the prospect of facing judges would bring on a new round of anxiety but she was so focused on her performance (first time on AstroTurf and first time in the rain) that she was not really paying any attention to the judges.

New situations have always been one of my personal fears, as I face unfamiliar situations and "first performances" I will hold the memory of my daughter's face in my mind's eye and remember the lesson she learned on the field, and I hope to keep her bravery and determination in my mind when I face my own daemons.

So lovely I have to share

I spend a lot of time wandering around in etsy shops, probably more than I should. Sometimes I stumble on shops that are so amazing I wish I could do work like them, or afford to buy out their shops. Instead of wallowing in jealousy I have decided to share them with the world and today will be my first featured artist post.

Emily Balivet's work is just stunning! She has managed to blend a feel for the Pre-Raphaelites and a modern aesthetic, referencing mythology, art history and fantasy. It all works together with an elegance and grace few manage to achieve.

OK so I'm gushing a bit, I admit it. See if you agree with me, stop by Emily's shop ...

www.EmilyBalivet.etsy.com

Seasons of change

Nature is full of changes, what would life be without them? Some things change quickly, some erratically and some things slowly: seasons, weather, growing cycles, evolution everything in life is constantly changing. Managing change or our responses to it are also ever evolving. One day I will learn to respond to changes in life in a more timely fashion, with grace efficiency. Until that day comes I fear my blog posts will be sporadic.

It has been an age since my last post and so much has happened. We have had a VERY busy summer, maybe the busiest I have ever known. My daughter is now in marching band. Some people may know what kind of time sink that can become. I am officially a band mom, since they discovered I have a sewing machine I have been helping sew flags for the color guard - we only have 70 flags to make for a 7 minute show - no problem. My kids also took part in a rowing camp for 3 weeks, and the kids & I did our normal 4 weeks of art camp in June & July. The kids went to Disney with my sister, then came more band camp time, and our family trip to Maine. The kids are now back in school and things will soon settle into a more predictable pattern, for a little while at least.