.2025.

May 2025 be filled with:

joy

adventures

love

presence

good food

deep conversations

travel

new landscapes

familiar places with new perspectives

ritual

peace

lightness of being

creative projects

new discoveries

feelings of being at home

tight hugs

long drives with a view

little getaways

big explorations

studio time

new friendships

deepen friendships

connected moments

vulnerability 

laughter 

fun

playfulness

excitement

desire

discipline 

belonging

feeling seen

time in the mountains

camping trips

dips in the river

overnight kayaking trips

time with the ocean

slow mornings

walks

poems

new ideas

listening to understand

lots of art

teaching

learning

flow

intentional practices

expansion

and a blessing from one of my favorites, John O'Donohue

-----------------------------------------

A blessing for presence

Awaken to the mystery of being here
and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.

Have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.

Receive encouragement when new frontiers beckon.

Respond to the call of your gift and the courage to
follow its path.

Let the flame of anger free you of all falsity.

May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame.

May anxiety never linger about you.

May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of
soul.

Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek
no attention.

Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.

May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven
around the heart of wonder.

~ John O’Donohue ~

.2024.

a picture from my front window at 12:00AM on 1/1/24

May 2024 bring:

Devotion

Discernment

Joy

Adventure

Intentionality

Meaningful relationships 

Community 

Space to create

New perspectives 

Groundedness

Clarity

Nature

Vast spaces 

Newness 

Familiarity 

Nourishing conversations 

Written letters

New recipes

Shared meals

Rituals

Seasonal attunement

Good books

Learning 

Peace

Serendipitous moments

Belonging

Laughter 

Playfulness 

Dips in the ocean 

Kayaking 

Sunbathing 

Hikes 

Camping 

Coffee outside

Explorations 

Courage 

Gratitude

Love

Hugs

Kisses

Late nights 

Early morning adventures 

Joy - resounding joy

Rest without need for validation 

Soft days

Deep breaths 

some pictures from the almost annual Ancient Lakes hikes....oh the beauty!

.stitch journal.

 I started a stitch journal this year. The original idea, I believe, came from Claire Wellesley Smith, author of many books, including Slow Stitch: Mindful and Contemplative Textile Art. It's a simple daily practice. It will be a beautiful reflection upon the end of the year. Even this morning, only five days into the new year, it struck me how illusive time is. The new year feels so far out until it arrives, and time speeds up, and we're almost a week into 2023. 

I love the presence of this practice. As I mentioned in my last post, I selected a word for this year - attune. To find harmony continues to resonate. I stitched attune in the middle of the journal/piece of fabric to remind myself every morning of this intention. 

.hello 2023.

Hello, 2023! I started this piece, "Crossing the Threshold," on the last day of the year and finished it yesterday, the first day of 2023. A visual memory of that strange moment of transition, nothing feels different, but we are in a new year. I'm playing with a design idea that came to me in early 2022, drop cloth woven together and stitched. It's simple and intuitive. I started with a basic idea and then let the design unfold. That is what I enjoy most about fiber, the practice of watching something evolve. It feels like all I have to do is stay in the flow. 

I attended a new year's breathing event yesterday, 30 minutes of being guided with different breath patterns to access alpha waves. It's another way to find that flow. During the breath guide encouraged us to attune our bodies and breath. I've been thinking of a word for 2023, not sure what to choose. Last year I selected gentleness because things felt so chaotic. Then when I heard attune, it caught my attention. It's such a beautiful word. You can almost hear it resonating. When I think of the word attune, I think of alignment. Later last night, I looked it up and the definition is to find harmony. That sounds like a wonderful guide for the new year, so it's my word for 2023 - attune. 

I hope you had a wonderful first day of the new year. Do you choose a word? How do you mark a new year?

Piece:
Crossing the Threshold
14' x 14'
Cotton, drop cloth, DMC #8 cotton pearl thread

.a decade.

Hello Dear Ones,

I haven't written much this past year. There's been a lot that needed attention and I didn't give as much time to reflection, which is usually what I use this space for. It's been a good year, an important year. Here I am on the very end of 2019 in awe that it's the end of a decade. It feels like so much and nothing at all. I don't believing in putting too much pressure on it - there's enough expectation in our world, but I was reflecting upon the last 10 years last night I felt very grateful for all the adventures that 10 years have held for me so I wanted to write down some of them as a thank you. I understand that I walk this earth a great deal of privilege. I'm grateful for my freedom and hope that my experiences help me to be a more understanding and compassionate being. 

Road Trips
I went on my first road trip in 2012 and took many more this past decade:

1. Washington to Texas (thru Idaho, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico) 
Highlight: Camping in Colorado during monsoon season!!

2. Texas to Washington (thru New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon)
Highlight: Solo camping in Joshua Tree National Park

3. Idaho to Massachusetts (thru Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York)
Highlight: Sleeping in a teepee at Devil's Tower in Wyoming, Badlands, and Ithaca, NY (I love that place).

4. Maine to North Carolina (thru New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia)
Highlight: Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and Mass MOCA

5. North Carolina to Washington (thru Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho)
Highlights: Santa Fe, Palo Duro Canyon, Sand Dunes (Idaho)

Places I've lived in the past 10 years!

1. Wenatchee, WA
2. Seattle, WA
3. Arlington, WA
4. Malawi
5. El Paso, TX
6. Chicago, IL
7. Boston, MA
8. Portugal
9. Ketchum, ID
10. Essex, MA
11. York, ME
12. Asheville, NC
13. Leavenworth, WA

My Deepest passions of the past 10 years:

•  Metalsmithing: I took my first metalsmithing course in 2010 and haven't stop studying metal since.

• Maternal Health: I became a birth doula in 2010, started Midwifery school, caught 5 babies and attended 60 births and taught Sexuality Education in Boston, Idaho and Washington.

Top Moments

• Arriving in Malawi
• Catching babies in Texas
• Moving to Boston
• Attending the birth of my niece
• Becoming an Aunt
• Solo travel (BIG moments of joy were camping in Joshua Tree in 2013 and camping in Palo Duro in 2019) 
• Spending 3 months in Portugal taking jewelry classes
• Teaching jewelry after almost 10 years of learning the craft
• Starting my Master's program 
• Making art + sharing art for 10 years!!!

Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading. I hope that you have time to reflect on your 10 years, whatever they looked like I hope you see the beauty in yourself through them. Happy 2020!

.happy 2019.

2018 was a year of unexpected journeys that took me from the northeast to the southeast and the northwest - known + unknown places offering new lessons and new layers of awareness. Every time I became tired and confused and frustrated it seemed like the universe whispered "stay open" and and asked "what are curious about?"

As I transition into 2019 the potential is based on the ability of letting go of these boxes I put myself in and allow myself to tune into my voice and listen to who I am becoming.

As for AEO, this past year I spent much more time teaching than making and it felt nourishing to connect with and guide aspiring metalsmiths begin to craft their voice into the language of metal. I also made two brooch series translating places into metal, learning how to capture a moment - tell a story - hold a place.

Thank you for being a part of this unknown + beautiful unfolding. Happiest of 2019 to you and yours!!

.2 0 1 6.

I LOVE the transition into the NEW YEAR - it's so refreshing to me. I'm a nomad, of course my favorite time of year is going to the beginning! I was also a birth worker for a time so I really love new beginnings - birth - the sweet first moments - the possibilities - the dreams - the energy!

I'm thinking so many things right now on the the last day of 2015. I'm thinking I can't believing I'm getting on a plane tomorrow for PORTUGAL! I'm thinking I can't believe that is was 10 years ago that I started this nomadic journey of a life. I'm thinking this year has been so beautiful - in such a raw personal way. I'm thinking where do I want to go in 2016?

I posted this quote last year, but I'm posting it again because it's SO good and SO true. It's time to make a decision - embarking on the new year - what are you going to take? what are you going to do? where are you going to go? what do you WANT?

“These are times of decision, of change, of choice….it’s time for something to go, something to be removed. Anything that is inhibiting, holding us back, it can be a belief it can person, it can be a job, it can be a country…It can be anything that is holding us back. Now needs to go…it’s like we are being stripped of our known familiar sense of security, sense of identity, sense of who I am.”

“…So what is coming up now for so many of us is a new future…birth of the new always requires the separation from the known, familiar, secure past. It can be beautiful, it’s a flowering, it’s an opening, it’s a creation, and it can be very scary…

“…Now is the time for planning this future, and it’s a very good time for doing that and preparing ourselves…the ship’s gonna leave the port, the new paradigm is going to take off, and now we are packing our bags and have to decide what to leave and what to take….you cannot take everything with you. Now it’s time to choose.” 

mysticmamma

TEN YEARS ago I was freaking out sitting in LAX at midnight with all the lights out, there was only about 20 people around. I had a moment of wondering if the airport was actually closed - if we were stranded and I just wasn't able to understand the announcement in Spanish. I arrived in Mexico in the early morning hours of the new year feeling sick to my stomach - why did I ever want to come to an unknown town where they speak an unknown language for 10 weeks?! I continued to freak out for the first few weeks and felt like crying everytime someone tried to ask me something that I didn't understand (despite years of Spanish classes) but I figured it. I feel in love. I was forever changed by that tiny unknown town where they spoke that unknown language. Here I am again 10 years later starting the new year in an airplane flying off to an unknown town where they speak and unknown language. I had my obligatory freakout moment yesterday and called my Mom. WHAT was I thinking? 8 weeks? I don't even speak Portuguese? Why did I think that was a good idea? She reminded me (as she always does) this is who I am - this is what I do - I seek - I explore - I challenge myself. 

Sometimes I feel like life is so overwhelming and complex and other times it just feels beautiful. It just feels beautiful right now - to be scared - to be able to have found my art - to be able to have the freedom to travel - to be able to have found a town that I am really going to miss while I am away - to be able to hear my true voice - to be able to start to accept myself for who I am. I let go of some labels this year that has allowed me to be right here. 

I'm taking these words into this new year. To continue to honor and respect myself for WHO I AM in my purest (ever evolving) form. To STOP hiding behind things - To STOP reaching outwards - To STOP choosing others over myself . To let go of the lies and root into myself so deeply that I can't get lost.

"All these years of practice have made you a master of pretending to be what you think you are. And that distorted image of yourself is really your grave, because the real you is not the one who is living your life.

“And who is living your life? …Is it the real you who judges yourself and punishes yourself… Is it the real you who abuses your body? Is it the real you who doesn’t even like yourself? Is it really the real you who is dreaming all that? No, it’s not the real you.”

“When you recover awareness, you resurrect and come back to life."

.2015.

“These are times of decision, of change, of choice….it’s time for something to go, something to be removed. Anything that is inhibiting, holding us back, it can be a belief it can person, it can be a job, it can be a country…It can be anything that is holding us back. Now needs to go…it’s like we are being stripped of our known familiar sense of security, sense of identity, sense of who I am.”

“…So what is coming up now for so many of us is a new future…birth of the new always requires the separation from the known, familiar, secure past. It can be beautiful, it’s a flowering, it’s an opening, it’s a creation, and it can be very scary…

“…Now is the time for planning this future, and it’s a very good time for doing that and preparing ourselves…the ship’s gonna leave the port, the new paradigm is going to take off, and now we are packing our bags and have to decide what to leave and what to take….you cannot take everything with you. Now it’s time to choose.”
mysticmamma

What a sweet tender trying year this has been. I hold SOOO much gratitude for the pathway that so gently slowly brought me here.

I stayed out way to late/early last night for New Years Eve but the beautiful part of that is due to lack of sleep I had a slow day which allowed me to keep a quiet space for reflection and processing. I took time to reflect on some of these questions. I highly recommend doing this activity.

2014 was a travelling year for me. A year in which I visited all corners of the states by car, bus, bike and plane. A year of travel that forced me to let go of my control (plans) and let myself feel/face that discomfort.

Someone asked me once "What is the best gift you've ever received?" I had to really think about what the question was asking and when I understood I said "the kindness of strangers". People ask me, Why do you travel so much? Why can't you stay in one place? And the only way to answer these questions and what I was so fiercely reminded of this year is the kindness of strangers (humans). That powerful human connection that can only happen when vulnerability is being practiced. I am not good at being vulnerable but traveling (the unknown) forces me to be vulnerable, to ask for help - to accept the help - to practice gratitude for the kindness of strangers and kindred spirits alike. It's in THAT space that I can see the world/humans/my journey in the most beautiful/purest of light. This year has been SO fruitful and overwhelming and exhausting because of vulnerability.

So much gratitude and love for everyone reading these words may they remind you of the challenges from this past year that have strengthen you and help you to let go of the ones that weakened you. THIS is a brand new moment of infinite possibilities.

Much love to you.

.new digs.

new job and new digs - what a way to start 2013.

.año viejo.

In Ecuador at the end of a year they go to great lengths to build/create "años viejos" which are life size puppets made of various materials - you will find them looking as though they are of the same image as the creator or some pop culture figure. They are then on the 31st surrounded by parties, food, and dancing then light on fire at the culmination of the night to represent the burning of all the "bad" parts of the year to bring goodness into the new year. I love this tradition. Looking at ways to improve and bring more light and love into the coming year.

What would you burn?


I wouldn't burn any experience from this year however you want to classify it - there was a lesson to learn. I would burn some of my more classic tendencies: hot headed nature, impatience, and future planning that always takes away the power of a moment.

ruby jean

This year has been one of the most beautiful years of my life. This year was started in on the shores of Lake Malawi and will end in my hometown surrounded by family mourning the loss of my Nana, Ruby Jean. My year started with a new culture, new job, new country, new continent and to end with a sweet sweet goodbye to the most pure hearted woman I have ever known that raised me with strong values, a servant's heart, and fierce strength. How symbolic to have a year starting with birth and ending with death.

In many ways I feel like this year has pushed me to the limits of my known self allowing for a new perspective. Living in new surrounding and experiencing life in a new transition I'm ending 2012 feeling full of questions and fragile but at the same sense full of hope for 2013 and all the answers it will gather and the new sensitivity to NOW.

I'm so beyond grateful for the company of new and old teachers I have met along the way this year. 
I hope you let the refreshing newness of 2013 wash over you and exhale the truth that all we have is right now.

Much love to you all always.

two of my favorite teachers