November 2008, Bedwell Harbour, Pender Island, BC

A year like no other …

Strange/ironic that this year is 2020, a number, when stacked is an indicator of perfect vision. This is NOT lost on most people, I know! But here we are, being asked to look at everything around and inside us, yet right now, where I live, there is smoke from wildfires preventing visibility. 

I remember this happening (with fog), on a trip to Poet’s Cove, Bedwell Harbour, Pender Island, BC, in November 2008. At first I remember a sense of disappointment that the weather was “lousy”. Then Mary Ann and I quickly recognized the gifts. Unbelievable quiet. Seeing things in the water we certainly would have missed under sunny conditions. The moonjellies! The “shooting star” fish. The beautiful tones in the worn and damp wood on the docks. 

We might have missed the sea lions frolicking just off shore, highlighted by the dense grey behind them, and the flat calm waters. 

With no float planes or boats around, we could hear them diving and surfacing, and we were entranced. 

Left to observe only the world directly in front of us, we discovered a richness, lots of calm and a whole bunch of magic!

This is what I look for as we reside under similar conditions in the middle of September, a time when we would natually have sun and blue skies. 

Perhaps, more than ever before, I am aware of what nature is trying to show and tell us. PAY ATTENTION. STOP. LOOK. Take in what is happening and change the things you can. 

Sometimes I have really crazy expectations of myself …

The one that crops up most often lately is: I must do EVERYTHING I have to do, RIGHT NOW!

I am working on changing that … getting rid of my somewhat rigid and illogical attachment to time.

Stay tuned on my success story!

vestiges continue …

It’s that time thing again … everything is taking longer than my wee brain thinks it should. But I know if I just do a little bit at a time, I end up with a better outcome.

Sometimes this feels frustrating, but when I surrender to this being the natural rhythm of how I work best, it is the most enjoyable experience. Ten minutes here, fifteen minutes there. Noticing someting that will work really well on a piece that previously wasn’t “letting me in”.  It’s a dance, and I am still learning the steps.

photo by Wendy Morisseau

I write stuff to myself all the time

I am not sure if this is from years of doodling words, but I seem to write things now to remind myself of what is sometimes pretty obvious!

Words on paper have a definite impact on me, especially if I have written them with a nice pen. It’s a nice way to access my higher-self wisdom, which of course is right there … I just like to bring it out every once in awhile and see it on paper!

Seeing the garden through a my cat’s wonder

For the first time in 7 years, I am intentionally letting my younger cat outside to explore the garden. It’s fascinating. She moves so slowly and intentionally. She is in awe of ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING! What a treat for me to witness.

I sit quietly on the porch step and watch her, and give her time and space to smell everything. Her sense of wonder is infectious. It makes me look at the garden in a whole new way.

I love how she goes from a timid being, tentatively moving through the plants, to stealthily stalking a tumbling leaf.

She will never be an “outside” cat … let out to wander on her own, we already have one of those, and one is enough. She will be escorted each time and supervised so that neither she nor any wildlife come to any harm!

compendium 7 is coming along … in its own time!

As with all previous issues of compendium, it is morphing and changing as I create it. Even the cover, which I quite liked, changed. It continues to be a most fascinating journey for me … a sort of wander though my world, through words and images. I can’t wait to see where it’s taking me next!

A renewed sense of wonder

For the past couple of weeks, I have been watching my seven year old cat explore the front garden for the first time. There are few words to describe the sense of wonder I feel in her. Silently, I hold the space, so that she can explore without too much worry, although she is super nervous about it all. The smells … there must be too many to take in all at once. The sights … seeing a hose for the first time and wondering if it is dangerous. The sounds … leaves crunching under her paws, tiny birds chirping at her, clearly questioning the reason for her presence.

Watching her is stirring all sorts of wonder in me. Seeing how she approaches something I might overlook … I look at it again, for the very first time. A very good practice for us humans, I think!

No, I don’t want her to become an outside cat, but I do want her to have the opportunity to connect with nature, to be connected to a larger world. I think it is filling her up in the most delightful ways!

A really good TED talk … Sir Ken Robinson on Creativity in Education

In his weekly newsletter/blog, Austin Kleon austinkleon.com, paid tribute to Sir Ken Robinson, who died recently. He shared this link, to Ken’s TED talk, “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” I listened and laughed (he had quite the British wit), and loved his ideas of what education CAN be. This is a brilliant synopsis for educators and parents, on how we can and need to nurture the minds of the future.

I agree with Austin, this is an excellent talk!

Sir Ken Robinson on TED

What if we approach this time in humanity as a REBIRTH?

Imagining/remembering all the struggle and trauma of physical birth as our guide.

It is NOT easy.

It is often hard and very painful.

At times it is desperate and traumatic.

But in the end,

we hold in our hands

a miracle.

When the pandemic started, time stopped. REALLY.

My watch stopped and I haven’t worn it since the pandemic started. My relationship to time, literally and figuratively has changed completely.

It ’s been years since I haven’t worn a watch, so it’s interesting to note how I mark time now.

8:15 a.m. my neighbour leaves for work.

9:00 a.m. mail carrier arrives in a Prius Taxi … very quiet, but the dog next door immediately barks at the sign of the car. Mail’s here.

12:15 p.m., my neighbour comes home for lunch.

4:00 p.m. is still Tea Time … a ritual from my father that I have never stopped.

5:15 p.m. my neighbour comes home from his day at work

6:15 p.m. Dinner is served (only if I am not making it … my timing is not so precise)

7:30 p.m. Jeopardy (when it is not in reruns)

10:00 p.m. My bed calls me from down the hall … Sarah … oh Sarah … it’s bedtime. Call the cats. Turn off the lights. Batten down the hatches … zzzzzzz

Atmosphere is part of the experience!

On a recent trip to downtown, Mary Ann and I were looking for a place to have lunch. Not realizing that pandemic hours for most restaurants in the downtown seem to exclude Monday AND Tuesday. Naturally, any restaurant that was open, was busy. We were hungry, so we trudged on until we found somewhere that didn’t have a wait time.

We ended up at a newer restaurant and the food was perfectly acceptable, but the experience wasn’t what I would like. The place had absolutely NO atmosphere or personality of any kind. It reminded me, once again, how important ambience and enjoying an experience is when dining. Without it, even good food comes off as pale.

Now this photo by igor-starkov shows that it doesn’t take anything exotic to create atmosphere, it just takes attention. 

What’s new in the studio this week?

In the early stages of new vestiges pieces … 7 of them on the go at the same time! Now that I have done the first ones, and sold one immediately, I am feeling as though other people are going to like these crazy pieces too!

Right now, I have this one on my desk and it looks right at home. I just wanted to photograph it in use, and it turns out it is incredibly useful and makes me happy to glimpse throughout my work day.

In the day-to-day workings of my studio work, I find myself keeping better track of what my days consist of. I not only make a to-do list in my day-timer, but I note other things that have happened. I’ve never done much of that in the past, but it seems so important in these times … to see that I am actually doing stuff!! Because clearly linear time is messing with us, big time!

New from the studio:

Introducing the first of my new “vestiges” pieces … practical items made from scraps. These are the first two I have made, each one is double-sided! They are created from cradle panels which have been hanging around the studio for quite some time! I took each panel, cut it in half, joined the side together and voilà, a lovely little pen/pencil caddie for your desk.

Now, the thing about these pieces is, they are NOT meant to be perfect. I am sawing them by hand, they have gotten a little beat up over the years of being shuffled from here to there … but this is the quality that I like. Especially when I contrast it with the “fineness” of the finished mandalas on either side. For me, they become less “precious” … meaning people might not be so afraid of using them every day.

Of course the whole idea for “vestiges” comes out of my desire to use up everything around me, the accumulated stuff of many years. But it also comes out of these pandemic times. In the early part of all of the shutdown, suddenly you couldn’t just dash out and pick up stuff you needed. That’s when I truly started to assess what I had and how I could use it.

To say that this has been an incredibly creative time is a bit of an understatement! And although others might not see how it has manifested, trust me, my brain is having a riot in a good way!).

Also an important realization through this time is, my default response to not having something I thought I needed was, “I’ll just run out and pick up ___”. Even though, if I dug a little into the stuff I already have, I will probably find what I need or something that will work. This time has forced me to stop defaulting to what was easiest.

A very interesting time indeed, and a change in attitude is one that will carry on well into the future I think!

I am still finding treasures to be transformed …

This piece is an antique “sugar mold” which I recently discovered at an antique shop. I also think these would make AMAZING pen/pencil/desk accessories, but people have also used them for candles and vases.  You can see more about this, and another one that I have transfored as well …  in the shop … or click here: compendiumshop.ca

Working with what I have …

Almost 30 years ago, I was given the gift of this box of veneer samples. Constantine and Sons, Inc. 50 Samples of Cabinet Wood Veneers, 4” x 9”  

Over all of those years, I have used NONE of the pieces . That is about to change. These are going to “show up” in new pieces. No, I am not deciding to take on marquetry or anything … I will use these pieces in their “whole” form, as much as possible. Their grains are simply fantastic and they will offer me a whole new “canvas” on which to create.

I look forward to seeing what emerges from working with this “new” material!

How slowing down is letting me get more stuff done!

As I have chatted with friends – especially my creative ones – about this pandemic time and what effect it is having on their lives and work, slowing down seems to be the theme. And slowing down also seems to bring about its own form of conscious intention about how things are done.

Is this because our brain isn’t full of other stuff?

Is it because we can only handle one thing at a time?

Is it because there is nothing to “rush” too?

Is it because the energy level of the world around us is definitely “turned down”?

For me, I think it is all of the above. And the bonus is, I am actually, after months of adjustment, getting into a routine that really works and allows me to get things done. Hooray!!!!!!

People have been asking me about compendium …

Yes, there will be another compendium … number 7. It is in the works in my head, and a little bit on paper, so maybe in September sometime it will appear. Stay tuned.

Asking for help … it’s a good thing
(Thank you Martha Stewart)

Many have come to rely on the internet for answers or “help” with a variety of things, and for sure, it’s a great place to find a lot of stuff. But what about asking a friend?

Well, I have finally done just that. After scouring the internet to learn about the best ways to photograph my pieces, I decided to get really smart, and ask my friend, neighbour and AWESOME photographer Wendy for some help.

Why might this be BETTER? Well, for me it means that I am asking Wendy to be a part of my creative process, to help me share my work in the world in a way that feels honouring.

It also recognizes and honours the incredible talent that Wendy possesses with a camera, lighting and creating compelling images. It allows us to celebrate each other, and I don’t think it gets better than that!

See some of Wendy’s amazing photos at: liveyouradventureimages.com

In case you didn’t notice how the world is changing …

The magnolia in the front garden bloomed a second time this year. That is not something I’ve ever seen happen before, nor has our head-of-all-things-gardener, Peter. And he pays attention to this sort of thing.

I wonder what it means in the BIG PICTURE of things? Hmmmm. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

May the blooming of our lives continue in magical ways!

~sarah

A renewed love affair

I thought my love affair with pens was contained to the pens themselves … but I was wrong … my love has now firmly extended to the inks that go in the pens!

Silly me, I know colour changes things, and each colour expresses a different emotion/feeling … but up until fairly recently, I never really applied that practical idea to the ink in my fountain pen.

Well, that has all changed. I have discovered new colours that allow me to express my written words more fully.

My favourite right in this moment is: Ancient Copper from Diamine. It is a beautiful deep orange. Much darker when you see it in just words, but the sample shows how rich it is.

I discovered this particular ink while browsing at one of my very favourite online shops, wonderpens.ca, where they have sample swatches of each of the inks they sell. Best of all, they have what they call “sample” size of 2ml vials of ink that you can test out before committing to a larger bottle. These are very affordable ($1.75-$2.25 each) and allow you to try a lot of different colours to get just the right one, or two or three …

Gouletpens.com in the U.S. also has swatches of inks on their site and they sell “tester” sizes too! You will enjoy extensive tutorials about inks and pens here. 

Friendly Warning: both of these sites are rabbit holes and you may end up there for several hours. Totally worth it if you like fine writing instruments and in-depth information!

The samples here are screenshots from the Gouletpen.com site, which show them more clearly than I can show them myself.

Fountain pens are on the comeback, for sure, and I couldn’t be happier!

New to compendiumshop.ca

In keeping with my desire to “use what’s in the studio” … I have taken some mandala plaques which have been stored for awhile, and in some cases I’ve reworked them, in others, I did my signature “apply black paint” and start all over again. As always, it has been such a relaxing and joyful place to be, working on these pieces. I hope they find the perfect homes for all the best reasons!

Appreciation

If you are anything like me, when you find something that has inspired or enlightened you, like a book or article, you love it and maybe share it with others, but rarely do you take the next step and write the author. My take on this is, we think the author already knows what a great piece it is, and that it is influential. Or that they won’t ever read your email.

We would be wrong, for the most part. People who write books and articles thrive on hearing how their work helps/influences/informs the world.

So, taking that into consideration, I wrote a quick email to Austin Kleon, author of Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad, Workman Publishing, 2019, which I mentioned in my last blog post. He replied with thanks.

I did it because Austin, like so many other writers and creatives out there, give SO MUCH to the world … and recognition for that is really important.

Now I want to make a list of other people who have inspired, enlightened and helped me, and write them a thank you too!

Coming Soon to compendiumshop.ca

I thought the newest pieces for the compendiumshop would be ready this week … but they aren’t quite, so I will post the beginning of a “new” line of pieces next week. They are what I call “vestiges”, which means: “a  mark, trace, or visible evidence of something that is no longer present or in existence”. This definition comes from my handy-dandy Random House College Dictionary, a gift from my mother in 1975.

Stay tuned!

Wishing you a week filled with fantastic creative energies!

~sarah

NEW from the studio this week …

a whole series of mandalas for the wall … soon to be available from compendiumshop.ca

Mary Ann Moore has a new guide book!!!

See her new guide book here. 

My creative and talented partner Mary Ann Moore has a wonderful new guide book fresh in the world! Twenty years in the making, Writing to Map Your Spiritual Journey is brimming with inspiration and practical writing practices to help you go deeper with your own story.

This is rich, deep and beautiful work, and I am delighted to see it finally available to the whole, wide world to enjoy and be inspired by.

Please take a few moments and check out the link, which will show you the contents and give you more in-depth information.

“Mary Ann shares her expansive knowledge of earth-based practices and goddess spirituality to connect you more deeply to your writing and your own story.” Writing to Map Your Spiritual Journey is a digital PDF available from the International Association for Journal Writing (IAJW).

To learn more and to purchase, please visit: iajw.org and look under Products: Journal Writing Tools or access from this direct link:
International Association for Journal Writing

Austin Kleon

Keep Going ~ 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad,
by Austin Kleon (Workman Publishing, 2019) is a diminutive book that packs a large dose of inspiration between its covers.

Released late last year, I picked up my copy in the midst of our new crazy, unpredictable times, and I am very glad I did!

Each of Austin’s books are based on “10 Things”, which is the same format he uses in his weekly newsletter. This format means he has taken the enormous time and effort to “whittle” things down to their core ideas, and I must say, he does it quite brilliantly.

I’ve been a fan of Austin’s since his first book, Steal Like and Artist ~ 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative, (Workman Publishing, 2012). That’s when I signed up for his newsletter at austinkleon.com, which arrives every Friday morning and is one of the creative boosts for my week.

He is a man of books and ideas, play and exploration, and music … there is ALWAYS something in his newsletter that makes me smarter, feel better or want to try something new.

His second book, Show Your Work! ~ 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered, (Workman Publishing, 2014) is a most direct and inspiring guide to getting your work out there in a practical and sustainable way!

Yes, Austin Kleon, who lives in Austin, Texas, is a creative cheerleader, in good times and in bad times. I love having him right there on my bookshelf, where I can refer back to his creative inspiration anytime I need it!

austinkleon.com

Diana Beresford-Kroeger

To Speak for the Trees: My Life’s Journey from Ancient Celtic Wisdom to a Healing Vision of the Forest

I LOVE this book, and the film that came from it. Diana Beresford-Kroeger writes so beautifully and shares her unbelievable scientific knowledge in a lyrical and heart-felt way that makes you want to keep reading and reading and reading … and then start it all over again.

She LOVES trees, because she truly and deeply understands the depth and breadth of their importance as the basis of life on this planet. “I want to remind you that the forest is far more than a source of timber. It is our collective medicine cabinet. It is our lungs. It is the regulatory system for our climate and our oceans. It is the mantel of our planet. It is the health and well-being of our children and grandchildren. It is our sacred home. It is our salvation’”.

To read the story of how she became a scientist is truly inspiring. Literally, she was raised by an entire community, and educated in ancient Celtic ways. She is brilliant at making connections and staying curious, all the while, explaining it as if she was writing poetry.

For me, this was an uplifting read and I am so very, very thankful for the work Diana continues to do, each and everyday, from saving heritage trees species on her farm in Ontario, to sharing her vast knowledge to help the world understand trees with greater insight.

See an excerpt here.

See: Call of the Forest – Film Trailer here

Common Foundry ~ Cory and Laura

This is my new favourite shop in Nanaimo … they carry fine writing pens, pencils, paper and other lovely, useful, essential items for people who still gravitate toward analog! It is a tiny shop beautifully laid out, clean, calm and a pleasure to be in.

The owners, Cory and Laura are both graphic designers, and it shows in all of their curated choices of product.

Yes, this is going to be a regular stop for me. Some might say an indulgence, I think more in terms of nurturing my creative soul.

See what they are up to on Instagram here

My New Daily Practice Pack ~
exclusive to my website!

compendiumshop.ca

Using What I Have (new core practice)

This is going to change EVERYTHING. In fact, it already has.

For many years I have worked with the principle of using up what I have in and around me, as well as “repurposing” things I have found. Well, I have to say that this wee pandemic we are in, seems to have ramped that up to a whole new level.

What surprises me most is that I wasn’t aware until now, that my default mode was to notice I needed something to do what I wanted to do, and so would run out to the store and buy it. HAH … that became seriously impossible during the deepest part of the pandemic. So, I had to make do with what I already had in my possession.

This not only presented me with new creative challenges, but it has sparked a whole new way of thinking and doing. I am talking about a serious shift in creative forces, which will help me to create a wonderfully new vision of what I do and why I do it.

Turns out, in the nooks and crannies of my home/studio, there is a ridiculous amount of “stuff” to be used up. Oh yes, I have been an expert at neatly stowing things away, so that we do not live in clutter or catastrophe, but it’s still a lot of stuff that needs to not be neatly stored anymore.

So, in the coming weeks and months, you will be treated to a myriad of things coming out of the studio, which I promise will all be practical, functional and beautiful … all while clearing out some interesting things that have collected over the years. Stay tuned!

Please enjoy a wonder-filled week ahead!

~sarah

 PS … if you haven’t signed up to receive this blog in your email, I would love to have you along for the journey … just pop up to the top of this page and on the right side you will see the SIGN UP area. Easy!