Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Courage!

Now this was the perfect card for me today! Yesterday, I did a maternity photo shoot for a lovely couple expecting their first child together. I love how beautiful they were together, how loving and how tender, when I was photographing them. I captured a few really good "moments" between them:
Before I left, they asked me if I would come to the birthing center and take photographs of the birth. His family is from India and they are flying here for the event and all of the traditional happenings of their culture. Not only am I super excited about photographing my first ever birth [I've never even seen a live birth], but to also be able to capture and be a part of those traditions. But, with all of that being said, I am super nervous! I'm always second guessing my work...like with this photo...I'm thinking...shoot, I should've placed his arm under her arm and then placed her hand on top of his...blah de blah blah...the list of what I should've done or could've done goes on and on. But the bottom line is...it was a total fluke that he was even in the photos! He came outside just to watch us and I beckoned him over for the photographs...they turned out beautiful! 
So why do I get so nervous about taking photographs of people? I've been a professional photographer for several years now, but I still get all beside myself when it comes to photographing people. I need to just get over that and stop worrying about it, because everybody always loves their pictures! So the card I pulled today is a great reminder for me to just go with the flow [literally]! So now I'm "on call" waiting for the baby...

Happy Wednesday! love and peace always ~ Kathy

"If you are not going all the way, why go at all?" ~ Joe Namath

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Connections...nature, frogs and books!

I truly believe this with all of my being! And it dawned on me today that THIS is why I get in such a funk every Winter! It has nothing to do with Winter, but everything to do with my lost connection with Nature, since I barely leave the comfort of my warm house. Perhaps it's because I was raised in the south and not used to being cold, I just cannot bear to be out in it! Thank goodness it's starting to warm up and Spring is nipping at our heels. I never want to "wish it away", since time goes by fast enough, but, I have to admit, Spring puts "spring" in my steps! Of course, I love Winter, too! If it weren't for Winter, there would be no mating Wood Frogs!
And with no mating frogs, there would be no tadpoles...now that would really put me in a funk! Speaking of frogs, how cute are these little frog poems!
They are in a sweet book called "Little Pictures of Japan"
We are lucky enough to have two large book sales here in Brevard every year! One is at the college and one is at the library [which is in itself super awesome]. On the last day of the sale at the college, all the books are 1/2 price. I always go to check out the children's books, especially, so that I can use them to make paper flowers for my little jewelry boxes:
But, of course, I always seem to find several books that I fall in love with and that I just want to keep for myself [another problem I have that I talked about in my last post]! So, on that note, it's time to go outside! Happy Tuesday!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

"Every journey begins with a single hop." ~ Kermit the Frog

Monday, February 25, 2019

Contentment!

This is so spot on for me today! I looked around my studio yesterday and thought...I have no room to even lay a book down on my desk! Not that I need to hone in some Marie Kondo skills [yet], but at least try to get a grip on what I use every day and what I don't and put that stuff away, or put it in a box for give away. I taped a note to the bottom of my computer screen, well over a year ago, that reads "everything I need, I already have" --- and it's true! I've really been focusing on not buying one single thing I do not need! Of course, I still have to purchase fabric, shipping supplies, jewelry supplies [wire, earwires, clasps, etc.], but I don't NEED anymore beads, anymore books, anymore shoes, anymore purses, anymore scarves, anymore cloths...the list is endless, really. Besides, I'm going to "need" a new laptop soon, so I "need" to save my $$ for that! But, until that happens, I am perfectly content with what I already have! And this oracle card makes my will to stay focused on that even stronger!
And yay!!! The Sun has finally come out and the little Spring flowers have started popping up all over the place! One of my most favorites, these little Crocus Flowers, just make me happy! I spotted this little patch blooming this morning on my way to the mailbox! Hope they make you happy, too!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

"Life is good when you can see the good in life." ~ Kathy Hardy

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Truth and a few little white lies!

So this is the Oracle card I pulled for myself today. This is a hard one, especially for me. And it's not so much about telling the truth, it's about when to say NO and mean it, without hurting someones feelings. That's what comes really hard for me. Seems like I'm always agreeing to do something, before I've even had two seconds to think about it! I guess it's because I am so creative in my work and I do so many things, people automatically assume that's ALL I want to talk about or hear about...but, it's not! It seems like, a lot of times, as soon as I start talking to someone, within just a few minutes, they are asking me either, "how" to do blah de blah, or if I "can" do blah de blah for them, or telling me "you should do" blah de blah. As soon as this starts happening, I just shut down inside and I just want to run away. 
There are actually only a handful of people in my life that I can be around and talk to and have fun and a good conversation, without them asking something of me. And, because of this, I have become very conscious of it when talking to others that probably feel the same way! For instance, when I see my doctor out at a restaurant, I make sure I don't bring up any type of health issue talk, unless he asks me, and then I usually just say, I'm feeling great, thanks for asking! It's the same thing! I feel like he hears enough of that on a daily basis! I ask things more like, how have you been, how are the dogs, have you been on any good hikes lately, etc. And I know people don't even realize how another person feels being bombarded with "will you and can you's". It can be exhausting. But instead of telling them the "truth" about how it makes me feel, I just nod and say "okay" --- I can do that for you [little white lies, since I'm wanting to scream out NO NO NO inside]
But on a happier note, the Sun was out this morning! Yay! I got up with my coffee and my camera and headed out to soak up some much needed vitamin D! 
And I discovered a brand new little patch of Crocus Flowers, that were happy to see the Sun, too!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

"There's nothing so kingly as kindness, and nothing so royal as truth." ~ Alice Cary

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Sewing and Empowerment!

I'm not sure how "empowered" I was today when I sewed through my finger, but I certainly wish, at that very moment, Divine would've taken over and finished my sewing project,
which turned out super cute! It's a Yoga Mat Bag I made for my Aunt! She loves "Elephanuts" [as my little sister used to call them]. The only tricky part about making this particular bag is that I had to wrap my brain around what size to cut the bottom circle to fit the bag, since I had to make it seven [7] inches wider then the original pattern. After a little trial and error, it turned out perfect! And now I have patterns for three different size bags! Yay! So maybe THAT was my empowerment! 

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

love and peace always ~ Kathy



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Friday, February 22, 2019

Perfect Timing and Smudging!

Have you ever noticed how many things happen in your life that come at the "perfect time"! So many! Like, just this week! I've been taking Syke twice a week to training classes and then once a week for a "play date" with other dogs close to her age. The classes are not cheap and Wayne and I had just discussed how much it was costing us every month for her training. I don't want to stop taking her...as she is doing really, really well! When we were there Wednesday, the trainer, who also happens to be the breeder of Aussies...and Skye, asked me to do a website for her and wants me to take photos, go various places to video and photograph the dogs, etc. She said she would love to work out a barter...like trading some training classes! Perfect!!
 My sister gave me this wonderful smudge stick from "Good Living is Glam" for Christmas. It is not your typical plain white sage smudge stick. This one is wrapped with beautiful organic rose petals and includes some lavender, yerba santa and cedar. She even gave me this lovely abalone shell and stand to go along with it. It's just so beautiful, I've been hesitant to light it. I've been waiting for the "perfect time". Before going to bed last night, I came across this article ---  "If you think smudging is just some kind of “woo woo” with no science to back it up, think again. Research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology entitled Medicinal Smokes in 2006 found that burning smudge sticks has the ability to cleanse the surrounding air of harmful bacteria. The authors reported: “The most frequent medical indications for medicinal smoke are pulmonary (23.5%), neurological (21.8%) and dermatological (8.1%).  A very large list of pathogenic bacteria was shown to be absent in an open room after a remarkable 30 days following treatment, leading the authors to conclude, “We have demonstrated that by using medicinal smoke it is possible to completely eliminate diverse plant and human pathogenic bacteria of the air within confined space.”
So now that I've worked up the nerve to light my beautiful smudge stick, I had to put it to work! And even though it's a tad gloomy outside, the fresh air coming through my open window is wonderful. But, I wouldn't have even thought about opening the window, if it weren't for lighting my smudge stick, which I did because of the article I read last night, which was "perfect timing"!

Happy Friday! love and peace always ~ Kathy


Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Writers Block and Oracle Cards!

Soon after I joined Etsy...way back in 2005 [wow! has it really been that long], I started following Katie Daisy, because of her wonderful art and inspirations. Over the years, I have collected various things she has offered...cards, journals, calendars, books, etc. I just adore her work! I actually think her work gives me inspiration for mine...especially some of my drawings: