Filed under: inspire . spark, Life, Tangents | Tags: Chi, Chinese New Year, lunar new year, usps, Year of the Rabbit
According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of the Golden Rabbit, begins today February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012. The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the Chinese Zodiac.
According to Chinese tradition, the Rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves. I like the sound of that! To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security, diplomacy, and your relationships with women and children. Make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle. I couldn’t have written a better New Year resolution myself.
The Rabbit is the symbol of the Moon, while the Peacock is the symbol of the Sun, and that together, these two animal signs signify the start of day and night, represent the Yin and Yang of life. It is said that in the Year of the Rabbit, the wish-granting aspect of the Sun and the Moon combined is multiplied. The Moon is YIN and this is the Yin of Heaven, signifying magic. On each of the Full Moon nights of this year, it is advised that you go out into your garden to gaze into the Full Moon and visualize Moon glow flowing into you, filling your whole body with bright white light and granting you fearlessness, love and courage. This will not only strengthen your inner Chi energy, it will also bring wisdom into your life.
Always curious about other cultures traditions, I am especially intrigued by the Chinese New Year this year as I was born a Wood Rabbit, and my mom is the Metal Rabbit – so this really is her year! We are supposed to be creative and wildly ambitious. I’ll take it. For the past four years, I have been excited to visit the Post Office around this time to see what the Lunar New Year stamps will look like. I like being on the forefront of most postage stamp releases, really. The art depicts kumquats, which are apparently eaten for luck and given as special gifts during the new year celebration.
So, Since the year symbolizes diplomacy and is a good year for negotiations, maybe we should all write some letters of hope, of worldly wishes and a more peaceful lifestyle and send them on a full moon – it will change the world! Is that wildly ambitious?
Visited the Horseshoe blog this morning and found this little wonder waiting for me. Just HAD to repost!
Filed under: Craft Biz, Design, Green, Handmade Revolution, inspire . spark, Life, Tangents | Tags: bar stools, Design Sponge, diy, tractor seats, upcycled
Big, huge thank you to Design*Sponge for posting my Tractor Seat Bar Stools on their Before & After feature today. They’ve offered years of inspiration and that extra shove I needed to get this idea of two years done, finally! So very satisfying.
A little backstory … My mom had been moving these seats from storage space to storage space and when we went to North Carolina for the last move, I immediately fell in love with them. One day, the bike shop in front of my studio was throwing out an old stool that the upholstery was tearing on so I asked if I could have it. Next I found another torn up stool at a flea market that swiveled! I used a wire brush and steel wool and a lot of elbow grease to clean each piece up. Then I tried to remove the excess pieces from the seats which I believe was part of how the seats actually bolted to the tractor. They were quite rusty! Then I called up a local welder and told him my vision. He helped me with that part and then I primed and painted with spray paint. I love them!
Like this:
Filed under: Life, Tangents | Tags: German Shorthaired Pointer, Mountain, Siler
Siler was named for Silers Bald on the Appalachian Trail. Of course we still call her just “bird dog” most of the time. Cullin was named for a mountain too, the Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Anywho, the point is – Siler turned 5 today!
She is truly a part of our family and even with her doggie quirks, she’s the most well-behaved, tolerant pup I know. She does what she’s told, doesn’t bark, she’s fetching maniac – on land and water, and she endures daily life with a 3.5 year old, oh, and annual halloween costumes. We love you, bird!
Today, she got to go for a big hike and last weekend, at the Lyons Outdoor Games, Siler took 3rd place in the Canine Cannonball competition. She’s always #1 with us. Happy Birthday, bird dog!!
