Self care

Collective Heartbreak – coping strategies

This collective heartbreak is real. Even if we are not directly affected, if our community is dealing with a wildfire, the residual effects of a pandemic and a mass shooting, or all three, we are all feeling stress, uncertainty and a sense of helplessness. It can be difficult to concentrate, we can have trouble sleeping….

Read More...

The spaces in between are fuel

Allowing space for creativity, for rest, for quiet moments is more than just self care. It is an essential ingredient for thriving. For bringing your best self to your life. For being able to show up with your whole heart in everything you do. A colleague recently sent me this poem by Judy Sorum Brown,…

Read More...
Tulips in a bouquet

A not so gentle reminder

I didn’t realize I needed a reminder. A reminder that I’m not invincible. Sometimes we do all the right things and still shit happens. Recently I got a not so gentle (but minor on the overall scale of things) reminder that my health is not to be taken for granted. I must admit I was…

Read More...

I can’t not listen anymore

As I learn to listen to my body and soul, I’m no longer willing to push through the fatigue to ‘get things done’. When I try to do this I feel a sense of pressure and notice it is harder to connect with moments of joy and ease. I used to pride myself on my…

Read More...

What’s a Wild Woman?

The first question is What’s a Wild Woman? And the answer to the second question is yes, they are somewhat autobiographical! Filmed at the opening reception at ART1274 Hollis Gallery of my show Wild Woman Becoming – in Full Colour this video details my journey to becoming a member of the gallery, along with my…

Read More...

Wild Woman Wonderings

What does it mean to be a Wild Woman? Perhaps you’ve seen the Wild Woman Sisterhood posts on Facebook. More often than not, I am drawn to click and share their posts about women and freedom and friendship. Here are some thoughts I have about what it means to be a Wild Woman, and why…

Read More...
Purple lupines

I am enough

Lately I’ve been thinking and writing and sketching in my journal about working too hard and burnout. I’ve been exploring the connection between exhaustion from keeping too busy and equating busy and productive with feelings of worth. I was raised to link being worthy with working hard. Does this resonate with you? While it can…

Read More...
Close up detail of hand hooked mat in purple, indigo, blue, green, pink, yellow with white outlines. Scissors and rug hooking hook in photo also.

Permission to change your mind

The other day I designed a new mat. When I went to sew it onto my Cheticamp frame I hesitated. I wasn’t in love with this design. It’s a relatively large piece (30″ x 31″). I knew if I wanted to enjoy this mat from start to finish I was going to have to love…

Read More...
Wensleydale sheep locks in three stages of processing - washed, fluffed and being spun. White sheep's locks.

Allowing space for …

What are you allowing space for? I was inspired recently by Patty Lennon and her new book Make Space for Magic: Learn to receive Love, Abundance, and Support from the Universe. I learned from Patty that I need to allow myself to rest more. That my tendency to work, work, work, just one more thing…

Read More...
White mug with a heart and sole design on a wooden deck table. Stash t-bag on the handle of the mug. Blue pen to the side.

Self care for uncertain times – my top 4 tips

Last week for the first time in five years I didn’t get my newsletter out on time. There was too much going on (all good) and I made the decision to follow my own advice and choose self compassion. Do you remember when I wrote about how things might fall apart when restrictions ease and…

Read More...
Three pieces of fabric that have been wetfelted. Two are green/blues and the third is the Chakra colours in a circle, starting with red, then orange, yellow, green, blue and violet

Permission to …

We all need permission. Permission to have fun. To feel all of our feelings and then to take a recess. Whether it is the ongoing pandemic or just the responsibilities of life weighing us down, we all need to have some fun. The permission comes from within. We can give ourselves permission. Do you remember…

Read More...
Woman with white hair, red beret, holding a thermal mug of tea, wearing a parka and wool sweater. Winter tea on the deck.

Renew, Regenerate, Recoup

This is the time of the winter when I shovel off my deck, wrap up in my down parka and a cozy blanket to have my morning tea in the sunshine. Turning my face to the sun, to the light helps me to regenerate, to recoup some energy. When I allow myself the ‘luxury’ of…

Read More...