You said my name and
red and green gems fell out of
your mouth.
My name was given to me by my
mother and then again
by you.
It hung there making music,
making me real.
I was a phantom, I was baited breath;
unformed and messy
out of my container.

From all the words, I can only remember
the shade of red leaking around
my name.
The letters formed from purple
opulence, some iron bar bent into
text.
You played my name and it clung
to me like oil.
I hide in my name and you have
fed me in its deepest corner.

Shoot!

Mark and I went to the Gamble House in Pasadena last month. Go.

Sock in it's native setting
My elbow is healed! My knitting has resumed. Inspired to make socks.

Start here..

I'm heavily into the craft/sew/knit mode. So I'll be posting most of my projects here. I like Squarespace and hope to chart the inspiration I've been lead to by the work in Nairobi and the attention I'm making toward art. I hope to record the journey I've begun to find my place in developing the path of fiber for sustained living. Hand made, provision for life and meaning- it's a calling from our spiritual voice. God and our dependance of Him.

First Quilt of 2009

This is how much I love Valentine's Day.

Making Plans

Plans are in the works to return to Kenya at the end of March. I hope to get back to Amani Ya Juu. What a beautiful place that can inspire all the working women of Mathare. They are free to work at something they love and enjoy the community that it makes.

January is turning into a new kind of month for me. It's very good to be home and taking better care of things. We are so thankful. It's little quieter, but also a little more productive for me. I feel as though I've come out of retirement, back into the routine of being home. I so appreciate the rain today. I finally finished that bed quilt I started about 3 years ago. I finally figured out how to make bread. I've got my head into making a meal. I finished a book this morning. Sounds like a life.

Come Early!!

If for nothing else, come see the costmes!!

Merry Christmas

Nairobi Journal

November 16
It's cool and overcast. The open reserve next to the airport has giraffes in the distance. But I guess I'm feeling too serious to get excited about it. Or still tired.
Keith is laughing all the time. He's so glad to see Arty. I get the front seat. Tim is patient and engaged. I can be quiet. There's a lot of traffic and roundabouts and so may walking.
It all looks familiar. I don't know why. The slum even seemed familiar The people just looked tired to me. The troubled and sick side by side with the able and self-sufficient. But the smallest of children in the street were a shock. Some with no pants, no expression. Like life hadn't begun yet.
I didn't like to see the children. I was self-conscious. But I can't let myself think of it. I am what I am and I must also be a steward.
The school is community. They are the best that they have. It's the way we could be...

With the two women we met today, Naomi and Eliabeth in her regal purple, I knew there were others. And there are the ones who do not even know what abundant life can mean. I think Elizabeth knows.
Do I know?

I want this place to make me more at my own home. Why are we going to Kenya to find them?
I gave Kathy the coffee and tea.
She made us enchiladas.
She told me she is a mother. And then a missionary. Help her more Lord. Come and console and fulfill more.
Life always has us going higher.

Nairobi Journal

November 15

Remembering back to that Saturday night all I can think of is "I'm tired!" We hadn't even begun. But maybe that's just my memory. I was sick. The fires, the traffic, the drama aver the fires, the drama over the traffic. All of us were nervous about our tickets.
During all of this I called out to God, but it didn't carry assurance. I just called. Once. That's all the energy I had for it. Now with my new skill, I tried to forget about it. This is where you think God has a plan and though you're not for sure about why and how you have to rmember all the steps that got you here.
We had to walk through open doors after all that trial and prayer that comes before it.

I was sick before I got out of the car.
I slept the whole way to London. I began to feel better on the flight to Nairobi.

I am in the moment. No anxiety. Just watching things as they come.

Children of Mathare

In impossible circumstances, the children taught at the Hope Center are surrounded by dedicated people who love God. We felt very privledged to visit and develope friendships with those who love them.

Tim and I traveled with Eastside's own Santa Arty VanGeloof. He has so much to give because he lets all that he gets pass right through his hands. It's fun to watch him in action. Together with the Hams we schemed and dreamed about all that could be done in the future. The near future; because these children don't have time to wait. This was taken the first day we spent in Nairobi

A Few Shots of Taos

Long overdue, but still worth sharing. Tina and I went to New Mexico to have one of my favorite trips ever. We ate well, traveled well and shopped well. Got a little sight of fiber processing and took in the hand spun type crowd. There are so many doing lovely creative things. I'm hoping to share that enthusiasm with those I meet while traveling to Kenya this week. Tim and I are taking our turn going to the Mathare Valley and to visit the Hope Center. But have a look at the amazing woman of generous years that is hand shearing this ram.

Kazuri Beads

Tim Swaney took these shots and many more of the bead workshop called Kazuri Beads. The Brighton Jewelry company has struck water with the proceeds from their Clean Water promotion in Kibera, one of the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Karin's group from our church was in the neighboring Mathare slum. You can still find Brighton Kazuri Beads at Ear Abstracts in Yorba Linda and help the families in the slums of Nairobi.

Thanks for this Kim

Dyed and Spun Shetland

A Note About Nairobi

Thanks Paul, I know your thoughts come from your experience.
I certainly don't have any special quality to offer. But I'm willing.
Our plans have changed to travel in November. I hope to teach and/or encourage some possibly forgotten and abandoned fiber crafts. There is an active group who manage and oversee micro-business financing applications. I hope for a long term benefit for them, but also know that to make something useful and beautiful has meant everything to me. I know there are people who long to do the same. It is a luxury for many.

I hate that communities are stripped of their imagination and co-creation with God. Poverty is cruel and may even be death to the craftsman who can't work his craft. I have an abundance that is waiting to be received. They, in turn, have an abundance.

Karin's trip was full of joy. The faithful surrounded them and those who longed for community were free to join them. Hope Center is growing because of the need. And it's growing because people are acting out of love. I cannot stop and mourn the millions who need more. Or rather I mourn it as we meet together and do what we can. We gotta do what we can. ;)

What I've Spun

Nairobi's Hope

Have a look at what our friend Tim is doing in Nairobi:

www.timbuskey.blogspot.com

Karin will be leaving on the 20th for 2 weeks to The Hope Center. The video page tells of 120+ children that are being helped. The number in the past year has risen to over 2000.
I hope that you'll sponsor a child too.

www.hopemissionsintl.org

Tim and I are planning to go in September.

A Month of Spinning

I've begun.

What kind of seeds are bones?
that lay down in the earth to become earth
Then the texture of springs and things
unseen before-

The worst came to them
and they fell-
unthinkable to reverse their purpose
an insult to their creation

We are not in the time of knowing
it is not to be said
what comes of calcium and withered marrow
But if bones are seeds once hatched from
creations painful roots
We will see its planting
and after its fullness
rest ourselves beneath its shade.

Couldn't Everyone Use One of These?

He is continuing,

my friend is extended.
The cries in mystery lay idle.
But revealed when he touched them.

He is transforming-

my friend is overturned
by grace which lies
amongst soiled creation, given eternity in time.

He is dying.

My friend is prophetic.
The passing can't be flesh
as bones do; dry and whitened.

He is living-

my friend is writing courage.
The law of justice pressing
light from darkness; words to action.

Again

My friend Joel is writing again. You should read him.

Guild

This Saturday I'll be teaching Sweater Finishing at the Knotty Knitters Guild.
Ten techniques makes Teddy's sweater loaded with tags.
Say that five times fast!

Life is going well. April is always a good month for me. Matt will be doing Driver's Ed and Karin will be done with school in a few short weeks. Me too for that matter.
I'll soon have all of my garments made and a few patterns drafted as well.
Coachella in a couple weeks.
Back yard almost done.

Good month.

Clothing 201

Mark, stitch, cut carefully.
Yeah, I've got the welt pocket down... and thankfully I've learned to make the jacket fit! I'm using woolen that belonged to my Aunt Mary Alice. She would be proud of me and eager to see this new technique.

I'm off to Sante Fe, New Mexico for a week. I'll be learning from Ann Budd and taking pictures of the missions.
La Lana Wools and Georgia O'Keefe...

Sometimes I Win

Good bye 2007.

It took waiting to the last days of the year to win big. It's all going okay now and this game of Rummicube was a highway sign.
Yahoo! Two points to add a little humility, to remind me it shouldn't be all perfect.

Peace for 2008.

Choir Comedy

I'm loving "Clash of the Choirs" during the writer's strike. Let's hear it for Team LaBelle!! Here's some more good choir TV-worth the download time, really!
Merry Christmas!

Advent

I came home today from school with no academic projects barkin' in my basement. What a complete joy! I'm done except for a multiple choice final a week from Wednesday. Mark is coming in two days and will be here for Christmas. He'll be able to see Joel's show on the 19th. His room's all ready upstairs.

I broke down and turned on the heat today, just long enough to take the edge off. Why do you think I have all these sweaters? There has to be some occasion to wear them! I lay awake for an hour last night before I piled on another quilt and slipped on some socks. Growing up in Seattle meant the COLDEST icy sheets this time of year. It will never be that bad again!

So I loved the classes I took this past fall and I'm really looking forward to new ones come January. But yeah for now! I am celebrating this Advent season being at home and enjoying attentiveness to The Wait.
Go get yourself a hot beverage.

It's difficult to rest after being on the move. I really need to rest. I need to rest from worry. I am better at trusting, but that means I can't think about it too much, or else, guess what? I'm worrying!

Karin is home; joy! and I am finishing up projects at school and wondering aloud, "Why am I going to college?" But the routine is very good for me and I feel like I do "know" stuff now. I have learned to avoid the sharp corners in my life for the moment and am simply enjoying the wonderous people around me.

We went to Joel's show at the Knitting Factory last night. So good. The night before was a fun show as he played with The Fling in Long Beach.... ("Holding on to what I think I'm feeling...")
I'm praying for my friends; watching some hearts go through some treacherous moments and thinking about what the new year might bring me in way of travels and projects.

But now I need to go sit down.

Spinning

100% Merino Heavy Worsted

Spinning

I blended handpainted kid mohair and merino from Laurie Lawson and merino top.
My first full skein!

approx. 418 yds.

Something new to write is only
tracing the markings once made.
Made in me deeply
where memories pool.

It flared up again that reignment
of finery that cloaks over
love and slow breathing
and waiting for a cool mist to
finally settle.

I copy your pose of resolution
and set my ear to hear music
that has begun from
ages far away.

I still can feel despite this pill
and I can still hear the rhythm
set by senses
cast like dye that
never cleanses.

I pray that prayer that now is
mere memory of faith
and trace your outline with the
faded grey
freeze framed
a chemical.

The Basics

It is easier to belong to a faction that simply tells what Jesus Christ has done for me, and easier to become a devotee of divine healing, or of a special type of sanctification, or of the baptism of the Holy Spirit

It's one of those days. I am letting some peace come into my spirit by just allowing my thoughts to rest on Jesus Christ. I look for him everywhere. It has been a dense fog of late. But my only imagination can be this: That I can know that I am at peace with God.
This is His reason. And when nothing else adds up, then I meditate on one thing that is a conclusion. God is at peace with me. The gospel tells me this. It is the only thing I am listening to now.

But as Chambers goes on to say, the Apostle Paul preached the gospel. I need something to settle on. I may not have the job of telling it like Paul felt he did, but I am needing it like water. Peace like water.