A Definition of Yes

My friend Christina, who lives her life with the attitude that the glass is not only half full- it is full to the top, started saying yes, only when her gut response was 'Hell Yes'. Which, as far as I am concerned is the proper response to create a life worth living.

Christina's 'Hell Yes' approach to life, and a little bit of serendipity, means she is currently traveling throughout Australia meeting new people, learning new life skills, and having the time of her life. Her post "Never Settle for a life of Mediocracy" is definitely worth a read, especially if you are looking to shake things up a bit in your own life.

I also love that Christina met Diana at a Crave event, which I blogged about, and they both have the spirit to fully embrace life and their epic adventure.

Christina sharing her story at the Crave event. Photo Credit amy boyle photography

I will admit that for a moment I thought about not posting this because 'Hell' is not a pretty word, but, you know, life is not pretty and sometimes my language is not pretty either. I can say that checking in with myself and gauging my response means that I am saying yes only to events, meetings, or dates with friends and acquaintances, that propel me forward spiritually, emotionally and physically.

I also need to give credit where credit is due. First to the lovely Christina who brought puppies and unicorns into my life. When she left for Australia she took a bit of sunshine with her. Second my advice was based on something I had read. I am guessing that the incomparable Saya Hillman of Mac 'n Cheese Productions had posted it on her Facebook page. Even if she didn't, her belief in helping others live a Life of Yes! deserves a shout out.Third- Oh and Diana rocks!

KMC

A holiday wreath

Photo credit Kandy M. Christensen

I realize the holidays are over, but since I was sick throughout them I didn't get a chance to do this before Christmas. I am trying to pare down and clean some things out. A part of that includes Christmas decorations. I have two tubs of Christmas decorations and a box for the tree. Years ago I started collecting vintage ornaments. I would find them at antique stores and carry them home and hang them lovingly on the tree. Then a couple of years ago I found an antique aluminum Christmas tree. It is so gorgeous in its simplicity that I only hang a few turquoise bulbs on it along with some turquoise garland. It is also draped in a lovely tree skirt I made out of 1950's fabric which is turquoise shot with silver.

Photo credit Kandy M. Christensen

Since I no longer use the ornaments I decided to make them into a wreath. Initially I was going to try to make a frame out of wire hangers, but I did not have any and I got a styrofoam wreath from Joanne's (I feel slightly guilty for this!). The first thing I did was to cover the wreath with a bit of ribbon. Using a glue gun I tacked down the first piece.

Then I continued to wrap the ribbon, which by the way I bought almost 20 years ago for another project I never finished, and I tacked it down with the glue gun every two wraps.

Here is the wreath all wrapped up.

I added a bit of ribbon to hang the wreath on a hook.

I started gluing ornaments to the wreath and filling in empty parts with smaller ornaments. I found that gluing the ornaments to the wreath and then also to each other helped keep it all together. I also left the wreath lying flat so when I hang it there aren't any round bits that keep it from hanging flat.

Here is the final result. It's a bit large, ostentatious and kind of gaudy, but I do adore it. I actually almost ran out of ornaments! 

Here it is hanging on my door. I guess since it is after the New Year I should take it down, but I kind of like coming home to a burst of cheer.

KMC

Why is 'Tech' only for men?

When I first saw this post titled, "The Finest in Gentleman's Tech Haberdashery" my first thought was 'I want that'. I mean who wouldn't want a fabulous grey tweed laptop bag. I mean it's tweed for goodness sakes. Then I reread the post and I got angry. I realize that certain things are marketed towards men and certain things towards women. I also realize that in the craft/handcraft world there are not as many options available for people who do not prefer floral skirts, something I am trying to rectify at Meandering Design. I think a large part of my frustration lay in the fact that these were 'tech' items. The stereotype of gender roles, and I am going to admit that those stereotypes color my vision as well, is that men use tech and women, what, don't?!

The main photo accompanying the article could have been taken at my apartment. Mid-century modern-check, streamlined wood furniture-check, grey tweed-check, and antique cameras-check.

Image from Apartment Therapy

I do not mean to pick on Apartment Therapy. In fact I recommend their site and highly recommend the book. I hope to start a discourse on how we represent items. Every single thing in that post is something that I would buy for myself, well, except for the gold plated iPhone. It is time to look at how gender roles and stereotypes function in our society and recognize that women use tech and like tweed. 
-KMC

Projects, traditions, and the joy of life

Although I spend more time re-examining my life and my to-do list at the beginning of each of my life cycles (i.e. my birthdays), I do appreciate the pensive and festive vibe that we share at the beginning of each calendar year.  That vibe always makes me search out for traditions and this year the completion of a project joined the list.

About two weeks ago I started searching on the instructables.com website for ideas on how to make my own pair of slippers.  I found a really awesome one, "cosy slippers from your old wooly jumper" , by ThePrintPlace and decided to give it a go.  The plan was to use only materials that I had at home, to use her instructables as a general guide for the pattern, and to make an awesome pair of slippers for home and base camp.  Yes, I plan on taking them with me camping so I can test them out.

My new slippers are mainly made out of fleece.  The pieces of fleece material were left over from a fleece blanket I made and posted for sale on our online shop.  Now, these are not just simple fleece slippers!  I built the soles by stacking...

- a layer of non-slip material (slippers that do not slip...  ha!)
- a new pair of hiking boot insoles for cushioning and arch support
- a layer of heavy duty emergency blanket material to reflect the heat back to the feet and for insulation
- a layer of porous textile to let moist move away from the fleece, for extra cushion and to trap warmth
- and a layer of fleece (the layer that lines the inside of the slippers and that touches the feet)

In addition, I sew on some reflective material to the top and a "tag" on the back with a loop to allow the slippers to be clipped together for transport (Kandy's favourite part).

I took my time with this project yet it made the 2012 cut...

...and as my watch pointed out that it was midnight, I smiled because I was wearing my last completed project of 2012.  Plus, I was enjoying the best drink I have mixed to date and was about to spend the next hour or so dancing like crazy.

Welcome 2013!

-KQ

Happy New Year

I stopped making New Year's resolutions awhile back because well, I never stuck to them, and they seemed a bit limiting. Why only resolve to do one thing when there is a whole world of things to do. A couple of months ago I was inspired by Mighty Girl's Mighty Life List and so I drafted and posted my own Mighty Life List. It is something that requires constant revisiting to check and see what you have accomplished and also to see what you want to tackle next on the list.

I've crossed out some of the things I have managed to do. Now I need to pick a few to work on over the next couple of months. Hmmm. Maybe I could actually finish a quilt.

Mighty Life List

That would be me, singing at the Park West

1. Find a vintage building and restore it.
2. Open a Craft Coworking space in Chicago to teach classes, host events and have studio space.
3. Design the quiet zone in the craft coworking space. 
4. Spend a month traveling throughout France collecting textiles, craft knowledge and speaking French.
5. Visit Finland so I can visit Marimekko and some of the other fabulous places with textile.
6. Speak in public about something I love.
7. Teach a craft class in the UK.
8. Draft a line of my own patterns.
9. Write a book.
10. Be a guest contributor on a blog.
11. Finish a quilt.
12. Take a vacation to a place where I can incorporate bike riding.
13. Be a guest lecturer at a university.
14. Finally get my tattoo.
15. Release a seasonal clothing line.
16. Create a line of home accessories. 
17. Create a fabric line. 
18. Sing at the Park West.
19. Take a horseback ride in Hyde Park. 
20. Have a booth at Renegade. 
21. Finish reading Moby Dick. 
22. Go to Angola and Morrocco to learn new craft techniques. 
23. Get a proper mint tea tea set.
24. Return to Iraq to visit friends. 
25. Only say yes to something if the response is Hell Yes.
26. Create space to do the things on my life list.
27. Clear out my closet and replace it with things I love
28. Buy only what I love and what will last.
29. For every thing that comes into my space, something must go.
30. Take a cooking class.
31. Cook once a week. Just cook something.
32. Go for a motorcycle ride. 
33. Write a poem
34. Send someone a letter
35.  Make a little something and give it away
36. Leave an ATM (Always Trust magic)note
37. Fly a kite
38. Do yoga (this is another just do it!)
39. Make it to the Etsy front page. 
40. Write a business plan.
41. Help others with their life lists or connect them to someone who can help.
42. Be featured on a design blog- any of the one's on Mighty Girl's list will do!
43. Be more patient/kind
44. Swim in as many seas as possible
45. Find out where my family was from in Poland and visit their town.
46. Bake Macarons
47. Get myself a kitchen aid mixer
48. Learn how to use Twitter (edited to add-I am getting better at it...)
49. Take a ballet class
50. Give back through Meandering Design
51. Ride a scooter in Italy.
52. Be a guest on Ted
53. Scan and organize the family photos
54. Carry my camera more
55. Be an active feminist.
56. Play soccer
57. Get a 1950 Ford F-1 Pickup truck and paint it turquoise.
58. Have a dinner party and serve Iraqi dolma (with the caramelized onions on the bottom-mmmm)
59. Spend a week doing absolutely nothing at Canary Island.
60. Take a train ride through the slavic countries.
61. Reupholster my  favorite chair in vintage grey tweed.
62. Have another girls weekend
63. Drink more champagne
64. Visit my nieces and nephews
65. Find art for over the fireplace
66. Crochet more in public
67. Feel less self-conscious 
68. Have a rainy day fund
69. Learn how to develop film
70. Go on a creative retreat
71. Have people over more often 
72. Live a life that allows for constant travel
73. Go to Scotland
74. Fall in love again
75. Get all of my sewing machines working
76. Have a sewing class for men
77. Get the contact information for at least one person for each event I attend
78. Reach out to people that I admire
79. Use my Liberty of London fabric.
80. Organize my fabric and sewing notions
81. Go to New Orleans
82. Make ice cream again
83. Try to eat seasonally
84. Finish the Prezi presentation I started
85. Make all the electronics in my house work properly
86. Create printed materials for Meandering Design
87. Get a loom
88. Make a rug
89. Dye my own wool/fabric
90. Take a sewing class
91. Take a drawing class 
92. Refinish Poppies workbench
93. Give away the crafty things I will not use to someone who can use them
94. As much as possible, buy handmade
95. Rewatch Amelie
96. Make a hat
97. Sew curtains for the kitchen
98. Always have something on hand for visitors (snack and drink)
99. Slow down and enjoy my food
100. Leave town at least every 3 months.

KMC

Wardrobe Revamp

You can find Meandering Design at Local Goods Chicago, along with a ton of other amazing vendors. Local Goods Chicago is a new venture located in Edgebrook and it was opened by Laura Guenther  because she believes in the local artisans in Chicago and felt that Edgebrook needed some handmade goods. She has an amazing selection, not just of clothes, jewelry, and accessories, but also foodstuffs.

On January 10th from 6:30 to 8:30PM I will be teaching a Wardrobe Revamp class at Local Goods Chicago.

"Love the One You're With: will teach you how to mend it, hem it, button it, zip it and nip it. The course will be taught by me, Kandy Christensen, and will teach you how to fix your tired and ill-fitting clothing and will focus on teaching you how to use what you have and turn it from something lackluster into something spectacular. The focus will be on hand sewing so you can take what you learn  home with you and not have to invest in a sewing machine. There will be instruments on hand to resuscitate your item of clothing, but please bring one or two items you would like to fix up. The class costs $25.00 and if you would like some more information or to RSVP please stop by Local Goods Chicago, 5354 W. Devon,  or via email at info@localgoodschicago.com

I hope to see you there!

KMC

An Ode...

A little something pretty, just because. Photo credit Kandy M. Christensen

I mentioned awhile back that I've become a glass half-full type of girl and that in part is thanks to Janice. I was at a Crave event last June and Janice introduced herself as someone who helps people through periods of loss and transition. That, my friends, was where I was at. I was stuck in grief and could not find a path out. I met with Janice, who is a life coach, and that apparently was what I needed to become unstuck. I worked with Janice for three months and by the end of our sessions I figured out my true purpose in life, which is to be an artisan and to teach others about craft, artisans and the history of handmade. I also learned that I love to make the world a beautiful place, that I'm intelligent, I'm an individualist, I like to research things before I act, I tend to get stuck in the past, I rely heavily on my feelings or gut, I am artistic, and sometimes prone to depression. Some of you who are reading and know me well may be saying, duh, we knew that, but while I may have seen those traits within myself, it took working with Janice to really own them. There was a significant shift within myself and how I view the world. Also, from those sessions Meandering Design started to become so much more then just an online shop and I'm excited to see the path it takes.  

A side effect of determining what is my path in life is I want to help others find their path. Now when I meet people I want to talk to them about their passion, or help them find their passion. I have met some wonderful people with amazing ideas, talents and skills and they are, sadly, not sharing their gifts with the world. I now find myself encouraging people, connecting them to others who can possibly help them, or providing any advice that may be useful.

What passion or dream are you hiding?