I've moved...

I've moved beyond the fitful starts and into launching my dream.
It all picks up at Nyssa, Ink.  
Please visit when you can!

Simple vintage goodness.

Islay Grimes Cast Stone Sculpture 

Simplicity is beautiful. 

Find him here.

a work in progress

Not too shabby for my first embroidery, if I do say so myself. This blankie, made from vintage, recycled and new fabrics, is for a sweet little baby girl who may not be quite so little by the time I finish... but I do love how it is coming along.  Her name was first handwritten in pencil on the vintage fabric (this piece will actually be applied to the back side of the blankie) and then I just winged it from there... because that's how I roll when it comes to matters of creativity. I couldn't be bothered at the time to open my embroidery book and learn a correct stitch. The four leaf clover is a nod to her mom's Irish roots.

It would be great to have the blankie finished in time for St. Patrick's Day but I fear that is too lofty a goal under my current set of circumstances... getting these photographs finally taken was a feat in itself, but no matter, because Fiona will never remember that I was the one who sent the late baby gift. Babies are great that way.

consistently inconsistent

Original art by Richard H. Dawson. All rights reserved. 

Know thyself, right? That's why this blog is called Fitful Starts. I do know myself. I've done some work in that department and I consider it a lifelong labor of love.

Year in and year out, one thread running through my life is that I have always been consistently inconsistent. Not in every way (uh, thank goodness). Character and values? I am solid as a rock, rarely wavering. In other areas of my life, well, let's just say, look for me where the wind blows. When it comes to my daily habits and personal creative passions, I often just follow my mood or inspiration, or equally as often, what ends up being my lack of inspiration. I've always just laughed it off as a Gemini thing: part of me wants to do one thing, another part of me wants to do something different... but then (and here's the rub) eventually I find I've done neither. But forget resolutions... they are more likely to be disappointments made in advance (especially for a Gemini).

I truly savor the pensive nature of this time of year. It's a season in itself, this changing of the calendar, and it's one of my very favorite seasons. It strikes me as a time of steeping or brewing. It's not lost on me that the purpose of steeping or brewing is to make stronger, richer, more flavorful.

As I reflect on the past, present and future, what I most want to focus on this year is being more consistently consistent -- in pursuit of what makes me feel happy and alive: creating, blogging, thrifting and treasure hunting, reading and writing, being outdoors and time spent with family and friends. In short, I am striving towards more time spent connecting-- with myself, nature and others.

Now that doesn't sound like a horrible assignment for the new year, does it?