Hello Friendlies.

Just in case you were wondering I have NOT been kidnapped and held for ransom this last week-plus of M.I.A. (although I do appreciate your concern!), but rather, Mr. BC and I have started a new part-time job (if that is what you want to call two people putting in a cumulative total of 90 hours in one week) managing our beautiful old building in exchange for free living. It is and will be a lot of work for the first two weeks, but after that, a great financial situation for us.

Believe me, I've missed myself.



All of that said, the only thing in my "real" life that I've been able to keep up on this past week is the truly amazing 30 Days of Self Group.

Oh my Lord,
You, friends, are amazing.

I though that today (one full week into the self-portrait challenge) I would be able to pick five or six photos with ease to post here but there have been over SEVENTY ridiculously fantastic images. Impossible to pick just a few. But I tried anyways because you really must see these!


Clockwise, from the upper left: The Laundress from Mme. Bookling. Splish Splash from The Noisy Plume. A pedibus usque ad caput from Mr. JW. Day 6 from C.Bradley.

Clockwise from the upper left: SP5 from Sweet Bee. 01 Sept from The Wind Hover. 9/2 from Avenue Fog. Day 1... from Jaccalyn Korv.

An amazing week - we are off to a FIERCE start! Click here to see the rest of the group and keep the film rolling!

Antidote

Yesterday I felt the restlessness in my soul.
That rootless, anxious feeling when your feet never touch the ground
and your bones feel off, disjointed, floating about
Like they will get more work done without you.

I wanted to throw on my red cape like Vivan
And move with the wind
Hunched under a storm cloud
Voice masked by the rainfall.

To run with the breeze that flows in my bones like marrow.

Today I lost myself in the trees on the high bluffs.
Wading waist deep through the sword ferns
Moss applied like a salve.

The trees lean in
Close
Muting my pounding foot-beats
Trunks gave way to open grasses
Where the crickets purr and whistle

Gulls replace the chickadees
My footsteps lost in the sand.
My toes know my knees, know my spine, know my shoulders,
All pumping in time to my heart.

I feel whole
Aware.

It's begining...

I love you all. Really. I'm not just saying that.


I've been positively thrilled that so many of you are joining me on the "30 Days of Self" and with so much enthusiasm of your own. You got gumption, kids. I feel so individually excited about each one of you and the glimpses into your lives that I will get to share. If you are a little lost and afraid you may have missed something amazing, don't worry, we haven't even begun yet, just catch up here.

I set up our Flickr group, you can visit it and get to posting (starting Monday if you are the rules following type) right here at 30 Days of Self.

So hop to it, start thinking of ideas, get creative with your camera timer, cropping function, color-boosting, black and whiting (is that a word?), and DON'T BE SHY. I already love you so what is there to fear?

Smoochies,
Umber

30 Days of Self

So I've had a few ideas rolling about and when that happens consistently (as in Mr. BC hears about them more than 5 times in any one given week), I know it's time to do something.

For the last while now, I've been thinking about making a thirty-day commitment to a (undecided as of yet) art form. I've tossed the idea out among a few friends who, while all artists, range greatly in their disciplines. Not a day goes by that I am not creative in some art form (or many of them) but I like the idea of particular goal apart from my daily painting / sewing that would push me to stretch my wings a little wider, test out those feathers I've been preening. What I'm leaning towards is a daily self portrait photograph, which will be know here after as "30 Days of Self."

Now I know this isn't a new idea to the world (in fact some of you - ahem, JSL - are amazing at this), but it is new to me, and that's reason enough to try. So here is where YOU come in: I would love to have any and all who are interested in joining me on this little challenge step up and commit with me. I think the camaraderie, accountability and the closeness in a group sharing a common goal is fantastic and I would love to have you join with me.



Ok now, some guidelines (just in case you're heart is beating a little harder and you're getting sweaty palmed). I think there should be some leeway just to keep this fun and simple so I am suggesting that the 30 Days of Self work this way:

1) We will start Monday, September 1st and end Tuesday September 30th (but who knows, it might be so great that we just keep on forever!).
2) I think we should goal ourselves at capturing 5 self-portraits that we are happy with per week (this can mean ANYTHING you want it to mean, whether you take one picture every day or 50 on Tuesday and 30 on Friday. As long as you feel that you are pushing your-self / striving for consistency, then all's fair).
3) I do not think they all need to be of amazing experiences / places / etc. Personally I am fascinated with daily rituals and mundane chores (but that's another talk for another time), so if half the pictures are of you getting ready for bed, then I still think there will be much that is interesting and provoking about that.
4) I also do not think that the photos have to show your face (but of course they can!). Imagine how amazing a whole month's documentation of what your hands did or where your feet wandered would be.
5) I think the best way to share might be to start up a Flickr group (so let me know your thoughts on that), and upload the previous week's best 5 photos on Sunday / Monday morning.
6) I would love to post a few of the pictures here on my blog each Tuesday, what do you think about that?
7) More than anything, I want to feel good about my own pictures as well as the collection I will have after the month has passed, and would encourage that to be everyone else's goal as well

Ok, so what do you think? In like Flin? I'm really excited
about doing this and seeing a little more
of your lives so let's
get
started!

And now my hand is complete

*sigh*

I would like to introduce you to my right hand, my glam hand.

(Hello, nice to meet you)

My right hand has always had it a little rough, I mean competing with the left hand decked out in a sparkly rock, competing with the left-handedness of my brain (yeah I'm basically ambidextrous but it is from the left hand all creativity pours), competing but always coming up second best.
It's been a tough life.

And then today, it all changed. Say hello to my precious.



I have been ambushing my dear, sweet postal worker DAILY this week waiting for my package from Miss Plume to arrive. He keeps trying to make small talk and ignoring the fact that I'm still in my pajamas, or still brushing my teeth, or pawing at the mailbox, but I think he's noticed how desperately I've been awaiting this little brown box. (and I've never been good at the waiting game)

Of course I had to change outfits to properly showcase my ring today, and of course there was a whole "ring photoshoot."

(This is actually one of The Noisy Plume's photos, but she's just so amazing at showcasing her pieces that I had to post it up)

And OF COURSE I will be wearing my beautiful new ring in Vegas this weekend (after all, what's the point of wearing big heels, sipping a martini, and basically looking fabulous if a gal doesn't have an amazing cocktail ring to do it all in?).

I think I'm in love. Yes, we make a beautiful pair, don't you think?

Thank you my Plume, your lovely soul pours itself into your jewelery and I could not be more honored to swing my long arms, fluttering a little piece of you and all your beauty at my fingertips.