The Raven Moon and Me

I'm coming back!

 
I've been busy with lots of things.....keep your eyes open for them!

When you finally come to the clearing...

Some of you may remember last autumn that I briefly mentioned working on my first line of home decor fabrics.  I haven't really talked about it since then, have I?  That trip to North Carolina was very good, one in which many things seemed to fall into place. 

The path that I've been on for the last 17 years or so has been a very winding one.  It started with me, upon being graduated from college, deciding that I was not going to go into the textile industry, although that is what I had been prepared to do.  I wanted to design woven fabrics, but in my interminable streak for doing things my own way, I knew that there was no way that I would have the patience for someone else taking the credit for my hard work.  I can't say that I was right in this decision, nor can I say that I was wrong.  Life is a series of choices, and each one that you make takes you down yet another bend in your path.  Sometimes that path is easy going, and sometimes, it's very rocky or leads you right through a thicket of brambles.  And sometimes, it takes you through the darkest, densest of forests, where you can barely see in front of your face.

Every choice that I made brought me to the point where I am today.  And what truly amazes me, is that for all its twist and turns, obstacles and uncertainties, my path has brought me full circle.  I'm designing woven fabrics.  I'm building my line, preparing it for launch.  And I get to do it my way, with my name on the label.  Although there's still quite a lot of work to do before it's unveiling, everything is in my line of sight, just there across the field, sitting on the horizon waiting for me.

There will be jam

I was stuck inside all day today due to work, after being stuck inside for several days due to rain.  I am feeling a bit stir crazy, and I would like Ohio to warm up again so I can go outside to play without having to wear a jacket.  About a month ago, when the first spring flowers were popping their heads out of the ground, we had a cold snap with snow.  I was very worried about my lilacs and my serviceberry tree, having had the cold burn the buds a couple of years ago.  But never fear friends, the buds were fine, and the lilacs have been smelling wonderfully and come summer, I will have plenty of serviceberries for cobblers, pies, and jam-making fun.

 

Waking Up

I've felt like a bear this winter, cozy and sleepy, curled up away from the snow in my cave, er, bungalow.  But I'm starting to wake up, getting ready for spring.  I've been working on my home decor line, so there will be a lot of updates coming in the weeks to follow.  And I've been sitting at my loom, weaving away the days.  Enjoy this new bit of green; hopefully, it will tide us over until the daffodils arrive.

Autumn Colors

 
I've been loving this October!  Sure, it's been a bit rainy and chilly, but it's fall...it's supposed to be.   I love this weather.  As I tell all of my sun worshipping, hot weather loving friends, my people are from the land of wool sweaters.  Give me some woven woolens, a pair of tall boots, and an umbrella, and watch me go!  I'm totally in my element.  Of course, the chilly air didn't stop me from celebrating my last Artisan Sunday at the beginning of the month with my traditional Jeni's ice cream break.  If I may say so myself, I came up with a good trio this time.  Look how pretty the ice cream colors are!  From upper left clockwise, there is berry and burgundy, pumpkin 5-spice (a new favorite), and bourbon buttered pecan.  So good!  I want to dye scarves in these shades in honor of these flavors.

The rest of the month has been spent preparing for this week.  I'm back in North Carolina at The Jacquard Center and The Oriole Mill.  Since early spring, I've been working on my first line of home decor fabrics, and I'm here to have the first yardage woven.  This is so exciting!  Now that it's happening, after all the dreaming and planning, I'm ready to really start talking about it.  There's still a lot of work ahead of me, but here's where it all starts.

I love autumn!

And I feel that autumn's loving me right back! Yesterday, my shop was featured by the fantastic Linda of Stylestance Daily.  I was also featured in two fall-themed Etsy treasuries.

My crow scarf was featured by pmsusie, and one of my pumpkin orange scarves was featured by menzocollection.

I'm spreading the autumn love by having an Autumnal Equinox Special.  From now until midnight EST on September 30, I'm offering free shipping for all purchases.  Plus, if your purchase totals $40 or more, you'll receive a free 8"x54" silk chiffon scarf!  Visit the shop for all of the details and some fall accessory shopping!

A much needed rest

Last weekend, I took a much needed break by, of all things, working.  I was a vendor at Shimmy Tecumseh, a weekend-long event that combined belly dance workshops and camping.  The weather was perfect, the people were great, and I had a lot of fun.  I breathed.  I listened.  I napped to the sound of cicadas and the wind blowing through the trees.  And I realized that I need to make more time in my busy schedule to do those things.

Hoppin' Summer

 

My summer has flown by seemingly in the blink of an eye.  It's been chock full of weave designing, fabric dying, vegetable gardening, wedding attending, and friend visiting.  This past weekend, I exhibited some of my work at the Salons at High and Hubbard for Gallery Hop.  It's a brand new salon in Columbus, and my friend Anissa has moved her esthetics studio there.  We had a lot of fun that night, and it was a great way to prepare for a busy week.

For the rest of the week, I've been dying dozens of belly dance veils.  This weekend, I'm headed up to Michigan for Shimmy Tecumseh, a three-day dance event.  I won't be taking any of the workshops, although they sound like so much fun.  I will be chilling out while selling my veils and scarves, having fun with some friends I haven't seen in ages, and meeting other dancers from around the Midwest.   

The Prodigal Textilian

 Wow.  I didn't intend to be away from here for three and a half months.  I've been thinking a lot lately.  There's been a bunch of things going through my head.  I guess I would describe it as being caught up in my own head.  Sometimes, that's not a positive thing.  I think we've all had our moments of angst, self-pity, catharsis...it's a natural part of life and growing and learning.  But this was a positive introspective look.  I'm working on a new aspect of my business.  It's one that I first conceived several years ago, after I'd been following the self-employment path for a while.  I'm on the brink of something really good.  It's been taking, and will continue to take, a great deal of hard work.  But it will all be worth it in the end.  That I definitely feel.

Okay, so more to come soon.  I have three shows coming up, so that's kept me busy.  And I have photos of my new work to share with you.  I've been gone for a while, so it may take me a bit of time to get back into the swing of things.  But, I feel a more talkative streak coming on...

Keep your hands off of my bunny!

 It should be stated that I do not have a big sweet tooth.  I like sweets, but I really have to be in the mood for them.  And because of this, as a child, I was to able to enjoy my Halloween, Christmas, and Easter candies long after the holidays had passed, while my brother and sister had finished theirs off by the next day.  My family would tell you that I hoarded the candy, but I was just saving it for days when I want candy.  For example, it's summer vacation, and I feel like some chocolate...oh look, I still have chocolate Easter bunny stashed away.  Sweet!!

Chocolate bunnies and I have become a family joke.  Halloween would be approaching, and yep, Megan still has bunny left.  Periodically, I would dig into my stash and notice that my bunny was smaller than the last time I looked.  I would interrogate my family to find out who had eaten part of my candy, but to no avail.  As I found out later in life, everyone was eating the bunnies, my parents included.

The beautiful, yet slightly damaged, bunny above is a staple in my kitchen.  I received this one about four or five years ago.  As you can see, I didn't get very far into it.  A couple of years ago, my brother was home for a visit, and it took him about 30 seconds to spot the chocolate bunny.  He and my sister had a big ol' laugh over that one.  Now, I have chosen to not eat the bunny.  I'll take the jokes and the laughter...it doesn't bother me.    But just remember...when your chocolate bunny is long gone, I will still have one.