may this dress help us to let go . . . . (repost of January 19,2014)

During this period of regrouping and refocusing I have stepped back from many of the social media sites that I had so often haunted, especially le facebook! I have a love/hate relationship with that site so I relished the opportunity to step away! 

However, many people use FB as their main way to communicate, so I usually do a 'fly over' every other day or so.  And last night, as I was doing my quick checkin, I found this quote from Joseph Campbell, on my timeline. It was shared by friend and inspiring author Allan Hunter.  

Now, I know this quote, and I believe in the truth of this quote; however, last night these words struck such a cord with me that I needed to share them.  

During this time of reorganizing,  I am going through my many, many boxes of stuff!  Stuff that I have saved over the years, stuff that many might call junk, stuff that have places in my heart and I am bumping up against the idea of the life I thought I would have and where I am now. 

I know now is good: I am happy, I have a nice home, wonderful friends and my girls and I are healthy; I am truly blessed!!!  But as I have been rummaging through my past I am also painfully aware of different elements of my planned life that I am holding onto, 

making the appearance of this quote too perfectly timed!!

So here is a repost from January! 

May it be a reminder to us to let go! 

let go of what we had 'planned', 

what we thought we needed to do

& all of our 'should's  . . .

so that we can be present with the the present, the way our lives are, and see all the wonders and blessing in this present moment and enjoy them in all their glory!!!  peace

We must let go of the life 

we have planned, 

so as to accept 

the one that is waiting for us.

Joseph Campbell 

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may this dress be a reminder to trust the process . . . (repost of July 6, 2013)

(i am missing my dailydress practice so!! it definitely helps to center me and as today is spinning in many directions i found myself craving some dressinspiration.  but instead of reinventing the wheel I am reposting a post from a year ago.  I choose this post because of "no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should" which has become my mantra during this intense time of reorganizing and rediscovering my life.  happy weekend all ~ peace)

“You are a child of the universe, 

no less than the trees and the stars; 

you have a right to be here. 

And whether or not it is clear to you, 

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

max ehrmann,

desiderata: a poem for a way of life

when I first read this poem I was amazed how it spoke to me! 

once again the words on the page gave me a profound perspective 

and gave me some solace and peace, 

and I find myself time and time again turning to these words 

especially in trying times.

 I hope you find the poem as inspirational as i have ~

“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.


If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.


Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.


Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.


Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.


Strive to be happy.”
― Max Ehrmann, Desiderata: A Poem for a Way of Life

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Desperate times call for . . .

It was only a week ago that I wrote that I was taking some time off from my blog so I could do some personal work, and I have tackled some of my 'to-do's that I have been avoiding for years.
But this morning, after the bombardment of heart-wrenchingly horrid news from all corners of the world, I realized I needed to break my silence, to put out a call to all of us to work toward finding peace in our world.

“Never depend upon institutions or government to solve any problem. All social movements are founded by, guided by, motivated and seen through by the passion of individuals. ” 

― Margaret Mead

With all the craziness in this world today I felt the need a quote about peace, acceptance.  I decided to quote one of the gurus of peace, Nelson Mandela, and as happens so much with my daily dress practice, while looking up this quote I learned that today is Nelson Mandela International Day, a day of service.  It is celebrated today, July 18, Mandela's birthday. If he was still with us he would have been 96 years young today.  so to honor this man and all he brought to this world, let us all put our minds, hearts and souls into creating a more peaceful, accepting and loving world! 

As Margaret Mead so profoundly stated, change is in the passion of individuals, in the hands of a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens.  Let US be that small group!! 

peace, peace & blessed be ~

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ― Margaret Mead

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may this dress help us to love all our pieces and parts . . .

\_            _/

we         are
 mosaics - 

pieces 
of 
light, 

l o v e, 

h is to ry, 

stars - - - - - 

glued  together 
with  magic  and 
 m u s i c & w o r d s.

 ( a  n  i  t  a k    r  i  s  h  a  n )

Well, the time has come (sniff, sniff) . . . when I need to take a break 

from my beloved practice of my daily dress inspirations.  

A month from today will be a big milestone for me, 

and as the day approaches I am increasingly feeling 

the need to get my house in order, my ducks in a row,

 to clear the decks for the new adventures to come.

Many of you may know that these past few years has been quite challenging, almost everything about my being came under attack.  I started this daily dress posting as meditative practice for myself, finding quotes that I needed to hear and needed to remember.  And as it is my nature to share, I started posting these nuggets of wisdom.  That others have found solace in my posts is such a blessing and a joy.  

This blog has been a godsend for me in many ways ~
it has connected with an amazing community of people!!

It gave me a daily focus when in all other areas of my life, chaos reigned.

It offered me a daily opportunity to be creative,
even on those days I needed to be in court, etc. . .

 I LOVE constructing each day's posts.  

I have gathered so many inspiring quotes, some known, some less familiar,

 that I could post daily for at least another year.  

 I have so enjoyed finding the best image or sculpture 

to pair with the specific quote, and I have been learning so much in photoshop!! 

I am amazed on how happy I am getting each post ready to go, in fact I can spend the entire morning/day getting a post ready to publish ~ there within lies the rub.

 With my daily enthusiasm of spreading the love, I have been avoiding some necessary projects that need to be addressed! And since I am an all or nothing kind of girl I realize that I need to take a bit of a sabbatical, a moment of repose and face these demons that I have been SO happily avoiding!!

"The more important an activity is to your soul's evolution 

the more resistance and the more fear you will feel." 

 Steven Pressfield

I believe the above quote seems to sum up my situation quite well.
So happy summer and until we meet again

breathe, deeply, repeat
&
peace

and in case the spacing isn't published correctly
here is how I designed today's quote
(wonder why I have no time for anything else, huh?!?)

Concrete poetry is when the typographical arrangement of words
is as important as the other elements of the poem,
such as meaning of words, rhythm, rhyme and so on.

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may this dress bring us wonders!!! xx

“Always be on the lookout 

for the presence of wonder.”

 E.B. White

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May this dress help us notice the extraordinary . . .

“I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, 

but my life was never ordinary. 

I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was.” 

Ransom Riggs,

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

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May this dress remind us to teach by being!

'provocative' (rope dress) 72x60x60" (2007)

“I would like to be known 

as an intelligent woman, 

a courageous woman, 

a loving woman, 

a woman who 

teaches by being.” 

Maya Angelou

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Today, go to nature, be healed, be soothed . . .

'beckoning . . . '

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, 

and to have my senses put in order.”

John Burroughs

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May this dress remind us our power!!!

Let this dress show us our inner strength and power, 

especially if we are feeling lost or exhausted by our personal journeys . . . 

'there's no place like home, andy' collage with sewn dress (2012)

"you had the power all along, my dear"

Glinda the Good Witch 

Dorothy: Oh, will you help me? Can you help me?
Glinda, the Good Witch: You don’t need to be helped any longer. You’ve always had the power to go back to Kansas.
Dorothy: I have?
Scarecrow: Then why didn’t you tell her before?
Glinda, the Good Witch: Because she wouldn’t have believed me. She had to learn it for herself.

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Today, let's celebrate FREEDOM!!!! for ourselves and for others!!! xxx

“Those who deny freedom to others

 deserve it not for themselves.” 

Abraham Lincoln

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May this dress ignite us!!

'close before striking' mixed media

Be who you were created to be and 

you will set the world on FIRE!!! 

St. Catherine of Sienna

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May this dress remind us to be ourselves . . .

. . .  our wonderful, unique & glorious selves!!!

“By being yourself, you put something wonderful 

in the world that was not there before” 

 Edwin Elliot

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