Silver smithy!
January 10th, 2011 // Art, Craft, Fashion, Vancouver
Happy New Year!
So, I know the holidays are over but I believe New Year’s is a great time to continue with wish lists. I am always on the hunt for beautifully created, hand crafted things and I wanted to share a recent discovery. Last fall, I met the very talented and super sweet, Jeanie Andronyk whose silver jewelry is all made by hand via traditional silver smith techniques=one of a kind.
Check out her Etsy Shop or about town at all sorts of markets!
xoxo
S
Make it Awesome!
January 02nd, 2011 // Art, Feminine-ist, Love, Textiles
Last summer, while on a visit to Montreal, I stepped into Drawn & Quarterly where I discovered a book-zine, The Selves by Sonja Ahlers.
I picked up a copy because the whimsical yet raw images and words spoke to so many parts of my own feminine-self. Her talents go far beyond intentionally making the most whimsical and raw mish-mash of feminine scrapbooks. She returns used angora sweaters to their roots by hand making them into the sweetest bunnies.
I am so inspired by her work. My passions lie in so many things feminine, from a childhood of pink satin ribbons and leotards, a degree in fashion design, work as a healer & doula, birth houses and craft co-operatives in Uganda… the list goes on. Heck, my website is pink and purple! My life has been the ultimate in being a woman, yet the role have so often been skewed and I find I am always learning what it means. I think we can all benefit by valuing the feminine within each of us and I am so grateful such an incredible artist is speaking my language!
Love well,
Sara
The Briefing
December 28th, 2010 // Uncategorized
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a rich holiday season. 2011 is already looking busy, on January 25th at 5pm I will be speaking at the UBC Dollar Project on behalf of The Shanti Uganda Society for the We Need a Fence Campaign. If you have a toonie and the time, come on down and vote!
Amethyst
December 18th, 2010 // Spirit, Wellness
photo by Randi
Fosters healing and is associated with increased nobility, spiritual awareness, meditation, balance, psychic abilities, inner peace, and positive transformation.
Love well,
Sara
Sat Nam (Truth is my Identity)
December 14th, 2010 // Feminine-ist, Spirit, Yoga
“The base of society ever was, is, and ever shall be woman. Therefore, each woman has to turn her own values towards gracefulness. She has to live it, and then she has to share those values with the coming generations. That is the only way we can change life from one generation to the next.” ~ Yogi Bhajan
Aisuru (to love) Tokyo!
December 12th, 2010 // Art, Fashion, Feminine-ist, Love, Textiles
Wonderful window display in Tokyo by multi-media (including textiles!) artist, Eden Veaudry.
Love,
S
Stupendous Soups and Stews!
December 09th, 2010 // Cooking, Nutrition
Winter is fast approaching and in Vancouver, we have had some real winter weather for the first time in a few years already!
One of the best things about this season for me is warm, nourishing and easy to digest soup! Soup is one of the most creative meals, you can have a different soup every day all season. My favorite this year is Mushroom Barley.
I was having a conversation recently about how great soup is with my friend Annette, who happens to be a Holistic Nutritionalist. She taught me some easy tips on making my own veggie soup broth:
-When cooking veggies, save ends in a container in the freezer
-When container is full, boil with lots of water in large pot
-Put boiled veggie ends in compost *bonus points: veggies get double use before returning to the earth AND are easier to compost
-Freeze stock for soup cooking days as needed
-Repeat these steps and always have soup stock available for quick and easy, homemade soup cooking!
Just for fun and my love of soup, here is a poem written about soup by my good friend and very talented musician, Henry.
Soup
soup she comes spitting fire
slurping down the bitter root
then the stock becomes much thicker
softening gently the starchy fruit
from kingdom come
comes tomato cans
marching down the alley way
sitting nicely upon your hand
the juice comes out
sporting shades
and bends down through
the chinese maze
susans cat feels much better
it’s the bitter end of a long
drawn out
sickness
Henry of Henry and the Nightcrawlers
Enjoy!
Love,
S
To Tame A Land
December 06th, 2010 // Art, Love, Vancouver
This Thursday, December 9th I will be attending this art show. One of my best friends, Juli Nelson, will be showcasing her beautiful ceramic art.
If you feel like bringing the forest and the mountains inside your home, you will love her work. I do!
Love,
Sara
xoxo
The Sweat Lodge
December 01st, 2010 // Spirit
This past weekend, I was blessed to experience my first sweat. It was traditional so we were clothed and completely covered, ankles to wrists. Before we began, we each made an offering to the Creator and the Grandfathers and Grandmothers for our prayers. I made an offering of tobacco and one meter of white, cotton cloth.
The lodge is a sacred space created for ceremony to invite in the spirit of the Grandfathers and Grandmothers, the Eagle, the Bear, the Wolf and all of the Creators helpers. Inside there is song for them and prayers to them. The heat cleans and polishes your spirit.
It was an incredibly beautiful and powerful experience. I am so grateful.
Love well,
Sara
xoxo
Gifts that Give
November 18th, 2010 // Shanti Uganda
This holiday, consider giving a gift that gives to your friends and family and benefits the entire world. Shanti Uganda crafts are beautiful and support the sustainability of women’s health and the wellness of entire communities in rural Uganda.
Give a gift of action that will change a life in Uganda:
* 4 Prenatal Courses for a Mother for $10.00 CAD
* 1 Birth Kit for $15.00 CAD
* Midwife for a Day for $20.00 CAD
* Lab Services at the Maternity Centre for a Week for $30.00 CAD
* Member of our Women’s Group for a Month for $75.00 CAD
* Midwife for a Week for $100.00 CAD
* Med Supplies for a Week for $200.00 CAD
Each recipient of your donated Gift of Action will be mailed a beautiful card with a message about how your gift will make a difference.
If you are very passionate about our projects you can host your own Christmas Craft Shopping Party at home or work. Shanti Uganda will supply you with handmade paper beaded jewelry and traditional batik handbags all made by our sustainable women’s group. It is a great opportunity to educate people about our projects and they make holiday shopping easy.
If you are interested, please contact bella@shantiuganda.org
We will also be at these upcoming holiday craft markets so please come by and say hello!
Fair Trade Vancouver Christmas Extravaganza
December 4th from 10 am – 7 pm
at Performance Works on Granville Island
Blim Market
November 28 from 10am – 4 pm
December 19th from 10am – 4 pm
at the Chinese Cultural Centre
Happy Holiday Season and Om Shanti!