An active few months...... and next place to donate too....

My next donation of discontinued inventory and some "extra" items I hadnt got around to listing will be to . I had originally planned on making it this week, However, I am extending and adding to my Last Call sale due to some other changes going on! Here is a link to my etsy store if anyone is interested Sale items are all listed in the Last Call section at 50% off of original price or more.


Okay, back to the last few months. I have been working on some new items, and focusing more energy on my pilates and wellness business . Due to some changes at a place I had been teaching for over 4 years, I finally got the courage to leave and start teaching on my own and subleasing space in a beautiful studio. This seems to have started a theme of speaking up about what I want and moving towards it, amidst of lot of letting go of old ideas and spending what time I would typically spend on my store focused on personal growth, reflection and deepening my faith.

Oddly, the easiest situation to deal with has been someone taking my atm/debit card info. University Credit Union is an amazing financial institution to work with, as everything was pretty much taken care of within 48 hours of filing a report. That said I am not ready or really comfortable yet blogging about one of them, and the other soon to be big change is finding a new roommate. This entered my to do list a few days ago, and since I am in also in midterms, am finding it is so far easiest to do some actions and start with doing what I can (tell classmates to start getting word out since I'd prefer someone from school network) and going through my stuff to see what I can get rid of, what I need and how I can rearrange and clean up as my roommate moves on and I need to start showing my place. Plus, the creative side of me loves to redecorate and re-arrange so while a lot of work, some of it is enjoyable and will be a new change.

It's a crazy life - or at least been a crazy week

(Picture was taken on the Coast Starlight Train - September 2009)

First of all - thank you and welcome to new followers & readers- I haven't checked on my blog since my last post - so it was a nice surprise to see a jump in support!

A couple of my friends, would say for weeks "It's a crazy life" while we were out eating our weekly thai lunch. This last week (and even two) great examples of how many things can go on at once, and yet its possible to stop, be present with all of it, and be able to laugh about it by the next day and get past it.

Without going into to much detail yet, some changes in my work life are happening. Many of them are things Ive been planning for, yet had been doing the wait and see with places I wanted to work with - since I was resisting changes since still have 3 quarters to go in school. It is some extra work right now, yet so much of the footwork has been done over the last few years, that actually great timing since postponed a huge and important exam due to my intuition and have some time off from school and a lighter schedule once finals are over.

In the midst, My etsy store is finally stocked to my goal of 100 items +! I have also updated my cosaverde page, have 2 new designs on the way, and a new part of my Recycled Knits line slowly being introduced. My pilates also has new pics from a recent semi-impromptu photo shoot on the reformer, and growing in content rapidly!

The funniest and craziest part is in the midst of all this, while eating a Thin Mint, and leaving for the optomotrist, my porcelin crown on my front tooth fell out - and gave me a legit reason to reschedule an appointment had wanted to reschedule or cancel all day. Luckily I have a friend from school who is a dentist and could FB her for temp advice so I only had to go to the gas station and drugstore somewhat toothless. Got to be grateful for how things work out. A few hours before, some had gotten clarifying, and a bit dissapointing news at one of my workplaces, just after rescheduling my afternoon client. ALso, amazingly worked out since needed to focus on myself, and probably would not have been able to be as present for my client. so in a crazy life, things work out !

Making A Difference

Okay, so I am not the most consistent blogger. I often get ideas about blog entries, and then get busy with school, spending time with friends, knitting, and of course not siting in front of a computer.

With all the attention on Haiti right now, and growing up around a lot of service. I did want to take the time to reflect on both integrating my values with my store, and my blog. In my day job, and education, I am used to providing a service. In my creative and job, I wrote in a business plan about the importance of giving back.

After contemplation, and being honest with myself about my personal discomfort with simply using a blog as a marketing tool, I am planning on focusing on ways people can make a difference, both globally and in there own community, and not just by writing a check. Each month, I am planning on focusing on a different cause - and like before there will be some overlap between knitting, healthcare and the environment, and some cool products thrown in from time to time, because really, there are a lot of creative people looking at ways to make a difference and be of service in different ways. It is also an unknown what is a service to others, as a friend and customer told me that the comfort and coziness of a scarf was a service to her since she is often outside for her work, and all forms of art have that ability to brighten up someones day and provide service, depending on how you look at it.

Catch up time on unfinished projects

One of my favorite reasons for carfting is the therpauetic effects. It gets you present and focused on creating something unique, expressive and in the moment. Today, I was reading an e-mail and was reminded of this, as I have not been spending as much time crafting over the last week after being home sick watching Weeds, drinking tea and taking a lot of Chinese Herbs. FYI Weeds is very funny and great for a day whe dont feel like leaving couch, reading email etc....

Tonight, went for finally checking out house, and checking out my stash of almost completed items. Finished three neck warmers, and have some items ready to list later this week. Also, am working on anew line of upcycled accessories which is pretty fun and enjoying the simple and laid back therapy of working on a new project and completing some of those ones that never quite get finished and end up in a nice neat pile somewhere.



Banana Silk scarf in Aqua Laguna - available soon at http://www.designknitfun.etsy.com

An Amazing Bath Treat for Sore Muscles

When I first joined Unique Women in Business, I needed to make a purchase from another member. I was looking through the choices, and thought hmmm, what do I actually need right now, after looking at stores and websites offering everything I could imagine, cosmetics, jewelery, cards, prints and much much more. While I tend to be on the practical side, most of my extravagant and impulsive purchases tend to be designer shoes and on occasion handbags. However, bath products are also one of my favorite items, so much that I really have to watch it, since end up stocked for 6 months or more at a time on the basics.

Since I had been busy working, and spending my "free time" opening a store on etsy, and posing for pictures and video filming for my pilates website, I my muscles were a little more fatigues then usual. A regular user of epson salts and or fresh lavender (I can pick it outside my door), I decided to get some bath salts from Soap Rehabilitation to try out.

Swiss Alps Bath Soak--Fizzy Bath Salts

After browsing through all the options, I went with "Swiss Alps" an infusion of mints, and prefect for tired muscles. when the package arrived, and I had a chanc eto chec it out, I had spent an hour of my work break filming advanced exercises with a friend on a concrete surface, and was pretty sore from a mat class earlier in the week, and a concentrated photo shoot of ab work.

These salts blew me away instantly. The aromatherapy blend worked very similiary to my old and familiar stand-by friend Tiger Balm, and these Golden Flower patches from my school clinic. The plus is that these salts were also relaxing and soothing, for mind and body, and did not have the strong smell since they are more of a spa product then part of an orthopaedic prescription or treatment. However, I thought they worked just as well, if not better, since they also helped me wind down and sleep since was in a go, go , go type of mode with starting a project (that is still awaiting full editing and posting) after a few months of various changes and weather delays.

For a full range of products, check out Soap Rehabilitation at http://www.soaprehab.etsy.com. Sara also has adorable packaging with a little nurse in her logo. Her lip gloss and the samples she included of sample soaps are also amazing and it was a great welcome to Unique Women in Business. Check out our group page for a wonderful variety of shopping for all your needs and wants. http://www.uniquewomeninbusiness.blogspot.com

Playing with Needles and feature idea

Today I got inspired to change my blog a bit and actually start updating it as it has been a very overwhelming quarter in acupuncture school, and I've gotten an amazing amount of knitting completed and underway. One thing I am finding, is that I've been knitting long enough to easily grab a pair of needle that work with a yarn. In fact I often go on intuition and just start seeing what happens.

In treating more patients as an intern, I am finding that I am starting to mix up needle sizes in treatments more comfortably and use that same intuition more, since initially it can be a bit intimidating to actually put needles in a person. (we are encouraged to practice on oranges, sofas, and even raw meats at first - before ourselves and classmates - then actual patients).

This is similar to learning how to knit and work with fibers. Another thing is the openness to imperfection, which is what I find one of my favorite things about handmade. Each item is truly unique, and in that, has it's own character and purpose, like each treatment, can have the same points, yet very a bit with intention and what a patient needs.

The tools are also important, and needles are just that. Every acupuncturist and every knitter has a preference. That may change from time to time. Lately, I have been prefering bamboo and some new sustainable birch. There is something about the natural feel, that seems to increase my knitting speed and connection with the process (to use meditative qi language).

My next blog post will be sooner - I am thinking about adding a monthly entry with pics around Santa Monica and Venice - especially since its almost summer - and great local events the tourists just stumble upon if they're lucky around the pier and beach.