Emily Perry Studios

digging for ideas

where you might find me digging for ideas today:

1. in the garage studio, going through old art journals and inspiration books
2. in my piles of books on yoga and Buddhism (always pages of underlined material waiting for me)
3. on the couch, knitting & thinking about said books
4. in the kitchen, as I cook and clean for the day
5. on the mat, during yoga.  sometimes cool things just pop into my consciousness in my practice, as if they have been unearthed, or wash up, by all the opening asanas
6. building legos: there is quiet a lot of zen to be found in building something with legos
7. watching my daughter paint: i love her use of color
8. in a podcast: today it's notes from the voodoo lounge, and jamie ridler studios
9. on a walk up to the bluff to see the ocean
10. in a cup of chai: because let's face it, the whole world is to be found in a good cup of tea!

where are you looking today?
 

Guest post at the Wishstudio!

Hi there!

in case you didn't see it yet, i have a guest post up over at the Wishstudio:: come check it out!

 

::on the coast::

{the Olympic Coast, Washington State, circa 1997}
 

::transformational space::

{tent, 2009}

Our lives are constantly transforming themselves:: they shift, open, and change according to what we need, who we are, who we need to be.  At times it is easy to forget that we have this ability:: to shape our lives into what we envision.  For this, transformational spaces can hold us gently while we become more of who we would like to be.  

In our everyday lives we often have small transformational spaces:: a place where we walk, a spot to paint in, a reading corner where you can dream your dreams.  What are your transformational spaces in your life?   How can you create more of them, or find time to explore them more on your journey?

birthday

{cupcakes at our friend's party for her little boy, a few weeks ago...}

today is my 36th birthday, which is less momentous than 35 was, i must say.  we might get some gelato or ice cream, you know, for the kids.  

in terms of birthday wishes, my only one is that you might give a little here:: to Myriam's Haiti fund for the schools her family works with that were totally destroyed (you can read more about it and donate here).  i am sure you have already given to Haitian relief, but if not, here is another opportunity for you.

i think this is going to be a really good year... really good!
 

30 day sadhana:: day 11

{outside Cafe Gratitude, San Francisco, 2010}

Today is day 11 of the 30 Days of Yoga practice, a yoga sadhana organized by Marianne over at Zen and the Art of Peacekeeping.  There is something about doing yoga everyday that has really changed my approach to yoga.  it was clear right away that what i thought i needed out of this thirty days- and what i truly needed- were two different things.  this yoga practice has taught me to pay attention differently, to listen.

but it has also allowed me to meet my resistance in interesting ways.  

 

by meeting the resistance, i can breath into it, soften it.  i can discover why the resistance is there, dissolve into it, and discover all sorts of joy lurking, just waiting to be uncovered.

join in, or follow us over at twitter (#30dayyoga)

::namaste::

 

fear no art

and maybe try on being brave.  it might fit you nicely.

::sensation::

{knotted balloons tangles in wires, San Francisco, 2010} 

...We also begin to understand that as sensations, thoughts, and feelings pass through us, they need not solidify.  They need not bunch up inside us as knots of tension.  We can be a person who occasionally feels tension rather than a tense person.  That is, all of these passing sensations need not concretize and fuse our identity.

- Donna Farhi, Bringing Yoga To Life

the flexibility of wood

{these roots, this tree here in the etsy shop}

there is a storm outside again today, and as i sit here i am watching the large pines sway in the wind and rain. 

i think at times we forget about the gift of the wood element, one of the five elements in classical chinese medicine (the others being fire, earth, metal and water).  wood needs to be strong to withstand the storm, and yet it needs to be soft and flexible to the changing winds so it is not broken by the elements.

today, think of how you might be flexible to the changing world around you, while maintaining your sense of being grounded with strong roots.

{mention the code roots2010 in the checkout at my etsy shop for a 10% discount until midnight 01.19.10 Pacific time}

::cupcakes::

sometimes there is nothing better than a party with cupcakes, pirates and princesses!

watching kids at a party can be so much fun!  have a sweet weekend!