wearable reminders

I'm finally accepting that this isn't just the busy season of the year, it's the busy season in my life! There's a lot going on... it's rich, it's full and it often takes my breath away.  Sometimes I  forget how to stay grounded. I stumble without reminders to stay present and grateful for all that is and not get caught up in the mind's busy chatter. When I share these thoughts with you, I'm always surprised by the tremendous response. Obviously,  I'm not alone in this struggle. I have many helpful books in my library and inspiring podcasts to listen to, but those little words I left around my home seemed to have worked more than anything else! (Yay for handmade solutions!) But I'm not always home. In fact, the times that  I'm out and about are when I'm usually juggling too many balls and losing my balance. What if I wore my reminders or kept them tucked into coat pockets? Maybe add some lavender to the mix because its scent has always soothed, calmed, and led me back to my center with a few deep inhales. The above "BE" amulet is lightly filled and can be worn close to the heart or tied to the handle of a handbag for easy holding. The wooden button was hand crafted from a reclaimed branch of a sturdy oak tree and is smooth to the touch. I found it here, where they have a huge variety of beautiful tree branch buttons. The back side was printed with my crow. It remains one of my favorite stamps because it was inspired by a photograph of a crow getting ready to soar from the tree outside my studio window. Its image always gives me courage to leap.

So that's what those mysterious components were all about: wearable reminders. It actually began with some cuffs. First, I made the skinny little "breathe" sachet to tuck into a pocket.  I added the crochet trim from my friend Sonia to incorporate a little friendship and support. It's tiny but powerful. Then, I thought how nice it would be to display  words on your wrists... where you can't miss them. These cuffs were crafted with a thin center pillow of lavender.

They're are all spoken for, but I bet you could make your own version. What a simple gift for yourself or someone you love. Perhaps a little tutorial is in order for lavender wearable reminders: to stay present in the moment.