When I was pregnant with Cora....

I remember clearly the day Brandon and I found out we were going to be parents. It was May 6th 2006, I was just finishing my junior year at KCAI. I was sitting at a coffee shop, studying for semester tests and it dawned on me that period was a few days late. I was so consumed with my studio projects, dyeing pounds and pounds of cotton yarn for a color study, our end of semester show and studying for last exams for the semester, that I wasn't paying much attention to my body. I turned to Brandon and mentioned that I might be a few days late....actually nine days late (haha). I couldn't study any longer, totally distracted by my anxious thoughts that I might be pregnant. We packed up our bags and went across the street to buy a pregnancy test from CVS.

As soon as we got home we found out the truth, that yes in fact, I was PREGNANT!!!!! I remember that mix of emotions that we went through. Scared. Happy. Terrified. Thankful. Of course we did want to start a family....just after I was done with school.

Once I found out when we were due, December 31st, it didn't take long for me to come up with a plan. I still planned on graduating on time. I just needed to work a little harder before my babe would arrive. That summer I put in six hours of directed study. Perfect timing, that I had a bunch of yarn that I dyed and could use up during my first trimester.

Images below are from the three out of three large panels I wove that summer. I still had lots of yarn left over. Every time I take out the extra yarn from that time, I cannot help remembering all the hours I spent under my loom at school threading and weaving, praying and thinking about my new baby that was coming. And she, my Cora Louise, came three days early on December 28th. It of course all worked out perfectly. I finished my directed study that summer, had my senior show early in November, finished my first semester the second week of December, had Cora on the 28th. Thankfully KCAI has six weeks off for break, that I had a month home with her before I started my last semester.

For six years, I had these large panels stored away, not sure what to do with them. Finally last year, I hung them up in the girls room. The pink, orange and yellow one is Cora's and the pink, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple one is Emma's.

(these images came from a photo shoot of Emma in front of her piece. If you have never had the pleasure of meeting her, these photos tell you exactly who she is:)

With my RE-Create Project, that challenges me to use up all my yarn that I own before buying new yarn. I decided this past week to use up yarn from these panels. I call this round of wearables, For the Love of Spring. It is FREEZING in KC and I love for the warmth and color of spring. So, I guess weaving with these colors helps a little.

Here are all my scarves.

For the Love of Spring Multi-colored Handwoven Scarf

For the Love of Spring with Slate Gray Handwoven Scarf

For the Love of Spring with White Handwoven Scarf

For the Love of Spring Yarn Necklace

This image is a project that Cora and I worked together on for her shop. I still cannot believe she just turned seven.

For the Love of Spring Origami Star Garland with White Beads

This last image is a detail shot of the third panel I wove that summer that is on sale.

Shades of Pink, Orange and Yellow Hand Woven Panel

New Changes for 2014

Sooooo, the last few months, six months.....no actually the whole year, kicked me in the butt. I found myself working so hard with no time to relax. Towards the end of the year, my busiest time of the year, I felt like I was going crazy. My house was a mess, and every room turned into my studio. I had way too many events and I was frantically making. Right before Christmas I asked my mom for advise. I knew things HAD to change for next year for me to be a happy healthy person, wife, mom, friend, business owner and artist.

With her great advice, I moved my girls back into one room where they now share a queen bed and I converted Cora's room into OUR craft room where my little loom is now. It used to be in my kitchen. I know that sounds funny. But when you have a small three bedroom house, you try to use up all extra spaces. For more that two years, I had it at the back of my kitchen next to two windows that overlooked the field next to our house. I loved my view and I loved that I could quickly weave whenever I liked. But I started to see a pattern, especially when I was super stressed out with events. I would choose weaving over doing the dishes any day. Soon my little studio corner started spreading into my kitchen and then dining area and living room. Things were getting out of control. Especially working with Cora on her new business, We Are Going To France.

Now we have a craft room were the rules are we CANNOT do crafts outside of that room AND no little girls can be on my rug where my loom is. I know that might sound mean, but I knew I had to set boundaries if it was ever going to work. I think this has been one of the best family and business decisions I have made in a long time. The girls love working with me. When I am working at my loom, they feel inspired to work on crafts or play Lego's. You can really tell that they love that I have opened my world to them. I also appreciate so much that I can close the door when I am done. Like I said, I had no boundaries, and would choose weaving anytime over doing the dishes. Especially if both loom and a sink of dirty dishes were in the same room.

I also took sometime last week writing down all the show and sales I was in last year. I wrote next to it an arrow up, if it was worth it and an arrow down if I thought it wasn't. About half were worth doing again. This list will be up in my art studio downstairs where my big loom is. I will have to look at it every time I am faced with a possible show. I have been praying for wisdom with my business decisions for the future.

As of right now I am excited about;
* my new scarf making challenge to use up all my yarn that I already own to make all my next scarves. I will be posting updates on my blog and featuring other artist that are up for the challenge as well.

*New one-on-one weaving lessons and dye workshops I will be teaching at the Kansas City Textile Studio starting in February. To sign up, click on this link, Beginning Yarn Dyeing.

*Upcoming solo show at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center for April and May.....yay!!!

*A Mother's Day Holiday Event at Kansas City Textile Studio that will have other mother/daughter makers from Academie Lafayette selling their goods. Cora will be there representing We Are Going To France. And 15% of all our sales will go towards the school. Kim will be there giving a tie-dye demo. So excited about this!!

Pretty exciting events coming up for this year. I am grateful for the new changes. Thanks for all your support and taking time to read this.
Sincerely,
Debbie

My First Runner's Holiday Streak

Well, I made it to day 16 and then I pooped out. I got sick and then exhausted.....but it was still so good. I told myself when I first started it I never wanted to feel guilty. So, in the end, I didn't feel guilty for stopping the streak but would love to try it again next year:)

I will run each day from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day

Total Miles 16.76

On November 25th, I was looking through Facebook and ran across a link that my pastor, Tim Keel posted, "To all my running friends out there - a fun Thanksgiving to New Year's

Day challenge. Read this article, then let me know if you're game!"  A Season to Streak So, I was curious and read the article. Basically a challenge to run everyday from Thanksgiving to New Year's.

I started running off and on about 18months ago. I have never run in a race but have always wanted to.  Like most exercise, it is so easy for me to come up with excuses that I cannot do it, but when I actually go outside and run, I feel refreshed and I have not one ounce of regret afterwards. 

If you know me, you know that I have a hard time sitting still, I have a compulsion for making, my mind it full of ideas for my next projects, and with two young girls I easily get stressed out with all the things I think must get done. And for more than three years I have dealt with lots of fatigue and headache problems. Running has been a healthy way to relieve my stress. The hardest part is actually getting myself out there to do it, thinking I have other more important things to do, while my anxiety and headaches grow stronger. Of course, the few times I actually get myself to run, I feel so much better and I never have one ounce of regret. 

So, I have decided to take up this challenge during not only the busiest time for my family with all the holiday activities but it is the busiest time for my textile business. I will run each day from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day

Total Miles 16.76

Day 8

1.27

All month I have been busy making new scarves for my Kansas City Textile Studio Holiday Show at this weekend. Sunday I started a new batch of scarves. My goal was to weave five of them by today. While weaving them everyday, I had this cheesy image of me wearing them all for a photo. Each day of the challenge I have taken a photo to document my run. This afternoon I when I finished my last scarf, I got my work out clothes on and wrapped all five scarves around me. At this stage of the weaving process the scarves are all connected, all thirteen yards. I took this photo of me at the park before my run. BTW, it was 22 degrees out. I did put on a jacket afterwards. 

My friend, Gina just happened to be starting her run as I finished mine. She took this photo of me:)

Day 7

1.15 miles

I call this my "drive-thru run".  I had twenty minutes to pick up Emma from preschool that was five minutes away from my house. I left my house at 1:40, drove six minutes away to this Starbucks, quickly got out of my car and ran 1.15 miles. Then I got in my car and went through the Starbucks drive-thru to order a coffee to warm me up and made it in time to pick up Emma at 2:02:) 

Day 6

3.11 miles

Listened to this great message from Jacob's Well Pastor Isaac Anderson today while running.

and ended my run listening to this song,

Day 5, 12/2/13

1.1 miles

I decided to do this run right before picking up Emma from her preschool. I was busy working getting things made for my holiday sale this weekend. I had in the back of my mind I should just skip my run before I pick up Emma. I thought I had too many things to do and time is precious when she is at school. But twenty minutes before I had to pick her up, I quickly put on my workout clothes, got in the car, drove five minutes away to her school, parked my car and ran my one mile. YAY! This photo is of the church across from Emma's school. I finished my mile right as I came to this sign. 

Day 4, 12/1/13

4.53 miles

My stretching ground.

Day 3, 11/30/13

1.01 miles

18 months ago I ran my first mile since high school here. 

Dealing with stress on a daily basis, it is amazing what running outside can do it me. I feel healthier and more grateful for being alive when I run, even if it is just 1 mile:)

Day 2, 11/29/13

3.06 miles

Sidewalks of KCMO

Day 1, Thanksgiving November 28, 2013

1.53 miles

After sleeping in, drinking a little coffee and weaving a few minutes while my girls were playing in Thanksgiving morning, I decided I was up for the challenge. I ran right after I posted this on Instagram.

My rules:

1. Must run a minimum of 1 mile per day

2. I must feel good-great during and after my run. This way, I am not pushing myself too much.

3. If I get injured, I will replace running with some other form of exercise each day.

4. If the weather is awful, I can run inside....I hate the treadmill....so I might use the elliptical instead

5. I must stretch and drink lots of water after each run

Benefits so far:

* Each run I feel a little bit lighter from all the stress

* I am so happy to be taking care of my health, physically and emotionally for my family and for myself

*During many runs, I find myself feeling so grateful that I am alive. 

Kansas City Textile Studio Holiday Show for December

I am excited to be working on this event for the Kanas City Textile Studio. The Kansas City Textile Studio is hosting a Holiday Sale at the Leedy-Voulkos Arts Center. Buy handmade this holiday season! Come down the first Friday and Saturday in December.

For more information, go to our website: www.kctextilestudio.com/holiday-sale

Friday, December 6, 6 - 9pm

Saturday, December 7, 10am - 2pm

Support Kansas City artists and makers this holiday season by shopping local at the KCTS Holiday Show at the Leedy-Voulkos. The Holiday Show will showcase a diverse selection of unique handmade goods by artists working in the Kansas City area. Participating artists show include Debbie Barrett Jones of BillySue Textiles, Kim Eichler-Messmer of KimE-M Quilts, Jessika Cates of Collective Individual, Tabbetha McCale Evans, and Alice Youngblood and Cristin Llewellyn of Owl+Mouse textile designs, Travis Porter of tArvis , Emily Blodgett-Panos, Julie Wallace, Lynn Thornet of Starship Thunder and Robin's Nest Outfitters.

Here are some items I will be selling.

Teal Wave Three Panel Commission

In the mist of the starting up Kansas City Textile Studio, I have been working on a new commission. Ever since I graduated I have been doing most all of my dye work either outside on my driveway or in my garage. Each time I dyed, I carefully had to carry each bucket of dyed water through my house and rinse everything in my bathtub. With each year passing, I dreaded the idea of dyeing at home for many reasons. Safety for myself and my family, all the energy I put into making sure I wasn't making a mess, while hauling all the buckets of water through my house and the pain my back and knees went through, having to constantly bend down to dye my yarn on the ground and rinse everything in my tub. Just thinking about it makes me tired.

So, you can imagine how grateful and relieved I am to finally have a safe, clean, well equipped and efficient place to do all my dye work. YAY!!! Here are some images of my process so far.

 

One down, two more to go.