The Gift of Kindness

I am returning to teaching this year and want to encourage my students to share the gift of kindness with the people around them. I came across this site and it is just too great not to share. Great stories and ideas for you to share with people you spend time with. Check out The Gift of Kindness and start sharing today!
Peace!

Thoughts are like arrows . . .

This post is a shout out for my dear friend, Julie. I'm sending positive thoughts across the desert to you. Remember . . . red wine is rich in antioxidants . . . good for stressful times. Cheers! :)

"Thoughts are like arrows; once released, they strike their mark."
- Navajo proverb

Personal Peace

As I've mentioned I have a passion for collecting things with the word Peace or a Peace symbol on them. I've been collecting for quite some time now and have put many of them together in a place where I can see them often. A Peace Shrine . . . from pictures, rocks, tiles, pottery . . . to handmade gifts from friends. We all need places like this and things around us that remind us to be mindful . . . thoughtful . . . at peace with ourselves.

Plate 4 Peace

I joined the Etsy Mud Team last spring. It is a wonderful group of "potheads" and "mudders" who all sell their wonderful pieces on ETSY. We are currently having a Serving Dish Challenge. The pic above is my entry. You can go to our website and vote for your favorite. You will need to give your email address so as to keep the voting fair. One vote per email address. In return you will get a email coupon code to purchase an item from our team shop!
I enjoyed creating this plate . . . I hope you enjoy looking at all the fabulous entries!

The Peace Book

I love children's books. It's a passion of mine. I love to use them in my music classroom a lot. One of my favorites is called The Peace Book by Todd Parr. His books are bright and full of color. This book packs a powerful message in a fun and cheerful way. My students love it! You will too!

Fabulous Find

I love garage sales, estate sales, vintage furniture stores and thrift stores. You can always find fun and unique items. I found this piece of fabric that I made into a pillow. I hope it's message is inspiration to your day. Even my kitty likes it! :)
Peace to you on a Saturday evening from Santa Fe!

Looking for Peace

I collect anything with the word peace or a peace symbol on it. This was a wonderful find at the Recycled Art Show last fall here in Santa Fe. I love it's colors and of course, it's message.
I hope you all have a relaxing and peace-filled beginning to your weekend.

Rock Art

I was inspired by petroglyphs we have seen on our many hikes here in northern New Mexico when making these tiles. I love the simplicity and rich symbolism of these ancient images. I hope to use more of these types of figures in my work. I love our hikes and time we spend in the beautiful peace of the outdoors.

Flower Power

I love plants, flowers, trees and even weeds! These living things (and many others) inspire my pottery. These four tiles are for sale in my ETSY shop. Yes, a shameless plug! However flowers bring such joy to my life wherever I find them. I love to know their names and usually have my camera with me to snap a pic and then rush home to look them up in my collection of books.
Flowers provide me with a time to gaze at their beauty . . . a moment of peace and reflection.

Peace Is . . .

I saw a bumper sticker today that said "peace is" and it has left me thinking. Peace is so many things and it's different for all of us. Today I found peace in reminding myself that I live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and that there is beauty all around me. This pic is the courtyard outside my house. It's a great place to read, talk with loved ones and enjoy that morning cup of coffee.

Message to Motorists

I've had a lot of people ask me about my bumper sticker that says "Just Be Nice." I direct them to a company called Just Be Nice. :) I also have a shirt that catches a lot of attention with the same logo. Way cool.

Peace Pilgrim

This is a picture of myself taken in front of the Peace Wall in Bisbee, Arizona. While I am not exactly a Peace Pilgrim, the woman who calls herself "Peace Pilgrim" walked more than 25,000 miles on a personal pilgrimage for peace. It was her promise to walk until we learned to find our way to peace. She walked for 28 years and touched many lives and hearts during her devotion to peace. Check out her website, Peace Pilgrim, to learn more.
In the meantime . . . . I have some walking to do.
Peace!

The Peace Alliance

Please sign the petition at The Peace Alliance.
We must rally together and remind our representatives in the government that peace is a top priority!
Peace to all . . .

Kids for Peace

I am teaching again this fall and am considering organizing a Peace Club. I found this website when looking into this idea further on the internet. Look at the great things this group is doing!
Kids For Peace USA

The Spiral of Life

Many cultures believe the spiral is a symbol of the spiritual journey of learning and growing. That life doesn't proceed in a straight line but more closely resembles a spiral. Our lives seem to pass the same point over and over again and hopefully we gain a different perspective each time. Where are you in your spiritual journey?

Animal Messengers of Peace

I was stopped at a stoplight today and a raven was standing on the sidewalk right next to me staring at me. I believe he was sending a message. Native American medicine men believe they have healing powers and often call upon them during rituals. I was comforted knowing he was there.
Peace!

What brings you peace?

I made this little coil vessel. There is something peaceful about working with clay. The smell of the clay, the feel of it in my hands . . . I just love it! Other things that bring me peace are the first cup of coffee in the morning, hiking with my partner, talking with my kids, reading a great book, watching the birds in my yard, eating chocolate, sharing my time with those less fortunate than I, listening to or making music, just to name a few. :) Think about what brings you peace . . .

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Here is a tile I made in my class with Cami Lien at Santa Fe clay. When I see it and the other things on my Buddha table, it reminds me that we all need to be peacemakers. Maybe not making national headlines or the local news but in your own heart and home. Check out this website today and see if you can recognize these peacemakers. It's quite a list. If you find one you don't recognize or don't know . . . research their work in the world some more. http://www.salsa.net/peace/faces/index.html
Peace!

Thought for the week . . .

Gotta love Ben & Jerry's . . . . not just for Chunky Monkey . . . . check out the link below and let it guide your thoughts and actions during the week ahead!

http://www.benjerry.com/features/50_ways/50ways.cfm

Spread Peace.

Peace Tree

I hope everyone is having a wonderful, peace-filled Saturday! Came across this aspen tree while snowshoeing last winter. You never know where you will find peace. Always keep your eyes, ears, heart and mind open . . . . so you can bask in the light and warmth of peace. Where have you found peace?

50 Ways

50 Ways to build peace by Laurie Phillips of Dorset, England.

I had a copy of this poster in my classroom when I was a teacher. I always challenged my students to pick one thing a week from the poster and practice it. That is my challenge to you . . . . pick one thing from this list for the day, the weekend or for next week. Let it guide your thoughts, your actions and your mindfulness. Peace to you and yours on this fabulous Friday!

Peace Flags

I love these peace flags I have in my yard. I love their vibrant colors and they remind me each day to keep peace in my heart and mind. Take some time each day to sit and listen to the quiet in your own space whether it is your garden or your favorite chair.

Start World Peace

Tonight is a departure from sharing my pottery experiences. I took this pic last summer when I visited Madrid, New Mexico. It is a fun, funky little town south of Santa Fe. A "don't miss" if you are in the area. This banner caught my attention as soon as I got into town and had to snap a pic. Because of the popularity of the banner, there are now different sized banners for sale in town as well as a line of cards. Guess I need to take a road trip down to get myself a box of cards! Check out the website http://www.startworldpeace.com/ and the next time you are in Santa Fe, take a side trip to Madrid.
What brings peace to you?

Empty Bowls

I have been a participant in the Empty Bowls program for several years. Not as a potter but as a buyer of marvelous bowls. I love this event and believe it does much good. Look for these events in your community. The pic is of a bowl I made. This is not one of the bowls I donated to the Empty Bowls here in Santa Fe. I forgot to take pics of them!! However, it was great to go to the event that was held here and see people walking out with my bowls knowing they had supported the hungry people here in our community.

Snack Happy

I love snacking. I try to be healthy . . . . most of the time. Here is a snack plate I made.

Miles of Tiles

I enjoy creating tiles. I love their endless flexibility as a creative medium. These are some tiles I created and sold in my online store. Check out www.ETSY.com. Here you'll find wonderful hand-crafted items from all over the world. I can spend hours looking at all the beautiful items. Knowing these pieces of art are handmade makes them even more special. My username is tmusichans if you wanna check out my stuff.

Got Gas?

This is the large gas kiln which fires in reduction to cone 10. I've had the chance to load and unload this monster! "Building" the kiln to fire the glazed pieces was quite challenging and fun.

My first coffee mug

Here is my first attempt at making a coffee mug. I used a template from Annie Chrietzberg's website www.earthtoannie.com. It is a gigantic mug . . . but I love it and use it everyday! Check out Annie's other work on her website. It's fantastic!

My first tiles

I was thrilled to take my first clay class at Sant Fe Clay with Maggie Mae Beyeler. It was a tile making class. I had a wonderful time learning from her and the other people in the class. This is when I began to nurture my addiction to clay! Check out Maggie's wonderful handmade pottery at www.magpiepottery.com.

Clay Artistry

Each summer Santa Fe Clay sponsors well-known clay artists to give week long workshops. People from all over the world come to take these exciting workshops. The picture here is of work done by some of these fabulous clay artists.