Sunday, January 17, 2010

Quilting Bee #40




Well..wow...#40..that is alot of Bees!! I am really quite touched that you folks come back to see me! I can't tell you what it has done for me to meet you here each week!! I am blessed!! I am!! So I think for #40 cupcakes are due..been a while since we offered up sweet treats. So along with the Kona coffee and various teas..I am offering up a smorgasbord of deliciousness. Let see there are: lemon custard and carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, chocolate with double fudge frosting, German chocolate, Boston cream, coconut cream, vanilla with butter cream frosting, strawberry, devils food...so many delicious little cakes!! I have also added a bowl of delicious fruits; starfruit, mango, grapes, pineapple, bananas..yummmm!! The picture..clearly not me..but you will understand why I chose it in a minute..I hope!

I have racked a quilt full of questions and styles today. Please pull up a chair and join me!

I have been taking the "Unravelling" class with Susannah Conway the last two weeks. Fascinating..mind opening..surprising..wonderful! All of those thing and so much more. I have found some surprising things about myself there. One thing I have been thinking about is personal style. Do you have one..a style that defines you?? Do people type cast you into a role because of that style?

As I have been reflecting on my own style the last few weeks, some things have occurred to me...I have a style that surprised me..kinda..ok.. yeah it did! To start with I am equally comfortable in camos as I am in heals and that little black dress. But my true style..that one that fits me dress wise..I love the woodsy look. I also discovered..I am more of a rebel than I thought of myself. Despite the fact that I am nearly 50..I looove my bandannas and crocs..cargo pants and tie dye. I wear leggings with my long dresses, leg warmers if I so feel like it! I am a fashion rebel...lol!! Sometimes I pull it off..sometimes not so much. I don't dress like a 20 year old..or like an old hippy..kinda just my own artsy style. I am not really one to conform to the current trends..I take what I like and leave the rest. What does that say about me?? Hmmmm.

I suppose if you look at my life so far it would be as unusual as my dress style..a bit eclectic and different. It would seem that a large part of who I am is about embracing the different..the untraveled path. When I was 42 I went to girl scout camp for the summer. Children in tow..we spent a full summer there. We lived in a tent on the lake, with honey bucket and shower houses, walking several miles a day, eating vegan, basically we camped out all summer. It was a blast, it was heaven, it was hugely enlightening and empowering! Some of my older mom friends thought I was crazy..but several of them told me in the end that they wished they had gone too!
Basically they paid me to play all summer.

I was an unwed mom before it was cool in Hollywood. I was a cougar long before the name was created..ok was only a cougar once..I kept him. I have home schooled and homesteaded. Sung out loud in public and done more than my share of public speaking. I have done some very interesting things. Funny it wasn't until the last couple of weeks taking this class...that I began to see the pattern. Turns out this woman is a bit of a rebel..without doubt an extrovert. I will say I have learned to curb my wild side a bit..more tempered..thank goodness.

Believe me I am not bragging..some of this got me into some messes I would rather not revisit! So much so I think the last couple of years I have become too restrained..too shut down..too serious and controlled. Ackkk..how did I miss that??
So again I am seeking balance within myself. To walk the fine line between the wild child in me and the anal Martha Stewart. That part of me that really wants a little tattoo....yeah that girl. I miss her..that wild child who Let Fly with fun stuff. I have found enough depth in myself to seek her out again..bring her out in the light and let her play. Seems for a while I have been afraid to let her come out..for fear she would lead me into trouble. But I think I am a lot less interesting and frankly..I am a boring girl with out her around. Seems I have Unravelled the need to Let Fly with me..fancy that!! Whoot!

So please share with us today..do you have a style? Is it the real you..is there a side of you that you have shut away...would you be willing to share why?

I think I want one of those lemon cupcakes with cream cheese frosting..OMG yummm! A cup of coffee would be lovely too! What can I get you? I do so love it when you come and visit me! Thank you for joining me again today!!
Hugs and Namaste, Sarah

13 comments:

Unknown said...

First let me say I want one of those German Chocolate cupcakes! Yum Yum!
Somehow we somehow always seem to be thinking alot about the same things, guess that's why I love your blog so much.
My style is Old Hippie! At least that's what my son says. That is the time period little Sherry grew up. I too am afraid of my wild side but have tamed down, way down over the years. Not interested in "wild" so much anymore. I love painting my art, reading, watching the news (yes I like knowing what's going on in the world). I am definitely eccentric and in the winter all I want to wear is bluejeans and flannel shirts. I love the woods and visit them almost daily.
I wish I could find a lot of Mom's that would pay me to spend the summer in a tent by the lake. LOL That sounds thrilling to me!

So I too am a rebel and my lifestyle fits me just fine.

Renee said...

I love Nonni.

Not a good weekend, my back is broken and I'm barfing my guts up. But, let that little Nonni know that she makes my day.

I laughed that you were a single mom before it was cool in Hollywood and a cougar. You write beautifully.

Love Renee xoxo

Snap said...

It's worth a visit to the BEE just to read your words. Well done.

Style? Me!!! Laid back and who cares!!! No hose -- not ever again. Mostly britches (trousers -- whatever) -- my legs are nice, but I don't want to wear hose and I'll do most anything not to (down here in the South where women of a certain age still wear hose). I really did get rid of most of my skirts and dresses! Comfort. I did the corporate/work thing and now its comfort.

Emmy said...

I don't really know what my style is.. usually I just dress for comfort.. but when I do get that cute outfit with my tall boots with the skinny little heels.. well I feel good and I feel hot. So I guess I really do like dressing a little nicer and would love to, I am just too cheap and lazy :)

yoborobo said...

I'm not the least bit surprised to find out you are a rebel. :) I'm not really sure what I am - but it's a good thing to think about today as I go about my daily chores, and hopefully a little creating time, too. Please pass me a chocolate anything and some coffee with milk. :) xoxoxo Pam

Tracey said...

Hi Sarah - I'm doing the unravelling course with you and like you I have discovered (or maybe uncovered) a few things about me. One being that if I have a doppleganger I think you must be it! I am 50 at the end of October this year and have vowed to make this year MY year. I am sooooo looking forward to being 50 too. I feel a sort of empowerment with age and I am so much more confident that if I want to wear leggings and jumper I can, or if I want to dress up I can too. I wear doc martins sometimes and sassy boots (when I can find them to fit!). I am conscious of my figure sometimes but I can still run for a bus if I need to and row 2 miles without being too out of breath so I figure extra pounds are fine. So I'll take a big slice of chocolate cake with you or a nice french fancy and have a chai latter with you.

But you need to explain to me ... as a Brit ... what is a cougar?

Tracey

CiCi said...

This is a good post showing that you are willing to see yourself clearly and decide if there are things about yourself you want to change. Knowing that you swung a little too far in the direction of caution is an easy fix. You don't have to go back to being a wild thing but you can give yourself a break and live a little more on the adventurous side of life.
Good for you. My style is more calm and undemanding and very casual.

Joanna Jenkins said...

It sounds to me like you were a "trendsetter" AND a bit of a "rebel" :-)

I can not imagine a summer at Girl Scout Camp! You are amazing. I'm not sturdy enough for that.

My style-- Day in and day out it's jeans and mostly white blouse-- sometimes flat sandals , sometime boots with a low heel depending on the weather. When I dress up I'm usually the most casual one in the room-- and I'm almost always in black. Still trying to get the nerve for that red dress but I'm afraid that ship may have sailed already :-)

Pass the chocolate cupcakes please :-)

xoxox

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

So much of what you are is evident in your art and your writing. Your rebel rocks!

In terms of physical style I like a classic, relaxed Ralph Lauren-ish look - white shirt, pants/jeans, sweater/big scarf and comfy, soft leather shoes - fresh faced and simple hair. I guess 'ease' would be my style. The rebel in me comes out in terms of ideas and concepts - this inquiring mind wants to know . . .

Yarrow said...

Hmm, this is a good one. Firstly, my style seems to have degenerated into scruffy, and yes, people definitely pigeon hole me for it! Mum's at the school can be such beatches to me and then reply that it doesn't matter 'cos you don't care about how you look'! I always tell them that I'm too busy living to care.

I like the sound of your style and think you should show us a picture :)

clairedulalune said...

Well Sarah, I have dreams of dressing one day like Stevie Nicks, and others like Marilyn Monroe but at the moment, it is comfort over style anyday! I am lucky if the lipgloss gets put on! But the Marilyn in me is calling and I am planning to make some big changes around me! Not before I have some of those cupcakes of course, Marilyn would! ((Swishy hugs!!))

Unknown said...

Hmmm...I am a rebel I believe. I dont conform to any one style I quess..Like you I was a single mom, cougar (kept him for 4 yrs), never seems my age, but at the same time I was an old soul...loved the beatles, frank sinatra, bob hope and bing crosby. Im such an eclectic soul with rebel in it. So I am an eclectic rebel. We have so much in common dear friend no wonder we clicked over a year ago now...Love ya Swannie...HONK

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Gail H. Ragsdale said...

My wildside has tamed wayyy down over the past few years but I'm still a rebel at heart and still do not conform to the norm!

In light and love~