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I recently published an article, For Every Bird An Empty Nest: A Knitted Nest To Make with the knitting pattern for the nest above, and a peek into my feelings about my own empty nest.
While in the process of creating that post, I came across so many vibrant images of nests, both real and imagined. Here are a few:
Leftover Yarn Nest via Flickr
Felted Nesting Bowls (pattern)
Lucinne Day Vintage Fabric Nest
What's happening in your nest?
Since this is the first post for my shiny new blog, I’ve been thinking a lot about “What matters most?” Of course, we can’t name just one thing. Our unique circumstances and priorities are what matters. I narrowed my answer down to three things: Family…Home…Planet. These lofty subjects are so intertwined. For me, they create the makings of a lifestyle. What matters most is how they ground and sustain us. Family, home and planet form the foundation from which we grow, connect and build healthy econests. Here are some images that say econesting to me. Family
Our families are timeless, and moments in time. This picture is of my dad and daughter at my uncle’s house. I can’t remember the summery occasion, but it was an eclectic moment of creativity, balance, beauty and patience (he had a way with crying babies). The perfect mix of old and new.
Home
It's summer, and these calm and breezy images say econesting to me. If I can't live right smack dab in a natural environment with beautiful things, maybe this house by a lake will do? A girl can dream, right?
Planet
I’ve had this photo pinned on my inspiration board since I developed the econesting name a few years ago. The elegant connectedness of changeable beauty, and the fragility of nature's resources says planet to me. The nest may be empty, but wouldn't you love to spend some time there?
There you go, these three things matter to me. It’s funny; sometimes I post three or four articles a day, as you’ll see as I continue to update the links to my Care2 and Planet Green articles into the archives. But, this first post for econesting came slower. I wrote it with a different intention. That was immensely satisfying. My hope is to continue to inspire and share musings about subjects that matter to us. What matters most to you?
Image credits: Beach: Day via The Style Files, Lake House: ChicTip, Northern Oriole Nest: Richard Barns via House and Garden
“To stand at the edge of the sea, discount to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of year, to see the running of the old eels and the young shad to the sea, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be.”
This quote by Rachel Carson, environmentalist and author of Silent Spring, makes my senses swoon with...Most of us live miles away from the coastal sights and sounds of the beach. But, you can bring that calm, beachy feeling into your nest. Here are some eco-friendly ideas and DIY projects for your home that will make you believe that you live a little bit closer to the ebb and flow of the tides. CLICK HERE FOR MORE
Credit: Day via The Style Files
I'm having a love affair with linen. There's a linen covered couch in my den that is understated and relaxing. Linen clothes are breathable and become even softer and more comfortable over time.
Linen bags are an eco-alternative to plastic bags. Linen is antibacterial and antimycotic, which suppresses the growth of fungi. Perfect for carrying produce and groceries.
5 Fun Facts About Linen
1. Linen textiles may be the oldest in the world. 2. Fragments of straw, seeds, fibers, yarns and various types of fabrics found in Swiss lake dwellings have been traced back to about 8000 B.C. 3. Linen was used as currency in ancient Egypt. Mummies were wrapped in linen because it was seen as a symbol of light and purity, and as a display of wealth. 4. The term "linen" refers to yarn and fabric made from flax fibers. 5. Today linen is often used as a generic term to describe a class of woven bed, bath, table and kitchen textiles because.
DIY Linen Bag
On a hot pursuit stroll through the blogosphere for a simple linen bag to make, I stumbled onto Between The Lines. This Parisian craft blog covers "anything that involves fabric, yarn, wool, paper, paint and glue." The creator, Pascal provides the perfect TUTORIAL for an aesthetically stylish linen bag.
Here's the intention behind the creation:
"I like to find out how things are made, how I can put things together in a simple, yet effective way. Sewing is a mental process to me. It's all about techniques, and seeing through whatever I try to make…I like things to be as minimal as possible. Whatever can be left out I leave out." ~ Between The Lines
Soon after I wrote about the “reinvention generation, treat ” I received a review copy of Slow Love: How I Lost My Job, hospital Put on My Pajamas & Found Happiness by Dominique Browning. This book totally captivated me. It was written by an author that I’ve followed ever since she took the editorial helm at the now deceased House and Garden magazine. I looked forward to Browning’s reflective editorial letters each month. I kept a file of those pages because they touched me in so many unexpected ways – the writing style was graceful and casual, the tone of the editorials had an eclectic mix of something you didn’t read about when entering a shelter magazine. The topics she chose touched a chord that glimpsed the purpose of living fully (even if you couldn’t live in one of those magnificently staged House and Garden homes). She discussed her emotional angst about her children growing up and the difficulty of adjusting to an empty nest (she didn’t like not having a choice about it), the end of a fine dinner party (peace and quiet), renovation nightmares (Why do we keep doing it?) and her environmental activism (she writes a column for the Environmental Defense Fund). Actually, now that I think about it, and reread those letters, Browning’s musings read like a blog conversation waiting to be commented on. She describes her personally tumultuous situations so eloquently, and with humor.
When House and Garden folded in 2007 without warning, her purpose-driven life came to a deafening halt...CLICK HERE FOR MORE
Here is an interview with Dominique that I did for Planet Green.
