Dear Reader,

Welcome to all of my new subscribers. Thank you for being here.

Now, let’s talk about gratitude. When I was younger, I really feel like beyond the definition of the word, I didn’t even know what gratitude meant. I was mostly an attitudinal, angst-ridden teenager who felt like the world owed me something. I grew up in a home where I wasn’t seen or understood. Fortunately, I’ve managed to unpack all of those experiences (or at least most of them) in the decades that have followed. While I know there’s always room for improvement, I have become wiser and more mindful over the years. And, I’ve certainly become more grateful.

My inward journey started decades before I had my children, but I believe that having my kids fundamentally transformed me as soon as I became a mother. In that instant, I knew that it wasn’t all about me anymore. When my oldest child was put into my arms, my life changed forever. I truly knew gratitude for the first time. Within the confines of this transformation came a great responsibility, which only increased when I had my second child. I knew that I needed to somehow teach my kids about gratitude. In my journey through this over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that like many things in life, leading by example is the way to go. My children have grown up in a house where they are seen, loved, understood, and respected. And, I have to say, that they are pretty amazing kids.

But, in a world that seems to always want more, how do you teach your kids to be grateful? I don’t know if I have one, or possibly any answers to this question. What I can say though, is living a life that is not excessive, recognizing the joy in just being alive everyday, appreciating all of your many blessings, and telling those you love how much they mean to you every chance you get is definitely a good start. Talking about this with your kids, even when they’re rolling their eyes at you is also important. This is certainly much easier to do when you aren’t facing challenges in your life. The world can be a cruel, unfair place, but it can also be a beautiful, magical place where we can come together as humans. I’m not saying that having kids is the only way to find gratitude. It’s just how it happened for me.

The holiday season is often a time for me where I can get a bit surly because of the excess I see all around, when so many folks have nothing. My husband’s business and my business have been flourishing more than ever, which makes me want to give back to my community. So, this year, I decided, rather than feel jaded about the excessive consumerism all around me during the holiday season, I’m going to change the narrative. My family, together with our kids bff’s family have decided that we’re going to create advent calendars that are a bit untraditional. For every day, we’re going do something to spread joy and love by either helping those less fortunate in our community through donations and/or volunteer work and joining friends and family for fun, screen-free holiday activities. My hope is that through this, I will really be able to feel gratitude over the holidays. And, in the process, make memories for my kids that will have a lasting impression.

I appreciate all of you who choose to be here and read my newsletter. May you find ways to invite gratitude into your life. Have a wonderful week.

xo,

Christa

Mary Oliver – Gratitude Poem

What did you notice?

The dew-snail;
the low-flying sparrow;
the bat, on the wind, in the dark;
big-chested geese, in the V of sleekest performance;
the soft toad, patient in the hot sand;
the sweet-hungry ants;
the uproar of mice in the empty house;
the tin music of the cricket’s body;
the blouse of the goldenrod.

What did you hear?

The thrush greeting the morning;
the little bluebirds in their hot box;
the salty talk of the wren,
then the deep cup of the hour of silence.

When did you admire?

The oaks, letting down their dark and hairy fruit;
the carrot, rising in its elongated waist;
the onion, sheet after sheet, curved inward to the pale green wand;
at the end of summer the brassy dust, the almost liquid beauty of the flowers;
then the ferns, scrawned black by the frost.

What astonished you?

The swallows making their dip and turn over the water.

What would you like to see again?

My dog: her energy and exuberance, her willingness,
her language beyond all nimbleness of tongue,
her recklessness, her loyalty, her sweetness,
her strong legs, her curled black lip, her snap.

What was most tender?

Queen Anne’s lace, with its parsnip root;
the everlasting in its bonnets of wool;
the kinks and turns of the tupelo’s body;
the tall, blank banks of sand;
the clam, clamped down.

What was most wonderful?

The sea, and its wide shoulders;
the sea and its triangles;
the sea lying back on its long athlete’s spine.

What did you think was happening?

The green beast of the hummingbird;
the eye of the pond;
the wet face of the lily;
the bright, puckered knee of the broken oak;
the red tulip of the fox’s mouth;
the up-swing, the down-pour, the frayed sleeve of the first snow—

so the gods shake us from our sleep.

Last week at a glance

• My family and I had an amazing Thanksgiving. For the last several years we’ve been exploring non-traditional meals from different countries around the world. This year we opted for a traditional meal, and it was delicious.

• I spent a lot of time making textile mushroom ornaments. These ornaments are available in-person at my shows or at my studio. They are also available online as a set of three.

• Many pairs of hand knit and textile shoelaces were also made last week.

• I had two shows back-to-back last weekend. It was tiring, but also rewarding. My customers are the best.

• I was able to purchase some great holiday gifts for friends and family at my shows last weekend.

• I picked up Child of God in the little free library. It’s the book I keep by the dining room table. My breakfast and lunch reading book. One of the many places I have books tucked around the house. So far I like it.

• I finished watching The Beast In Me. I would highly recommend watching this if you haven’t. Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys were fantastic as always.

• My family and I watched the first three episodes of Stranger Things season 5 over the weekend. I think this might be my favorite season yet. Unfortunately, we have to wait until Christmas when they release the last three episodes.

• I made baked oatmeal with apples and raisins.

• I found a weird piece of furniture on the street that I cleaned, sanded, and painted. I’ve been using it as display at my art shows and it works great. For those of you who don’t know, my display items for shows, are also thrifted, donated, found, or handmade.

• While taking a walk I saw a bumper sticker that read, “Garlic bread saved my life.”

  Links

  Email: wildchildfibers@gmail.com

  Website: https://www.wildchildfibers.com

  Gallery: here

  Book a shopping appointment: here

  Anytime 20% off discount in the online store for subscribers