the kindred project: day 6 (nine with meredith winn)

The Kindred Project: 12 Days of Light and Yes is about sharing our stories of light and hope. The moments where we said "yes" to choosing beauty in the midst of it all. The moments where we stood in our own light. The moments where we saw someone else choose hope. The moments where another became our teacher and where we taught ourselves. Read more about the project and share your own stories in this post. During these 12 days, I am sharing a few of the lights along my path that have pushed me and taught me and held me in the midsts of it all. 

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The world of blogging has brought so many lights into my world in the form of many incredible women who are living their lives wide and deep. They are dancing and resting and being as they walk paths of realness and grief and hope and joy. They teach me as they share their stories. The Nine series has become a way for me to interview a few of these people in a way that teaches all of us about how they see their worlds in this moment. Today, I am rebooting this series a bit with a slightly new set of questions. Look for more Nine interviews in the months to come.

Today's Nine interview is with Meredith Winn. Oh how this woman shares pieces of beauty and truth through her words and photography. Every time I visit her blog, she deeply inspires me with her courage, and even though our stories are different, she has this way of pushing me to know that I am not alone. I am so thankful our paths have crossed and am delighted that she agreed to kick off the Nine series reboot.

Enjoy this peek into Meredith's story.

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Question 1: Who are you?

 

Question 2: In this moment, where are you?

 

Question 3: What are the textures of your corner of the world?

 

Question 4: If you had an hour alone to just play, what would you do?

 

Question 5: How do you seek joy?

Question 6: What nourishes you?

 

Question 7: When you need to simply take a breath and ground yourself, what do you do?

 

Question 8: How do you nurture your creative dreams?

 

Question 9: Does your heart have a secret wish you want to share?

 

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Meredith Winn is a sometimes writer and an everyday photographer. Meredith’s creative nonfiction has been published in various magazines including Midwifery Today, Motherverse, Literary Mama, Hip Mama, and a forthcoming issue of Mothering Magazine. Her photography has been on exhibit in TX, VT, and NYC. Meredith is a contributing editor and photographer to Shutter Sisters and is also a contributing photographer for Getty Images. Her photography portfolio can be found online. She is a somewhat elusive (and sporadic) blogger found at the~spirit~of~the~river. Meredith drinks chai tea, parents
mindfully, embraces this human existence, and will always be a camera shy momma. You can find her on twitter (@camerashymomma).

(All photos copyright Meredith Winn.)

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Nine is an interview series with creative folks that began in the Spring of 2009; the interviewees are asked to respond to the interview questions in photographs (or video). You can scroll through all the interviews here.

nine {with michelle ensminger}

Today's Nine interview is with dear soul Michelle Ensminger. Michelle was the very first person to comment on this blog of mine back in 2005. As bloggers, we always remember our first commenter don't we? I think it is because in many instances that person will forever represent someone who gently says, "I see you." Michelle is that person for me. She is a woman who lives with an open heart, a poet's heart, and she shares pieces of what she sees and what she knows in such an honest, brave way that when you meet her you know your life will be forever changed. I know this to be true.

Enjoy this peek into Michelle's world.

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Question 1: Who are you?

Question 2: What do you love about where you live?

Question 3: What might your perfect afternoon look like?

Question 4: If you had an hour alone in your studio/creative space, what would you do?

Question 5: Right now, what are some of your favorite things?

Question 6: What foods nourish your soul?

Question 7: When you need to simply take a breath and reground yourself, what do you do?

Question 8: How do you nurture your creative dreams?

Question 9: Does your heart have a secret wish you want to share?

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Michelle Ensminger loves poetry, photography, and dates with her 7 year old son. She strives to nurture her creative life and pursue an authentic spiritual path in the midst of motherhood and working an 8-5 job.  

She is currently taking a hiatus from blogging (http://blog.tangledwings.com) but you can find more of her writing each month at The Wish Studio blog (http://wishstudio.com/).  She can also be found on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ordinarymatters/) and Facebook.

(All photos copyright Michelle Ensminger.)

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Nine is an interview series with creative folks that began in the Spring of 2009; the interviewees are asked to respond to the interview questions in photographs (or video). You can scroll through all the interviews here.

nine {with carla blazek}

Today's Nine interview is with the delightful and truly kindred spirit Carla Blazek. I remember coming across Carla's candle shop, Zena Moon, a few years ago and immediately knowing that this woman gets it. I mean candles with names like "everyday sacred," "honoring silence," "moving through change" paired with beautiful quotes and add in corresponding gem stones plus gorgeous subtle scents...ah, yes, please. Then, a few weeks later, I suddenly discovered her blog address coming across my stats. Is this the same woman? Yes! A fellow blogger as well. I was so thrilled to connect with this kind, smart cookie. And then her candles...if you have been reading be present, be here for a while, you know about my love affair with her candles. We first ordered them when I was going through a health scare. Lighting the "healing" candle each day invited me to feel like I had some piece of control in the midst of a scary experience. A few of the names of the candles one can find around these parts on an almost daily basis are: boundaries, namaste, serenity, owl, moon magic...and how the list goes on.

I am so thrilled to share Carla's answers to the Nine...

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Question 1: Who are you?

 

Question 2: What do you love about where you live?

Question 3: What might your perfect afternoon look like?

Question 4: If you had an hour alone in your studio/creative space, what would you do?

Question 5: Right now, what are some of your favorite things?

Question 6: What foods nourish your soul?

Question 7: When you need to simply take a breath and reground yourself, what do you do?

Question 8: How do you nurture your creative dreams?

Question 9: Does your heart have a secret wish you want to share?

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Carla Blazek is a writer, candlemaker and doggiemama. A longtime Seattleite, when life painfully fell apart she landed back in her hometown, Spokane, WA. Like many women in their 40s, she is in the exquisite, bewildering and exhilarating process of re-discovering and seducing herself as a single woman. New passions include photography, burlesque dancing, triathlons and calligraphy.

She is the founder and owner of zena moon, Oprah’s favorite candles (http://zenamoon.com). Her first book, Women at Rest, is nearly finished. You can find Carla at http://www.facebook.com/carla.blazek.

(All photos copyright Carla Blazek.)

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Nine is an interview series with creative folks that began in the Spring of 2009; the interviewees are asked to respond to the interview questions in photographs (or video). You can scroll through all the interviews here.

nine {with christina rosalie}

Today's Nine interview is with the rock star who is Christina Rosalie. Back in 2006, a group of creative bloggers began working through The Artist's Way together (so many bloggers I still read today were part of that group), and I remember coming across Christina's blog, My Topography, during that time. I recall that I paused and settled in to read into her archives that day knowing I had found a blog of truth and beauty and real-ness. Watching her journey from afar these last few years has been a joy as she shines as an example of someone making her creative dreams a true reality. Her recent project, her book A Field Guide to Now, has invited me to think about the importance of claiming what we want and living it into being. You will want to check this project out and find out more so you too can hold this book in your hands one day soon. 

Sit back and enjoy this glimpse into Christina's world... 

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Question 1: Who are you?

  

Question 2: What do you love about where you live?

 

 

Question 3: What might your perfect afternoon look like?

 

 

   

Question 4: If you had an hour alone in your studio/creative space, what would you do? 

 

 

Question 5: Right now, what are some of your favorite things?

 

 

  

Question 6: What foods nourish your soul?

 

 

  

Question 7: When you need to simply take a breath and reground yourself, what do you do?

  

Question 8: How do you nurture your creative dreams?

  

 

 

Question 9: Does your heart have a secret wish you want to share?

 

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Christina Rosalie is a writer, a mixed-media artist, and a mother. She has a knack for leaving things on the roof of her car, and a habit of eavesdropping in cafes, and a pocketful of wanderlust. Christina lives at the end of a long dirt road in Vermont with her two boys, her husband, and a flock of chickens. She is currently working on an illustrated collection of essays called A Field Guide To Now ( http://kck.st/aCtHbL) and writing her first novel. Her short fiction and essays have recently appeared in the Sun, Mothering, and the Blue Print Review; her story "If You Fall It Is Your Fault" is  forthcoming in the Los Angeles Review (http://redhen.org/losangelesreview/) this fall. You can find her at  www.mytopography.com.

(all photos copyright Christina Rosalie)

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Nine is an interview series with creative folks that began in the Spring of 2009; the interviewees are asked to respond to the interview questions in photographs (or video). You can scroll through all the interviews here.

nine {with leonie wise}

The Nine is an interview series with creative folks that began on my blog, Be Present, Be Here, in the Spring of 2009; the interviewees are asked to respond to nine questions in photographs (or video). All the interviews can be found here.

Today's Nine interview is with lovely, spirit-full woman who is Leonie Wise. I was lucky enough to meet Leonie in person at Squam last fall, where I learned that her laugh makes me very very happy. To me, her spirit is full of adventure and open-heartedness, and she seems to have such a quiet wisdom about her. A few weeks ago, I ordered Leonie's exquisite new book, all of a sudden, and when it arrived, I slowly savored each photo and poem. If you are a searcher, a person cracking open, a lover of poems plus photography, a person seeking your words, well, this book is one you need to hold in your hands. Yes. I recommend settling in for an afternoon spent with a cup of hot tea, some dark chocolate, and Leonie's book. You might want to have a little poetry reading and read her words aloud.  That sounds about perfect.

Here is a little glimpse into Leonie's world and some of her adventures through her answers to the Nine...

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Question 1: Who are you?

 

Question 2: What do you love about where you live?

 

 

Question 3: What might your perfect afternoon look like?

 

  

  

Question 4: If you had an hour alone in your studio/creative space, what would you do?

 

Question 5: Right now, what are some of your favorite things?

   

 Question 6: What foods nourish your soul?

 

Question 7: When you need to simply take a breath and reground yourself, what do you do? 

  

Question 8: How do you nurture your creative dreams?

     

Question 9: Does your heart have a secret wish you want to share?

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leonie is a poet, photographer, adventurer & life enthusiast. she lives creatively, dreams crazy dreams, laughs a lot and is often seen without any shoes.

she currently lives in london, england with her beloved, though will always call new zealand home.

when she’s not writing poetry (and sometimes, even when she is) you can usually find her at the nearest beach.

visit her at her blog.

(all photos copyright Leonie Wise.)