Before & After: My Craft & Clothes Room

A few days ago I posted my 4 Simple Goals for 2014. It was exciting to post, because it forced me to start working toward them.  After a bit of reflection, I chose to start with number 2, because I love decorating and the idea of carving out a space just for me to create and lounge and work and play sounded amazing. It took 2 days and its not quite finished yet – I still need to add photos and art - but already I love it - and can’t seem to leave it.

My space is an odd shaped room in the back of the apartment. We have two rooms this shape, both with bathrooms coming off of them (B uses the other one for his hobbies, which can be quite messy). Originally, this was our bedroom, simply because that’s where the bed was when we moved in, but a few months ago, I decided to dismantle the bed and move it to a different room and that’s when this space became mine.

The first thing I did was paint the walls a bright white and replace the heavy mustard curtains with sheer white ones. I love how white brightens up a space and makes colors pop. It just inspires me.

Next, I hauled all the furniture I wanted into the room. The space is quite big, but not shaped well at all. The wall with the window is actually curved, so nothing can lay flat against it. I also have two giant, ugly wardrobes that I must keep in the room, because, as much as I hate them, they serve the necessary purpose of holding my clothes.

Once I had everything in the room, I began experimenting with arrangements. This took the better part of a day, with B occasionally wandering in and laughing at me as I tried to manhandle the enormous wardrobes into various positions. Finally, I managed to make them take up as little space as possible, and began the fun part – drilling.

Both B and I are so grateful he taught me the skills needed to drill into concrete. Thinking back to just 6 months ago, when I would have had to ask him to hang every shelf, picture frame and screw, makes us both shake our heads in disgust. That was never fun for either of us. Plus, there is just something so powerful about holding a pulsating drill in your hands and crushing through concrete. (I am WOMAN, hear me ROAR!)

The final step was to organize the mess that is my life. I boiled old Ikea candles and took the glass cups to hold bits and pieces. I found some fun bowls at a market and sorted my earrings and coins and rings. I draped my necklaces, scarves and hair accessories on hooks and hung all my dangly earrings on the window screen. I sorted my embellishments, strings and such into baskets a friend gave me.  The room began to look bright and colorful and fun. I threw myself on the couch and admired the effect. B, somehow sensing the end was near, stuck in his head and whistled.

So cheers to me. I have successfully produced a space I feel happy and creative in – now it's time to get messy.

The Three Temples

When Vay and I decided to go to Sri Lanka, we agreed that we wanted to experience some culture, as well as, have some adventures. Neither of us had ever been East of Kuwait and we wanted to learn something about the beliefs held on this gorgeous little island.

Quite quickly it became clear that Buddha was very valued on the island, as every city, town and village had numerous statues on street corners and in shrines. It was also clear that they were quite used to tourists as every Buddha (even the one in the airport) had a sign in front of it that clearly stated "Please do not take photographs with your back turned toward the statue."

Seeing the Buddhas on street corners was not enough for us, though. We wanted to visit a temple. We were assured that the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy was a good choice. So after 2 days of hiking and camping in the jungle we arrived at the temple at 7 at night.

Our arrival at the temple was fortuitous, as we were able to see many of the rooms due to it being a time of worship, but also awkward, as most of the people arriving at the temple were there as pilgrims, not tourists with cameras in hand. Still, we were glad to walk through the rooms, and even get to glance at the golden casket that holds the Buddha's tooth. It was interesting and different to see the practices of this culture.

The following day proved to be even more educational, though. Our Sri Lankan "mom", a woman who had taken us under her wing, invited us stay in her home and had made us home-cooked meals each day, offered to give us a tour of the three temples winding up the hills of Kandy. We willing jumped at this offer, and so, instead of spending our morning killing time waiting for the train, we instead tuk-tuked from temple to temple learning about the practices and art of Buddhism.

The temples we visited that day were gorgeous. The first two were all built of stone, even the ground was melted rock. The third was intricately carved wood and stone together. All three temples were still actively used and hosted processions each year. The art and statues were well cared for and the views from the temples were amazing. 

Recent offering were laid at each temple and our "mom" and driver would bow and whisper to each statue. Many times throughout the trip it was explained to us that Buddhism was a way of life, not a religion, whereas Hinduism was a religion that at times might incorporate Buddhism. This mixing of beliefs became clear at the temples where a Hindu temple would be located on the same ground as the statue of Buddha and, although, I was never really clear how the two mixed, everyone, the pilgims, our guides, our "mom", our drivers and others, seemed to mix the two beliefs effortless. It was inspiring to see.

  

Lakshmi, the Elephant

So we rode an elephant. It was awesome. Her name is Lakshmi. And besides being a mother, she is also a movie star and an artist. She has starred in over 25 international films, including Tarzan the Ape Man, and her artwork sells for more than I could ever afford. She also gave birth to the first domesticated elephant in Sri Lanka, her daughter Pooja. Way to go, girl!

 

Want to learn more about this gorgeous place and all they do to help the elephants, click here: Millennium Elephant Foundation.