i have never considered myself a fan of this woman, but i am somewhat mesmerized by her mind and the daring artistry that comes pouring out of it. this song has been stuck in my head for days now simply because the video is so captivating. if it does not get your body moving, i’m not sure what will.
as the most soul-stirring voice that has yet to find its way into my ears, toni childs can take a few words and transform them into an electrifying event that evokes pure emotion on every level.
through her music, she will take you to those obscure places hidden beneath the surface without letting you know she is heading in that direction, while holding your hand just long enough to give you the courage to stay long after you have seen the darkness and felt the intensity of the unavoidable heartache sheltered inside your tiny house of hope, only to emerge with clarity and an overwhelming sense of love that fills up every inch of your being.
a few years ago, while teaching an expressive dance class, i choreographed a piece to her album, union, which turned out to be one of the most soulful, heart-opening experiences of my life that still holds the power to create little (and not so little) spiritual and emotional shifts every time i listen to the songs.
i’ve got to go now (the first song of hers i ever heard and one of the most powerful that she has performed) is about a woman, in love with an abusive alcoholic, who is yearning for the strength to leave and struggling with the process of letting go. hush opens pandora’s box, unleashing my deepest secrets every time i dance to it. let the rain come down, one of my favorites, is absolutely beautiful, asking for truth and the solace that follows. toni sings of love, pain, struggles and lessons that we all meet (sometimes with open arms) in this life.
art by curly girl design
a few weeks ago, i posted a blog about the uniform project, a charitable exercise benefiting children living in the slums of india. i went back to the site to check out some of her innovative outfits and picked a few of my favorites for fun.
i have always been inspired by rooms that combine bohemian flavor, cottage coziness, charming eccentricity, whispered romance and whimsical flair with a mulititude of rich colors, soft lighting, pin-drop silence, fresh air, lovely scents, thick cushions, warm blankets and piles of cushy pillows that seduce my body into resting for hours upon hours as i lose track of time, without distraction from anything going on outside this quaint space.
photos via living the poem
for years now, i have dreamed of owning a cottage-like treehouse, a primitive place i can escape for both wild adventure and quiet retreat. i found some pictures of a few that look deliciously charming.
art by curly girl design
while on hiatus, i am rediscovering joys that were temporarily misplaced, including my love for a good novel while curled up under the covers, losing track of time, waltzing into a world of characters, both eccentric and familiar, that brings to light the hidden pleasures of ordinary moments. books find me, not the other way around, with a story that gently pulls me in, a well-kept secret i can no longer live without, capturing my attention until i am fully aware of the message it is trying to convey, reminding me of all that i may (or may not) have forgotten.
i just recently discovered kate lightfoot’s artwork and instantly fell in love with her lovely idea of the big-eyed, quirky girl image.
as an exercise in sustainable fashion, sheena matheiken is wearing the same dress every day for one year, creating 365 different looks. the uniform project is a fundraiser for the akanksha foundation, which is a grassroots movement revolutionizing education for underprivileged children living in the slums of india. to learn more about the humanitarian gesture or get a glimpse of her unique style choices, visit the website here.
i bought this while in austin last week. the poem painted so many little smiles all over my heart when i read it. brian andreas, the artist, turns words into lovely works of art. you can find more of his inspiring creations at story people.
when I close my eyes I see
the way this world shall be when…
we shall be free.
~ garth brooks
