Featured | Somerset Life Magazine

I posted this on Instagram a few weeks ago, but forgot to do so for all of you lovely people who follow me here on the blog, but I also had some additional thoughts that I wanted to express. 

I had the privilege of writing an article on one of my favorite subjects -- slow living -- for Somerset Living Magazine's Autumn issue!
I've had the honor of being featured and asked to write and present my other artistic work in many capacities before now, but I think this is truly my first fully paid freelance writing gig.
It feels really good to be compensated for my work in that way.

Writing has been a life long love of mine, I've been an avid journal-er and diary keeper ever since the age of eight, and I've also had this blog going on seven years now.
However I feel as though it wasn't until about two years ago that I really started to fully explore my art of writing.
The way in which I express my thoughts, in a purely vulnerable unplugged way, in the voice that is uniquely mine, has been such a freeing and revelutionary thing for me. It seems so simple, but the words I put out into the world up until that break-through point, were so edited. So limited. So much less and smaller than what their origins offered.
To offer up an art form to the world is one thing, and often enough in the mere doing and execution of it. At least for me. Because much of what I put into the world in that way is for just me.
But to have that action recognized by others as valuable, while an unnecessary validation, is regardless an appreciated and welcome one.
 
So I want to thank all of the people especially who have encouraged that voice and this pursuit of mine and have expressed value and gleaned insight from my words.
I write for myself, but I also write for you. 
Thank you. 

You can pick up an issue online here or at Barnes & Noble, Joann Fabrics, or wherever magazines are sold.
 

A Wool Story | Processing A Fleece In A Fiber Mill

I've been wanting to make a video of this process ever since I began learning about it.
(It's probably that whole eyes like a shutter, mind like a lens thing)

This is my first foray into using youtube and iMovie past throwing together video clips and putting a song to it.

Editing the voice memos and music together was definitely a learning curve and I apologize in advance for any difficulty in hearing what I'm saying in the first part of the video! I decided to let that whole "don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good" thing be my mantra and get this video done vs. not because after staying up until 4am the other night working on it I had reached my limit (and here I am typing this at 4am.... I am definitely going to need some sleep this weekend!)

Over all though I really loved making this video and as I've been wanting to get more into doing videos of travels/vlogging/how-tos, this is probably not the last you'll see of this sort of thing. 

So if you feel so inclined---> Subscribe to my youtube channel!
And let me know if there's any sort of videos in particular you'd like to see on there.


P.s. My friend Emily deserves another shout out for helping me with this video (since I don't own a selfie stick and taking videos of myself would have been extremely difficult...)
Go follow her ethereal self on Instagram.

A New Venture

I shared over the weekend that I will be having a trunk show at Quirk Gallery on October 1st.
I wanted to share a little more about what this trunk show represents for me.

I've been working intentionally over the past year or so on my education in regards to my knitwear designing and being more involved in the process and construction of a garment.
I've been going on various visits and tours of farms (which you can read more about in Farm Days posts More coming soon!) and learning about shearing, processing, and spinning wool into the end product (yarn) that I'm used to working with.  
It's been such en enlightening and gratifying experience. 
To know that I'm able to take a natural and God given resource and within my own abilities and resources, turn it into something that's able to be enjoyed and used by others for (hopefully) generations to come is really satisfying. 

The idea for this new venture into this kind of knitwear came from my pursuits and interest in recent years into the art of slow, mindful and intentional living. 

What was I consuming? What was I allowing into my life? What was I saying, unknowingly or otherwise, with the things that I used and wore and bought on a daily basis?
I not only wanted to practice more mindfulness in these areas in my every day life, but also find a way to embody that in my art. 

I’ve been knitting for about 17 years, and designing collections for a living for four of those years. However it wasn’t until I started pursuing a more ethical and sustainable lifestyle as well as educating myself on fast fashion, that I thought about how my knitwear played into that. I realized I had no idea how the yarn I used for my collections was made, where it came from, what effect it had on the environment or even whose pocket my dollar was going into when I bought it. 
That, along with attending a local fiber festival and learning how to spin yarn, set into motion my pursuit of being involved in every phase possible of the construction of a piece of my knitwear.
If I don’t personally source the wool from a farm I’ve visited during my travels or built a relationship with, take it to the mill to be processed, process it in my own home or spin it into yarn myself, I take great lengths to make sure the yarn is sourced and made by a similar minded fiber artist.

While it’s my dream to one day learn how to shear sheep myself and maybe even own a few, I am content with being as much involved in the process of the “sheep to shawl” idea of my knitwear as I can be in this current season of my life as I live in the city. 

I’ve also been experimenting and learning about the incredible art of natural dying and will occasionally add that as an element to a special piece. Collecting flowers, lichen, moss, plants, and other found materials to form dyes that only add to the beauty that can be created when using natural resources.

As a result of this process, each piece is one-of-a-kind and a work of art in and of itself. 
Each carries with it a story that has many chapters, each of which is very much apart of me and my journey as not only a knitwear designer but a traveler, photographer, and an artist.

I'm excited to share this next phase with you guys. So many of you, my dear family and friends, have been such a huge part of this becoming and evolution in these pursuits and passions of mine.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I couldn't do it without you.

xo

P.s. I've been working on a video to showcase the story of processing a fleece start to finish at the fiber mill so keep an eye out for that coming soon!

Farm Days | Beltayne Farm

Being able to visit Beltayne Farm was a result of a connection I made through someone seeing this Instagram post of mine and kindly recommending me to their friend Sunshine’s shearing day that she and her family were hosting. 

After exchanging some Facebook messages, and grabbing my friend Meagan to come along, I headed out on one rainy Spring day to see some sheep. 

We had the best time and instantly connected and loved Sunshine and her family who could not have been more generous or welcoming (sending us home with a dozen eggs from their chickens, as well as a promise of some wool upon our next visit).

The Summer has gotten away with me and kept me quite busy but I hope to return to this little homestead sometime soon to revisit the new friends I made there.

The day involved me holding my very first little lamb (named Pip… whose sibling is named Squeak) which obviously could not have made my day any more than it did.

I'm grateful for the generosity and kindness of strangers that’s extended and shared even before common interests and passions are established.

Hope you enjoy a few iPhone snaps from the day! 

Learning To Let A Little Green Into My Life

A few months ago I started a little photo project on Instagram under the hashtag #learningtoletalittlegreenintomylife.  

Since then I've come to grow (no pun intended... just kidding... pun totally intended) my appreciation for the little bits of nature and greenery I've brought into and become more aware of in my day to day. 

It's not an aesthetics thing.
It's not a branding thing.
It's not to make my Instagram feed look prettier.

It's because sometimes when you live alone, and you don't have pets because you travel so much, it's kind of nice to have something to take care of other than yourself.

It's because it's really rewarding to rescue little pieces of nature and bring them back to life.

It's because it's so satisfying to witness something grow. And know that you had a part in it.

It's because it's nice to wake up to lush greenery in your home.
Especially when it's a million degrees outside (hello Richmond humidity).
Especially because you would love nothing more than to be in nature but you actually can't stand being in nature at the present moment because you hate sweating.
(This is another reason I love the water so much I think.... I'm in nature but readily able to cool down via. wind or water!)

It's because it feels good to cultivate life.

This article a while back definitely inspired me to jump on the plant game more than I had been, but also the slow living mindset I've been trying to carry with me and introduce into my life over the past year has a lot to do with it as well. 

Plus, the mantra itself is a reminder to be open to the possibility of new things.
To not be closed off. 
To let a little green into my life.

Photo projects like this are fun and help me challenge myself. 
I also have... 
#theshadowdiaries
#writingsfromawouldbebeatnik 
#leneysairstreamdream
#anywhereonthewaterisaplaceicallhome 
#thethriftingdiaries 

And of course #daughterofasailor and #theknittingqueen and #thetravelingphotographer and #weddingphotographerdiaries. Though those seem to have attracted some other users lately so they're not just my own photos like the above tags are! ;)
 
Do you have any photo projects? I've always wanted to do a specific 365 day one! What about you?

Slow Living | Mr. Draper

Today's post is brought to you by a new friend of mine over in Australia. 
Alistair of Mr. Draper makes the most lovely linen goods, and what's more, he is so passionate and enthusiastic about what he does, which makes his work all the more beautiful. 

He sent me one of his doona's, (for us American's that's the Australian name for a duvet cover) and I honestly don't know that I've ever loved a handmade piece for my home more than this ocean of blue goodness. 
(You can see early photos on Instagram here and here as well)

It's so soft and the color is incredibly rich and gorgeous. It transformed my bedroom into that calm, cool and inviting place I'd been dreaming of almost instantly. 
Not to mention I'm head over heels for his branding and packaging.
Alistair is such a kind and wonderful person to collaborate with and support and I hope that if you're in need of any linen you'll check out his shop! He also makes sheets, tea towels and pillow cases as well as other home accents. 
I'm also in love with his practice of repurposing your worn out linen. 
Slow living and mindfulness encouraged in your home? Check.

"The core principal behind Mr. Draper's products is to not just buy and toss stuff every few years. Rather, make a considered purchase that will be with you for many years to come."

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This post was sponsored by Mr. Draper.
You can shop through their online store as well as connect with Alistair on Instagram.

If you're interested in sponsoring a post or collaborating, shoot me an email: agirlnamedleney@gmail.com

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Other artists and makers I love whose work was featured in this post include...

Nanin - Palo Santo + Desert Rose Candle
Willow Knows - Scarf
Oldtime Feeling - Floral arrangement
Matt Johnson - American Hearts Book
Alex Elle - Note 2 Self Journal
Yesterday's Heroes - Sheep and Shepherd framed art
The Rootless Spruce - Travel Journal

iPhone Snaps | A Slow Lived Saturday

I think I've decided that I want to post more iPhone snaps here on the blog.
Because...
1. I rarely take my camera with me throughout my day to day wanderings anymore, unless it's film (but considering the fact that I have 17 undeveloped rolls in a drawer here, the current chances of seeing those anytime soon/before the year 2026 is maybe a 0).

2. I take so so many photos with my iPhone. It's a hard-to-come-across day that I don't take at least some sort of photo with my phone to be honest. I exclusively use my Instagram for my iPhone snap sharing, but I so often have so many more photos from a time or event that I love and want to share but never get around to. I don't really utilize my Facebook in that way, or like the format of that type of sharing either. So that pretty much just leaves the journal here on the site.

The thousands and thousands of photos I have from my phone that never see the light of day and are just pushed from my phone, to dropbox, to my external hard drive, is truly tragic.
So hopefully this new idea will remedy some of that!

Without further ado, a few words on a lovely afternoon spent with a lovely friend of mine.
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There is a certain kind of friend that is hard to come by in this fast-paced, screen-focused way of life these days. 

The come-on-over-the-doors-opened kind of friend.
The borrow-these-books-because-we-think-alike kind of friend.
The let's-eat-whatever's-in-the-fridge-because-whats-mine-is-yours kind of friend.
The let's-sit-around-and-do-nothing-together-and-just-be kind of friend.
The let's-eat-cake-for-dinner kind of friend.
The list-writing-travel-dreaming-song-writing kind of friend. 
This always denim clad soul is all of these kinds of friends in one and I feel pretty lucky to know her. 

We had such a perfect slow living sort of afternoon together, a theme of ours it seems whenever we spontaneously hang out, and I'm glad she's of such a similar mind because these are my favorite kind of afternoons. 

Slow Living

Slow Living.

It's a term that's been on my mind often over this past year.
It's part of the dream I am working on.
What does it mean?
For me it's...

Having the ability to naturally wake up early in the morning and going about my morning routine unrushed

Taking the time to make myself meals from whole and fresh foods that come from the ground and not packages

Reading a book while I eat lunch instead of looking at a screen

Reading a book while waiting somewhere

Reading a book before bed

Reading books  

Walking or biking to the grocery store instead of driving

Caring for plants (and crossing my black thumbs while doing so)

Lighting candles

Taking time for myself

Taking time for others

Writing letters instead of texting

Dropping everything to go sailing if the weather, and the sailor who's daughter I am, calls for it

Taking a bath instead of a shower

Going on a walk with no destination in mind

Spending time with those I care about in more spontaneous and unscheduled ways

Doing things on purpose

Spending less

Owning Less

Turning over that record instead of hitting the next button on Spotify

Delegating and not having to wear so many hats

Taking time to meditate and pray

Lying in the grass and enjoying the weather

Running in the rain and enjoying the weather

Enjoying the weather

......

Essentially, it's taking the time to enjoy life's gifts in the various, often over looked, forms they take. Even when they require extra steps. Even when they require more time. Even when there's a to do list hanging over my head. 
Because it's a healthier way of living.

What does slow living mean for you?

At Twenty Four

learn to let a little more green into your life.

speak only good and kind things about yourself. because subconsciously, whether you realize it or not, good-or-bad you will step into and become whatever you speak over yourself. 
so speak positively.

share what is vulnerable, not what is intimate.

sometimes it comes down to books or groceries. 
it’s okay for books to win.

the value in having your own space, really and truly a space all your own will be a part of your life you didn’t know you were missing and will only help you embrace and become more of who you were meant to be. 
few people will understand this.
be okay with that.

journeys are, above all, a way of getting closer to yourself.

 

you chose this.
if you didn’t, choose something different because you have the freedom to choose.

keep only the things that speak to your heart and spark joy.
discard the rest.
this includes thoughts.

innovation happens at the intersections.



it is incredibly dangerous to assume.
you will miss out on so much if you get into the habit of doing this.

there’s a scarcity and sacredness to living slow.
when you’re able to, hold onto it, don’t let anything come along and speed it up.

 

the people.
it’s all about the people.

do not lose sight in the dark, of what you came to know to be true in the light.

 

you’re exactly where you need to be to get to where you want to go.