How To Survive Staying At Home: Get Dressed

Other than focusing on the good and trying to create something each day to some capacity, another thing getting me through this current upheaval of our world is getting dressed.

Every day.

What a concept, I know I know, but hear me out.

Even before the stay at home order that we currently have in place in Virginia, I have largely worked from home.
Through my varied ten years of owning my own business and working for myself, whether it’s photography or writing related, my knitwear designing or vintage curating, a lot of what I do in a day can be done from home.
As a result, I have had a built in routine of getting dressed every day.

Because I noticed when I didn’t, when I stayed in my pajamas, or my workout clothes, I did not get as much done in a day. I felt sluggish, distracted, unorganized and quite frankly, not so great about myself.

I truly notice a difference in my outlook and attitude when I choose clothes I love, don my hat and boots and maybe even put some mascara on. Even if I’m not leaving the house that day.

Think about it, if you feel good, you’re going to do good. You’re going to feel put together and therefor your output and actions have the ability to be more put together.

It should go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway, that I am in no way faulting anyone for living in their yoga pants during this time. Everyone’s lifestyles are different, especially those of you home with kids. That is a whole other battle of priorities and things you have to take care of in a day… but if you’ve been feeling kind of off lately and need a reframe of mind… maybe just try it.
Put on your favorite pair of jeans (cause while I have been getting dressed every day I am actually mostly just wearing the same pair of pants…) brush your hair and just see if it makes a difference in how you feel.

It might be the attitude shift you need to see today as a good day.

Another practice inline with this ethos?

Make your bed.

I haven’t gone a day without making my bed since… I honestly don’t remember.
But maybe that’s a post for another day.

I Must Love You

"Ordinarily, I go to the woods alone, with not a single
friend, for they are all smilers and talkers and therefore
unsuitable.

I don’t really want to be witnessed talking to the catbirds
or hugging the old black oak tree. I have my way of
praying, as you no doubt have yours. 

Besides, when I am alone I can become invisible. I can sit
on the top of a dune as motionless as an uprise of weeds, 
until the foxes run by unconcerned. I can hear the almost
unhearable sound of the roses singing.

If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love
you very much." 
— Mary Oliver

My beautiful country girl. I'm so happy to have you home. 

Though, somehow, even more happy about the fact that you have a little being you'll be bringing into the world soon.
I cannot wait to meet them and smother them with my love and all of the baby knits and baby overalls.

You've always been one I can go to the woods with.

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 | Fig Picking

It's no secret that I have quite a deep and over sentimental love for figs.
Seen here, here, here and here... 

Shortly after coming home from a long trip recently, I spent an hour or two of an afternoon fig picking, fig peeling and fig mashing for fig jam with two lovely ladies.
It was the perfect first thing to do after being on the road for a week.
A welcoming back.
A slowing down.
A this-is-home.

The Hunger To Move

I saw in their eyes something I was to see over and over in every part of the nation- a burning desire to go, to move, to get under way, anyplace, away from any Here. They spoke quietly of how they wanted to go someday, to move about, free and unanchored, not toward something but away from something. I saw this look and heard this yearning everywhere in every states I visited. 

Nearly every American hungers to move.

— John Steinbeck 

Sheep Dreams

I've really gotten to the point where I'd just rather live on a farm with a bunch of sheep and fig trees and call it a day if I'm bein honest...

But maybe a farm on the water somewhere though.
So I can still go sailing.

I don't think it's any secret how obsessed I am with sheep/anything fiber related. It's a dream of mine to learn how to sheer a sheep and process and spin the wool all on my own.
I learned how to spin yarn from a drop spindle, around this time last year, which was one of the highlights of my year if I'm being honest.
But I want to learn more techniques as well as how to spin more efficiently on a wheel. 

This is a photo of a sheepy friend I made last fall. In going through my archives I came across it and fell in love with it again. 
Definitely hoping to make some more wooly *friends this Spring... We'll see.

*Submissions/suggestions/applications for friends along these lines are always welcome.