lights

Just some inspiration, sorry I didn't have more time to put together a better post.

all the photos I found on weheartit, if you know where they really came from please let me know.

with chimes and tea,

Clara

I'm back!

Yes, I'm here! I apologize profusely for being gone over a month. December was completely insane, with work (I work in retail so every day was like trying to go up a packed-out down escalator), trying to make presents, and squeeze in and figure other things out as well, but some how I did manage some time to think. And two things have been finalized. I'm moving back home and I'm going to start dancing again. Both I am very relieved and happy about.

Moving out and getting my own apartment has been a really good experience, but it's also been a hard one. I've learned a lot about myself and what kind of roommate I'll need if I ever have to share a place with someone again (until I'm married and then none of it will matter, me being queen of the house and all...). Anyway, now I will soon have my own form of transportation, a room that is one hundred percent mine, Internet, the money so that I can dance, and the priceless feeling of being settled.

Dance. I just had my first classes yesterday and it is so wonderful to be back! I'd missed it more than I knew. I'm dancing 6 hours a week, taking ballet, lyrical, and contemporary, all of my favorites. There isn't much else to say right now, except I've missed you all and hope you had a wonderful last year and have a wonderful new one!

love to you all,

Clara

PS: oh and thank you so much for your response to my previous post. You really are beautiful!

beauty

Have you ever noticed that it's impossible to feel ugly when it's snowing?

Everything is made new by snow and it's impossible to not feel like you are as well. And here's the secret: it's true.

The snow really does make everything beautiful, it makes you beautiful, it makes the bare trees beautiful, the city and country alike beautiful. So, even if you're a sceptic it must be admitted that snow is a form of magic.

I, like so many girls, have trouble with my self image, it's so easy to be filled with self loathing because one's arms aren't skinny, or legs are too short, or skin not clear, or what ever it is that makes us look into the mirror and want to cry. It's so hard to fight off the lies that say we need to be a certain size and shape to be beautiful. But still we must fight, we must because if we don't we are letting ourselves down. We are cheating ourselves of the freedom and self respect we deserve.

But as I said, it's not easy. So here's my challenge to myself and anyone who wishes to join in (and I hope you do). Next time it's snowing put on a warm hat and a big sweater and go outside. Wander under a street light, or lay back in the snow bank, catch the little ice crystals on your tongue, feel them brush against your cheeks and stick in your eye lashes. Laugh or sing into the stillness and know. Know that you're beautiful.

And if there is no snow where you are, or won't be for a long time, then go outside and watch the sunset, it has the same effect. Watch the trees catch the low golden light, feel it's warmth upon your face, dance as it sinks past sight, and know. Know that you're beautiful. Because all girls are.

With all my heart,

Clara

Winner!

Dear Readers,
I am terribly sorry for how pathetic this post is I will try to come back and do it justly as soon as the computers at my parents decide to work for me. As for now this will have to do, as I do not want to keep the seven lovelies who entered the give away in suspense. So around noon today I put those seven names into a bowl and had my sister draw one and the winner is...

Olivia!

Congratulations! So my dear I already have your address, so no worries there, your little parcel will be on it's way to you shortly. Thank you so much all of you for your recommendations (I just got The Sea-Wolf from the Library today) I can hardly wait to dig into them all. Again, I really wish I could send all of you a little something, even though you all can't have the actual package, so if you would like to receive a little hand drawn post card by yours truly, just email me your address at thewoodbetweenworlds@gmail.com and I will send a little note of thanks your way!

Love, love, Clara

It's the last day to enter the give away! So comment quick! I'll be back tomorrow to announce the winner.

love, Clara

Give Away!

(tags for my shop! more on these to come...)

I've wanted to do this for a long time and now I'm finally going to! So in honor of you, my wonderful one hundred followers and the fact that today is my two year blogivercery I'm having a give away! You have one week to enter, so next Monday I will collect all of the entrees, place them in a box, and draw out one of your names. All you have to do is recommend something to me, it could be a recipe, a song, a book or author, a website, anything.

I can't say exactly what all the package will consist of, but it will contain these lovely wristlets, an old book, perhaps a pattern or two, and what ever else I fancy to drop in there within the next week. I'm so excited! What I would really like to do is give everyone that enters something. So I was thinking I could mail you all postcards that I've drawn! But then I thought people might be uncomfortable with that, with me collecting a whole bunch of addresses, but I'm going to offer it anyway. So, if you would like to get at least a postcard in the mail you can email me at thewoodbetweenworlds@gmail.com with your address and I'll get it in the mail as soon as possible!

So I really hope you all enter and have fun thinking of things to recommend! I can't wait to read them all (oh and I got the idea from Emily at The Black Apple, she did it for one of her give aways). Oh and spread the word too! The more people that enter the better!

with old ink and lace,

Clara

PS: oops! I had posted the wrong email address! if you emailed me please try again!

I'm still alive!

I've been gone so long! Oddly enough things are settling down into a bit of a routine, and I should be back for good in time, believe me I didn't want it to be like this. But good has come from it of course, I mean projects that are actually getting FINISHED(oh my goodness! who even knew that was possible!). Having my own place is doing wonders, and I'm thinking there actually is something to the whole less distractions = greater productivity thing. The whole reason I've been so absent is because there is no internet at my apartment and the only time I get near it is when I visit my parents, and then I'm generally so overwhelmed by everything I've missed (you guys for instance) that I run out of time to actually acknowledge that I've been here, checked up on you lovelies, jumped for joy over your comments, and kicked myself for leaving free (healthy)food and the internet. But I will be back. I will get a laptop. I will end up with internet at the apartment. I will show you the apartment and all that I've been doing there. And I will be back! Gahh! There's so much I wish I could tell you and show you right now but my Dad has already been waiting a long time to take me grocery shopping. So I have to go... so farewell my darlings... I will be back...

love, Clara

PS: 100 followers! thank you thank you thank you! and I've been so terrible and neglectful too. but there will be a give away to celebrate, soon!! ( know you must be getting so tired to reading that, I'm really sorry!)

(oh, photo is by me)