{"id":2263,"date":"2017-09-04T23:28:35","date_gmt":"2017-09-04T23:28:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/?p=2263"},"modified":"2017-09-05T13:33:03","modified_gmt":"2017-09-05T13:33:03","slug":"peek-inside-the-meadowlark-workshop-a-unicorn-is-born","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/peek-inside-the-meadowlark-workshop-a-unicorn-is-born\/","title":{"rendered":"Peek Inside the Meadowlark Workshop – A Unicorn is Born!"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_padding=”|15%||15%” text_font_size=”16″]<\/p>\n

So, this summer, to go along with our new Meadowlark Music Class album,<\/a> I made a unicorn.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah, I know\u2026 \u00a0I\u2019m a grown up.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m probably supposed to be over unicorns.<\/p>\n

But the thing is, first of all, I am not.<\/p>\n

Second of all, I have somehow found my way into a line or work\u00a0that actually allows me to weave unicorn making into my everyday life.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Pinches self)<\/p>\n

And not only that, but I get to bring this unicorn to my classes while we are all singing together under a tree<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Those of you who have known me for any length of time are probably chuckling at how this is basically\u00a0a synergistic coming together of most of my favorite things in the world. \u00a0Mamas, little ones, unicorns, singing, and trees!<\/p>\n

How did this happen?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The unicorn, I mean…<\/p>\n

Well, it\u2019s a long story.<\/p>\n

The story of this particular unicorn begins with my vision to create a music class that is as much about nurturing wonder<\/strong> as it is about making music.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve followed this blog for a while, you know that I write a lot about wonder and nature.<\/strong> \u00a0The intersection of these two things is my deepest motivator as both a musician and teacher.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

Simply because in childhood, wonder matters.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A childhood rich in\u00a0wonder at nature nurtures children\u2019s imagination<\/strong>, emotional resilience,<\/strong> and sense of\u00a0stewardship<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

But even for us as adults, wonder is important. \u00a0Just as healthy food nourishes the body, wonder nourishes the soul<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In wonder, we return to the truth of interconnectedness.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We leave the mundane, and touch ground in the deeper currents that define our existence.<\/p>\n

We remember the resources that are there for us to draw on.<\/p>\n

And maybe, just maybe, we connect with our own child self.<\/strong> \u00a0That part of us that was so unique, tender, and rich in dreams. \u00a0That part of us has so much to teach us about how to guide and honor\u00a0our children<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So I\u2019m always looking for ways to bring more wonder<\/strong> to Meadowlark Music Class.<\/p>\n

And a month ago, when I woke up at 3 AM humming a new tune about a unicorn, I knew that this would be the subject of my first fall puppet show.<\/p>\n

All I had to do was find a puppet.<\/p>\n

Making the Unicorn<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I will confess that I initially tried to buy a unicorn. \u00a0But as it turns out, large moveable unicorns are hard to come by. \u00a0So I sketched out a pattern, packed Peregrine into the car, and set out for Heaven on Earth, AKA Fabric Outlet on Valencia.<\/p>\n

After a few months of occasional work on it, I finally finished her yesterday! \u00a0So\u00a0here are some pics from the process.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

First attempt at a pattern<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

An early prototype<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

How I made the mouth. Yet another use for worn out socks!<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

The ears… For these, I used an old crepe swaddle blanket.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Antique gold colored lam\u00e9 for the horn, over wool wrapped around a coat hanger. Whatever works!<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

Sewing up a hoof<\/p><\/div>\n

\"\"

ALMOST finished! Just have to sew the legs on!<\/p><\/div>\n

Our family of four lives in a studio apartment, so when I start a project, it\u2019s full on for everyone! \u00a0A big wild mess of scraps everywhere, wire and pliers, clay and fake fur, and the occasional wayward pin in the couch. \u00a0Ouch!<\/p>\n

Scroll down for a video of the unicorn in action!<\/p>\n

To all who can come to Meadowlark, I hope this will bring back a little of your own remembered childhood magic. \u00a0(Last Unicorn,<\/strong> anyone? \u00a0Dark Crystal?<\/strong> \u00a0I\u2019m dating myself, I know \u00a0\ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

You can download the song “Unicorn Unicorn” as part of our newest album, Falling Leaves and Rising Voices, which is available here<\/a>, for free \/ pay what you want.<\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re not yet signed up for fall, I want you to know there\u2019s still room in both Wednesday and Friday Meadowlark Classes! \u00a0<\/strong>But\u00a0they are filling up, so do act now if you’d like to join us.<\/p>\n

Or,\u00a0<\/strong>join me for Music Together<\/strong> on Monday<\/strong>\u00a0or Saturday\u00a0<\/strong>mornings. \u00a0There won\u2019t be Unicorns there, but I do promise to\u00a0bring the magic nonetheless.<\/p>\n

Blessings from my family to yours,<\/p>\n

Noe Venable<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Code”]<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TPaQ_gPEwWA” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen><\/iframe>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_padding=”|15%||15%” text_font_size=”16″] So, this summer, to go along with our new Meadowlark Music Class album, I made a unicorn. Yeah, I know\u2026 \u00a0I\u2019m a grown up. I\u2019m probably supposed to be over unicorns. But the thing is, first of all, I am not. Second […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2274,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

So, this week, I made a giant unicorn. \u00a0<\/p>

Yeah, I know\u2026 \u00a0I\u2019m a grown up. \u00a0<\/p>

I\u2019m probably supposed to be over unicorns. \u00a0<\/p>

But the thing is, first of all, I am not. \u00a0;)<\/p>

Second of all, I have miraculously found my way into a career that actually allows me to weave unicorn making into my everyday life.<\/p>

(Pinches self)<\/p>

And not only that, but I get to bring this unicorn to my classes while we are all singing together under a tree.<\/p>

If you\u2019ve known me for a while, you are likely already chuckling at how happy I am about this\u2026 \u00a0As a synergistic coming together of most of my favorite things in the world. \u00a0Mamas and babies, unicorns, singing, and TREES!<\/p>

How did this happen?<\/p>

The unicorn, I mean...<\/p>

Well, it\u2019s a long story.<\/p>

The story of this particular unicorn begins with my vision to create a music class that is as much about nurturing wonder as it is about making music.<\/p>

If you\u2019ve followed this blog for a while, you know that I write a lot about wonder and nature. \u00a0The intersection of these two things is my deepest motivator as both a musician and teacher.<\/p>

Why?<\/p>

Simply because in childhood, wonder matters. \u00a0<\/p>

A childhood rich in nature induced wonder nurtures children\u2019s imagination, emotional resilience, and sense of ecological stewardship.<\/p>

But even for us as adults, wonder is important. \u00a0Just as healthy food nourishes the body, wonder nourishes the soul. \u00a0In wonder, we return to the truth of interconnectedness. \u00a0<\/p>

We leave the mundane, and touch ground in the deeper currents that define our existence.<\/p>

We remember the resources that are there for us to draw on.<\/p>

And maybe, just maybe, we connect with our own child self. \u00a0That part of us that was so unique, tender, and rich in dreams.<\/p>

I\u2019m always looking for ways to bring more wonder to Meadowlark Music Class. \u00a0<\/p>

So... a month ago, when I woke up humming a new tune about a unicorn, I knew that this would be the subject of my first fall puppet show.<\/p>

All I had to do was find a puppet.<\/p>

Making the Unicorn<\/p>

I will confess that I initially tried to buy a Unicorn. \u00a0But as it turns out, large moveable unicorns are hard to come by. \u00a0So I sketched out a pattern, packed Peregrine into the car, and set out for Heaven on Earth, AKA Fabric Outlet on Valencia.<\/p>

I\u2019ve been working on it for a few months now, and I\u2019ve got a few pictures from the process.<\/p>

What you can\u2019t see in these photos is that my children were present with me throughout it all. \u00a0I can\u2019t post many pictures of them right now because at the moment, they want to be naked all the time. \u00a0So none of our current photos are shareable! \u00a0LOL<\/p>

But they were there\u2026 playing around my feet, drawing their own patterns next to me, handing me pins from the pin cushion\u2026 \u00a0coming over for occasional check ins.<\/p>

Our family of four lives in a studio apartment, so when I start a project, it\u2019s full on for everyone! \u00a0A big wild mess of scraps everywhere, wire and pliers, clay and fake fur, and the occasional wayward pin in the couch. \u00a0Ouch! \u00a0<\/p>

So now that you know a little about how it came to be, here\u2019s my finished creation!<\/p>

To all who can come to Meadowlark, I hope this will bring back a little of your own remembered childhood magic. \u00a0(Last Unicorn, anyone? \u00a0Dark Crystal? \u00a0I\u2019m dating myself, I know \u00a0;)<\/p>

And to the little ones, I hope they\u2019ll enjoy what I\u2019ve got in store!<\/p>

So I hope you\u2019ll enjoy this little preview. \u00a0And if you\u2019re not yet signed up for fall, I want you to know there\u2019s still room in both Wednesday and Friday Meadowlark Classes.<\/p>

Or you can join me for Music Together on Mondays or Saturdays. \u00a0There won\u2019t be Unicorns there, but I\u2019ll do my best to bring the magic nonetheless.<\/p>

Blessings from my family to yours,<\/p>

Noe Venable<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_s2mail":"yes"},"categories":[53,3,7,4,5],"tags":[85,62,66,25,98,103,80,16],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2263"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2263"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2263\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}