Grateful for simple things this week:
• Time off from the usual schedule
• Spending time with family
• Preparing for a hanukkah party with lots of cooking and gift making
• Celebrating my niece's 16th birthday
• A dusting of snow, reminding me of things to come
(Fox and doll in the middle photo are from Fanja of Le Train Fantome. Please check out her work, it is lovely.)
Hope you are having some restful time as well.
❀ XO Maribeth
I bought some hand-printed fabric from Bookhou. It is a very nice quality. I am making some storage containers with it. I made one this morning based on a pattern in Bookhou's b.a.h. Magazine. I used a medium interface, and lined it with white linen. It stands up and holds its structure well. These are very easy to make. I hadn't sewn in forever, and was very happy as I cut up fabric and sewed it together.
This is the state of my inspiration bulletin board. It has looked like this for a few weeks. I think it represents the break I have been taking from the intensity of creative work. It is a deep breath, a clearing of the head, a blank slate, a regrouping, a look in other directions. It is possibility. (You can see a lovely ceramic heart my son made me hanging on the board.)
I got an ipod touch. I am just beginning to load it up with music and podcasts and all the other amusements that seem possible with this small device. Here is some music I have been listening to lately:
* The new The Decemberists CD (I started to write album - but I guess that isn't really the right word - although it appears that you can purchase this in vinyl)
* The Smiths Best of 1. I do have some old The Smiths albums. I began listening to them back in the 1980s when we didn't have CDs.
Happy weekend to you.
We have had turbulent weather lately. Lots of rainy storms. Last night a big one blew through. I had never heard such strange howling of the wind. I sat up watching the trees sway in the flashes of light from the electrical storm. We had trees down over the driveway this morning. Lots to clean up.
As I was walking around town this morning I came upon this sad bird's nest. It had obviously blown out of the tree during the storm. Poor little birds must wonder where their nest and lovely eggs went.
The storms have washed out quite a few of the girls' softball practices and games. I have to admit that I have enjoyed watching the games that have been played. I also enjoy watching my daughter learn something new.
The Green River runs through the length of our town. Here is a view I had of it today. It flows into the Hoosic River, which then dumps right into the Hudson River. The water has been running high all spring. This has been a boon to kayakers and other boaters.
Lastly is a photo of a shelf on my work table. (The photo on the middle shelf is of my parents, me, and two of my siblings. We are all just a year apart in age.) I have been so engrossed in activity that I have had very little quiet time working there. I awoke at 5AM this morning, restless, so I was able to creep quietly to my work room to paint before anyone woke up and demanded my attention.
Have a nice long weekend. We have some travel and some celebrations ahead of us.
Another thunderstorm with hard rain this morning. I was out walking my brother's dog while he and his family are away. We took shelter before the height of the storm.
So many wildflowers to see now: red trillium, trout lily, and spring beauties. Also skunk cabbage and fiddleheads. We hope to hike on Pine Cobble this weekend. There are many, many ladies' slippers there, although it might be too early for them.
Do you like the flamingo so far? Wings, eyes, and legs today.
The wildflower paintings are from a very large, old guide book I found at the library book sale. The paintings are quite nice, particularly in the large format.
My daughter changed the quilt on her bed. I love the blue and white. Her room is so quiet. I hope she will always be able to have such a retreat.
Busy.
My children are on school break.
Passover began yesterday evening. We had 15 people for our seder. A very nice time, after days of preparation.
Our public library's annual used book sale is this coming Friday and Saturday. I am very involved in organizing this event. Today we moved two moving trucks full of boxes of books to the school gymnasium. We unload and set up over the next two days. Hard work, but good work. And it is very satisfying work for a book lover.
I apologize if I owe you an email, and for being a bit absent from my usual blog reading.
I've been busy.
Many years I find myself in July, wondering what happened to those lovely months of April, May, and June. These are often months full of activity. I am committing myself to a mindful appreciation of spring this year. Yes, this week is a busy one, but I am going to stop and notice and be present.
Everything is still gray and brown around here. Even a bit of grungy white snow on the north-facing slopes near the house. I suppose this neutral landscape is what sent me looking for color in my work room over the weekend. I pulled out a bag of hand-dyed wool and was amazed to find such luscious color within. I had somehow forgotten I had such treasure hidden away. The fabric reminded of the watercolors I have been using for painting.
I am working on a new collection of wool songbirds. I sold all of the ones in my etsy shop during the fundraiser for Save the Children earthquake relief in Japan. I want to give everyone who participated in this group fundraiser a huge THANK YOU for helping out. Because of your generosity, I raised $148.50 from sales in my shop. I know that the other crafters involved were very successful as well. I am honored to have been a part of this effort.
I'll be back with some finished birds before long. I am working out a new bird pattern for spring as well. It feels good to be doing some focused sewing after a spell of primarily painting and knitting. I am participating in the Twist Craft Fair in early May, so that has given me focus as well.
{I found some color in my daughter's room as well - her violets are blooming like crazy.}
Be well. XO
Leaving home.
And all this snow.
Going where it is warm. Miami.
It appears Mr. Albus Dumbledore will keep my spot warm while I'm away.
See you when I return this weekend.
Have a nice week. X Maribeth
Dear Snow, You took me by surprise this morning. The tree branches are hanging low from all your heavy, wet weight. You have come down in white out fashion throughout the day. I thought maybe you had lost your interest in us and were preparing to rest until next year. I guess not. I should know better. I have seen snow like this in April. Love, Me
At least the kids are on holiday break this week and did not lose another day of school to the snow. There has been a whole lot of relaxing going on around here. I have been sewing. I made some linen baby shoes, which are very satisfying to make. I hadn't made a pair in a while.
Last night I awoke in the wee morning hours and thought - I need a new rhythm in my life. I have been thinking about going back to work as a midwife in some capacity. It is so difficult to manage a family if both parents have a demanding job (which would be the case if I worked full time). But, I have worked part time in the past and know that this might be a possibility. I feel that I need to look at this seriously. Being home is wonderful in many ways, but it also makes me feel anchorless and unfocused at times. Has anyone else felt that anchorless feeling?
Lovely, lovely Margie of Resurrection Fern sent me this medicine bundle she made with some of her naturally-dyed fabric. Inside is a special stone. I am so happy to have this to enjoy. Margie has some recent posts up about natural dyes - go take a look. She also has a give-away going on for some of the fabrics she has made. Thank you for being a wonderful blog friend, Margie.
A few close-ups from around the house today. Happy weekend to you. I'm hoping to go to a dinner and moonlit ski at a local x-country ski center tomorrow night.
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Fear is a contraction, love is diffusion. -the Bnei Yissoscher
When I was young I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people. - Abraham Joshua Heschel