The snow has been coming down all day. It is quiet and peaceful here in the woods, although I do hear the regular rumble of the plows down on the road. The little card in the second photo provides a contrast to the current whites and grays. Could that green exist in this same place? I love this little card. It was sent to me in a package when I ordered from an etsy vintage shop.
I hope you are enjoying the snow if it has come your way.
❀ Maribeth
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
The first photo is of a small embroidery (about the size of a placemat) that I found at a house sale this past summer. It has been sitting on my work table, and I examine it often. It is so pretty the way it is, yet I bought it with the thought that I would cut it up and use it in my own textile sculptures. I'll have to be very sure of myself before I take scissors to it.
The other photo is of one of my lions. I have made 3 lions so far, and they each have a unique personality. Interesting how the particular stretch of the fabric, or the fashion in which I happened to sew a seam, creates a different face, even though I use the same pattern.
I so love making textile sculptures. I have so many populating my work room. I have sold some - to people in my community, as well as others including in other countries. But, I have not struck upon the best way to find an audience. I have found that the creative part comes freely from me, the marketing not so much.
Lots of projects this week: sewing, knitting, cooking. Thanksgiving, Hanukah, and a sweet niece turns 16. It seems like yesterday when I witnessed her birth, which occurred during my first year of midwifery training. A whole lifetime ago!
❀ Maribeth
Settling into the colder, darker time here in New England. Spending more time with my sewing. Our three cats roam about my work room, mostly behaving themselves, although I have to watch them carefully as they tend to like the ribbons, string, and yarn that populates my storage baskets.
I've started making some bust portraits. Lots of embroidered details, which are a soothing and contemplative process to stitch. This past spring I bought a box full of small wooden chairs, each about 4 inches tall, from a local artist who is moving to New Mexico. I believe she made them for some sort of installation. I find them the perfect match for mounting these busts.
Thanksgiving and Hanukah both next week. Looking forward to meals and celebration with family and friends. Hope you are too.
❀ Maribeth
It is all green here. We are settling into summer. The first round of lettuce and radishes are just about done. The peas and string beans will be harvested in a couple of weeks. One more day of walking the kids to the school bus stop. I have been enjoying these walks, the morning air so full of life. We have a very long driveway, so there is always something interesting to see along the way. My son and I saw a coyote on the driveway a few weeks ago.
Here are some lovely things for you:
♥ Chinelos de Trapo (don't you want a pair?)
♥ Kettle's Yard (let's go here)
♥ Sonia Delaunay at the Cooper Hewitt (too good)
Bye for now.
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.
Warm temperatures. Thunder storms. Daffodils in the garden. Wildflowers along the trail in the woods. I think spring is settling in.
I purchased this Peterson's Field Guide to Birds' Nests at the library book sale last week. I am enjoy looking through the pages at the wide variety of nesting that birds do. What a leap of faith for these birds to leave such fragile packages among the branches of trees and brush, or even on the ground. I guess it is the same leap of faith that we humans take when we have a baby. I believe that pregnancy and parenting are such practices in letting go. Letting go of control. Letting go of preconceived notions of how things should be. These are not always easy lessons. And they can bring both great joy and terrible heartbreak.
I made a couple more linen and wool wading birds. I think I will make a flamingo next. I have some beautiful pink hand-dyed wool and pink linen. I am also working out some patterns for butterflies. I see the wings as opportunities for embroidery. These are my spring projects.
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.
I finished these new birds last week. I am very happy with the bright and cheery colors. The hand-dyed wool is so nice to work with. I especially like cutting and stitching the tail feathers.
It was 77 degrees here yesterday. The resident birds worked themselves into a frenzy of song. I can hear them out there again today. I expect we'll be seeing baby birds before too long. I also heard the frogs peeping last evening. That is a sure sign of spring. The peepers are one of my earliest childhood memories. I remember my mother holding me as we stood outside in the growing dark. She told me that the peeping sound that enveloped us was the frogs awaking to spring.
What is it that makes early memories? An experience with strong emotion surrounding it? An experience reinforced by repeated retelling? An experience of something so new that it deeply embeds in our mind and heart?