Saturday, June 21, 2014

humans persist

 roxanne was a high energy
positive
inquisitive
and experimental 
table mate. she worked in hot pink
to push herself.
 dorothy considering our
"blind" stitching
 out my window
at the place i was staying
appaloosa sky
 considering kantha
 batik discharge
 kami-ito
spun by therese
brought for me to see
 her sweet spindle
 something holy
 something old
 something borrowed and blue
 betsy's marks are formed
of fire and light

 graphic delight
 workshop hands
made things with string
dorothy made string
to document place
 and i kept sky watching
while filling up my car, 
for example
 patterning under my feet.
 a simple 
little structure
suitable for kids and smaller sampling
sorts of books,
textile sensibility/
some of our small books
with that nifty easy binding
betsy's little book
on a spiraled pie basket
that held betsy's wool,
beautiful!
so, this kind of class makes you think and try things unlike
the same old same old
but the women students were grand in this group.
hearts of diamonds and rust,
caring
meeting and knowing one another,
in 5 days you can dig
a bit deeper, 
in your own work and support each other.
we all wanted to keep going.
we will,
just not at longridge farm
or with dorothy caldwell,
both of whom we will miss most dreadfully.
i am making marks with a certain 
kind 
of
difference, now.

21 comments:

  1. this is a 'diamonds and rust' kinda post..... and I'm digging it xxx

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  2. so many inspiring images. it must have been fabulous.

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  3. five days. dorothy caldwell. cloth. sweet spindles. woven baskets. books. clouds. kantha stitching. books. a week like this does something to a gal. something good.

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  4. it all looks so wonder-full. we all need a workshop like that occasionally to keep us making. the sweet spindle looks like an akha from resourcefulnomad.com?

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  5. V - such creative diversity; and lots of challenges and opportunities. Looks like you all had a fun gathering and sharing. B

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  6. ronnie, exactly! it's hard to leave this gathering
    deanna, yes
    jeanne, alters the brain trails a bit
    sue, great!
    barry, huge diversity working together

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  7. jean, you know exactly how important this was for me, watershed teachings are HUGE.

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  8. Great post Velma! It truly captures the experience of a Dorothy Caldwell class. Hope you don't mind...I shared the link to this post on my FB artist page. Enjoy!

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  9. Sounds like a amazing time. And by sharing we all get a glimpse of the magic. Thank you!

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  10. Beautiful series of posts. Inspired & inspiring. I'm in love with those little woven bindings.

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  11. interesting how the back of the work, the blind side where marks are made without conscious intent are so intriguing...
    thank you for sharing your days and insights.

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  12. jennifer, no worries, sharing is what's important
    christine, !!!
    lotta, time away from time
    alice, thank you. the bindings are great for small pieces
    mc oh, yes, the back of my long piece may become my cover...because it's so interesting.

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  13. wonderful post . i always love a teacher that challenges how i think.
    i would love this class .

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  14. from afar this looks like a course that has gotten under your skin and become a part of you; that will travel with you and sow seeds into unexpected places with magnificent results...

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  15. kathy, indeed! me, too.
    fiona, that is my hope, and i think it already has begun.

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  16. Velma, thanks for sharing these inspirational photos and ponderings. It is in workshops like these that we find ourselves and grow, not just during, but also after!

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  17. merike, it is indeed. i couldn't begin to write how wonderful this all was-and how MUCH i have been pondering and my fingers itch to make stuff...three more work days!

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  18. ...soooo great to see you again, velma ~ such wonder-filled days they were. re-entry into the every-day world has been interesting.....unexpected "marks" everywhere i look.

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  19. therese, ahh, then it's been ok, your eyes newly opened. mine, too.

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