Saturday, March 17, 2018

what a week or so!

this march i am not traveling.
no trip to australia, or,
actually,
anywhere else.
this is fine, because i love march.
i love the weather changes, the way the land changes
bit by bit, and the birds return.
but i am missing australian friends
the australian landscape,
the kindness and big hearts of my friends there.
oh, and the sense of humor.
below is colleen jones with a friend in her installation.
i name them australian gothic.
 next is the shifu/paper work made by another australian friend, barb adams.
she makes amazing work.
see how her kami-ito turns into cloth turns into paper. 
 at home, or not far nearby,
 is a dear one some of you have a deep connection with.
wendy golden-levitt had surprise illness and surgery last weekend.
she pulled through well, 
but oh, my, out of the blue, surgery.
please send her your love and prayers for a speedy recovery.
 and even my big sister claudia had a health scare this week.
she's back home after a quick hospital overnight,
new meds taming the issue.
oh, my. 
and this morning on facebook 
another friend becky has a hernia
keeping her out of her studio.
beware the ides of march.
happy st patty's day.
whatever.
i still like march, though i'm sorry 
people are hurting.
and then there was a big snow.
big and heavy and wet and continuing for hours and hours
and hours
building up to an over my knees height.
and my subaru couldn't get through the blockade at the end of the driveway 
(snow plow detritus)
i could get outside, high step through, but it takes a lot of energy.
one trip to the mailbox was quite an adventure.
(my mailbox was severed from its post by the county plow)
on snowshoes it was easier 
and i'm surprised that i enjoy them so much.
 happily a prince came to the rescue on his orange steed 
over 18 miles on backroads to dig me out.
 i'm now between both homes keeping the fire going 
and dog care-giving for awhile.
and i'm stitiching.
and stitching.
 running stitch, 
 it's definitely more a walking stitch.
 i've stitched several, 30 or so, small sheets of my flax papers now. 
all that stitching has given me a notion.
an idea for a book edition of five.
today i'll begin putting them together.
unless the sunshine entices me outdoors.
 stiff, strong raw flax paper 
becomes soft and sueded with the stitching.
taming a potato chip of paper 
into a soft, almost pillowcase almost cloth,
continues to fascinate me.
this idea began years ago, and here it is again.
 i've used kami-ito, 
 cotton, silk and linen,
often waxing the thread.
 i like putting on my own candle-leftover beeswax.
it's very soft and scented with the labor 
of local bees,
 and who knew? 
the candles i buy are made from local beeswax
by my last winter book arts student randy merrill. 
i've been enjoying her candles for a couple of years now.

14 comments:

  1. hey, MO! i'm OK but a lot's happening in my world

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  2. Wow, LOTS! And, Wendy, gotta go send an email!

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  3. you have had a busy week. Loving the stitched paper. An edition what fun. I am busy painting Monks, waxing feathers to paper, making little wool bags with cotton string handles and then there will be some stitch. All for a group showing for the art trail in September. It keeps me busy. x te

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  4. Busy, busy, busy! Glad you got 'rescued'! Glad the health scares are better (will email Wendy) and glad you create beautiful, textural stitching for our eyes to see. xo

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  5. Thankyou dear Velma for including my work in your lovely blog.

    Regards,
    Barb Adams | barb@barbadams.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a stressful week! Stay well.

    Regards,
    Christine | Info@christinemauersberger.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. valerianna, thank you for being in touch
    trace, i have a vision of monks in weird garb, chanting to the goddess trace...
    nancy, thanks--who would believe that stitch is so transforming for flax
    barb, i brought your response over--thank you.
    christine, i'm fine, thank you very much for your support.

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  8. Your March is very full. This month often feels quite heavy for me, but your lovely papers, stitching & words have added a softness to it. I've written Wendy, thanks for sharing the news.

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  9. hazel, isn't it? i love the sparcity of march here, and am happy to not travel away the month this year. but so many happening? is this what happens when you stay home? glad you're in touch with wendy.

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  10. those pieces stitched across holes in paper are just entrancing!

    stay warm, stay sound, stay upright (as my good mother says)

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  11. lee, there may be occasions in the near future when i will need to borrow your mother...thanks for hte encouragement.

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  12. Hi V - so sorry to hear of all this coming together in one heap - tough and tiring times; hope things are on the improve. But then, is there anything lovelier than hand stitching on hand made paper....so lovely to see. Go well, go gently.

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  13. fiona, it's all ok, just a LOT! i am lucky to have a good support system and hands that can stitch and make stuff. i am fortunate.

    ReplyDelete

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