handstories

march

wolves and crows

    The result of the Pre-K ironing, a pack of wolves.  We used the sewing machine, too.  They controlled the pedal (thank goodness for the half-speed button on my machine!) while I guided the fabric under the needle.  Stuffing is always a popular activity with kids.  

    My favorite part of their wolf study- when their recess is over, their teacher howls and they come running, howling back.

    Last night a murder of crows came.

    They cawed up a ruckus.

    And then they flew.

on plagues and irons

    A lot on the plate right now, but a good kind of busy.  A little spinning in the evenings. 

    Working with third grade on their play about the Bubonic Plague, it's a comedy, of course.  One more rewrite, changing the King into another knight and adding another Rat (one of the top choices for almost all of them!).  And the quiet, studious, sweetest girl in the class, she wants to be the prisoner in the stocks, love that.

    Also sewing felt family trees with First graders, and stuffed wolves in Pre-K.  I had the Pre-K children help to iron fabric.  Half of the class had never seen an iron before.  I suppose if it weren't for sewing, my boys wouldn't have either.

    There was the time, when we were first married, a summer in Nebraska, when I tried to iron.  K was at his first post-college job, I wasn't working much, so I thought I'd be useful and iron his work shirts for him.  When he saw them, he asked me not to do that again, and re-ironed them.

    Original batt by LushMommy in the "Herbs" colorway, spun as a single.  Contains-bamboo, cotton nepps, merino, mohair, mulberry silk, sari silk, teeswater, tussah silk, tencel and sparkle, 211 yds. 

remembering iowa

    I have no memories of Iowa.  I'm not even sure if I ever drove through it during the years of cross-countrying.   But, one of my closest friends has plenty of memories to share.  She grew up on a farm in Iowa in the late 1930-50's.  

    Yesterday we walked to a little gallery, to see a couple of quilts.  I felt like she was looking for something in them.    Later, I remembered that during the 90's, a time when she had gone back to Iowa for an auction at her mother's uncle's farm.  

    One of the many things she returned with was this old suitcase, full of scraps of old dresses from the 1940's, some quilt piecings, part of a blouse with a pocket and button holes.

    And this funny little cloth printed with a windmill and it's countryside, with the tiniest neatest embroidery stitches. 

    She had given this suitcase of scraps to Janie, I watched it happen, and sighed a little with longing.  A few years later, sorting through Janie's things, after she died, I found the case, and took it home.  It was put in a closet for some other day.

    And yesterday, fourteen years later, I remembered it, went digging, and found it in the deepest darkest corner.  

    I hope I can create some of the something that she was searching for, maybe it will be a memory holder.  Memories of Iowa, and Janie (who introduced us), and of our own dear friendship.

breaths

    It's more than six feet long.  

    The yarn that I spun for it three years ago is all knitted in.  It is done enough.  

    It is wonky and wobbly, and full of beautiful colors.  

    I am allergic to Spring.  The pollen and the meds that attempt to enable breathing have settled in. 

    Between the two, I feel as dull as toast, unable to wrap my mind around many words.

        I will wrap this wrap (that I call "breathing") about myself, and stitch some more.  Holding and breathing.  A little cinnamon sugar upon my toasted self.

fifty & fine & dandy

    Thank you, everyone, for all of the wonderful sweet birthday thoughts on the last post!

    It was a good day- I stayed home from work, had hours of stitching time, talked with friends and family,  there was a yummy dinner and cake with my guys.  Just the kind of birthday I like- quiet and simple, no fuss.

    And on we go . . .

farewell forties

    Well, it's my last eve of the forties.  I finished up "49" today, with hours to spare.  It only took a year, well, some of it at least.  

    I wonder what new beginnings tomorrow will bring?

over, under, over, under, over, under,

    Boxes, string and yarn in second grade yesterday.  It is so simple, everyone was successful, everyone was happy.  

    Jude has written/woven some wonderful weaving words here.

    Going back for more this afternoon- more weaving and more happy.

tick-tock

        Just a few more stitches left to go in "49".

    Just in the nick of time.

   Other kinds of countdowns going on too.

    I was not ready for this piece of mail.  

    Tick, tick , tick . . .

a sprinkling

    A dear friend mentioned fairies this week.

    What could a little fairy dust do?

    Could it conjure comfort, or peace, or light?

     There are some who could do with a handful right now.