handstories

wing dreaming

    Last night I dreamt of hummingbirds . . .  

    There were a few of them...flying in and out of my window.  Flitting about sweetly while I stitched.  The stitching was for a contest, whoever made 500 stitches first would win all kinds of prizes.  The dream ended with anxiety as I tried over and over to count tiny threads in my piece, sure that there were enough there, but unable to prove it.

    Despite the stress at the end, I woke up with the feeling of delight that the little birds brought, and pulled out pieces of cloth before work.  

    Thoughts of how this might go darted through my mind throughout the day.  

    Meanwhile, Frida Kahlo was the focus for some of the art classes today.  While reading picture books about her aloud to the children, we learned about the eleven animals she loved and had living with her in her blue house, and talked about how her eyebrows were like a bird.

    This is the second time hummingbirds have flown into my dreams.  Last time, six months ago, I spotted mice in the basement, but when I looked closer they transformed into the birds.  When I woke up, there was a comment from Grace about the abstract painting I'd posted the day before.  She said that she saw a hummingbird in it.  

    Hummingbirds have never been a "thing" for me, they are not something I think about, other than enjoying the sight of them now and then.  But I do wonder what this is all about?

    And I wonder how many stitches will be in this one?

cloth thought

        When their eyes open . . . 

    That's when they begin to hum pieces of their stories.

    She will be in the shop tomorrow morning, after a cup of tea . . . 

    

immersing self

    The top of the cloth for Wendy's children feels done.  It was a surprise, I thought more would come, but there was a sense- a peaceful punctuation of a feeling.

    I've been in deep fondness with the backside- it's wildness and colors, and the cushy flannel.

    So, now to put a backing on it, another cloud filled piece of flannel, and quilted with a random rainbow of threads from the basket.

    Watching the shapes sink into the softness is comforting and warming.  I'm glad there's still more time to spend with this cloth.

    There are tumbling piles that need picked up, laundry, taxes, a bathroom that needs cleaned... Oh, well.

afters

(before)

    Using oils and cold wax means only being able to put on one layer at a time, as each can take up to a week to dry.  It's been a few weeks since I've been to painting class, meaning there was no memory of what the original intent was for these pieces.  During the beginning critque there were comments about the light pretty colors. 

    They all went dark today. 

(after)

    Rubbed, scraped, scratched- using an old library card, paper towels, cheesecloth, chopstick and toothpick.

(before)

(after)

    There was a lot of noise coming from my corner, the other students probably wondered what all the ruckus was. 

(before)

    There was yelling, too, but I kept it inside of my head.

(after)

    I don't know if anything was exorcised, but I wore myself out.

star therapy

    I let myself get carried away in starlight today.

    Each little spark a surprise of color, that led to the next.  After looking at the photo, it seemed too much.  The house appears to be being engulfed in a glittery tornado.  Which might be an interesting experience, but made for a dizzying view.  

    Some unpicking brought the scene back to a more peaceful twinkling.

    (Rainbowed starlight courtesy of Deb's magic threads.)

some oranges

    The sky out my front door this morning around 7:00 am.

    Yesterday I cut stacks and stacks of orange crepe paper squares, almost 900 of them.

    Here are some of the nearly 300 marigolds a bunch of us made last night for our family choir's upcoming performance.  We'll be singing Faure's Requiem with a local civic orchestra at the Museum of History & Industry's Day of the Dead celebration.  (To be honest, this piece of music is so out of my comfort and ability zone.  I was glad when our director asked me to coordinate the making of the flowers- this I could do, something positive I can contribute to the performance, my voice...not so much.)

    A blurry quick autumn view while driving to pick up Moon at four this afternoon.

the well-being of blue

    There is comfort to be found in stitching little blue squares.

    With one of them gone a little wild . . .

    Some starlight, petals and home in the mix helps, too.

a few new things

    Things seem to be in slow motion around here.  K. is gone for the weekend to visit his sister, Moon and I are quietly putzing around the house.  These three are finished and in the shop if you care to take a gander.  

woven in

    The fabric of this indigo dipped moon by Jude is really amazing.  A tiny tapestry.  I don't know enough about cloth to say anything more, other than how beautiful it is, especially up close like this.  So many story possibilities in just a couple of inches. 

    This came together quickly, yesterday and today.  With some of Liz's cochineal peace silk for a sail, and cloth and threads by Deb for the ship and stitches. Gathering bits from others in this community felt as if extra strength was being woven in.  I'm noticing (again) how much story carries my makings.  Whether it's a message, feeling, or an imagining... when I hold something, not an image of what might come, but rather some kind of thought that I want to come through, things almost seem to make themselves.
"She was carried through on strength and starlight"

    There is still unpacking to do, and laundry (if I want something to wear tomorrow), no matter... It felt good to spend the last two days on this little cloth, and I'm glad it will get to her before her surgery next week.  

slowly sailing

    It was a very good time away with my sister.  We did so much... a three-day road trip to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Mass MoCA, Storm King Arts Center, and more, including some time by the sea.  I'll share more once the too-many-photos have been edited, and the head cold from the flight has passed. 

    At Jude's very good suggestion, I'm floating slowly back in after being un-plugged for more than a week.  Today was spent with a thermos or two of tea, a box of tissues, and starting the stitching on this piece for a friend who was diagnosed last week.  I'm trying to stitch deep strength and bejeweled wishes for her as she sails through the waves of this storm.  Jude's moon holds both, I think.

    I hope you are all well and swell.