handstories

Ugh

Computer issues...self-imposed & stressful. I’ve taken it to the ER. Hoping to be reunited and back here soon.
☹️😬😶

grateful for moments

    Late afternoon yesterday, I was so happy for this moment while stitching... A tiny mid-stitch moment when I could see where this piece might want to go.  It felt like falling in love.  

    It was a swell break from the overwhelmed breaths that seem to be filling the days.  There's just too much going on, inside and out.  And I've probably said this already, but I can't remember, because of all that's going on in my life and head.  Some of it is good and/or growth/life stuff, and the rest are things I don't know how to, or want to, but need to do-  updating my browser, business things, parenting things, etc... 

    But, then yesterday, this piece was turned a different direction, and there was finally a connection.

    And later, this sunset...

    It will be ok.

    (With additional gratefulness for Jude's moon & Deb's cloth and threads)

waves of things

    Family gathered at the Oregon coast this last week to put Dad's ashes into the ocean.  The four of us siblings, partners, and a few of our next generations.  

    Jude's comfort cloth came along in my pocket, it was held, clenched and washed in the sea.

    The day was stormy.  We laughed at the thought of what Dad would've said about us all standing there precariously on the wet rocks, wind whipping, rain soaking us through.  I'm sure it would've included a muttering of  "bunch of goddamn idiots".

    A bottle of my brother's homemade blackberry brandy was passed, and the rest poured in after the ashes.  They had planned to share it on their next fishing trip.

    There weren't a lot of words, all of us stood there with our thoughts, memories and emotions.

    The thirteen of us were in a big house with an amazing view.  It's been more than a decade since we siblings have stayed together.  Among the various breakfast makings, one sister made a pot of oatmeal each morning.  Seeing that the four of us all scooped up a bowl, was oddly comforting.  Moon commented that we all had the same sense of humor, and was a little taken aback (but enjoyed) the brashness of most of my family.

    A sock was started on the drive down, and finished during hours of watching the waves.

holding time

    These are pages in progress from my book created in the workshop.  (This pretty wave is an indigo gift from Deb.)

    I loved how Christine's prompts gently brought focus and honing to our stories.  There was an exercise that I thought would be a few quick words that turned into a rough fairy tale that helped to make a bit more sense of myself.

    Another assignment, that I thought would be a short story, became a long list, and later lines in stitch, of memories in rivers, pools, lakes and the sea.

    And yesterday, I took the book completely apart, and started this new page, not wanting the lessons and feelings of the gifts of this time to end.

playdate for new old friends

    After years of "knowing" each other on-line, Deb and I have finally met!  How great it's been to spend time getting to know each other in real-life.

    We're spending time in Coupeville, WA, as students in Christine Mauersberger's workshop.  She has brought us a world of techniques to explore.  

    Here are just a few from the first two days...

    Cyanotype prints- this one had seed beads and buttons on it.

    Geli plate prints.

    Strike-out poem.

    A happy accident with a piece of Velma's beautiful handmade paper.  After dipping the edge into the indigo, it caught on itself, folding up into a wave... more to come with this page.

    The indigo drying tree.

    There's a lot more, too... Christine is filling our minds and time and with creative play, with two more days to go!

mapless

    Things were meant to be different.

    There was, and there wasn't, a plan...

    Sometimes I feel out of ideas, or the ability to carry them out.

    Wishing... still in progress.

    (wishing stars inspired by Jude's workshop)