handstories

Spring is all around

        “Spring is in the Air” with one of Jude's moons.

    A sign of hope filled the sky the other day.

    I've been trying to push myself out the door more.  Realizing how too comfortable I've become being alone.  With going out and about less and less, it's more and more uncomfortable stressful anxiety filled when I do. 

    So, I've made a few dates, reached out some, gone back to the pool, and started volunteering with a local art program for adults with developmental disabilities.  There are about twenty artists who come and go in the open studio. It's a lovely calm space with everyone doing their own thing- creating three dimensional objects, painting, collage, knitting, etc... 

    M. has made dozens of dragons from sticks, paper, and tape.  There are distinct breeds.  This one is named Yellow Star.  M. is a prankster.  She likes to warn you that there's a dragon behind you and laugh when you turn to look.  After being caught out on my first day, I returned the joke on her.  When she turned to look and realized that she'd been tricked, she shouted, "Flying whoopie cushions, you got me!"

    P. is so talented, nonverbal, and works alone in the back corner.  I hope for a moment of connection someday.  It's filling to be building relationships again.

    I'm also trying to learn Italian on one of those free apps.  This is day nine.  My new motto is:  If I learn it, I will go. 

    I can order you coffee or tea with milk and sugar, point out town buildings, take you shopping for a black sweater or a small backpack, and get through a meal of fish, chicken, or pasta at a restaurant.  I may be making K a little nuts as I comment on how tall he is, whether or not he's nice at any given moment, and remind him that we do not need tomatoes from the store.

    Spring is turning out to be very full!

    Spring spaces with fabrics dyed by Tina and Deb.

Happy to Me

    "Happy to Me" on my (just like Great Aunt Peggy's) blue walls (much bluer than it looks here).  The day was spent finishing the birthday cloth (for now).  With one of Jude's moons up top in the middle of new glittering cloth that my sister sent.  The silver thread was found and used here and there, including sparkly stars scattered on the pretty pink framing strips dyed by Deb. 

    It has been the busiest week, with something every day... 

    There was cake,

 and a pomegranate margarita.

    A really glittery, sequined week.

Claiming the elephant in my room

    A few days ago, thinking about the love/hate relationship with my birthday, feeling pleased that it was in a few days and there was only a little of the usual pre-birthday gloom going on, and then realized that it was actually a couple of weeks away, and that there was still plenty of time to go into the dark side.

    And then I found this childhood drawing.  Five years old?  A circus theme- there is a trapeze artist and a clown on a unicycle on the other side.  I remember drawing it at Great Aunt Peggy's house.  We all loved her and her tiny house, and I'm sure that the blue walls of her living room are where my desire for blue began.

    Anyhow...

    The drawing triggered and fed a whole lot of old things.  And then it became a "pet pebble," an assignment for the Creativity Lab class.  The goal was to use tape and paper and get in touch with making in a childlike way.  It worked.  There was a need to do more with this elephant, some memories, and birthdays...

      Channeling my inner five-year-old, I'm going without a plan.  No rules, other than not undoing anything.  If something doesn't fit, I'm making it work with scissors, more fabric, or stitches.  I stitched on it all day Friday with a lot of joy and some tears.

        Still going... I don't know where.  Maybe more sequins and beads, and, if I can find it, silver thread.  It's a celebration.  I'm loving it.  It's still growing.  Me too.