handstories

Gatherings

    Moon’s graduation weekend was very swell- time with Moon and girlfriend, an unplanned visit with Deb, and a day in Vancouver, BC.

    This one made a while, looking at a fancy box of matches.

    When does the group of something become a collection?  I tried finding the collective noun for matchboxes.  Nothing.  Matches are a book or a box.  Boxes are a stack.  So maybe a stack of books?  A book of stacks?  A stack of boxes?

    Tried flowers.

    Went back to boats.

    And this was interesting to do. Using Jude's stacked stitches I filled in a mosaic printed cloth from Maiwa’s with shades of green, Deb’s threads, and a few tiny scraps. Tension is an issue for me. It was good to practice, practice, practice.

    “Magic Mountain”

    And then to relax, a small simple peace wish made with of more of Jude’s techniques- Seemingly Seams and Glue stitch. Both feel like magic tricks.

    It was left in a neighborhood Free Little Art Gallery while out for a walk this morning. I wonder where it will go next?

Again and again

    Once again, I am all over the place.  Or is it "still"?

    Even in the now and then daily paintings.  Some days with eyes closed.

    Others while looking at an image.  This one is of an observatory that Blue visited in Chile.

    Cathy Cullis held an online sketchbook weekend. I tried some collage and different painting printing ideas.

    It’s a busy season. Last weekend up to Bellingham for Moon’s concert and dinner with Deb. Tomorrow is his graduation, but he will be staying for another couple of years for his Masters. (More opportunities for time with Deb!)

    Some of the busy has been in helping dear friends.  Because you can’t make this stuff up, here’s the story of their life over the last couple of months….

    After a year of intense treatments, his cancer managed, they traveled across the world for a vacation.  While there, he developed a hernia. Returning early, with surgery scheduled four weeks out, she began a new job, and they decided to get a puppy.  A week before surgery, the dog was suddenly sick, appearing to pass out, and rushed to the vet. She was stoned. She must have found a discarded joint in the grass while out on a walk.  A few days later, a few days before his scheduled surgery, he was not ok, an ambulance was called.  A burst appendix.  After a few weeks, he was finally able to have the hernia surgery last week.

    There’s been more applesauce made and casseroles cooked... taxiing... assisting with editing and envelope stuffing and stepping out of my comfort zone to be a door greeter for an event for the new job... and brief puppy sitting (which neither of us was very sure about)... and lots of just hanging out in the evenings with her, talking, commiserating, and laughing when we can.


    I am grateful for my uneventful life.