handstories

good growling

    The other day, Jacky shared the beginning of her "Protection Cloth", using red thread as Judy had described in her work.  Thinking of this stitching, for those who need a mother's safekeeping, I added a crimson "mama" to my own cloth.

    I was so focused on the word, I didn't notice what was kitty-corner, sewn into the piece almost two weeks ago.  

    A few years ago, there was a some bullying directed at my Blue, it was when I discovered my inner mama bear.  There may have been actual growling on my part, and I was surprised and thrilled to meet this piece of myself.  So, I was very happy to have a mama bear show up here.

    Not until I was looking through the camera lens did I see the word above "mama".  

    I love it that this trio of words found each other, in their heart-like shape of love colors of pink, red and white.  

    That fierce mama bear, she's there when you need her.

time

    I am looking, once again, at Judy Martin's "Stitch Journal".           

              

      (art work and photos by Judy Martin-used with permission from the artist)

     It is a work that I greatly admire and am moved by.  She has been stitching on it for more than a year and a half.  Each time she shares it, sheds a different light/season on it, I am in awe.  I love her commitment to it, the bigness and boldness of it, it's reflection of time, and how it seems it will go on forever (I hope it does), There is such a sense of centering, depth, and grandness that comes over me when I see it and read her words about it.  Strength in stitch.

     And then I think of these little squares.  

    They were not meant to say or show anything, nothing grand or visionary was in my mind.  They began at the suggestion of a lovely woman who was trying to help me find my center by creating a daily ritual, a daily moment for myself, one that would reflect my commitment to being with cloth and myself.  They were an attempt at meditating.  With no plan for the whole of it, I told myself that I would try do them for one year.              Ideas began to percolate when dru asked if they were part of a cloth for jude's "magic diaries" workshop. I had been thinking about a story cloth and was able to see that these squares were tiny stories of these moments and moods that usually begin my day.  This year of squares will be finished, surrounded by a border that tells some of the bigger story of my being and dreaming.  

    It has become a comfort- holding truths and wished imaginings.

      Another year that I am thinking of . . . this is my one year blog anniversary.  This blog is another thing that I had no plan for the "whole of it" or vision of what it might mean to me.     

    It also is a comfort- holding truths and wished imaginings. 

    A few years ago, I didn't even know what a blog was, or even how to send an attachment.  My sister tried to tell me about blogs, but I didn't get it.  Then I saw an article by jude, and wanted to know more . . .  Now, there is this whole wonderful world full of inspirations and visions and new friends.  A place where I can discover artists like jude and Judy, and many of you.

    Thank you to jude and the community she has created - for encouragement and friendship, and thank you for spending a moment of your time here.