handstories

post-yesterday

    The first gift was having Blue come home for his spring break at midnight Friday night, and give the very first greeting for my new year.  

    Yesterday, we drove in pouring rain to see the last stop of the Fiber Fusion show.  

    It was nice to see both of my pieces near each other (top right and in the case.  Leslie Levenson's "Maple Tree" on the left).

    "Wanderlust" Booklet.

    "As It Is and Should Be"

    There was carrot cake.

    And stitching- appliquéing more stones, mostly from gifted cloth.

    They turned into pockets.

    With messages written inside.

    There is more to say about this- the gifts, pockets, messages . . . about gratitude and acceptance, and seeing Self.  I'm still working through it, trying to get clear.  

    There is sunshine today.

it's been a wild couple of days...

   Beginning with this woman, our host for the Remix event at the Seattle Art Museum, on Friday night.

    A few of us, from our singing group, performed for twenty minutes at the event. 

    What a happening!  We definitely felt like the old folks in the room, but it was a lot of fun to be a part of.  

    Saturday evening was the reception for the second stop of Fiber Fusion.

    My "wanderlust" booklet was included at this venue. (more here.)

    In addition to "As it is, and should be" (more here)

    Another lovely event.  There is still one more show to go . . . our concert tomorrow night.  Then it will be time for some quiet-alone-with-just-the-family days (sighed the overdone introvert).

wanderlust

    "wanderlust . . .

    led her through . . . bejeweled dreams,

    under rainbow pavilions . . .

    across sweetly storming seas,

    to sleep in a bed of moonbeams."

    I keep daydreaming of get aways.  Sometimes it's of a journey to Italy, sometimes a cabin by the water and trees, or just days of quiet on the couch.  Last night there was a dream of a very beautiful inn, with brilliant blue tile work on the walls.  It was on a mountain, such a high mountain.  Winding and spiraling around it, I traveled to the top, and then reached out to touch the stones.  

    I woke up both restless and rested.

progress?

    Putting the final edge stitches into the "wanderlust" booklet.  The blanket stitch is always very satisfying- secure and folksy.  

    Eye-rolling parenting moment:  Yesterday Moon called for me in a panic.  There was a spider in his bedroom that he wanted me to take out.  (All three guys ask me to do this, from twelve to fifty-two, spiders, bees, etc.  I'm also the only one allergic to bees.)  

    Exasperated, I said, "Why can't you guys take your own spiders outside?  Why are all three of you such wimps about bugs?"  

    Moon's exasperated reply, "We're boys, Mom!"

    Last night Blue asked me to get a spider out of the bathroom.  I walked away.  They need to learn how to woman-up.

 

conflictions

    This booklet is a slow, but peace filled journey.  I could do with a little bobbing on the sea, or a really good loud storm.  Hard to tell which would hit the spot best.

drops & arcs

     Still traveling...wandering...meandering through this booklet.  The blue dots were made during the rain and wind yesterday- a rain rainbow.  Streams of water ran down the sides of the road, puddles grew in the yard, and the windows were pelted.  Everything feels gray.

    I'm thinking this needs I need a bigger rainbow.

bejeweled

    Wandering through enchanted mountains and swaying towers.    

    (The skies are so gray and drippy here.  It's nice to have this small world to sojourn to.)

making & taking shape

    The new booklet has been going along, but it reached a standstill yesterday.  I was turning it every which way, looking for the story thread.  It was time to snip down the center line and allow the pages to be turned.

    That's all it took for the tale of "the queen's wanderlust" to begin.  (To be continued . . .)

    A heartfelt "Thank you!" to all who have come by and visited the new shop.  I've mailed two booklets off in the last week, and had expected to feel a little sad in saying good bye to them, but instead felt rather giddy at the adventures they were off to!  

pent-up stitching

   It's been double time at school this week, working on a play with nearly FIFTY fifth graders.  Very good work, but exhausting.  

    This morning was the first chance I've had for stitching (other than mindless evening knitting) all week.  

    I spent a nice piece of time on this spot- filling in the gap with lazy-daisy, satin, thread beads, weaving, and three little french knots.  I'd forgotten how much fun french knots are to make.

    It felt as if the needle exploded with bottled-up energy.

    And there were three cups of tea in a row.

mapping mulling

    It's been pouring.  All last night, all day today, and still.  I was able to get some stitches added to this page, before the darkness won.

    Thinking on the intersections of longitudes, latitudes, rhumb lines, and wind roses that were found in some maritime map books from the library.  Also, considering the shapes lines in our own lives create as they cross each other.