bee creative

rainy day

Back to working on the sweater.

Mostly when...

the cats were sleeping (Gibson's tail is almost ridiculous, he flounces at times).

There was also a lot of thinking (about how we chose to spend our time),

some wishing (for the rain to stop among other things, 2 inches in 7 hours this morning)

and some soup making.

Minestrone (vegetable broth + orzo + beans + kale + peppers + herbs + tiny potatoes from the garden + carrots + a dash of vinegar + olive oil + parmesan)

and Ricotta.

Not sure what I am going to do with the ricotta, just using the milk up.

I'll decide tomorrow. 

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life."  Mary Oliver

pause between storms

 

Leaves, rain water, reflection.

(Not altered.)

Sun today.

Spent time outside tidying and gathering: windfall branches, ivy and rose hips.

More stitching, from my journal: "I have listened to the rain and to the train whistle."

From the last On Being interview:

"So I also had previously learnt the value of, don’t be confrontational. So I told them stories, because I don’t believe that people change because they’re bullied. I believe people change because they change from within. So I didn’t blame them for what they were doing, I just gave stories and showed pictures of the Gombe chimps lazing around and grooming and playing and swinging through the trees. Then, in their minds, they’d probably never even seen that before. So that’s how I dealt with them."

Jane Goodall

sweet dreams

Last night I woke up at 2 AM, not able to go back to sleep, I decided to stitch "Sweet Dreams" on my blanket. Got as far as the "D" and then was ready to go back to sleep. It wasn't great sleep, but it was a little more and now I have a list of things that I want to add to this blanket... words and shapes that are about hopes, intentions, wishes and such things. 

 

while the cats are asleep

It was nap time for the cats (housekeeping is exhausting), so I did some mending...

And then I added the name of the block "Peace and Plenty."

When I made this quilt top I chose the block because of the name.

wandering

Following up on the rocks at the park:

And the horizon, taking the long view.

And stitching randomly (moon from Jude).

No plan at the moment, just stitching.

rearrange things, create

Why not? Why not rearrange where the moon might be?

Why not layer day and night?

Silk thread: onion, indigo (that I grew and fermented), carrot, and red cabbage.

Play.

moderation in all things

Hello climate change (the music is a bit much):

The video was taken yesterday, this is all about a mile from where I live. The flooding is patchy depending on a lot of things. 

I am dry.

This is today.

Somewhere I read that we had the same amount of rain in just 3 days that we typically have in the whole month of November, which is statistically the wettest month in this area.

I've lost track of how much rain that was...lots.

Resiliency is very much on my mind again.

 

 

foundations

The bottom layer of an altered photo could be considered a foundation.

This is unaltered, taken from outside looking in.

And this is with multiple layers.

It diffuses the clutter.

Foundations...another word to toss in my word bank.  Foundations can be weak or strong.  Sometimes they need to be rebuilt.

 

At least three inches of rain in the last four days. The silk was dyed in the fermentation vat that I made with powdered indigo. Tossing some cotton in next.

The first layer of color could be considered a foundation.

Thinking: foundation piecing for quilts.

(Thinking...I use thinking a lot.  I've realized it is because it's in the realm of possible, process, not quite decided, under consideration.)

"If you have built castles in the air your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."  Henry David Thoreau

P.S. for Liz:

 

early Saturdaymorning (melodrama or not)

Early Saturday morning.

Playing a little...

This is about 4 different layers. The beast started as a fragment sent to me by Jude.  It's something that I started, got stuck on and put aside for awhile...years ago. 

That's how it goes for me. I start, stop, return.

A filter added. Change the mood.

Yesterday another trip to the vet for follow up immunizations. Timber escaped out of the carrier twice.

(Gibson was in another carrier.  Would they have been happier together?)

Last night, just before sunset. I think I've finally caught the color.  No filter, just beautiful soft reds, oranges...

The sky was the same color.

One of the two year olds told me this week "go to your room" and then she laughed and said "hi." 

No melodrama with toddlers, just lots of experimentation. 

It's early Saturday morning and a whole weekend before me. 

Thinking about what I want to do.

Can a weekend be a room?

 

 

layers

Digital:

and colors:

And layers for warmth.

I dipped the end of the cowl in my fermented fresh leaf indigo vat. It's still wet but I am sure that it will be just right, however it turns out.

Still thinking about words, will be for awhile:  ritual, ceremonies, celebrations, habits, patterns, and one more..tradition.