Ah, Spring...

Here is my red poppy plant. First up.



Gosh, I have gone and done it again. I've let 2 months go by with out a post. Nothing to say? Hardly...maybe just a change in focus and not sure I wanted to write about it. This has been a very long, dark, dreary winter and I, for one am glad to be done with it. So on to spring and I am grateful. I need light. The woodstove has a new purpose holding the San Marzano seedlings.



I started a drawing class in a private studio in January and the second semester began March 31 and goes through to May12. It has been a great experience, one I look forward to weekly. I have been drawing and sketching all my life and even took a number of classes in college but this class is being taught in the classical way. There is always more to be learned and understood. I have been introduced to some interesting music as well, which has been a bonus and will write about at another time. We are a small group of 5 women being taught by artist, Sally Caswell, in her studio. It has been wonderful experience for me. I feel like a sponge every week, just soaking it all up.



My daughter is planning landscape changes. A need for some privacy is pressing. So we visited a nursery and she was told some of her options. I have been pressed into using my drafting degree from years ago to plot her yard rather than having the nursery staff do it which will save some cash and she took her own photos which helps as well. It will be fun to see what the designer comes up with because it is a challenging yard. She feels like she is in a fish bowl...



Well this was a start. I hope to be more faithful to posting. Have a great day and thanks for reading...

A Celebration of the Arts

Saturday I spent the day at my church with my 40" Harrisville loom demonstrating weaving. In the next photo you can see my loom on the back of a pickup going on holiday for the weekend. It was a great day with many people stopping and asking questions. Some people had no idea what I was doing or what I was doing it on! I had decided on making a "story cloth" of 8/2 cotton in plain weave, a story of the my church community. This cloth will be made of pieces of cloth, natural fibers, jewelry, beads, ribbons, trims, etc. I asked that people please prayerfully consider what they would like to include in the cloth. What might they include that would represent them or someone they love. They could bring something meaningful, like a piece of fabric from a special garment or strips of a favorite fabric. I warped the loom at the church the night before until 1:30 AM. That was an experience. I was humming, whistling, close to talking to myself. I was alone downstairs while others were upstairs hanging paintings and photos and art in general made by the members of the church. I finally got it warped and decided to send a few picks in for a header but I had no tension. Needless to say I was sick. The loom appeared or the friction brake appeared to be not working. At home over toast at 2 AM looking through the Harrisville booklet, the photo showing the brake peddle and it's cord looking somewhat in a different position than mine...I still researched friction brake issues and purchased sandpaper on my way back to the church the next day. Also on Hi,It"s Terri I read about live-weight tention. Looks interesting. Something one uses instead of the brake on the loom. But not enough information for me that day to use...But back to church I go armed with some things to try. The first being to re-route the brake cord...it was the problem. The loom had been in the basement apart. I tried to find a smaller loom to use but there were none close by so the next best thing was my second loom. I have two looms, both 40". One a Macomber and the Harrisville. So I quickly put it together, quickly being the operative word. It was arranged that someone with a truck would come for it as I said. So now it is back home and I am awaiting more additions from people who now have more of an understanding of what I am doing so I can finish it. It will then go to the church with a journal of who and what people gave and it will live on the Communion table and belong to the church.

A book was mentioned in the program Art and the Bible by Francis A. Schaeffer. Looks interesting and will read it but one of the thoughts was encouraging. "Being in the image of the creator, we are called upon to have creativity. In fact it is part of the image of God to be creator or to have creativity."
"He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers." Exodus 35:35 I think that is so cool , written so long ago.
Here is my Amy. She agreed to a photo shoot and her eyes are just fine. Look at that white face. She is a sweet girl.
Ah, my flowers are beginning to return. I found these white bleeding hearts as I was roaming around my winter weary yard. Maybe now I will be able to get out and do some work . It is actually May 1. It is so nice to look out and see green, grass, leaves, and flowers. Yes, green is good right now isn't it.
Have a great day and thanks for reading.