pomegranate trail: Medicine Bag Pouch

Showing posts with label Medicine Bag Pouch. Show all posts

Thursday, March 30, 2023

When Love is the Gift

~~~~~~~~

There are moments where one, as the giver, can be more or just as excited as one who is the receiver. Perhaps this is one of those times. I'm always excited to be the giver, but I'm super happy with this gift.

When Love is the gift...

I have finally finished the pouch. You can follow the trail of it in these places:

November 29, 2022

https://pomegranatetrail.blogspot.com/2022/11/today-home.html

December 31, 2022

https://pomegranatetrail.blogspot.com/2022/12/so-long-2022.html

January 17, 2023 - creature card, fringe string

https://pomegranatetrail.blogspot.com/2023/01/more-music-more-memories-and-then-some.html

January 21, 2023 - Fringe string

https://pomegranatetrail.blogspot.com/2023/01/undone.html

February 3, 2023

https://pomegranatetrail.blogspot.com/2023/02/february-days.html

February, 27, 2023

https://pomegranatetrail.blogspot.com/2023/02/leather-light.html

March 3, 2023

https://pomegranatetrail.blogspot.com/2023/03/day-3.html

March 8, 2023

https://pomegranatetrail.blogspot.com/2023/03/hump-day-marching-along.html

Plus, you can see the Hawk feather found and posted about back here:

https://pomegranatetrail.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-counts-are-in.html

I wish you all could feel this one! The softness of the leather, the texture of the weave & stitch, the fringe ~ wonderful to gently run your fingers through, like the hair of a loved one.

I included my now familiar symbols on leather, along with some new ones: moon, sun, stars, mountains, growing things, earth, water, tree, flowers and my ASL inspired symbol for friendship.

I included the 'chosen' buttons: the leaves and the circle-stitch-like buttons.

The braided strap, provides a way to carry or hang it.

~~~~~

It will be sent along with a few books, some items from Nature, a couple of cards and so very much Love!

Each book, card...the feather, driftwood and rock holds a personal story.

The creature card has been seen, over the years, in various ways here on the trail. It began as a large watercoloring done with school age children, back in the 1990's. Saskia has another critter, a dog, from this same piece of paper. It lives with the many inhabitants in The Dwelling. I think this beast is the last bit of that 18X22 piece of paper.

The book: A Hole is to Dig is a beloved book from my college years. My mama loved Ruth Krauss and so do I. This book is so filled with that special child-like quality, which is paired perfectly with Maurice Sendak's stellar artwork.

Ernst by: Elisa Kleven belonged to my mama. When she passed, she had a small collection of favorite children's books. This was among them. It is a colorful jewel with a crocodile who likes to ask What If? Isn't that wonderful?!?

Los Ojos del Tejedor by: Cristina Ortega speaks to history and weaving in NM. I found it at a used books library sale. Imagine my delight...a book by someone in the Spirit World Circle and a book about weaving! Wonderful! You can read her comment way back on this post.

The driftwood came from our beloved, beloved Emma Wood, State Beach. I've had it for Years. It is so smooth, with a very good feel in your hand. One end has a snake face? It is a gem of a 'stick'. For years it has lived in different places here at home. Most recently, it lived in the tub with my yarn because I saw it as a fine piece of wood to use in a woven piece of some sort.

The Hawk feather is documented in the post above. It has rested on my 'important wall' above my desk, with my eagle necklace, a photo of pogonip and a cloth from Jude, among other things.

The rock came from our 2010 Big Road Trip, a rock shop in AZ, if I remember correctly. The polishing of it really makes the design stand out! I can see this in stitch...Penny? Judy? Jude? Liz? Anyone? 🙂

It is smooth and cool in the hand.

Magic.

The little 'nest' card has been in my collection forever. It has been held in the category of "too precious to use". It is precious, but it is ready for new journey now. I have always liked this drawing so much...3 small blue eggs in a nest, a home...so finely drawn.

May you feel the joy in giving

May you know when to let go ( I say that one a lot, don't I?)

May you pause in the holding, before doing so

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Hump Day ~ Marching Along

~~~~~

Thanks Liz!

~~~~~~~

LINK

An old childhood favorite!

~~~~~~~~~

In honor of Jude's star this morning 🙂

Oliver: "Good Morning Starshine"

LINK

...And four more...

The Moody. Blues: "Go Now" (1964)

The Grass Roots: "Live For Today"

Simon and Garfunkel: "Scarborough Fair"

Led Zeppelin: "Going to California"

~~~~~~

I'm still moving buttons around (please ignore the button staples still attached). It is amazing really how many tiny choices get made...how each turn of the button brings a new look. The slightest difference...

I think I'm leading towards these though. I like the way the lines look like stitches 🙂

As for the the other side, I'm leaning towards the "leaves".

Please chime in with what you like!

At least the fringe is done.

I'm truly lovin' this project!

~~~~~

May you march along

May you remember the old

May you live in the new & now

Friday, March 3, 2023

DAY 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Choosing

Choose

⬆ In part, from the link above ⬆

verb (used with object), chose; cho·sen or (Obsolete) chose; choos·ing.

1. to select from a number of possibilities; pick by preference:She chose Sunday for her departure.

2. to prefer or decide (to do something):He chose to run for election.

3. to want; desire:I choose moving to the city.

4. (especially in children's games) to contend with (an opponent) to decide, as by odd or even, who will do something:I'll choose you to see who gets to bat first.

verb (used without object), chose; cho·sen or (Obsolete) chose; choos·ing.

5. to make a choice, or select from two or more possibilities:Accepted by several colleges, the boy chose carefully.

6. to be inclined:You may stay here, if you choose.

7. (especially in children's games) to decide, as by means of odd or even, who will do something:Let's choose to see who bats first.

~~~~~

Problem solving and choosing buttons, so I can attach the sturdy strap. This is quite different from how I've done my much smaller medicine bags (and CMB), but this is a first time (possibly only time) project, so I have to figure out what will work. I'm reminded of how I fasten the loop on my Christmas stockings. I plan on using four buttons, 2 on one side, 2 on the other. So far, I plan on matching them on each side. I'm Not rushing into my choosing. Sometimes it is good to ponder first. So far, I like all of these, with the top right coming in last place.

~~~~~

I put away all of the Herbal teas, which I am not drinking right now. The only one left is Green Tea. I guess I like that one 😉

LINK

Today when I opened up You Tube, I noticed this video due to the unique looking guitar.

We watched much of it and went over to the website to price it...yeah, somewhere around $7000.00. Right. I listened to bits and pieces of the videos there, but those will not be the 5 for today. However, very unique looking guitars!

But, while watching one of them on You Tube, the one above was in the sidebar. I've already watched it three times. So powerful.

This sent me on a Rhiannon Giddens binge. So worth it!

I've Heard The Carolina Chocolate Drops in the past...but her, all by herself...her voice filled with passion, calm, rage...you name it...her voice raspy, crystal clear, soft, slow, racing. Her.

I planned to put music here that I haven't posted before, music new to me...boy am I glad I decided that! This will be a wonderful adventure, as proved below.

#1 - Rhiannon Giddens: "Julie" (Original) - as seen above.

#2. Rhiannon Giddens: "Ruby"

#3. Paul Simon and Rhiannon Giddens: "American Tune"

#4 Rhiannon Giddens: "Wayfaring Stranger"

#5 Rhiannon Giddens: "Shake Sugaree"

5 was not enough. There were more. Here is a BONUS VIDEO

~~~~~~~

Today the 'corridor' was bursting with Spring! It was a nice warm day on the patio.

May you enjoy your choices

May you embrace 'new'

May you be generous with your love

Monday, February 27, 2023

Leather & Light

~~~~~~~~~~~~

With thanks to all of you, especially Dee and Dana this go around, I finally got myself in gear to move forward with this project. You may remember it. One side is this weaving, a 'coaster' I'd woven for my mom long, long ago. She and my dad had years previously got new living room couches, tan and white striped. This was quite the opposite of their blue couches and "English Pub" look prior. Plaid swivel chairs, dark wood...dark wood beams on the ceiling...red carpet! Oy.

The new look was light and oh so different. A glass coffee table, which my mom had always wanted.

This 'coaster', wonky as it is, was a celebration of this new phase in her home life.

On the leather side, a tree grew! The tree is finished now and has a pine look about it. A "Hazel" look about it, in a superficial way.

I spent some time today braiding. After some trial and error, I added a tan chenille yarn and some Hazel string, which had been used to tie dye bundles, to the leather I planned on using all along. This was a slow process of choosing, trial braiding...trying again.

*The color in this pic is awful...I've been having so much trouble getting a good, honest photo recently.*

Anyway, I've had this one spool of leather since my daughter was 8 and wanted to be an Indian for Halloween. So, I made her and her doll a dress...she wore all of my turquoise jewelry...and with the help of my son, I made her a papoose to carry her doll, (using reeds from the back yard), leather (much like this) and this leather cording you see here. I bought it at a store that I thought was long gone, but merely moved: Tandy Leather. Such a long, long time ago. A lifetime. Anyway, as you can see, I still have some left for another day. Maybe I'll see if I still have any of the papoose photos left. It was pretty cool. It seems that lately this blog place has become a memoir as much as anything! Anyway, braiding with leather is quite the battle and requires strong fingers. Lucky for me, I don't go for perfection.

I used the leather cording on this Christmas Stocking too.

And now, also for the strap for this project.

The price has sure gone up! 😉

It feels sturdy.

The photos below are from last night, when I leapt off the couch because the light called to me.

It was another different, but beautiful light show tonight.

May you embrace what comes

May you feel sturdy when needed

May you remember that tomorrow is a new day

Friday, February 3, 2023

February Days

~~~~~~~~~~~

The clouds and crow called me out. It was so warm and lovely on the porch, a nice break in my book black hole or my musical instrument investigation.

~~~~~~

The Tale of Meshka the Kvetch

Below is a very animated telling of this story and a link to a reading of the book. I had forgotten how much I liked this book. My copy is like new!

LINK

Another reading HERE

A Mitzvah Is Something Special, an autographed copy.

The two books in the top row were mine as a child. I loved both of them.

Kind Little Joe still pertains today. Houses, brought up feelings of the huge homeless crisis, thoughts on diversity in the least and that of 'tokenism' as well. Some of these older books are good as conversations starters...opening the door to learning in all sorts of ways.

As a child, I liked the gypsy caravan 🙂

From the slightest of memories, I recall this drawing. It is the apartment I lived in as a child.

~~~~~~

While outside, I unbundled the last two bundles, with the warm sun on my face and call and response with Mr. Crow. Gotta love days like this. We put this orchid outside as the way it was planted became an asthma trigger. It seems to really like it out there!

~~~

I pulled out the 'rhythm instruments' tub. All were pulled out and played one by one. The feather decorated flute was cracked, so we had to pitch that one. But, the feathers are now hanging from the necks of some loved guitars! Most of these instruments were bought by me as gifts for J. when I went to ECE Conferences (gotta love those venders!). Every instrument I chose, included lots of testing. For example when deciding on the claves I stood there and tried dozens of them, finding two that had tones pleasing to me. I need lower tones for my ears! All of these gifts were given with such love. He's recorded almost every one!

The little flat drumhead drum was from this event. The ocarina came from an open house and craft fair at St. Andrew's Abbey, so many years ago. Bit by bit these will go off to Little Grandson 🙂

~~~~

The oranges have been so good! We're loving them!

Slowly but surely, stitching happens. Just so, so slow...even way slower than is to be loved, sought after and appreciated in the slow lovin' world!

~~~~~

Bedtime books we loved. Books she loved. There has been a large collection of books to inspire sleep.

"The Nightgown of the Sullen Moon" had me thinking about Liz and her Moon Book and little P & E and wouldn't they look sweet in blue flannel nightgowns with shimmering stars. sigh.

~~~~~ ~~~~~

I found this piece of paper, stenciled SAFE (from my work for the Word Cloth). The timing with Grace's recent posts was perfect. I added a lil something to it, but left room for more.

~~~~~~~~~

Flowers, leaves, and a rusty nut & bolt...string lines leave the best marks. I've taken to rinsing the string to be used in a particular project.

They are wet in these photos. I wonder how they will dry? Love the hints of green and red 🙂

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Can you find the crow? I decided to leave this one with big sky.

May you flit, land and fly

May you flick off excess weight and soar

May you always look up

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Undone

~~~~~

I finally opened the bundle. I was only mildly please with it. Not really enough interesting marks or color. I could rewrap it again, but I didn't...I just made a couple of new ones.

The real win for me was standing out in the warm sunshine, talking back to a crow. while fiddling with cloth and rusty bits.

I have a plan for the dyed string.