Before and After #6

BEFORE

AFTER

I walked into work empty-handed.

On a shelf near the classroom door, I spotted this brilliant red button.

Since I had been Spirit Cloth and general blog reading and catching up over the weekend,

I viewed this find as quite serendipitous!

My co-worker said to throw it away (choking hazard for the babies)...

but I instead dropped it into my pocket.

I think I'll send off a little button care package to Michelle.

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2013

Found

Very late last night while still cleaning in a corner of my studio

(you'd think my studio was huge, but really I'm just slow!  Besides this is Deep Cleaning!)

I found this beautiful treat under a stack of...stuff!

I have no recall where it is from or what kind of bird it belonged to.  

I obviously placed it under stuff that is rarely touched to keep it safe.

It's the most beautiful blue.

The little fuzzies kept falling off, floating away as I handled it.

I wonder how the little holes got there.

Low and Behold when I turned it over, I saw that it was a magic feather!

Trying to capture the blueness of it, it looks like a painting!

Wowzie- surreal looking

Gotta love all those lines (barbs) and fuzz!

 Sadly, even later last night my neighbor's cat woke me when it killed a small sparrow right outside the bedroom window.  I think I need a nap!

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2011

Sounds of Nature

 Two interesting things came my way today.  One reminded me right away of Grace and her recent rain experience.  I wonder if it would be possible to listen to THIS rain while reading her poetic post!!!

Then I came upon this post of bird calls and thought of Jude's recent post on the woodpecker.  So I scanned the bird calls sight and sure enough, there was the same woodpecker (2 varieties, not sure which one Jude found).  In contrast the the rain experience, it may be kind of odd to listen to a bird call while looking a photos of a dead bird.  Creepy.
Just so you don't miss it... I listened online, I didn't download anything!!  :)

Anyway, just thought i would share these.  Let me know how you enjoy them!

Just stopping in - Be Back Later

I'm stopping in for just a moment...no photos...
Just two things to say, which I may expand on later.

1. While waiting for blood work today, another patient was checking in.  At first he seemed annoyed that they could not take him right away.  He was unsteady on his feet and had an odd expression on his face.  BUT...as he turned around from the check-in counter...and was now facing the room, he threw his arms wide and in a loud deep voice sang a rousing chorus from the old favorite "This Land is Your Land".  His voice was so...so... BIG and I was so startled.  Being the thinker that I am, I tried to figure out the cause for his spontaneous song.  My guy read his book for one split second and then joined right in!  I wished I had sung.  By the time I felt ready...he finished and walked out.  This happens to me a lot.  This experience happens to fit in with the book I was reading late last night! Coincidence! 
2. Yesterday's post on MD really got my wheels going.  I have a Big idea that has come to me on the Purpose of my cloth.  Now that I slept on it last night,  I am trying to see if it is plausible...brainstorming...problem considering and solving...and so on.  I am trying to not have it grow big and elaborate, which I tend to do.  So, I have told myself to just look at the main idea...the tricky part and if it still feels good after that, then continue on.  I do love this part of the process.  

 I will share as things form more firmly in my head.

Happy stitching!
Nancy

Growth Through Cleaning

AKA: A Bright New Day

One Ready...Many Ready To Go!

Isn't my neighbor's Hollyhock a beauty?!  I especially love the light-dark pattern!

Well, I have finally forced myself to get cleaning in my studio.  

It is a huge job as you may guess from my Where I've Been post.  

I purposely used that photo, the murky mess you see, because that is how it has felt in there for a long time.  And while it's great fun to see all of my fabric friends hanging beautiful eco-dyed masterpieces on the clothesline under the shining sun...it's not such a great idea to show off utter chaos, in any kind of light!  I might add that I know how fun it is to super-duper enlarge everything to really get a good look with bad eyes! Yikes!

Of course in cleaning up, cleaning out...one must Look at all of the Belongings and make Decisions.  OK folks...sing it with me now...that old Favorite by The Clash...add a 't' and hit it...Should it stay or should it go now??

So, it turns out I have a lot of notes, ideas, websites, book titles and quotes to investigate online and/or add to my typed archives before I pitch the papers.  It's all about the process, right?!  The funny thing is stuff I'm unearthing from over one year ago, also pertains to right now.  

But, I am determined.  I will get this job done!  I will put into practice the art of positive thinking so I will soon have space to practice other kinds of art!

I have discovered some very interesting websites.  I'll try to share them soon.  This one I will share now because of the fun coincidence of finding it now...because it begins with you entering specific locations on a Map.  Yes I am so attracted to maps!  Ha!

More 'pattern' in my neighbor's Sunflower

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2011

Between Two Worlds

Sometimes we can feel like we are between two worlds.  Today is like that for me.  Within my work world and my personal world things are shifting.
Some shifts are bigger and scarier...
and some shifts are so subtle that they can easily go unnoticed.
Sometimes you have to look real hard to learn those lessons.

In the perfect timing that is the coincidence of life, today two children's books came to me.  Two books I'd never heard of.  Yet, two books (among many others) that connect stitches and art with young children.
Two worlds coming together.

The first book: Pocket Full of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes by Salley Mavor.  The intricate fiber and trinket 'illustrations' capture the child in me.  The little people in their acorn 'hats' grab me, pull me in and hold me there.  This is just the kind of imagination and earth whimsy I adore.  This symbol is on my little hearts sampler in the way of acorn fabric and I have been contemplating finding a way to incorporate the acorn into my work, as it has been of large importance to me since I was a child.  Now, the imagination of acorns keep me connected to the child within!  :)
PS This book reminded me of both "In The Heart" by Ann Turner, illustrated by Salley Mavor and "The Fabrics of Fairytale - Stories Spun From Far and Wide" by Tanya Robyn Batt.

The second book: Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth by Joan Schoettler and illustrated by Jessica Lanan.  Beautifully illustrated, this story speaks of a mother and daughter connection and introduced me to 'wrapping cloths'.   I am intrigued with the subject (direct or indirect) of relationships, the artwork and the custom of wrapping cloths.  It reminded me of the recent conversations connected to The Magic Diaries...cloaks, capes, nests and snugly covers to protect, comfort, celebrate and become companions on our life's journey.

Now I have to be honest, I have not yet read either book but I have read all of the information, reviews etc. at the original sources and at Amazon.  The first book came to me on FaceBook from Reading Rockets.  They are a great source for literacy links for those with little ones in their lives.  The second one came to me via the folks over at Shen's Books.  Their catalog/website is a treasure trove of multicultural books for young children.  I am always so inspired by and interested in children's books for the lovely qualities they share, even if I am the littlest kid around!
*NOTE: I did not link Amazon because I wanted to make sure I wasn't linking my account!  Yikes!  But I trust you can find that well known source.  Also, all this linking makes a quick blog post a far more time consuming task!  Oh well, it's worth it - being able to share with friends!

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2011