Bowl for Sky Meditations

Bowl for Sky Meditations (2007)
Wool roving, hand-dyed, wet-felted, needle-felted, found feather

Namaste,
Zann

A Fairy Pot for Raven

I've decided that blogging is like having a baby in that if you want to do it only when all conditions are just so, stars and projects and finances in perfect alignment, the Right Time....it will never happen. You just go ahead and do it.

It's been a month since my last entry, far too long. I've been knitting madly, finishing things (!), felting, thinking long thoughts, breathing. There are photographs to take, explanations to write, and I never feel I have enough time to do it, to create a blog entry that will please my vision of a blog entry.

Is it better to blog and blog less-than-perfect than never to blog at all? Today I'm saying yes to that. I'm jumping over all the projects and thoughts of the last month to show this....hmmm, wouldn't you know I am trying to create an entry after this long time and now psyching myself up to do it and Blogger won't let me upload any pictures!

Aha -- I'll see if I can find a way around by uploading to my own web space and dancing through the mysterious (to me, at least) labyrinth of this page's html. Here goes....

woo-hooo - I did it! Above is a little needle-felted lidded pot, about 3" high and 3" at its widest point. I was making it for my own self and amusement, but about halfway through, it began to make itself clear that it was to belong to my granddaughter Raven, a little gift to give at the family party for her 12th birthday.



Inside, I tucked a chunk of amethyst crystals. Wish I'd also taken a picture of the inside of the pot - there is a swirly spiral of red-violet in the center.



The party was last night and she seemed quite taken with the fairy pot. My other gift to her is our very own private, custom-designed workshop at the local bead shop, Beading Paradise. We are going to plan a project that will require skills we'd like to have (both of us want to learn to do wirework) and Binnie will get the materials and create a workshop just for us. Cool, huh?

Happy, happy birthday, Raven - you are one special person and I cherish the time we get to spend together!!

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I shall end with a picture of the September scrumble I sent to my exchange partner in the Women's Artistic Soul yahoo group:

I hesitate to make a public commitment, but I really, really intend to blog more regularly, if imperfectly and anachronistically. I.....gulp....promise!!!

Blue Moon Bowl & Cat Pin

I'm very excited about my work of late and have tried to refocus on the visions I have of artwork in fiber. It's very difficult for me to concentrate on any one technique, because I love so many ways of working with fiber. For many years, it suited me to be a 'glorious generalist' --a wonderful phrase from Grace Llewellyn's book for homeschooling teens, The Teenage Liberation Handbook.

However, I have reached a point where I feel it's time for me to pull techniques together, to seek the GUT (grand unified theory ) of my personal artistic universe. Or, at least to be more balanced between process and product. I want, too, to focus on the processes that give me the most satisfaction and pleasure in the working: freeform crochet and knitting, small loom weaving, spinning and felting, both wet-felting and needlefelting.

I have been very busy lately, taking time to experiment with ideas that have been begging for some attention, making little bits and pieces which will come together in a series of works on a particular theme (which will be revealed at a later date) and actually completing some projects.

Here are two:

Blue Moon Bowl (2007) 5.5" X 6.75"

Wool, hand-dyed, wet-felted, needle-felted

Blue Moon Bowl (inside view)

Blue Moon Bowl (top view of lid)

I Am Allergic To Cats, But I Honor Them Anyway (2007) 2" X 2.5"

Recycled sari silk, hand-dyed wool, plastic button, metal pinback, crocheted, needlefelted, sewn


The weather has been lovely here, and I am, right at this moment, enjoying a bit of peace after some very stressful weeks. It's primarily my mother and her dementia - if I get too close and involved, I feel like I am right down the rabbit hole with her and my whole body begins to react and I become vulnerable to deep sadness and grief feelings for Patrick.

So, the situation with my mother also seems to be all about balance, but about balance walking a tightrope! In any case, I'm trying to remain in the Now and today I awoke and thought, "Today I will be thankful and seek joy in simple things."

Namaste,
'Zann