The Evolution of a Piece

Chasing the Moon  50 1/2" w x 40" h

Part of the enjoyment of hand stitching is the time it allows for a piece to evolve and tell me it's story.

In the beginning I started making a piece about the marshlands

after the beavers have left

when sticks and chewed off trees litter the landscape.

The sky called to me but it didn't want to be too clear

and so scraps and bits and pieces of colour interrupts the flow

adding a feeling of blowing in the wind....I hope.

Then the grasses reminded me they had to be included

because they are growing back with renewed vigour

since the flooded beaver ponds have dried up.

I wove them into the running stitch sky.

The Moon asked to be included in the story

among the flotsam and jetsam in the sky

and the title Chasing the Moon popped into my head.

Then the ground demanded attention and so

 I turned to enjoying the luxury of stitching through silk velvet.

 A delicious gift from my dear friend Judy Martin.

And so it is finished

the story is complete

Do you ever feel sad when you've finished?

No more to add

No more days of stitching.

But then a new piece grabs your imagination and off you go again

a new story starts.

I received a delightful addition to Stevie's story this week.

At the age of three she is stitching clothes for her mermaid!

 

With all this distancing I'm missing so many firsts!

Well done sweetheart!

Day of Memory

The tide recedes but leaves behind

Bright seashells in the sand

The sun goes down but gentle warmth

Still lingers on the land

The music stops and yet lingers on

In sweet refrain.

For every joy that passes

Something beautiful remains.

Something Beautiful Remains

by Martha Vashti Pearson

So, my dearest boy

On this 26th day of memory

life has changed because of Covid19

but your family and friends continue to

carry you closely in hearts full of memory.

You were the best big brother a brother could have!

I reckon you were the best best friend a friend could have

and we are so grateful to them for all the stories

they passed on!

Stories of mischief

Stories of kindness and consideration

Adventures shared.

They all helped enrich our memories.

All my boys have always been

the sunshine in my life.

So proud of you all

God bless.

Growing Up Behind the Garage!

She was a great mother

though Handy Hubby reckons

that is the father.

All of a sudden it seemed

all four heads were covered in feathers....

.....One teetered on the edge.....

....and flew into the undergrowth by the stream.

Within four days the nest was empty.

And now we can't tell who is who among all the robins

bobbing about the garden.

In a flash

all grown up.

Makes me wonder how these two munchkins

are getting on.

We had the privilege of having them cross our path

way back in 2016.

Hatchlings and Butterflies

Every second day

A new hatchling escapes the confines of its egg

They can't lift their heads at first

But soon they gain the strength

And all of a sudden their beaks are the biggest

brightest part of their tiny little bodies

Like a lot of us

I have been going through fabric and books

trying to eliminate

Donated four boxes of books to our local

Society of Fibre Artists of the Annapolis River

from where I know they will find good homes

It is very hard parting with books and fabric

Gathered together all my brightest and boldest scraps

thinking it was about time they were used up

and so I have dedicated most of my days recently

to butterflies for the grand girls

An old, old pattern I have always loved 

from the early 1900's

One quilt

Fifteen butterfly blocks 

Four butterflies per block

Two quilts to make

How many butterflies is that?!

Holy moly!

It's going to be a while

With two little girls who love pink

it should have been just pink butterflies!

Strangely though I have hardly any pink in my scraps.

But I am having fun

Coloured scraps are knee deep on the floor

leaving no room for Rusty pups to relax.

Every table is covered in colour!

But when overcome with brightness

I can always add some sky stitching to the gently grey beaver sticks piece!

And our morning walk provides the Rusty Pups

with an opportunity to eat their greens!

Actually they think a walk is a buffet

of greens and wood and mud!

We have stopped walking the dyke because

they eat the shells dropped by seagulls.

Well, I have to put my foot down somewhere!

I think these little ones have more discerning tastes!

Have a bright sunshine day

For the Love of Stones

Stones on windowsills

Stones in the hand

Stones on beaches

Stones in the mud

Stones in walls

Stones in piles

Stones to walk on

Stones not so nice to walk on

Stones by the sea

Imitations on stones

 Rusty Pup investigating stones

Humans talking stones

Stones lined up in houses

Stones lined up in stitches

I hope you touch a stone today!

Slowly Stitching

Slowly stitching in my island of calm

Weeping for injustices around the world

Praying that solutions will be found

Hoping that governments will prove themselves worthy

It is surely a time when drastic systemic change is needed

It is a time to invest in change

It is a time to invest in people

And talking of change

Our garden Robin decided to place her nest atop our garden hose

and we are very grateful to her for that

because they usually nest high above in spruce trees

but this year for a change we can get to watch her.

Eggs of new beginnings

Eggs full of potential for the future

It is hard not to have a heavy heart but

 Perhaps she placed her eggs in sight to remind me

it is possible to make a brighter world

and we are living through the time of change.

I hope you find some jewels in your day