frangrance as the live link to memory

Yesterday my patron saint A, bless her daily,  sent me box of treasures. I had the nerve to ASK for any pinks that she might have languishing as I don't have nearly enough for a badly planned gift.

She also included a bag full of perfume samples!
I almost peed m'self in delight as I went through the bag.

Trying on a new scent is an amazing adventure for me. Fragrance can take me places I'll never see and likewise can deposit me squarely in the past as vibrant and rich and fully expressed as the first time around. Perfume is a time machine.

Today I am rocking Cartier de Lune. I think I like the name more than the cloud I'm in but I'll give it the day and see what it conjures. My sense of smell may be slightly damaged though. I was so excited to check out all the little samples I accidentally beheaded a tiny bottle of "Jimmy Choo" thinking the spray top was a twist off..a fat dollop went directly into my mouth. Now THAT was an experience I don't want to revisit.

Here's just some of the bounty she sent and a few of my own wilder creations. I forget that pink doesn't' necessarily have to be riotous.

the arc

During my morning blogcrawl the arc in Jude's work in progress caught my eye and made me wonder about why such a simple shape has so much appeal for me. I've been using it a lot in my own work lately. I'm sure it's nothing more than the biggest shape I can draw in one swipe reaching in all directions at once.
Casting the circle, setting up the boundary of my influence.

Stop over at Wake Robin where Velma has posted several more incredible photographs. I could babble on in artspeak for hours about the second chipmunk shot taken through the screen, but just zoom in on it yourself and take in all the tiny little things that make it so compelling to look at from those two snow sparkles, the light in his eye, the arc of his ear and the cruciform shape on his back. Just marvelous.

back in harness

As much as I enjoyed seeing my family in NY, it was good to come home to my crew in GA, February in NY is plain nasty.

I'm just now shaking off the effects of the flight home. The plane seemed to be waddling through the air, like riding in a bowl of jello, and that would have been ok but for a nearby unhappy child. Unhappy because she needed a diaper change even before we boarded. Twice I saw my hand reaching for the paper bag and twice I told myself "you won't feel any better afterword so don't do it" It was very good to touch down in the ATL.

There's much to look forward to and plan for. An invitation for a group fiber exhibit here, AQE to plan for in the fall. Closer in, a big sale at OHCO this weekend - imagine, piles of fabric pushed around by little bulldozers....

I'm taking small steps with this one making each stitch count for a lot.

The dragonfly quilt has come back from NY with me for repairs. It's nice to have a day off in the middle of the week and needful things to do.

art on the run

Of course I took more time thinking about and packing sewing stuff than I did clothing (NY in February, no coat).

Both of these little things were rolled up filled with pins and a note to the TSA to be careful not to get blood on the art in progress. From the looks of the bundle they took the warning and didn't bother to investigate. Neither was I groped at the security gate.
We'll see what the return trip is like.

I'm almost afraid to start stitching on this piece for fear of screwing it up, I like the design so well. The first one, not so much but I have a lot of successful red-headed stepchildren and superstars that have languished instead of shining.

I'm in NY for a surprise visit for my Dad's 88th birthday. This house is full of my quilts, big and small, all of them hard at work. That is my nephew Dallas continuing a nap that that started in the car.

The house is full of family, fun and food for the occasion.