Early returns

It's cooler outside than in this morning. One of the perks of living in a hollow.

All windows are open for a while -purging the conditioned air- the scents of gardenias, magnolias, and all the other fecund greenery taking its space. Just until the sun gets over the ridge.

Last night I picked a few random skeins from the deck and force dried them. Not what I was looking for, but at least I know the "why" behind the results.

Nothing to do now but wait for the heat of the day to dry the rest. Some spinning off while I do the day job tonight. It gets slow on the weekends and I'm glad to have something simple to do with my hands other than surf the web.

experiments

I get requests.

Whether or not I can grant them remains a mystery.

Can I duplicate a thread? I can try, but it's not looking likely.  The colors here are not part of my current pallet.

The bigger problem. Can I make enough of one color so an artist can approach a larger project with more than just one bobbin of a favorite color?

That was the aspect I tackled today. With a slight change of process, I might have hatched out some close cousins. Won't know until everything is dried and spooled.

It was too damn hot out there for this old spider. I think I may try the next run by the full moon and maybe a candle. The colors will be a mystery even to me.

the picnic table...pity the colors won't stay

TGIF even tho I only went back to work just yesterday.

My Swedish ivy is loving being back outside. I need to get some small pots to start a squad of offspring for gift giving.

On sale at the grocery store. I'll be having a smallish house guest from time to time. We are going to cook something. These will bring some fun.

My mood this morning. Keeping the blank slate at the ready, coffee light and sweet while I get drunk on the scent of the gardenias.

I have to work this weekend including the holiday.  Not a suffering as I had no plans.

my dark materials

There's still a small clutch of dirty threads available. If you want to get crazy and split up the foursomes in some way that suits you, email me and we'll work something out.

(I kept this one)

I'm at least ten days away from the next round, despite perfect dyeing weather. At that time, I'm going to be taking some requests!

what spring?

Nothing like a summer cold in Georgia. You just think that being outside in the air and sun would be a good thing until you try it.


Charlie's school had a little year-end celebration yesterday and this morning, it was clarified that today, not tomorrow, is the last day of school. All of these days together have made life so sweet.

Dracarys!

by Gemina Ferrari

In case you were wondering how I felt about a bunch of old white men making decisions about women's healthcare and what they do with their bodies.
This aggression will NOT stand.

New dirty threads updated

Like a bowl of sherbert.

Hectic week

Not that the week itself was so hectic for me. Just different. Colin sent this today. Wonderful start to the morning. The rest of the day ate itself in chunks of errands and nonsense.

By the time I had to sit down to the day job, this was happening out under the hot sun. I'll be going downstairs to rinse them out in a little while. See if my experiment ran the way I intended.

Yesterday was given over to socializing - yes, actual face to face conversation with an adult peer. Remember that? We brought stitching but not much got done for the yakking. It's nearly finished anyway. The Ace of Cups.

But the crown of my week was this: Charlie busting out of Pre-K!

something different

Never fool with technology when you are bored and not paying full attention. Still, this is not a bad layout and it's supposed to be mobile friendly.

Started the day early with a little stitch and music while I mused on the nature of Evil. I know, weird, but this is what writers do.

Then I went downstairs to take care of the kitchen and was seized by the spirits of the next book. Got a big chunk of that out of the way.

Then we got to renew the thrill of hearing vinyl on a turntable. The Flaming Lips have a 45 of  Bowie's "Space Oddity".  Great stuff!

TGIF - updated

Nothing terribly significant going on, just my over-reaction to the ordinary.

I think I may have found a solution to sending threads internationally. Time will tell.

This is just part of the process.

TODAY, 5/11 at 8pm est is the last chance to bid on Revisions. Right now at a mere 310$ (last time I checked) 
Pounce on it  here

Revisions getting ready to fly

Revisions  44x29    2019

If you are interested in owning this piece, please go to the Writer Unboxed website and bid on it.


I finished it just about the same time that I finished (ha!) writing Prophets Tango so I decided I wanted to do something to give back to the organization that has been so instrumental in my progress as a writer. 

You don't have to be a member to bid. Your money will go towards one of this year's scholarship packages.

If you get lucky and bold, you'll be able to say that you own a piece of art done by a famous novelist back when she was still stitching her life together with pieces of thread and cloth.

Remember this? I'll never forget the feeling. 

If you have any questions about the work or the bidding please email me. 

leaps and bounds

You really don't forget how to ride a bicycle or hand code HTML. For the first time since 2012, I think, I've renovated my

  main website. 

It was a lot less painful than I thought it would be.

The reason for this dive off a cyber cliff is exciting, but I'll keep it under my hat for another 12 hours.

The site is necessarily spare for the moment and will be fluxing like crazy in the coming weeks and months.

Some eye candy for today. It was nice to sit outside in the sun for a few hours but I have to rethink that plastic Adirondack chairs. Not great for stitching.

a napping house

I could digitally remove all the crud from the carpet, but as I'm too lazy to vacuum.....

This is a section of cotton bed ruffle that I've (insanely) decided to pick all the seams out of. Really good, French seams. I do a few inches and have to set it aside.

Sweetie thinks it's all for her entertainment.

The weather has swung between noisy thunderstorms and steamy sun blazing about four times today. Napping seems the best way to deal with it.



Midday, there was mayhem right outside the front door. Colin captured this. The hawk was undeterred and returned to his good hunting place within the hour. I sincerely hope that is one of the rats that has been plaguing my kitchen and I'm very glad I did not resort to poison.

illuminating

speak in the language of darkness.

hands and fingers, know them and each other.

By the night ways, mouths and tongues, discover the grain and strength.

By heart, what to clutch for comfort and who to cling to in certainty.

Beltane fruits

I'd forgotten how the strong serendipity factor in my technique pays off in miracles.

To be sure, there's plenty of mud, but even now they are undergoing further treatment, some ghosting.

I'm setting aside a few pieces, but a lot of this is headed for the scrap hamper. You'll see bits and pieces here.

Beltane ripened

The veil is thin.

At the post office, there was a dish of candy out on the counter. Shocking in that this post office rarely even has functioning air conditioning. There were two pieces of my mother's favorite candies. I took them both.
                         
 When I got home, the first of the peonies were blooming. The ones I brought from New York some thirty years ago.


And these were rioting out on the work table.

I'm supposed to be working on dialogue for the living, but the ghosts are having their say, so I'll be still and listen a while.

some cloth

It's hot and muggy here. I rounded up an armload of lackluster cloth and marched them down to the dye deck.

A half-dozen technicolor lumps are basking in the sun, soaking up the color with the heat. I wish it would rain so I could leave them to their own devices, but I'll be doing the wash-out tonight. Then we'll see if there was any kick left in those dyes.

Conversations

It's what happens between thread, the needle, and the cloth.

Somehow, I'm not a part of this conversation. It seems to happen while I'm not paying attention. My mind is elsewhere, on other conversations.

GOT spoiler alert...

...but really, if you're not watching, why? I screamed. I cried, I covered my eyes and the cat ran out of the room disgusted with me.

It's such great theater. Reminds me of old school soap operas, although those writers never planned endings. This one is going to break my heart.

I don't watch much TV.  Didn't start watching this one until early last year. I'm always late to catch the wave. So glad I did for this one.

the dirty thread boogie

I want to thank everyone who ordered threads this weekend. There are a few more sets to post, then there will be a week or so before I can set up the next round.

In a world where the phrases "hand-crafted" and "artisanal" get tossed around pretty fast and loose, I can assure you that those expressions really do apply to Dirty Thread making. It may be messy and time-consuming, but I think it's worth the trouble.

As you can see, I got mine.

ghosts

As I pack up orders for thread and scraps, I have to restrain myself from holding things back on the off chance I might someday do something with them.

The river basket is full of bits and pieces of possibility - anything more would be a distraction.

After a busy morning of chores and errands, I picked this new piece up for a timed hour of stitching before my nap.

The trees stir in the warm air and confederate jasmine is as strong and effective as marijuana.

getting it done

I'm on my way to the post office. If you've ordered anything to date,  it's on the way!! Have a great weekend. I got stuff to do.

some days off...

  ...are full of delight. Spent the morning in a very satisfying meeting with my word wizard.

Then, a little retail therapy on the cheap at Goodwill.

Yesterday, it was the after school book fair where it was easy to read someone's heart's delight. What started out as a baby cat speaking it's first word (Hi!), became a wand/scanner gathering mystery sounds in the yard.

this is manifesting now.

More new threads

 they are all out there basking in the Sun waiting for the winder to come home and see to them.

.

happy Friday!

I  put the finishing touches on this today. I worked on this through several episodes of True Detective and kept sticking myself. Such compelling acting!

If the sun comes around tomorrow, I'll take some better pictures and post it for sale in the gallery.

That out of the way, I started auditioning pieces for another small thing to clutch and stab when the need arises.

Physical therapy is making a difference in my shoulder. On a happy note, Charlie has declared himself no longer afraid of heavy weather. Hallelujia.