29 Comments

Thank you dear Sarah and Beryl. Lovely sweater. I am going to try and post the Ode to Sarah that I wrote-along with a copied image you have done of a small weaving. Here goes:

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An ode to Sarah Swett

Your dear nimble fingers and vast open mind

Are filled with grasses and trees

Marbles

Tables and chairs

Small shoes and pants and shirts

Images of inside and outside

All together.

A woven box

And means to weave in ends

Journals by the thousands by this time I suppose.

From youth into old age

I was told two days ago that past 75 is considered old age.

There you have it, I have been officially elderly for a year without knowing it.

Sharing-you share your experiences so that we may all be mentored

And advised

Of what it means to live a life well.

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Oh Joan. I'm--speechless. Well almost. For so warmed and flattered and buoyed by your lovely words am I, that my own cannot help but spill out, even as they feel feeble indeed. For what can I say beyond -- Gosh. Thanks. ☺️

And also, congratulations on being officially elderly. How odd and how interesting (in a weird way), is that! I'm heading in your direction, so thanks for making the path look so fine. 🍁

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Nope-can't get your photo to paste here. Oh well.

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"Leisurely mycelial network of yarn." Love the definition and the truth about our art of weaving and knitting. And the black and white of Beryl is stunning in the way the values appear the same. She is a blend of nature and dedicated companion for sure. And Thank you Joan for the Ode, so perfect.

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Wasn't that Beryl camouflage value study surprising? I didn't quite believe it myself till I experimented. Made me doubly glad for her light-up collar though, for those crepuscular strolls of ours. Happy fall!

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"mycelial network of yarn" -- excellent!

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Oh, so glad you're part of it.

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If we didn't go slowly, how would we ever see the beauty of the world we live in - or what we are creating? Or how would we find that surprise, just lurking beneath the surface of the sand, the leaves, the water? And finding mushrooms - that's a surprise unto itself!

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That's it exactly Marilynn. There is so much lovely subtlety. So glad you value it too.

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That Beryl! Always hiding in plain sight and yet leading the way. How brilliant of you to see it! Looking forward to seeing what comes off the needles.

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My mother took us on walks in the bush (forest) and taught us to look, see and listen.

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The bush. Golly. Somehow it sounds even more romantic than Forest. And I imagine the sights and smells and sounds are different too. But underneath it all, wherever we are, is that skill. Aren't we fortunate to have had such mothers....

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Yes we are.

I always think forests are grand and distant places,while the bush is near and more knowable. Part of the family.

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My third issue of The Gusset and I'm already addicted! How lovely to slow down and observe and see things you often bypass. Plus, I love walking at the pace of your dog.

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OH gosh thank you Elizabeth! Welcome, welcome.

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Once a hiking friend & I went out to hike in AZ. I had my new Swiss Army knife, with a magnifying glass. Well, we stopped to look closely at so many plants, we hardly walked a mile. But we had so much fun discovering a new to us world! As I learn to relax I try to saunter, stroll, slow down wherever I am.

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It's a thing to be learned, isn't it, this sauntering, slowing, looking and listening? Your description (magnifying glass and all), makes me think of going for walks with serious birders. Or a toddler. Either way it takes hours to go a mile--yet oh, the things one suddenly notices. And I love the image of you with the Swiss army knife magnifying glass..

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Now you have me hearing Treebeard the Ent saying "Let's not be hasty."

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So glad you caught that. Indeed I feel I must apologize to Tolkien for neglecting to note the Treebeard reference. I could hear that voice in my ear, both in the forest and at home. Though perhaps not surprising as that bit of woods felt full of Ents.

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Sarah, you and Beryl have the most marvelous adventures. Thank you for sharing.

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Ah! Sarah, I am currently working on a sweater, using your Somewhat Slanted Sweater pattern and wool spun from my old ram's fleece. Loved that sweet gentle soul! How timely that you happened to mention it today!

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Oh yay! I adore that your sweet ram gets to become a Somewhat Slanted. Thank you for choosing the pattern for such special yarn. I hope it is all working out to his (and your) satisfaction....

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Skunkii (he was a black and white Finnsheep) and I were and are both somewhat slanted!

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What joy is the ode to Sarah! Sea glass treasures to find and mushroom dyes to discover. Ahhh… what fun.

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That's the loveliest portrait of Beryl you've done! Both in photograph and knitting.

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I can't wait to see you and Beryl looking alike. Love the post as always.

I did have an unrelated question about a long ago post about the easel you put your smaller tapestry looms on. I want to get one but not sure about the needs of it except I want it to go up and down and be stable. Can you point me to that post? thanks

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Hi Judy. I can't find the exact post where I talked about the easel, nor, alas, can I find the name of the easel stamped anywhere on it. It looks a lot like this one though: https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-aluminum-tripod-travel-easel/

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Thank you. I appreciate all you do and say.

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