I really love the videos of your walks with Beryl. I also like traveling along with you as your life has changed (as is what happens to us all) and see that musing is
Another lovely read. I always try to save you and Beryl for the evening. After al the various bit of crummy news and scary current events, your writing always lightens the weight of all that and reminds me that that there are still incredibly beautiful and sharing human beings in the world.
Oh gosh, and thank you too. That hard stuff is always there. And the good stuff too. It really is. And if the news won't remind us, then we just have to remind each other and share all those lovely bits, eh?
I see you're booked in for joining us on Nearly Wild Weaving. This is so exciting but may I put in a special request for a starring appearance from Beryl? Please, please 🥰
YES! I'm so excited to be on it. I'll do my very best to bring Beryl on with me, at least briefly. . As I have a laptop, I can always bring it to her so she can say hi. Or lick the screen as the case may be!
So cool blue warp! So refreshing! One of my very favorite things is warp faced designs..usually at this time of year I start spring cleaning for the holidays coming up! Get out the dust bunny's! Blessings I have a 10 year hitch coming up! ..you should check out WARP! There looking for a admistrative assistant..your a shoe in! A few bucks in your pocket..plus get your self on teaching staff! ..blessings and good luck
Warp faced designs are indeed exquisite. Such strong color and pattern possibilities. Not to mention strong textiles! Thanks for the WARP suggestion -- even though I'm barely organized enough to be an administrative assistant to myself so not terribly suited to such a job, they're a great organization and fun to think about.
Somebody, and sadly I cannot remember who and the Google didn't help, said "build a life you don't need to escape from" or the other version I see here and there... "build a life you don't need a vacation from." I came upon this years ago and took it to heart, hence my beautiful, not perfect life from which I only occasionally wish I could take a vacation from. ;-) Depends on what's going on. Yet, there is nothing like a good clear out. Especially of studio space from my personal experience. I feel like I get to travel the whole galaxy with my creative endeavors so it's good to have a well organized, lovely launch pad. All this to say, I understand the impulse... to leap. To dream. To think 'what if I did this?' or 'what if I did that?' It's a wonderful thing! It's especially wonderful when the dreaming sends me to pick up a well used tool and use it again for whatever new thing has captured my imagination.
ps: I loved getting to vicariously walk in the snow with you and Beryl!
That's it exactly Ellen. A life you don't need a vacation from. Perfect. And mostly, in my case, totally true. Indeed, my ideal vacation might be a solo creative retreat with a favorite tool or two....
I am highly capable of “thinking it to death.” So appreciate this post as newly retired and in the throes of establishing a daily creative practice while decluttering, and hoping I can maintain both. Until another wild thought intervenes/intrudes for better or worse! ☺️🫣
Congratulations on the retirement. It's a huge shift -- and perhaps nice to use the transitional energy to do the decluttering. Because I think it can take as long to 'get in shape' for a creative life as it does with any new occupation job. Figuring out routines, practicing pacing etc, while also blissing out on the wild rides with compelling ideas.
Thank you, Sarah. I can feel this will take time. Starting with returning to my sketchbook and weaving at least a bit each day. And no recriminations! ❤️🤞🏼
I am always encouraged by your honest and open way of being with the pushes and pulls of the creative spirit! I am forever feeling a little tap on my shoulder (sometimes not so little 😏) that surely there must be some other thing I should be making, that I should be doing the grander things, the ones that require a huge commitment, a rearranging of my life from where and what it currently is, often slyly accusing me that I am not doing enough, or that I have "settled" for something less than or other than what I'm supposed to be doing. How I love the realization you depict so graciously here, that often we are actually right where we are supposed to be, making the things (however unassuming or weird they might be) that we are "meant" to make, and just enjoying the here and now of it all! Thank you for this reminder and the sharing of where your curiosity takes you, even in considering that a woven word might be trying to tell you. Here's to Leaping into 2024, thoroughly enjoying whatever is in our hands to do, and whatever adventures naturally transpire! 👏🥰💖
That's so true Jennifer -- those taps on the shoulder: "are you doing/being/accomplishing enough? Could/should you be doing something grander/more important.... fill in the blank?" The language around "self-improvement" too can be both compelling and a hideously cruel kind of "never enoughness." We're fortunate, I think, to have our tools and elemental practices that act on our nervous systems at a visceral level providing a full body "YES" response to spindle, yarn, walking, pen and paper etc. Also, as liz Gilbert once pointed out, if we were all as physically productive and active as all this kind of talk makes us think we should be, there would be NO resources left anywhere.... Peace, quiet, stillness, slow practices, "laziness" might yet be the most helpful things we can do for our planet and each other.
A lovely read as always. I just made a leap myself, with a loom and some hand-spun. I wonder what will happen next. It's new territory for me but my fiber pestered me into it! Your words and pictures reassure my willingness to make the leap from knitting to weaving.
Wow! How very very exciting. So curious how this lands and unfolds with you. Similar to knitting and also different, different cloth, brain function, and tools. Congratulations
This is definitely the time of year for slowing and introspection. Our modern layers of expectations has drawn us away from the “rest and repair” that nature has designated for winter, and so sometimes we go into spring unrefreshed and harried.
Oh yes Emily. So lovely to remember how much I want to be refreshed and rested when spring comes -- not exhausting from trying to power my way through winter. Thank you for this.
Not sure if this is too long for a comment but your post this week reminded me of this beautiful poem by John O'Donohue. So lovely to think of both your and his gentle words for leaping and beginning new paths.
Maybe your tapestry is just reminding you that 2024 is a leap year.
Gosh that's true! So the year leaps and we get to take our time. What a relief.
I really love the videos of your walks with Beryl. I also like traveling along with you as your life has changed (as is what happens to us all) and see that musing is
a good thing. And we don’t need to rush!
Exactly! No need to rush at all at all, even if remembering this takes some deep calming breaths sometimes, eh?
So glad to see The Gusset pop up on my phone... missed you two
Another lovely read. I always try to save you and Beryl for the evening. After al the various bit of crummy news and scary current events, your writing always lightens the weight of all that and reminds me that that there are still incredibly beautiful and sharing human beings in the world.
As always, thank you! ❤️
Oh gosh, and thank you too. That hard stuff is always there. And the good stuff too. It really is. And if the news won't remind us, then we just have to remind each other and share all those lovely bits, eh?
I see you're booked in for joining us on Nearly Wild Weaving. This is so exciting but may I put in a special request for a starring appearance from Beryl? Please, please 🥰
YES! I'm so excited to be on it. I'll do my very best to bring Beryl on with me, at least briefly. . As I have a laptop, I can always bring it to her so she can say hi. Or lick the screen as the case may be!
So cool blue warp! So refreshing! One of my very favorite things is warp faced designs..usually at this time of year I start spring cleaning for the holidays coming up! Get out the dust bunny's! Blessings I have a 10 year hitch coming up! ..you should check out WARP! There looking for a admistrative assistant..your a shoe in! A few bucks in your pocket..plus get your self on teaching staff! ..blessings and good luck
Warp faced designs are indeed exquisite. Such strong color and pattern possibilities. Not to mention strong textiles! Thanks for the WARP suggestion -- even though I'm barely organized enough to be an administrative assistant to myself so not terribly suited to such a job, they're a great organization and fun to think about.
Somebody, and sadly I cannot remember who and the Google didn't help, said "build a life you don't need to escape from" or the other version I see here and there... "build a life you don't need a vacation from." I came upon this years ago and took it to heart, hence my beautiful, not perfect life from which I only occasionally wish I could take a vacation from. ;-) Depends on what's going on. Yet, there is nothing like a good clear out. Especially of studio space from my personal experience. I feel like I get to travel the whole galaxy with my creative endeavors so it's good to have a well organized, lovely launch pad. All this to say, I understand the impulse... to leap. To dream. To think 'what if I did this?' or 'what if I did that?' It's a wonderful thing! It's especially wonderful when the dreaming sends me to pick up a well used tool and use it again for whatever new thing has captured my imagination.
ps: I loved getting to vicariously walk in the snow with you and Beryl!
That's it exactly Ellen. A life you don't need a vacation from. Perfect. And mostly, in my case, totally true. Indeed, my ideal vacation might be a solo creative retreat with a favorite tool or two....
You have leapt into my brain again. Not sure how you do it, but I’m glad you are there!
I am highly capable of “thinking it to death.” So appreciate this post as newly retired and in the throes of establishing a daily creative practice while decluttering, and hoping I can maintain both. Until another wild thought intervenes/intrudes for better or worse! ☺️🫣
Congratulations on the retirement. It's a huge shift -- and perhaps nice to use the transitional energy to do the decluttering. Because I think it can take as long to 'get in shape' for a creative life as it does with any new occupation job. Figuring out routines, practicing pacing etc, while also blissing out on the wild rides with compelling ideas.
Thank you, Sarah. I can feel this will take time. Starting with returning to my sketchbook and weaving at least a bit each day. And no recriminations! ❤️🤞🏼
I am always encouraged by your honest and open way of being with the pushes and pulls of the creative spirit! I am forever feeling a little tap on my shoulder (sometimes not so little 😏) that surely there must be some other thing I should be making, that I should be doing the grander things, the ones that require a huge commitment, a rearranging of my life from where and what it currently is, often slyly accusing me that I am not doing enough, or that I have "settled" for something less than or other than what I'm supposed to be doing. How I love the realization you depict so graciously here, that often we are actually right where we are supposed to be, making the things (however unassuming or weird they might be) that we are "meant" to make, and just enjoying the here and now of it all! Thank you for this reminder and the sharing of where your curiosity takes you, even in considering that a woven word might be trying to tell you. Here's to Leaping into 2024, thoroughly enjoying whatever is in our hands to do, and whatever adventures naturally transpire! 👏🥰💖
That's so true Jennifer -- those taps on the shoulder: "are you doing/being/accomplishing enough? Could/should you be doing something grander/more important.... fill in the blank?" The language around "self-improvement" too can be both compelling and a hideously cruel kind of "never enoughness." We're fortunate, I think, to have our tools and elemental practices that act on our nervous systems at a visceral level providing a full body "YES" response to spindle, yarn, walking, pen and paper etc. Also, as liz Gilbert once pointed out, if we were all as physically productive and active as all this kind of talk makes us think we should be, there would be NO resources left anywhere.... Peace, quiet, stillness, slow practices, "laziness" might yet be the most helpful things we can do for our planet and each other.
“Peace,quiet, stillness, slow practices, “laziness” might yet be the most helpful things we can do for our planet and each other. “ Brilliant! 🙏👏🥰💖
Hi Sarah, not sure if you saw this, but we were featured by the Craft Industry Alliance!
How exciting is that! 🎉
They made a list of wonderful crafty people’s newsletters.
https://craftindustryalliance.org/10-crafty-newsletters-to-subscribe-to-on-substack/
Oh gosh Jodie, isn't it lovely? Thank you so very much for bringing it to my attention.
Thank you for leaping into my day! Happy New Year to you and Beryl.
And to you as well. Happy Leap Year no less!
A lovely read as always. I just made a leap myself, with a loom and some hand-spun. I wonder what will happen next. It's new territory for me but my fiber pestered me into it! Your words and pictures reassure my willingness to make the leap from knitting to weaving.
Wow! How very very exciting. So curious how this lands and unfolds with you. Similar to knitting and also different, different cloth, brain function, and tools. Congratulations
Loving Beryl's cavorting. In the midst of studio-sorty.
This is definitely the time of year for slowing and introspection. Our modern layers of expectations has drawn us away from the “rest and repair” that nature has designated for winter, and so sometimes we go into spring unrefreshed and harried.
Oh yes Emily. So lovely to remember how much I want to be refreshed and rested when spring comes -- not exhausting from trying to power my way through winter. Thank you for this.
Not sure if this is too long for a comment but your post this week reminded me of this beautiful poem by John O'Donohue. So lovely to think of both your and his gentle words for leaping and beginning new paths.
FOR A NEW BEGINNING
In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.
For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.
It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.
Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
That is just beautiful! Thank you for sharing. It gives me the courage and the nudge I need to go ahead and try some changes this year. 😀🥰