There is no internet at my house this morning. Happily none of my yarn-centric work relies on a computer, but The Gusset is a creature of bits and bytes and as I type I wonder how these words will get to you. Luckily I started putting this together yesterday—uploading photographs and drawings and such—assuming that today I’d find words to express something or other about this moment of in between-ness I seem to be in.
It is so very good to know that other artists/makers have in-between times that are a little bit unsettling or unnerving or, to be less dramatic, simply weird. When previously begun projects which have currently, by some odd conjunction of fairy energy, all finished at the same time, it can feel a bit like being unmoored from the dock and therefore cast out into the unknown, or actually into territory where the pile of "must-do's" looms large (as your drawing so perfectly portrays!). You may be tempted to think Sarah, that a post of this kind may not be as enchanting to us as other posts which are full of creative project updates. But it is exactly this kind of peek into one's daily experience of in-betweenness that allows me to breathe a bit more easily and allow myself to just observe the terrain of In-Betweenland, noticing what is there, what isn't, how I'm reacting to it, and what things I tend to reach for when I'm there. Wishing you and Beryl all the best as you find delight in trimming tree limbs (oh do be careful!), in plumbing and waiting for plumbing supplies, in continuing to reach for gossamer plant fibers to spin/twist into cordage and in enjoying those beautiful soulful eyes looking up at you as you do so! 😍💖
Sarah, I don't always read the footnotes, but I'm so glad I did this time. The new book in the works looks like such a treat. I'm looking forward to its release, and congrats on writing the forward. Onward!
The first line of your post made me smile. In the rural Scottish Highlands, I’ve spent so many fruitless hours phoning urban call- centres this week about my poor internet connection, and began to wonder what life would look and feel like without it at home?. Then I realised that other folks experience similar, but also reminded myself how good it is to find your drawings and thoughts delivered on the ether.
I’m extremely slow- burn, and am only digesting some of your recent posts. I have no idea how you have the energy to do all that you do, but had a blast of your energy on screen recently with Nearly Wild Weaving. Your post about 99 words was such a gift! I had given myself the challenge of weaving some tablet woven bands to honour my grandmother who appears in vintage photos around 1907 as a herring girl, following the fishing fleets around the coast in the season, enjoying brief spells of independent sisterhood with gangs of young women away from family obligations. ‘The Herring it is the Fish for Me’ is a traditional folksong with many versions, but I liked the bizarre coupling of rhymes, and thought I would weave three ‘call and response’ lines. I had to design all the motifs around the letters, as well as weaving the lettering with spacing I was pleased with.
Well, guess what, having nearly finished the second band of the second couple, I’m stopping right there, because I need a new idea to flourish. And thank you, Jennifer Edwards, for saying all the other important things so eloquently. Thank you, Sarah
As Sagittarians, we naturally grow more curious about the unknown. Having found this to be entirely true all my life, it has explained SO much of my behavior - both good & productive, and not-so-good & productive. It launches me into new realms of creative exploration and completion. It also becomes a seriously distracting quality preventing me from finishing some of those said projects. Resonating deeply with this post today. 💚
I feel the in-betweenness these days, too. Putting away winter and joining Spring! My happy time...yay! Started some seedlings, planned garden layout, have seeds, need to add compost and plant soon. Lots of work! I shouldn't need to shimmy up a tree to trim it, though. 😬 Your bread looks delicious! I used to make 3 loaves every Sunday for our family of 7! I had to quit when too busy with my husband sick and on Chemo. I never resumed making it after he died. The boys want me to, and you have just nudged me to try harder to make time for bread! I love your phrase, " to find out where I'm going, I have to begin." I'm going to keep that in mind, and try to begin...to see where it takes me. Lastly, I am so bummed that I have to wait till October for that wonderful sounding book by Tommye McClure Scanlin to come out! I will definitely get that, and I'm excited to read your Forward! As always Sarah, thanks for the glimpse into your world, and for the enrichment and learning each Gusset edition brings! 😃
Thank you for the cartoon with the world and all weighing on top of you and, like all good dogs, Beryl at your head telling you it'll be OK. So many times my dog ( half-a-dozen over the years) has done exactly that, then rested a snout against my neck...
I adored this :) Your writing takes me on such journies Sarah. To get a glimpse into your creative practices and the joys in your life is so special. Thank you.
I love those little videos that allow me to enjoy a bit of your walk with Beryl! Enjoy that in between. Wait! Liminal... that's a word I believe I have read on The Gusset before. You're living the liminal. I'm sure that means magic is afoot!
So many wonderful things here in your post Sarah!!! And the comments, too! I am a little late in sending my appreciation as the other part of being online ... my laptop is trying to give up the ghost. I have loved my little Toshiba dearly, but it is getting out of date to keep up with Microsoft changes. sigh ..... Life in the fast lane has never been my cup of tea, and now I need to face a change that I have been dreading. If only I could K2P2 something to cross this weak stretch! 😂 But enough of what somehow will get better. It has to, because I need to follow what you and Beryl are next up to! Love the pic of Beryl looking into your eyes! And the tale of the bread! What a beautiful slice!!! Will be finding out about grapefruit marmalade. Sounds grand! My dad swore by grapefruit to wake one's brain in times of dullness. Love all of the pics, and the drawings all lift my spirit!! Don't suppose you could send that hamadryad round to prune my fruit trees? 😄 Sending many thank yous for all of the delights that you share here. Cary and I think your posts go wonderfully with Beethoven's piano sonata N0. 24! 🙂 Who knew a cat could love classical music, so much? I would never have guessed.
Sarah, thought you might like this post on Colossal:
https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2023/03/kaci-smith-weaving/
Love YOUR posts here most of all.
Sue
Hamadryads of the world unite!
It is so very good to know that other artists/makers have in-between times that are a little bit unsettling or unnerving or, to be less dramatic, simply weird. When previously begun projects which have currently, by some odd conjunction of fairy energy, all finished at the same time, it can feel a bit like being unmoored from the dock and therefore cast out into the unknown, or actually into territory where the pile of "must-do's" looms large (as your drawing so perfectly portrays!). You may be tempted to think Sarah, that a post of this kind may not be as enchanting to us as other posts which are full of creative project updates. But it is exactly this kind of peek into one's daily experience of in-betweenness that allows me to breathe a bit more easily and allow myself to just observe the terrain of In-Betweenland, noticing what is there, what isn't, how I'm reacting to it, and what things I tend to reach for when I'm there. Wishing you and Beryl all the best as you find delight in trimming tree limbs (oh do be careful!), in plumbing and waiting for plumbing supplies, in continuing to reach for gossamer plant fibers to spin/twist into cordage and in enjoying those beautiful soulful eyes looking up at you as you do so! 😍💖
Love, love this post!
Sarah, I don't always read the footnotes, but I'm so glad I did this time. The new book in the works looks like such a treat. I'm looking forward to its release, and congrats on writing the forward. Onward!
You & Beryl have such beautiful wild places to go walking!
Lovely winter aconite … mine were blooming two weeks ago :o)
The first line of your post made me smile. In the rural Scottish Highlands, I’ve spent so many fruitless hours phoning urban call- centres this week about my poor internet connection, and began to wonder what life would look and feel like without it at home?. Then I realised that other folks experience similar, but also reminded myself how good it is to find your drawings and thoughts delivered on the ether.
I’m extremely slow- burn, and am only digesting some of your recent posts. I have no idea how you have the energy to do all that you do, but had a blast of your energy on screen recently with Nearly Wild Weaving. Your post about 99 words was such a gift! I had given myself the challenge of weaving some tablet woven bands to honour my grandmother who appears in vintage photos around 1907 as a herring girl, following the fishing fleets around the coast in the season, enjoying brief spells of independent sisterhood with gangs of young women away from family obligations. ‘The Herring it is the Fish for Me’ is a traditional folksong with many versions, but I liked the bizarre coupling of rhymes, and thought I would weave three ‘call and response’ lines. I had to design all the motifs around the letters, as well as weaving the lettering with spacing I was pleased with.
Well, guess what, having nearly finished the second band of the second couple, I’m stopping right there, because I need a new idea to flourish. And thank you, Jennifer Edwards, for saying all the other important things so eloquently. Thank you, Sarah
As Sagittarians, we naturally grow more curious about the unknown. Having found this to be entirely true all my life, it has explained SO much of my behavior - both good & productive, and not-so-good & productive. It launches me into new realms of creative exploration and completion. It also becomes a seriously distracting quality preventing me from finishing some of those said projects. Resonating deeply with this post today. 💚
Just keep writing…makes my week just reading about your thoughts and what you’re up to
I feel the in-betweenness these days, too. Putting away winter and joining Spring! My happy time...yay! Started some seedlings, planned garden layout, have seeds, need to add compost and plant soon. Lots of work! I shouldn't need to shimmy up a tree to trim it, though. 😬 Your bread looks delicious! I used to make 3 loaves every Sunday for our family of 7! I had to quit when too busy with my husband sick and on Chemo. I never resumed making it after he died. The boys want me to, and you have just nudged me to try harder to make time for bread! I love your phrase, " to find out where I'm going, I have to begin." I'm going to keep that in mind, and try to begin...to see where it takes me. Lastly, I am so bummed that I have to wait till October for that wonderful sounding book by Tommye McClure Scanlin to come out! I will definitely get that, and I'm excited to read your Forward! As always Sarah, thanks for the glimpse into your world, and for the enrichment and learning each Gusset edition brings! 😃
Well, I learned what a hamadryad is and also that there is such a thing as grape fruit marmalade! Love the wind on your walk.
Thank you for the cartoon with the world and all weighing on top of you and, like all good dogs, Beryl at your head telling you it'll be OK. So many times my dog ( half-a-dozen over the years) has done exactly that, then rested a snout against my neck...
I adored this :) Your writing takes me on such journies Sarah. To get a glimpse into your creative practices and the joys in your life is so special. Thank you.
who took a photo of that hamadryad? 😉 and Beryl is indeed patient! ❤️
I love those little videos that allow me to enjoy a bit of your walk with Beryl! Enjoy that in between. Wait! Liminal... that's a word I believe I have read on The Gusset before. You're living the liminal. I'm sure that means magic is afoot!
So many wonderful things here in your post Sarah!!! And the comments, too! I am a little late in sending my appreciation as the other part of being online ... my laptop is trying to give up the ghost. I have loved my little Toshiba dearly, but it is getting out of date to keep up with Microsoft changes. sigh ..... Life in the fast lane has never been my cup of tea, and now I need to face a change that I have been dreading. If only I could K2P2 something to cross this weak stretch! 😂 But enough of what somehow will get better. It has to, because I need to follow what you and Beryl are next up to! Love the pic of Beryl looking into your eyes! And the tale of the bread! What a beautiful slice!!! Will be finding out about grapefruit marmalade. Sounds grand! My dad swore by grapefruit to wake one's brain in times of dullness. Love all of the pics, and the drawings all lift my spirit!! Don't suppose you could send that hamadryad round to prune my fruit trees? 😄 Sending many thank yous for all of the delights that you share here. Cary and I think your posts go wonderfully with Beethoven's piano sonata N0. 24! 🙂 Who knew a cat could love classical music, so much? I would never have guessed.