I’m not sure what to call the things in the box I was rummaging through the other day. Experiments? Flirtations? Fragments? Morsels? Dead Ends? Certainly most of the them grew out of irresistible ideas. (I mean, pants portraits—what’s not to love?)
Oh I soooo desperately love the rainy day-yarrow tea-knitting piece, how perfect!!!! I just want to grab it through my screen and hang it on my wall! 😍
What a wonderful, gorgeous, intriguing range of past experiments and flirtations!! What treasure! I can only speak for myself but I have a feeling you're much the same way... I am curious about everything and have dabbled and flirted with multitudes of different mediums and expressions. Some of them stuck, most didn't. But the ideas that hatched them? I reckon they flew off somewhere else. Someone else is tending them properly, apologizing perhaps for our abandoning them. Or maybe no apology is necessary. Maybe they were happy to be set free. But these experiences inform the present, yeah? Why, right now, I am playing with some mixed media weaving ideas which have me back to making monoprints with acrylics. I NEVER thought I would play with acrylics again but I sure am glad I held on to a few favorites. Who knows what will come of our explorations and our time just being. But I have a feeling new ideas and makings are on the horizon - so deliciously exciting!
Whatever they are, they're so full of life! Power surges. I was just watching Meg Stump on textiles and tea, about pinlooms. I bet you've used them, probably made them (!). Tiny tapestries on them?
What a delightful little romp! I adore these scraps. They somehow bring me back to feeling like I'm digging in soil, getting my toes into the essence of life itself. "the clothness of life is still central" -- yes!
What a candy box of delights for my eyes and mind! One treat after another, to taste and bring in for a close-up to savor. Lavish with details and the spirit that inspires all that you do Sarah. So generous of you to share them all with us! And many thanks for all of the notes of how-tos and further reading. Please throw Beryl a stick or 2 for me. 🙂
I love the concept of ideas floating around in the atmosphere, waiting for a recipient. I’m going to spend my day being open to attack. Thanks to you and Elizabeth Gilbert!
I call these sketches, small quick little things that capture an idea. Sometimes that's all that's needed, they don't all have to lead to a Big Project. I treasure my little pieces just as they are - sometimes a dead end, sometimes not. They are just beautiful, thanks for sharing them with us!
Love it all. I live a few miles from Orofino, an old farming and mining area in Scott Valley, California. Not sure if it has a separate address from Greenview/Quartz Valley, but the whole valley is about the size of Gaza except maybe 2000 souls instead of millions. Beryl (isn't she a Texas Heeler?) would love to run with Charlie, Husky-Kelpie mix, so come visit. Have not been weaving since 3 moves in 2 years, first was by sea from Alaska to childhood home, now in own place with lots of room. Focus presently is on learning watercolor, so adore your pieces. Also love you and Rebecca on together too. Evylou
Love it all. I live a few miles from Orofino, an old farming and mining area in Scott Valley, California. Not sure if it has a separate address from Greenview/Quartz Valley, but the whole valley is about the size of Gaza except maybe 2000 souls instead of millions. Beryl (isn't she a Texas Heeler?) would love to run with Charlie, Husky-Kelpie mix, so come visit. Have not been weaving since 3 moves in 2 years, first was by sea from Alaska to childhood home, now in own place with lots of room. Focus presently is on learning watercolor, so adore your pieces. Also love you and Rebecca on together too. Evylou
Like all your posts, ‘Scraps’ has kept me pondering, and especially after following your link to Elizabeth Gilbert. I found the concept of ideas as magical floating entities quite beguiling, but I don’t believe it. Last year I made the journey south to London to see the exhibition of Magdalena Abakanowicz because I remembered seeing her monumental tapestries in ‘Crafts’ magazine in the 1960’s.
Beside her early work there were objects that she kept which fed her work, and I was quite shocked to realise that they were like mine - tangles, twisted fibres, bark. It struck me with startling effect. I realise that I ( or Magdalena or Sarah )am the element that binds them in a new story. And everyone has a different story to explore, even though the stimulus might look the same. Childhood impressions of the woodlands near Magdalena’s home may have been the glue holding her ideas together, and maybe my childhood memories of dodging under drying fisherman’s nets has a part in mine, though goodness, I just play privately.
Then when I was rummaging through some notebooks, I found this : Carl Sagan… said human beings though made of the same stuff as the stars, are conscious and therefore a way for the cosmos to know itself. And Cezanne…”The landscape thinks itself in me, and I am its consciousness”
In case this is all getting a bit obscure, I also noted “ Thoughts like shooting stars in my head, they shine for a moment and then they are dead” (Jonny Hannah - The Cakes & Ale Press)
It’s threatening snow this Eastertide in the Highlands, so hope you have a more gentle time, and perhaps some spring warmth.
Oh I soooo desperately love the rainy day-yarrow tea-knitting piece, how perfect!!!! I just want to grab it through my screen and hang it on my wall! 😍
What a wonderful, gorgeous, intriguing range of past experiments and flirtations!! What treasure! I can only speak for myself but I have a feeling you're much the same way... I am curious about everything and have dabbled and flirted with multitudes of different mediums and expressions. Some of them stuck, most didn't. But the ideas that hatched them? I reckon they flew off somewhere else. Someone else is tending them properly, apologizing perhaps for our abandoning them. Or maybe no apology is necessary. Maybe they were happy to be set free. But these experiences inform the present, yeah? Why, right now, I am playing with some mixed media weaving ideas which have me back to making monoprints with acrylics. I NEVER thought I would play with acrylics again but I sure am glad I held on to a few favorites. Who knows what will come of our explorations and our time just being. But I have a feeling new ideas and makings are on the horizon - so deliciously exciting!
Whatever they are, they're so full of life! Power surges. I was just watching Meg Stump on textiles and tea, about pinlooms. I bet you've used them, probably made them (!). Tiny tapestries on them?
What a delightful little romp! I adore these scraps. They somehow bring me back to feeling like I'm digging in soil, getting my toes into the essence of life itself. "the clothness of life is still central" -- yes!
Oh I do look forward to Tuesdays and today's snippets are a delight, as are the rabbit holes! Thank you for dropping by, Sarah and Beryl!
The spark was the important part. If you keep ideas sparking it feeds your work.
these are very beautiful!!
The article by Elizabeth Gilbert is a delight.
Yes to magic!
What a candy box of delights for my eyes and mind! One treat after another, to taste and bring in for a close-up to savor. Lavish with details and the spirit that inspires all that you do Sarah. So generous of you to share them all with us! And many thanks for all of the notes of how-tos and further reading. Please throw Beryl a stick or 2 for me. 🙂
I absolutely love your Substack. Thank you
I love the concept of ideas floating around in the atmosphere, waiting for a recipient. I’m going to spend my day being open to attack. Thanks to you and Elizabeth Gilbert!
I call these sketches, small quick little things that capture an idea. Sometimes that's all that's needed, they don't all have to lead to a Big Project. I treasure my little pieces just as they are - sometimes a dead end, sometimes not. They are just beautiful, thanks for sharing them with us!
Who is your friend who made the Beryl blue paint from natural sources?
Love it all. I live a few miles from Orofino, an old farming and mining area in Scott Valley, California. Not sure if it has a separate address from Greenview/Quartz Valley, but the whole valley is about the size of Gaza except maybe 2000 souls instead of millions. Beryl (isn't she a Texas Heeler?) would love to run with Charlie, Husky-Kelpie mix, so come visit. Have not been weaving since 3 moves in 2 years, first was by sea from Alaska to childhood home, now in own place with lots of room. Focus presently is on learning watercolor, so adore your pieces. Also love you and Rebecca on together too. Evylou
Love it all. I live a few miles from Orofino, an old farming and mining area in Scott Valley, California. Not sure if it has a separate address from Greenview/Quartz Valley, but the whole valley is about the size of Gaza except maybe 2000 souls instead of millions. Beryl (isn't she a Texas Heeler?) would love to run with Charlie, Husky-Kelpie mix, so come visit. Have not been weaving since 3 moves in 2 years, first was by sea from Alaska to childhood home, now in own place with lots of room. Focus presently is on learning watercolor, so adore your pieces. Also love you and Rebecca on together too. Evylou
Like all your posts, ‘Scraps’ has kept me pondering, and especially after following your link to Elizabeth Gilbert. I found the concept of ideas as magical floating entities quite beguiling, but I don’t believe it. Last year I made the journey south to London to see the exhibition of Magdalena Abakanowicz because I remembered seeing her monumental tapestries in ‘Crafts’ magazine in the 1960’s.
Beside her early work there were objects that she kept which fed her work, and I was quite shocked to realise that they were like mine - tangles, twisted fibres, bark. It struck me with startling effect. I realise that I ( or Magdalena or Sarah )am the element that binds them in a new story. And everyone has a different story to explore, even though the stimulus might look the same. Childhood impressions of the woodlands near Magdalena’s home may have been the glue holding her ideas together, and maybe my childhood memories of dodging under drying fisherman’s nets has a part in mine, though goodness, I just play privately.
Then when I was rummaging through some notebooks, I found this : Carl Sagan… said human beings though made of the same stuff as the stars, are conscious and therefore a way for the cosmos to know itself. And Cezanne…”The landscape thinks itself in me, and I am its consciousness”
In case this is all getting a bit obscure, I also noted “ Thoughts like shooting stars in my head, they shine for a moment and then they are dead” (Jonny Hannah - The Cakes & Ale Press)
It’s threatening snow this Eastertide in the Highlands, so hope you have a more gentle time, and perhaps some spring warmth.