Georgia O'Keeffe and Magnolia Handspun and What it is To Me

Dark Canyon Wilderness, Utah
US Forest Service

Pawn Jewelry in my collection
Notice the turquoise earring
this is from an outing at the Taos Pueblo
The beads are a necklace from the North Grand Canyon area.

I have wandered the southwest all of my life
From the badlands of Utah
to the Pueblos and Mesas
of the four corners area
from desert to Mountains

When I was a child I would sit in the back seat of our traveling car
and draw the formations in the geology
I saw first hand
I always was curious about the volcanic formations
enough to ask. . . why why why
It is in my blood
the beauty of it all
I am always wondering what exactly happened to the Anasazi people
I read everything I can find
and there is no answer for sure
of why they disappeared
but they and their land live in my heart.

Is it no wonder that I might love the spirit of Georgia O'Keeffe
Thinking of her and my travels and the colors of Santa Fe
Inspire what I do:

I have found a kindred spirit in Camilla Bloom in that she loves Georgia too
Her yarn is like everything I see in the Southwest,
it inspires me.

Originally I intended for the patchwork with embroidery to be the lining
of this bag. But, I changed my mind and decided it would be perfect to stick inside this bag
to carry my knitting needles. I dyed the silk linings then to use instead.
I think this bag is perfect to hold my sock knitting yarn and socks and the needles with small tools
like scissors and place holders and a measuring tape and a tapestry needle,
you know things like that. This way I can walk and knit at the very same time.

You know, if you have ever seen one, that the Navajo ladies wear
velvet shirts with layered skirts and their beautiful Silver and Turquoise Jewelery
even in the summer.
I have come across them tending their sheep out in the desert
near the turn off to go to the Grand Canyon. Sometimes they put up
shelter from the sun and sell their goods along the roads.

This stitch is called the seed stitch which is appropriate when I think
of how if you put a bean seed, a corn seed, and a squash seed, into the
same hole along with a fish it makes a perfect way to plant in the
desert landscape where they dwell. It does take some water.

The gullies caused by flash floods leave their marks on the land.

The land is eroded by wind and water and time.

This is how we have the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River.

The rhythm of the land is a force to be respected.

The signs the natives leave behind on the rocks tell

us stories of where to go to find water and things they

may have seen in the sky.

It is all a beautiful mystery left to interpretation.

Georgia saw this and she stayed.

The bones she painted are every bit as wonderful as the flowers

I know the formations she painted so very well.

Baskets I make and collect. My mother makes baskets from fibers.

I love her baskets to keep my yarns.

These baskets are a colorful expression of my mothers soul.

I bought another ball of yarn from Magnolia Handspun

just so I know it is here when the mood strikes me.

Frida Kahlo is another inspiration for me
and one day soon I will use this yarn to make a beautiful shawl.
In the meantime it sits here and just looks pretty.

This basket and this yarn make me think of water and sky

many stars are threaded into this silk yarn.

The white is the clouds and snow.

Soon it will be time to garden so I will not be blogging quite as much then.

So if you do not see me here that is where I will be.