So, What IS the poetry of Our age?

"The question is not what you look at, but what you see."

Thoreau

 You know, I bought this bag. . .

it makes me ask myself. . .

what was I thinking???



BE SWEET BE SWEET


Small Bags

I have recieved some requests to share how I made the magnolia bag, an answer to that, follows.

I purchased a bag from a South African company called Mielie. I first saw these on the Selvedge web site.
Mine is black with BE SWEET written in red letters. Inside it is lined in red with white dots of cotton fabric.
It has nice black leather handles and a large zip closure. There are pockets inside. The bags are made using green products such as cotton discards from a nearby mill.  Carpet bags and all of the other materials and products are made locally, as well.

The bags makers are south African women who earn from this venture to help lift them from poverty, which is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I live where I live to try to make a difference. I teach little children art and creativity skills which is all I can do, for now.

So, I began to research how to do this.
How to make a bag?

I am always trying to come up with little products that could be made by local people to add to their income.
I have my own reasons and criteria for what I do. I am motivated to appreciate beauty in every aspect of life. I like beautiful colorful pasta, four seasons, and daily challenges.

Coming soon is a tutorial on how to make these little bags.





Hand dyed shibori with goldenrod and indigo



Bag in process

shibori dyed indigo for lining

Following will be how to do it with batik scraps and beautiufl yarn

Sorting Things Out



Batik Stips Sorted By Color

Have Happy Weekend!



Magnolia Wool Bag



Magnolia Hand spun Yarn Bag
I told you that I had a purpose in mind
for the beautiful yarn that came earlier this week.
The ivory Chinese bead is the closure when
two hand dyed silk cords come from the back to
slide under the bead.





This is the back of the bag.





Inside is silk shibori which I hand dyed recently.



This is a look at the lining.

I am enjoying working with the yarn; it is so colorful and
it is a pleasure to think that this was spun by hand by a friend.

I already placed another order with her and I can't wait to
get it in the mail. I have already done the lining for that piece
which is natural indigo dyed silk that I did this summer. 

Magnolia Handspun



Magnolia Hand Spun Yarn came yesterday in the mail!

I had something in mind when I picked this yarn last week on Etsy.

It blends so well with the silk shibori I just finished dyeing and. . .

The little bag I did with Batik Scraps. . .

 it just jives.

Isn't it nice how we all bounce off of one another?

I always find something to inspire me when I visit Bloom.

Soon, I will show what I make with this.



Tail of The Yak

The wait is so exhausting. . . and your hair looks like the Tail of the Yak.

Just because you got your nails done. . .



It isn't that. . .it is because the time changed last night.



Just Between Us



OK, so what is on your mind?

Well, the silk of my dress is shattered!

Speaking of shattered. . .
I am upset because it snowed last night and it is only
the first week of November.
I must find something to keep my mind occupied!

 





See my Habu Textile yarn that came in the post?
I will knit a small triangular scarf, I am thinking.

Well, I found some shibori that I did that could
be interesting as a new dress.

No, I don't think so.







OK, so how about this one? What do you think?

I think it could make an interesting silk Kimono.

Hmm.







Last night I started another sock knitting bag.

Oh, I love the colors.

What are you cooking for dinner?



Artichokes, it is the season, you know.

Yum.



Two Women Under One Roof



For a friend



Excuse The Mess



Yesterday, I decided to clean my fiber studio. After I tore through
the place to turn it all upside down, I wanted to turn around to walk out.
So , I got my camera and decided to record the mess I made to remind
myself to look up from the six square inches I tend to gaze at, always,
no matter what I am doing.

Computer screens

sewing machines

painting

reading

photographing
. . .
So, here I am, again,

I just finished one big piece and am ready to begin . . .
The King's X #3

As soon as

I finish cleaning and organizing.



Silver Goddess ~ Habu Fiber

Goddess Sculpture



Habu Textile Love 



Artifacts ~ Things I do

Raku Base
Two Found Artifacts ~ I believe are grinding stones
Found Near John Atlantic Ferry, Utah
On The Burr Trail
My Grandmother was a Burr
from Burrville, Utah
They owned the dairy farm



Raku Ceramic Pieces with Stone Artifacts




Two Poppies &Two Old Linen Handkerchiefs

Acrylic on Canvas



Architecture of Space in Time



A Snap in time

defines

The architecture

of
the
space

behind

glass

     walls. . .



Day 31 ~ Picturing Fall ~ Giving Thanks



Swan Song

This is the last day of this photo workshop with Tracy Clark

of Shutter Sisters. I am very thankful that I had the opportunity

to participate with everyone in the class. I have learned so much

and I am very inspired to continue on in this quest I have claimed.

Simplicity is the important thought I take away from this class.

Eliminating is harder than you might think. Choosing is harder

than you might think.

I would consider that learning something new, even though

I am trained in the classical way as one who strives to create

something that did not exist before with beauty in mind,  is a

bit confusing, as in learning to ride a bike, for instance, while

in the moment you forget that you know how to walk or how

to cross a street safely, you forget all of that and struggle to

not fall over and crash.

One day, you find that you know how to ride a bike. Then

you just do it.

It will be a while before I am at that point with photography.



Swan Song #2

Now it is time to take a breath to think about it all.

Take time to be objective.

Take time to enjoy the rest of my life.

Take time to just be thankful.





Thread Painting 2010



X Marks The Spot #2


Drawing for New Thread Painting

Day 28 ~ PUUUUMPKIIIIIIIIINS



Pumpkins in an old old flat bed truck with door to old old building

Spooky!

The Wind is blowing a cold cold breeze

Tonight they say it is going to FREEEEZE

Pumpkins turn to mushhhhhhh. . .



Picture Fall ~ Day 27 Leaves and Sky



Yesterday, on my way home from Roanoke the wind was in extreme form.
Looking every day at the Fall Season through the eyes of a camera has
brought me to days of wonder. Constant changes take place every minute.
I will be lost when October is over. Picture Fall has been a wonderful experience.

Tomorrow is the class Holloween Party and I will take photo's of the children in
my class. I can not put those here to share, so imagine, if you will.

I will work the month of November on the Sketchbook Project which for me will
be interesting because my title is Secret Code. I have many ideas that need to be
brought to fruition. The funny thing, if you think about it, is that almost anything
can be used in the form of a code. Even photographs of the sky????



Spiral Mosaic



Code for something. . .

Moleskin

Sketches

In My Mind



Stormy Weather ~ But all is well

Day 25 - Picture Fall 2010

The wind is blowing and the rain is coming sideways

I love it!

Studio Time

Time to photograph

New Silk

Multi-dye

coming soon.

Origami and Fashion

For you readers who know me, I am an avid origami fan. Well, in my mail box this morning, from a fellow origami enthusiast, is the amazing link to Issey Miyake from the Fashion Institute article of his clothing based on origami and tessellations. Be sure to check this out. It is in  my opinion the best I have seen.

Leonard Cohen - Songs From The Road Trailer