Erosion Bundle

It's the last day of January, the deadline for getting my erosion bundle created and in situ. It's out there -  and it was a lot of fun. We are expecting freezing rain this evening - a wonderful environmental experience for my bundle.

So what is an erosion bundle? The idea is simple - create an artistic bundle made from materials of our own choosing and “hang, bury, submerge, or just place” the bundle in the elements. This collaboration is with Mother Nature herself. Check out the website at http://erosionbundles.blogspot.com/

So what did I collect? First some white dotted cotton fabric - the "canvas" for my creation and some colored fabric pieces and ribbons.

I broke the little twigs I collected in the backyard and wrapped them into bundles. There is something very pleasant to me about little bundles.

I thought that the acorns picked up in the woods on my dog walks would create some beautiful color - yes, that is the head of a brush that's been hanging around for decades.

It was just a fluke (is anything really a fluke?) that one of my fabric scraps had Tranquility printed on it - that will be the name of my piece.

I love these birds nest scraps of embroidery floss.

Already these rusty screws and nails are making their mark.

Here is the package wrapped with pieces of copper wire.

It's hanging from a tree in the backyard. Off the ground to keep the doggies, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, fox - whomever might be interested - away. But in a place I can watch as it interacts with the elements.

I've been thinking about leaves...

embroidering them, imagining them in drawings, printed on fabric? who knows. then I was out walking the dogs an I came across these fine specimens. in the path. thank goodness for the camera in my iphone

 

a bunch of birds

little pieces of fabric. such fun.

the kitty evolved out of the cloth

Can you see my reflection in the glass below? It's from a mosaic panel at the Visionary Arts Museum in Baltimore. More to come about this visit. It was amazing.

Happy New Year! Okay, it's not January 1 - I'm only a few days late. Several bloggers I follow have challenged themselves to a daily project for 2011. One is making a small Paperclay bust every day (I saw it and ordered some Paperclay - I have some projects in mind...) another is making a hand carved stamp daily. I'm not ready to make such a big commitment but I decided - on the spot - to revive my blog. I have many new projects flying through my head so WATCH THIS SPOT.

My patchwork quilt

There is a story in each square of fabric. Pappa's soft gray flannel pants, Aunt Phoebe's favorite blue blouse, little Teddy's plaid knickers with the knees worn clear through, and Grandpa's old flannel shirt. Not my Grandpa, but someone's. The quilt passed to me from a stranger, it's story unspoken and unknown.

Each piece sewn to it's neighbor, by hand. By whom? Were they young nimble fingers or were they crooked and stiff? Did she sit in the lamp light in the quiet evening the rest of the house asleep and her work done? Was the quilt a gift to a daughter leaving home? Taking with her the memories of family who wore these garments and of the mother who turned discarded clothing into something new and beautiful.

How many shoulders did this quilt warm? Did it rest at the bottom of a narrow bed? Was it spread on a sunny summers field for a picnic? I don't know. What I do know is joy and warmth with this quilt on my lap as I gently add patches of my own, mending and healing the weakened cloth and loosened stitches of a lifetime.

Old Friends

The best feature of my charming old Arlington bungalow was the woman next door who would become my friend. Margaret and I had a lot of fun together. Sitting on my glider watching people drive by. Talking. Helping each other the way good friends do. Margaret came by my house every weekday and let my dog Emmy out in the yard. She brought in my mail. Sometimes I'd find homemade macaroni and cheese in the refrigerator.

We went together to get her Boxer puppy, Topsy. I prepared income taxes for her and her sister Ginny. I took her places when she stopped driving. It was hard to leave her when Bob and I bought a house together. Margaret's daughter moved her to Casper, Wyoming. I visited her there. Now she lives with her son, Lee, in Florida. Last weekend I flew down for a visit.

Margaret was 92 years old in March. She has beautiful blue eyes but she can't see to read anymore or to do those word puzzles she enjoyed. These days what lights up her eyes is Patsy, her pride and joy.

"I wouldn't take a million dollars for that dog," says Margaret. "No one has offered yet," I reply.

This warm and friendly smile belongs to Margaret's son, Lee. He is a dear. He takes her to the Cracker Barrel for lunch, he lays out clean clothes for her every morning, and he takes good care of her darling, Patsy, too.

This is Lester, Lee's 22 lb. cat. I didn't get a good photograph of him, but he gave my camera a good sniff. Margaret, Lee, Topsy, and Lester live in a well-kept senior community.

Leesburg's claim to fame is the annual Bike Fest attracting over 150,000 motorcycles. Downtown there is not a whole lot to see but I got a kick out of this sign.

On Sunday Margaret and I set off to a charming nearby town for lunch. We enjoyed the drive through the countryside and the interesting shops and homes.

We stopped in the Piglet's Pantry to buy gourmet dog treats for Patsy and to bring home for Oliver and Winston. They were trying to find a good home for a beautiful retired greyhound...tempting, but we have a houseful already.

I was surprised to see that Mount Dora has two daily trains.

"My friend Susan is visiting me today, where she is?" Margaret said scanning the quiet street. I looked at her quizzically. "How interesting. My name is Susan." We talked and talked like old times. "I wish you lived closer," she said. She kept looking for her friend. I realized that she didn't know me. Even if the pieces of our lives don't fit together the way they used to, I think she liked me anew and I loved her as always.