Dear Followers and Friends:
This has been a tough year for me, not only what i’ve shared publicly, but also behind the scenes. I’ve never figured myself for a delicate little flower type, but apparently i am. We all have different levels of bravery and ego and drive, and mine have been battered enough this year that i am changing my focus, or rather, dividing it into 3 parts.
In the autumn and winter i have decided i will concentrate on my wearable art interests with interesting commercial fabrics, simple shapes with unique treatments, sizing for “larger” women (and this is not a dig or body shaming because *I* am a “larger” woman, especially after this GD year) and bold colours. I’ve never done “winter colours” for any reason and see no need to go the dark, minimalist, almost dreary route–we need colour in the winter, perhaps more so if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, suffer from SAD or just love brilliant and saturated luminosity!
In late spring and summer, i will return to my love of natural dyes, providing you with Mother Earth’s palette in the usual mixed packs and perhaps next year, some yardages.
Thirdly, many many years ago, 45 to 50 of them actually (!), i painted. Though i enjoyed it a lot, I wasn’t very good, but it’s appealing to me again and i’d really like to if not be “serious”, at least be more diligent in learning and to have fun too.
Incidentally, my late Beloved NEVER EVER EVER stopped me from doing any of these things. He was *very* supportive, but as with any life there were too many times when you don’t get to do what you want to, because necessity and time demand other directions. These are decisions made now for a different lifestyle, one of being alone i’ve never experienced before. It’s up to me to be me, for me, about me. Not selfishly but self aware.
So, i haven’t abandoned the biz, or you, so please don’t abandon me. I’m in the process of washing fabrics, designing patterns, figuring out colour combinations and choosing styles and hope to start showing them next month. You may be tired of hearing “soon, next week, perhaps, maybe, hopefully, etc, but i WILL get there. I simply NEED as any of us do, *something* in my life that keeps me going, and i plan on going at least another 20 years!
Thank you those who have followed and those who have supported me on so many levels, whether with a purchase, or a kind word, or just the click of a “like” button. You’re all Peaches, Blossoms and the Bestests of people.
albedo too 
I am glad to see this post today. I had been thinking about you and hoping you were doing ok. You have had a brutal year, take the time you need to recover and heal, however much you may be able to do that. Sending love and hugs!
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Thank you Jody! Good to see that some are still out there. Blogging has become so “declasse” (said in a snooty accent) that one never knows who’s in the bushes 🙂 I appreciate that you are one of them.
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I still love blogging. It has more connection with others. A deeper connection. It’s more like a conversation that takes time from all participants- the writer, the reader, the commentator. Carry on! We’re here.
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It does, but i haven’t posted much because i don’t want to sound all pitypitypityme. I’ve found along the way, people get tired of sad and bad……until they go through it…..
Glad to hear the Stalwarts are here still blogging!
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Yes that’s probably true especially for more recent readers but life is life and it’s better to share it and go through it together. ❤️
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You have had a tough year and fully deserve to take as much time as you need to return to the you – whoever you feel that ‘you’ should be now…or can manage to be. Having plans is good.
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Honestly i didn’t know what to do without him. He treated me like a princess, i’ll be a princess! Thank you!
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Like many others here, I’ve been thinking of you Arlee and hoping that you’re figuring out how to be now that your world is so different. And here you are, doing exactly that. You are amazing.
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We are who we are, after all, and it’s wonderful to hear that those gone (in so many senses of the word) and those still here know that. I miss the regular chatters that happened with people from half way and all around the world! Thank you, Karen!
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Ah yes, the necessities and obligations of life often get in the way of our plans. But here you are and I don’t think it is a bad thing to be selfish with your time at all. It’s precious.
I’m looking forward to seeing and reading about all your work adventures and especially intrigued by your desires to paint. I’m terrible at it too but love experimenting with watercolors and have not spent enough time with it. It’s just enjoyable even if the result isn’t to my liking.
A big bright windowed room sounds perfect.
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Thank you, Glennis. I was “raised” on acrylics, as in the early 70’s was when i was in a special high school art group that was mentored by a wonderful teacher, who spent a lot of his own dime on us. Galleries, museums, art colleges, he took us everywhere he could. Mr Lewis was a gem. His thing was metal and acrylics (not together 🙂 )
I love the ease of blending colour with them! And i saved a lot of cardboard over the last 6 months to paint on, cheap and why not?
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I’m glad to see you working your way to a new way of being Arlee. My world rather fell apart recently as well and I’m still working out how to move forward from it, how the experience will be incorporated into my life. It’s not a case of “getting back to normal” as some would think – those lucky people who have never had the fabric of their lives ripped apart. No doubt I’ll blog about it when it’s all less raw but in the meantime it’s an exploration of past and present. Much love to you Arlee. ❤️
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When you’re ready Wendy, i will listen. My love and gentle hugs to you too.
And no, there is no “normal” after or things would still be the same, and maybe the same for all of us…..Nope.
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