After much coin, and many many hours of patience on Greyman’s part, the computer has been completely replaced, and is humming along again. Whew. Fortunately i had managed between freezes to back up all my files!
I didn’t get as much stitching done as i’d wanted to–that pesky life interference thing: dishes, groceries, laundry, housecleaning, etc etc etc etc……………–but i’m happy that my idea will be able to be used on the background of the large piece i’m working on.
From this old sketch:
to this little sample piece:
Halfway through the stitching, i kicked over the box of paints from previous weeks sketching, and grabbed the bronze Lumiere for some discrete application. Just enough shine, but singular enough to be a feature as well. (Actually it was pretty dried up, but a bit of distilled water, a shake and a stir, and it was good to go again. Waste not, want not!)
I’d been looking at bits from Raggedy Black Heart, (also the current background for the blog) and really liked the idea of using the idea again.
My Valdani threads arrived, but alas, i don’t think any of them are going to work on this piece, as beautiful as they are!
I had thought the second from the top one would work on the potassium permanganate sections of the background, but it’s too pale and has too much white. And the dark threads are too dark! One of the pitfalls of online shopping is unfortunately, incorrect colour on the monitor, and alas, most shops have photos too that are so dinky, you really can’t tell what you are seeing properly. Luckily, my 123 order threads *are* the right colours as i’m just replacing the ones i’ve used up. Still, they are a lovely addition to the stash 🙂
I also managed to get a fair portion of the second seam done, though have to wait for the final run of threads down it, as i’m out of the Sticks and Stones colourway. One seam looks like another, so won’t show you that!
January has been extra cold and bleary, so it’s lovely to see my Tithonia in bloom!
And my Jalapeno and Chocolate Beauty peppers under the growlights have blossomed and fruited!
I’m going to stay as unplugged as i can for awhile, as tempting as it is to waste so much time. I tend to obsess over certain sites, or do too MUCH research and i need to concentrate more on being in the stoodio. It’s fine to be “inspired”, but if you never do any work, what’s the point? I don’t want to be just an idea stacker, but a doer.
albedo too 
My garden for the second year in a row is holding its breath–a kind of regrouping, a rest, making sure those roots are deep, the buds turning the right way, and then surely waiting for the sky to blue deeply. Even though i’m a flowergirl by day at work, flowers, plants, roots have been on my mind much more than normal this summer. Time to plant another garden, one in my thoughts and growing from my fingers, deeper soil.
Since the flood in 2013, roots have been prevalent in my work.
I think of how roots not only let things grow, but anchor, delve deep into layers and layers, pierce stone, search water, search earth, seeking nurture and permanency.
Every time we go to the mountains, my eyes find the seekers, the holders of place and time. Taken at Red Rock Canyon in Waterton Park last week, these visible reminders show me the dominion of tenacity, the innate desire and need of solid ground to moor so growth, flowering and seeding can happen.
Roots are veins as well, and tendons, supports, carriers of blood, droghers bearing impulse, explorers of new territory, guardians and defenders of old ground.
There are always cuttings on my windowsills with fine filaments waiting for soil.
I’ve been struggling, seriously doubting, second guessing, sabotaging and burying things the last month or two. Despite a good life, a decent job, and people and animals who love me, i’ve been fighting the Black Dog again. *That* root is unfortunately very strong, going to my bedrock. I’d like to bury that damn dog far below the surface, fossilize it, break it into small parts that will feed new growth, root new stock. Go back to origin. Go to ground. Till over and start again. Make it disappear but for a few fragments of coal.
Or diamonds, should i be so lucky.
I can’t not make, as presently hard as either approbation is.