inhale...exhale...relax your shoulders...repeat as often as needed

Thursday, January 5, 2017

indigo devotion







September's project of harvesting indigo from our gardens and then dyeing with the indigo seems so very far away from today's snowy, windy and cold weather. Today I'm finishing up a piece I started last month...just a study of sorts, in texture, color and placement, using birch bark bits, acorn caps and poppy seed heads. 

I'm reading Upstream,  Selected Essays by Mary Oliver. I think of her work as sacred text. Her words sometimes make me tear. Or inhale sharply with their raw truths and crystalline insights. 

"Attention is the beginning of devotion."

Oh, yes. Paying attention. With thread and needle and cloth today.

11 comments:

  1. Oh, so Zen. Completely present fiber/texture art. I loved seeing the Bernina presserfoot #37 and thought nothing could be better. The paper birch is a delight.

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    1. Kameshwari, I love to see you here, and thank you for your generous comments. xo

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  2. coax the plant to release its secrets
    encourage fibers to accept the precious hue
    with vision and reverence introduce splendid fragments too lovely not to be gathered from nature's floor
    partnering with your beloved Bernina
    listening with attention to the whisperings of your heart
    bring to life a tapestry so utterly recognizable as a work that could only have come from your hand.
    beautiful.




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    1. you are a poet, sharon, and a very dear friend. i hope we can meet someday, with judy and anne, too. xo

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    2. I just read this, Karen. Would that not be blissful? xo

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  3. Karen, would you please post a link as to how to dye the fabric from the indigo plant? We have a very healthy bush in our garden, have not used it yet at all. Thank you.

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    1. Lori, thanks for your question. If you click on the brown words "harvesting indigo" in the above post, it will link you to my September post about dyeing. Due to copyright laws I cannot lift text from Chris's book. Perhaps you can find a copy at your local library? Do let me know how your project turns out!

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  4. Your words and your work are so beautiful, Karen. I love the deep simplicity and sincerity of what you do. xo

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    1. I so appreciate your thoughtful words, Judy. I remember your support when we did Jane's class together. xo

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  5. Beautiful play of colors and textures, in such a calm, refreshing, natural palette.

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