Spirit Cloth

Winter Wear

Mid February.  Winter has left its mark.  The squirrels have been particularly hard hit this season.  I've made an effort to feed no matter what.  I wish I could  sew a patch on his bare back.  But just food will help for now. 

And speaking of patches....

My well patched jeans (remember?)  have acquired new thin spots.  They have gone unmaintained, ripping through in several places. I've been making do.  I pull them right on over my pajamas on cold mornings.  This creates a comfortable set of layers and  an instant sort of mending.  The holes filled with the soft flannel beneath. Keeps the chill out.  Slow stitching is lovely but sometimes quick is useful in a pinch. Sometimes undoing expectation makes things more real.  I've been mending them in my mind.  I'll get to them soon.  I want to talk a bit about patching. Mending. I've learned a few new things I might share.

But for now, I think I will just go back to bed.  Tomorrow.  Which will soon be today.

Another 4" of snow fell last night.

Celebrating need

The once named Magic Feather Coat, also known as Without End  hangs there.

A small tear along the neckband needs attention.  I am admiring its staying power just a little longer.  I have decided to alter this garment a bit.  Well, a lot.  Let it become a curtain, maybe,  or a blanket.  Let it be more useful.  I have too many robes. 

The less I have, the less I need. (she thought to herself,  finding the time to jot that down) Perhaps simplicity is all about transformation, the clarity in that.  Perhaps transformation is simply making do.  A form of recycling, re-self-ing, sympathetic evolution?  Becoming what you need to.  How is it we come to need more while celebrating less.  In these years of the revival of mending and celebrating making do,  it seems it has all become about art, business and money and not at all about what it is.

An unspeakable sadness washed over me while walking yesterday. Not the kind that poisons you, but the kind that enriches.  Something quite clear but without words.  It will stay like that I suppose, until  it becomes something utter-able.  Until then I will just try to keep wandering off.  Walking about.  Let my journey  become itself.  ( TYiBO 2013  j.a.h ) 

Saskia has been  living her life and also letting her work become quite  simple with a deepening sense of quiet and confidence I can clearly admire.  She shares her work over at Diaries but also on her blog.  I really like this.  If you stop by, please do, say hi for me.

Undone and still holding

Cloth .The cuff from a Man's old shirt.

The nature of  old   woven cloth is to conform, wear thin, but still to hold on. Honor and hold change in so many ways.  I love how the original threads have moved over and held on the memory  of the visiting threads even after they are gone.  And how the cloth is still OK.

Although I have disconnected the regular feed subscription thing from Feedburner, the email service is still working.   So  the current list is intact and new subscriptions are still being accepted.  When  I get a new service, I will transfer the list to the new place. So you mail junkies should be OK.

There have been visitors and family affairs and now we will once again dig into our own lives.  Time to dig into color over at Diaries as well as my focus changes. Maybe a bit thin over here for a while.  Let's see how it goes.

 

Story clothing

What we might  wear has so much to do with the weather.  And what's on hand. Who we are.

Partly Cloudy.  An early morning inspiration while testing the fermentation vat . Just right.

Partly Cloudy and a Slight Breeze.  This Breeze began during some musings on white over at at Diaries,  and will kick up again  during my first live gathering in the planning.  Weather can be unpredictable but a slight breeze is always welcome.

A  Slight Breeze  followed by a big  Wind.  Wind continues to develop, hoping though,  that we get through the next season  with out a hurricane this time.

I name everything. Yes, even my clothing.  Facilitates a long term relationship. 

No worse for Wear

The Wedding quilt.  2001.

I caught sight of this worn out patch this morning.  I don't mind it. This little window.  The cloth has no batting so it is just a soft green flannel  that shows through.  It is just right in a way.  Being able to see inside and  that not being disturbing or ugly in anyway.  A relationship  should be like that. 

No worse for wear.

One spring morning

...  just needed a little orange... the kind that patiently fades in a sunny window.
I am going to make new curtains today.  White, I think.

inside (the) Wind (robe)

Tossed.  During the process of reinforcing.  I enjoy the truth in things like this.   She said to herself. 

And in this moment I also like the sense of order and change that  coexists.

Yesterday and today

Because of the extended dampness and warmth here, we are overrun with insects.  Yesterday we caught and  gently transported many baby crickets  outdoors via shot glass.    I felt  a bit like this yesterday.  

So I mended my jeans.   Filled some holes.  Reinforced some seams.




I have a lot more patching and stitching to do on these.   I am also going to dip them in the indigo vat,  once I revive it.  It is still warm out.  A plus for the fermentation thing.    I am doing this because they say indigo dye can strengthen a cloth.   And also to mute down the patching a bit.   And a dip in walnut is planned as well.

Today I feel more like this.

Weaving Sanity

 

Woven self portrait in process.  

With a one inch square in the center of course.

Of course.

 

The name of the collection is Sanity.   Nine hundred pieces. (seriously)  Some still in process.  It has taken a lot of patience to get here.    Still looking for the right space to hang them.   Still stitching as well.

I was talking with Mom last night.  About having a show.   How it would be nice to have just one, that could contain a whole life.   All of it.    Before you die.   All of it.     How timing that could be a bit tricky.     We laughed.   A good laugh.   About knowing  and what that means.  

Please do not "Pin "  this image.  Thank you.

 

Monday patchwork

A nine lives patch  +1.

Yesterday + today = tomorrow.