Flying A Kite

As we ease into Spring I realize that its my desire to soar, to fly, to swoop and then go up and up. I'm finding I can certainly dream of soaring and make dreams come true by spending my days creating kites.

Colorful, lighthearted, whimsical kites to take me, in my mind, high up in the sky and off to magical lands.

"Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country." - Anais Nin

Sneak Peek

Some people do 'spring' cleaning at this time of the year. I've been doing 'spring' shopping.  My first stop was the paint department at one of our local home improvement stores.

What a wonder of color lay before me.  I started collecting color card after color card.

Next up was a trip to the shops for embroidery floss. The threads I already had at home were hopelessly 'wintry' in color and tone.  With my color cards in hand I started pulling out all of the 'light bright' colors and shades that I could find.  

Here's a sneak peek of my first Spring piece.

I want to happily wave goodbye to Winter and to greet Spring with joy and abandon.

"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts." - Marcus Aurelius

An Ode to Whimsy

As I recently started back into punchneedle I realized that something was missing from my work.  So I started to explore a little whimsy -- fanciful designs -- fun, bright, light colors.  This little bird design popped up ready to be colored with tiny loops and thread.

What colors would I use?  What combinations?  Out came my stash of Wildflower threads from Caron.  The color combinations in these thread skeins are always a wonder to me.  I can stand and look at them, hung up in the store, forever - except that the store has certain hours and eventually I would be thrown out.

With the choice of "Painted Desert" in hand I began to add some DMC floss in colors to match. Bright colors, fun colors, whimsical colors.

I leave you with the quote below - because I believe it will become my daily motto over the next few months. 

"Today was good

Today was fun

Tomorrow is another one."

Dr. Seuss

Here comes the sun...

 

The other day I looked down at my feet to see sunshine, yes actual sunshine covering part of the wood floor beneath me.

I looked at my studio window to see the sun coming in, lighting my way.

I walked down to our small pond and found sun on the water...

...and sun shining on the base of a tall, old tree.

Spring has come and with it the sunshine I've craved for months.

Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

(thank you to the Beatles)

"Star Gazing"

Taking a bit of time for star gazing!

Feeling the vastness of the inky sky above me - dotted with teeny, tiny lights (that aren't really teeny tiny at all).

Thinking that these dots once guided sailors and travelers from place to place. Could it be, that by looking at them I can also find my way?

 "Star light, star bright

First star I see tonight

I wish I may, I wish I might

Have the wish I wish tonight."

Light and Shadow

I have a new view in my studio, now that everything has been changed around.  The morning sun comes sneaking in -- leaving lovely light and shadow across my work and my work desk.

I am in heaven!!!

"Shadow is a coulour as light is, but less brillians; light and shadow are only the relations of two tones." - Paul Cezanne

The Shortest Day

Andy Goldsworthy

I am a child of light!  The light of day awakens me, the darkness means sleep.  I am most alive when the sun is shining, when a shaft of sunlight crosses the floor or hits my face as I step out the door.

Andy Goldsworthy

I welcome the Winter Solstice -- because I know that the shortest day will soon be past and I can look forward to each day getting a little longer, second by second, minute by minute until light is over the land for hours at a time.

I will walk today as if I were opening a door onto more light with each passing day.

"In every winter's heart there is a quivering spring." - Kahil Gibrah