"Imagine Wonder"

What a reminder this little dear is - a reminder to imagine wonder.

When looking in the dictionary for the word wonder there are all manner of definitions.  The closest they get for me is: "a feeling of surprised or puzzled interest; miraculous deed or event."  In my life that is mild for what I feel when wonder appears. 

Looking at a sunset or a dark sky filled with stars goes well beyond 'a feeling of surprised or puzzled interest'.  Having a heart filled with love by children, grandchildren, great grandchildren is almost stunning its so wonderous. 

Hopefully she won't fly away too soon -- a reminder of wonder is always welcome.

"Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experienece that reveals the human spirit." - e. e. cummings

Intuition versus reality

I knew what I wanted to do.  I knew I wanted to rescue a design, rework it and make it become something else.    I began knowing that I would change the arms of the earlier design.  Sounds easy huh? Well, many hours, several designs, attaching and detaching as I went along and getting a huge case of the 'frustrations' and I was still working on arms.

Finally, in a fit of peak I decided to not use arms at all.  So there!  Take that you hard-to-deal with piece of cloth and stuffing!!  Of course she looked bare and barren.  It finally came to me -- since she is supposed to be a 'spirit' of sorts why not give her wings.

At this point I'm sure the poor thing was getting a bit worn.  I'm not sure she's learned to use her wings because there she sits.  Perhaps she's wondering how she can 'seek beauty' while sitting on the shelf of my studio.

"Cease trying to work everything out with your minds.  It will get you nowhere.  Live by intuition and inspiration and let your whole life be revelation." - Eileen Caddy

Flying Flutterby II

I found this little one hovering in among the shade of the trees.  Its quiet there and its a good place for her to ruffle her feathers before taking off again.

Sadly, the beautiful Robin's egg blue of her body could not be seen in all the shade.  After much coercion, I was able to convince her that if she would come inside for a bit she'd find it a most pleasant place.   And so she did.  Surprisingly she seems to like being here -- but then there are several other birds here now and they're happy to give her company.

"A forest bird never wants a cage". - Henrik Ibsen

"Flying Flutterby"

Whoosh!!!  Swoop!!! What was that?  That was the latest Flutterby stopping by.  "Flying Flutterby" is quite fun. However I'm finding it a bit difficult to conduct a conversation with her -- she just won't stand still... or even sit still.

Her wings are the envy of "Ribbon Tailed Flutterby" so I've had  to explain to my little percher that it takes a heck of a lot of energy to fly like that -- and in this warm weather, I think perching makes a lot more sense.

As for the "Flying Flutterby" there will be no perching for her.  After all you can't keep a high flyer down.   Whoops and off she goes!!

"I believe that if one always looked at the skies, one would end up with wings." - Gustave

Flaubert

"Ribbon Tailed Flutterby"

Another little bird has come my way.  This one is perched - and for a very good reason.  She explained to me that her branch of the Flutterby's was never meant to fly.  Hmmm a non-flying bird.  But then I noticed how small her wings are so perhaps therein lies the answer.

Happily her 'musical wings' must mean that she can sing.  However, I have never heard 
her do that either.  Does she sing in the middle of the night when no one is around?  Does she long to fly as other Flutterby's are prone to do?  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

"The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings." - J.M. Barrie

Finding My Wings?

Prior to our trip out west I made up three 'Quietude' dolls.  I needed to create calm and peace as we made all of our reservations and went through the whole thing of getting ready to be out of town for two weeks.  I definitely needed a bit of serenity in my life.
  

My idea after getting home was to complete at least two more and then perhaps something else would pop into my head.  That completion project died a quick death as I fumbled around trying to find embellishments that would work and getting less and less interested each day.

While out on the desert we saw birds that we don't see here -- lots of them.  Magpies, which have a bad reputation but I love seeing them soar.  Quail are all over and always busily walking their grounds.  Just as perky and cute as can be.  

Then I came home to all the birds we have here.  And the thought came over me that perhaps I might make up some cloth birds.  Uh-oh -- the moment that thought came to me, my mind started churning with ideas: shabby chic? muted and mild? embellishments? shape? printed fabric or plain or both? eyes? standing or hanging or sitting - or all three????

And so I'll lift my wings and see what fun I can have.  Perhaps my summer will be completely devoted to bird watching.

"It's impossible to explain creativity.  It's like asking a bird, 'How do you fly?'" - Eric Jerome Dickey