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

U Turn

[Jen of "Bayou Quilts" is the winner of the 4th Whisperer]

Fortunately the road rules in my studio do allow me to make a U-turn once in awhile.  That is exactly what I'm doing these days.

You might remember the few dolls that I made back in early June.  They were my first linen dolls.  Sadly I was never quite 'satisfied' with them and a trip to Nevada interrupted my creative flow.

These days I've made a U-turn and gone back to this basic design, making some alterations that are more pleasing to me and bringing them up to date.  Sometimes a U-turn can be quite fun. 

"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." - Harriet Beecher Stowe

"Purple Crowned Flutterby"

Oh my, the rarest of rare - probably never to be seen again.  The Purple Crowned Flutterby.  She hides her decorated breast in her nest. 

These nesting Flutterby's are very quiet -- I'm sure trying to protect their nests.  However, considering how messy the nests are, I doubt if any other species would want to steal them.

I offered her a place inside, which would be safe, but after an hour or two she said "what good is it being a bird if I'm not able to fly?"  Very good point Miss Flutterby - very good point indeed.

"The bird is powered by its own life and by its motivation." - A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Chaos or Not?

[Michelle of "With Heart and Hands" has won Whisper number 3]

It starts out pretty organized.  This and that laid out on my work table -- each one with a potential purpose.

It continues with fabric pieces laid out -- matching colors and patterns.  What will go with what?

It ends up like this. Almost total chaos.  Trim mixed in with thread and needles and pins.  Bits and pieces of this and that scattered hither and yon.  All with the hope that something recognizable, perhaps even magic will come out of what looks like the leftovers of a mini tornado.  

"We adore chaos because we love to produce order." - M. C. Escher

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

Pushing through the green

[Dolores of "True Blue Canadian" is the second "Whisper" winner]

While walking this past week I've had some lovely small surprises.  A glimpse of red in the midst of endless green.

Up close they look somewhat like an Iris or Gladiola but all I care about is their deep red color.

A purple vine - which sometimes tries to creep into our own yard - its very invasive and is always removed by my in-house landscaper.  Here it breaks up the bank of green and I admire its strength.

A very small but prolific flower on a very spreading plant.  Lovely pale lilac petals.

Doesn't it seem that some things are more precious because they are not expected to be where they are? 

"Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises. - Pedro Calderon de la Barca

"White Crowned Flutterby"

Look what I spotted on her nest the other day.  That rarest of rare, or at least to me, the White Crowned Flutterby.  And what a nest it is -  threads going this way and that way.  Hey wait a minute, isn't that the green thread I've been looking for?  Hmmm...

 

I told her she looks quite serene and she just quietly nodded, which sort of rocked her nest. 

She's so quiet that she hides her floral gusset - one must pick her up to see it.  And so I did and loved the feel of this quiet, silent bird in the palm of my hand.

"Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings" - Victor Hugo

Another Pond

 [NOTE:  Debra   of "Moonie Bean Folkart is the winner of the first 'Whisper" doll.]  

This summer brings yet another small pond to the original pond outside my studio window.  Having a wetlands ecologist in the family is quite nice. 

Originally there was one pond where the frogs sat sunning themselves.  Then another smaller pond was added to let water fall into the original pond.

Now there is a third pond installed.  New plantings have been added and the sound of the water moving from one level to another is even more delightful.

This beautiful spot is perfect for practicing the following quotation.

"When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing - just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?" - Ralph Marston

"Rusty Toed Flutterby II"

Another Rusty Toed Flutterby has stopped by our yard.  Standing here, looking at one of the ponds - perhaps he wants to take a dip.

Or perhaps he's decided to stay dry, after all, much more rust and he might lose a toe or two.

"Your wings already exist, all you have to do is fly." - Unknown