Opening the door

Recently there was a 'great clean up' in my studio.  I delved into every jar, box, file folder and wire basket.  It turned into a trip of discovery.  While looking through everything I found some small fabric pieces that I had printed long, long ago.  And I found many doo-dads long forgotten.   

Turning these discoveries into a couple of stitchery's was not only fun - but I felt proud of myself that I was finally using what I already had. This "Open Door" stitchery seemed quite fitting for where I am these days.  As I stitched, my mind opened onto new possibilities for these busy hands.

 We'll see what happens in the coming months but I feel that I've gotten a good start into a transition from dolls and critters.  Let's see how this adventure might play out. 

"Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open." - John Barrymore

Spring Fling

A couple of weeks ago I walked under trees with bare branches.  I strolled over to a Forsythia that was barren.  I noticed a couple of daffodils but otherwise our neighborhood was still in winter.

And then the sun started shining and the blooms appeared. 

I am surrounded by color, beautiful color.

I am in love with our earth and its beauty.

"Spring has returned.

  The Earth is like a child that knows poems."

Ranier Maria Rilke

"Black Bird"

I'm in transition -- sort of groping my way along -- moving from dolls to what?  Of course my hands can't stay still -- my mind, while grappling with one thing is veering toward another.

When in doubt pick a song, one that speaks to you, that thrills you each time you hear it. Take that song and bring it to life in stitch.

Sing along with me won't you?

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Black bird singing in the dead of night

Take these sunken eyes and learn to see

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment

To be free

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly,

Into the dark black night

Into to the dark black night

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

                                                                                Paul McCartney  

Winter's Ending

In some ways Winter can be a 'lonely' season.  We are often captives inside our warm, dry homes - while wind and snow and ice rage outside.  We are hermits of a sort.

Now it is March and Spring is not far away.  As I walked this morning I looked up at the bare limbs of the Winter trees.  

Behind them was a brilliant blue sky.  It was like an interim between the two seasons - with each season represented in the simpleness of bare trees and deep blue sky.

How I love the change of seasons.  Just as I'm getting tired of one the next one appears. 

"When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised change, I feel something stir inside me.  Hopefulness? Gratitude? Openness? Whatever it is, it's welcome." - Kristin Armstrong

Time Keeper Moppet

Oh woe is me!  I was up until midnight on Saturday night turning all of our Moppet clocks ahead one hour!  Yes, I could have set them ahead earlier but personally I am quite  opposed to this time change so I refuse to make it any sooner than necessary

Whoever in the world thought this up to begin with?  A whole hour is lost -- just disappears with the turn of the clock hands.  Why would anyone think that is a 'good' thing.

Hmmm - first we gain a day (in February) and then we lose an hour in March.  Oh, my if only I ran the world (or at least had control of all the clocks) this kind of thing would never would happen.

"How did it get so late so soon?  Its night before its afternoon.  December is here before its June.  My goodness how the time has flew,  How did it get so late so soon?" - Dr Seuss

The History of Time

With Leap Year and daylight savings time appearing within a few weeks of each other, I just had to explore 'time' as a subject.

Deep within our history, the beginning of our 'time concept' began. The very first people who populated this earth used the stars in the sky.  From these they determined when it was time to move.  Being hunter gatherers they depended on nature to guide their days, nights and movements. 

'Water clocks' were among the earliest time keeping devices that didn't use the observation of the stars.  The ancient Greeks, it is believed, began using water clocks around 325 BC.  They were also used, in various forms, by other countries such as Egypt and Japan.

                                                                                                     'Galieo's pendulum clock'

In 1656, 'Christian Huygens' (a Dutch scientist) made the first 'Pendulum clock with a mechanism using a 'natural' period of oscillation.  Galileo is credited in most historical books for the invention of the pendulum as early as 1582 but his design, shown above, was not built before his death.  Huygens' clock, when built, had an error of 'less than only one minute a day'.  A fantastic 'leap' for timekeeping.

Later on came the spring assembly.  This brought a much 'truer' technique of keeping time.

Oh how I loved to look at my grandfather's pocket watch.  It would be considered an antique today, but to take off the back and watch it mark the seconds and minutes with with its little gears was an adventure to a young girl.

For the most part, today our clocks and watches are digital.  I'm sure they keep much better time than those that required a clear night sky, water, pendulums and little gears and springs.  But somehow along the way,the mystery and wonder of 'time' as an essence, has faded into the past.  Did it not seem a bit more precious when we had to wind our watches? When it was not a thing to be manipulated as it is today?    

As I reset our household clocks for Daylight Savings Time I will question our tinkering with time. And our apparent quest to 'tame' it to our own desires.  

"By putting forward the hands of the clock you shall not advance the hour." - Victor Hugo

Kite Flyer Moppet

"Wow!  Its March!  Time to make a new kite.  

For a good kite you need a long tail -- I hope I don't trip over mine.

I think I need someone to help me fly it.  Getting a kite up in the air is sort of hard for short people. Anyone interested?"

"Imagination is the highest kite one can fly." - Lauren Bacall

  

Patience and Fortitude

As you'll notice lately, I've been thinking a lot about 'time'.  Both time in general and my own personal time.   In the course of this 'time thought' I've realized that my own 'schedule' of writing two blogs a week, one involving an original creation, was starting to take the joy in creativity down a dark hole.  Not good!

For now I'm going to drop down to five or six postings throughout each month.  This will allow me to spend more time with my imagination and my sewing.  I'm excited that I'm lessening my own criteria and hope you'll stick with me through this bit of a change up.  

"Slow down, you move too fast

You got to make the morning last

Just kicking down the cobblestones

Looking for fun and feeling' groovy

Ba da da da da da da, feeling' groovy

Hello, lamppost, what'cha knowing?

I've come to watch your flowers growin'

Aint'cha got no rhymes for me?

Doot-in doo-doo, feelin' groovy

Ba da da da da da da, feeling groovy

I got no deeds to do

No promises to keep

I'm dappled and drowsy and ready for sleep

Let the morning time drop all its petals on me

Life, I love you

All is groovy" -

Paul Simon