A Small World

So many large plants are taking over our garden.  But I prefer to look for the small flowers.  

Sometimes they hide under or within larger leafed plants.

Sometimes they seek their bit of the sun and I can enjoy their fully opened blooms.

Sometimes a smaller, unassuming plant becomes a showy, fluffy beauty.

"The older I get, the more I'm conscious of ways very small things can make a change in the world.  Tiny little things, but the world is made up of tiny matters, isn't it?" - Sandra Cisneros

Flowers...

...real or not!  I found these flowers made of wood scraps and just knew that they could be part of my latest pocket.

Its a beautiful Spring day and walking out the back door I am surrounded by flowers.

Perhaps today I'll see a bunny in the grasses along the fence.

"Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." - 
Hans Christian Anderson

Time Without Time

One night recently I was without my bedroom clock.  Because I'm not on any schedule I didn't think too much about it, until I turned out the lights and realized I didn't know what time it was.  

How strange it was to lie in my bed, in the dark with no way to tell time.  I realized how much time rules our lives.  Every room in our house has a clock in it - except the bathrooms.  The kitchen actually has three clocks -- the one on the wall, the one on the stove and the one on the microwave.  Our respective study and studios have one on the wall and the time on our computers.  

There I lay feeling as if I'd gone into a delightful abyss - of timelessness.  Did I feel adrift in a bad way or did I feel free?  Of course I felt free -- but it was also a bit intimidating.  It was almost as if I were the last person on a silent earth.

Is time actually the thing that gives importance to my days?  Its lunchtime - must eat - its time to take pills - its time to go pick  up the mail.  My life seems ruled by TIME.  I then realized that time is really what holds a society together.  It wouldn't function at all if everyone was wandering around heedless of time.  How would we know when to meet -- how would we know when to be at work.  Time is sort of the contract we have as humans.

Maybe someday I'll cover all the clocks, close down all the computers, and see what it is like to really 'float' in time.

"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." - Albert Einstein

Seed Packet Pocket

Its Spring -- planting and growing and blooming season.  

                                                                                  Front

As our world warms up, saving seeds will be even more important, for at some point, in some places, some species may not be able to grow.  I send thanks to the seed banks and the people who work to save our seeds.

                                                                                  Back

 We are all here because of a seed and the plant that grew from it.  What an amazing thing a small seed is!

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant." - Robert Louis Stevenson

A Walk In The Garden

Its Spring and of course we must take a walk in the garden -- its just too beautiful to stay inside.

The white Triliums are blooming...

...but the red ones aren't quite ready.

The bloodroot seems so delicate.

Don't you just love Columbine?

"Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet." - Thich Nhat Hanh

Spring Pocket

                           Front

Days of sun and shadow.  Days of wandering along the edge of the forest - watching for new blooms.  

                                                                                   Back

Days of happiness and peace and contentment.  Everything seems to be right where it belongs.  Small flowers are tucked in amongst larger, showier blooms and I am searching them out each day.

                                                                               Close-up Front

Meanwhile a spring pocket appears to celebrate the whole season.

"I am going to try to pay attention to the spring.  I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees.  I am going to close my eyes and listen." - Anne Lamott

The Green of Spring

At this time of the year, in this particular place, I am surrounded by bright green.

                                                                                      Hosta

This is not a green that I will see in the long, hot summer months.
  

                                                                                      Grasses

This is not a green that I will see in the rusty shades of Fall.

                                                                                       Ferns
This is not a green I will see in the coldness of Winter.

This is bright, exciting, new green that only appears now and for this moment in time I'll revel in it.

"Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" - Robin Williams

Piffles 'Do' PRIMS

To receive an issue of PRIMS (or any publication) where your work is shown and shared with others is such a privilege.  The whole Stampington line of magazines is dear to my heart.  

Long ago I discovered "Somerset Studio" and artist books.  They gave me ideas, instructions and courage to try something totally unknown to me up to that point.

Later "Sew Somerset" came along and I was fortunate to have a few things in that publication - so many years ago.

PRIMS magazine is such a godsend to those of us who work in that genre.  Prior to PRIMS there were very few places one could go to get the information needed to make vintage/aged/fun cloth pieces.

Thank you to the team at Stampington for their encouragement, their professionalism and the gifts they give us with each issue of each magazine.  You make life fun!!

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.  Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. - Albert Schweitzer