"Long Forgotten Folk" - Daryle Cook

There is a doll artist who I've spoken of before -- but once again I want to share his art, his skill and his generosity with all of you.  His name is Daryle Cook. 

 His blog  Woodstown Whimsies  is filled with his wondrous creatures.

Lucky, lucky me -- I actually have three of his dolls right here in my studio.  This is a group that Daryle formed for a separate blog last year.  In the story they were stranded near Nonesuch Creek.  Such woebegone little ones.  I love it that they came to stay with me where although they still look pretty sad and bedraggled, they are warm and dry and getting lots of conversation.  

Recently Daryle has started a new blog  Cloth and Clay Doll Makerswhere he has put up videos on this techniques.  Very comprehensive explanations and instructions. Truly a treasure for doll makers.

 I'd like to honor Daryle -- perhaps give him the 'unofficial' doll maker crown and thank him for both his creativity and his generosity of character. 

"Happiness exists on earth, and it is won through prudent exercise of reason, knowledge of the harmony of the universe, and constant practice of generosity." - Jose Marti

"Highly" Unlikely

Out of the corner of my eye, one day not long ago, I spotted something.  Up on the top of the curtain rod - had a bird gotten inside?  Oh dear!

I got the step ladder to get a closer look - hoping that if it was a bird it wouldn't fly into my face.  But no, it was a strange small person - looking as if he had every right to be sitting high above the ground.

Introducing ourselves to each other I found out that his name is "Highly".  As such, it is his task in life to end up appearing in places that are highly unlikely for a little waif to be.

I asked him if his ancestors might have been explorers and he nodded his head sagely and said 'its certainly likely'.  He wouldn't tell me if there are others of his kind wandering my house at night - perching here and there - but I have a feeling I will find that out in due time.

 "From there to here and here to there, funny things are everywhere." - Dr. Seuss

The Unlikely's

One night, not long ago, I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep.  Thoughts were rambling through my brain as if it were a freeway.  The phrase "its very unlikely that I'd be able to..." popped up.  I have no idea how that sentence was finished because I got sidetracked thinking about the word "unlikely".

What a strange word it is.  While it doesn't actually say it won't happen it gives sort of a feeling that it isn't going to happen.  Was I thinking perhaps I'd take up ballet when the unlikelies popped up -- or was it something mundane such as cleaning the stove?  Either way, this word presents a challenge.  Do I yield to the unlikelies and forget about the stove for another day (very tempting) or do I challenge the unlikelies and prove that I certainly could be a ballerina if I wanted.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out but one thing I can say, I'll be exploring this word more and there's no doubt about that...

"I'm always excited by the unlikely, never by ordinary things." - David Hockney

"Life"

Life - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.

For only having four letters -- this is a HUGE word. When I looked it up in my dictionary there were 14 definitions. The one shown here is always shown first -- and although it does describe' life' I was more interested in definition #11- 'that which makes or keeps alive; the vivifying principle'. #13 also spoke to me - ' 'one who or that which enlivens'. 

I suspect our little 'Life' Whisperer is whispering awareness of life. Reminding me that in terms of a whole universe of time how small my little part is. 

Perhaps a Whisperer's definition could be made up.  One that glorifies each and every minute, reminding us to greet this day, hour, minute, second with peace and joy. 

"Life is a mirror and will reflect back to the thinker what he thinks into it." - Ernest Holmes

"Voices?"

The other day my husband came into my studio area from his study - clear across the house - to ask me who I was talking to.  Couldn't he tell?  Yes, I was talking to myself.  I do that often -- just chattering away to no one but whoever is inside my head at the time. 

There's a whole family in there you know -- sometimes it gets so crowded and raucous that I have to take a walk to get away from them all *smile*.  Other times I try to meditate them away -- but they are very persistent.

Most of the time they give me very good advice -- sometimes I'm led astray. However, if I make a mistake or follow the wrong path there is always another voice to say 'what on earth are you doing?'  

Now if some of them would only make a 'real' appearance and help me clean up this place -- its a mess.

"The more faithfully you listen to the voices within you, the better you will hear what is sounding outside." - Dag Hammarskjold