a little conversation

Today in north central Massachusetts it is breezy and warm. The sun is shining. I was sitting in the backyard. Behind the sounds of the road and my husband working on one of the motorcycles I heard woodpeckers. Woodpeckers on either side of the property. One would taptaptapaptaptpatpatap and then the other would taptaptpatpatpatptptaptap. One was on a decidedly hollow-ish tree, the other not. They were talking to each other. It was quite a lengthy conversation. "How'd you do this winter?" "Not bad, how about you?".....

I drifted off to thinking about the latest whole cloth map piece I have been working on. When I was reminded that really successful pieces are conversations. The elements converse with each other. It goes back and forth. They are congenial. They get along. They wonder how each other's winters were.

When you can hear the conversation you know the piece is working.

Focus

I was talking with my friend Chris the other day. Chris is a felt artist of the highest order, owner of New England Felting Supply/www.feltingsupply.com and an all around fun and fabulous woman. We were talking about blogs and how so many of the blogs she comes across lack focus. Which made me go back and read my blog. I wouldn't call it fuzzy (the opposite of in focus). It has jumped around-'let's show Chirps, let's show trees, let's show quilts'. Do you sense a pattern here? Yeah, there is no pattern. And what is that saying about me? What do I want my work to say about me? What baffles me is when I am working at a job-job, focus is my middle name. "Get the job done". When it comes to art I jump on the wind and let me take it where it will.

Which is why there are days I walk into the studio and just don't know what to do. So I make a tote bag. Anybody want a tote bag? I seem to be accumulating a lot of tote bags.

This mental exercise has led me to let go of the Chirps. Fly, be free. I will be selling the remaining chirps at the Orange Innovation Center Open Studio and Artisan Sale on March 27 at 10:00am at OIC on West Main St. Orange, MA.

Three cheers for more focus. I am not done. More down the path.

Thanks, Chris.

Bleach

If you haven't discovered the power of the Bleach Pen don't wait much longer. Fun, fun, fun-albeit toxic fun-so make sure you have windows open or use it outside.

I am awaiting discharge paste from Pro-Chem, but I couldn't wait.

Today the I hit some black linen, blue cotton and a Hoffman batik.

Love it!

Playful as Dolphins

I am a huge fan of FreeWill Astrology http://www.freewillastrology.com I am a Cancer and my horoscope, could it be your as well, for last week.

Last night I had a dream in which I was addressing a crowd of thousands of Cancerians in a large stadium. I was referring to them as dolphins rather than as crabs. "I say unto you, my fellow dolphins," I proclaimed (I myself was born June 23), "that you have been given a sacred assignment by the great gods of time themselves. And that assignment is to master the art of Timeology." When I awoke from the dream, I was awash with feelings of deep relaxation and ease, although I wasn't sure why. I had never before heard that word "timeology," so I googled it. Here's how the Urban Dictionary defined it: "spending time doing what you want to do, not accomplishing anything major but also not wasting time." It so happens that this prescription is well-suited to our current astrological omens. I suggest that you and I be as playful as dolphins.

which I wish I had read last week.....

Dyeing - Oh My.....

I have been wanting to try my hand at dyeing for quite some time. Kendra came home from a friend's house with a t-shirt she had dyed. It needed rinsing. Instead of watching all that lovely dye go down the drain I caught in a big pot. Then I started scouring around for things to throw in. (Good thing we don't have a white cat---) I found an old curtain, a piece of vintage Sister Parrish fabric, muslin, canvas and a lovely linen handkerchief I picked up at Savers. The linen handkerchief I tied with string - my first shibori - everything else just went in the pot. What you see above is the result of about 10 hours in the dye, rinsed, washed in the machine and dried in the dryer. I am hooked. Just don't tell my dear husband there are yet more art supplies to be had and they coming into the house. It is going to be a very colorful spring. If anybody who lives in the area wants to come play for a dye day let me know. The more the merrier.

New Online Shop

I have just started participating in 1000 Markets. Visit my shop at: http://www.1000markets.com/shops/lindaruelflynn

Let's see how this does!

Just About Done

I just love how these birch pieces are coming along. I can feel the wind blowing the leaves off the trees.

A little piece of New England for you.