Ferns, Whorls, Swirls and Spirals
You can see I am mad about spirals. Yesterday in the garden, I investigated these with my 5 year old partner. We found all sorts of fiddleheads, pink ones, white ones and rather gritty looking ones.
Just like life, eh? Gritty and pink. As the days have passed since our discussion of “Who Does She Think She Is?” on Saturday evening, I cannot stop the constant question of measuring success in my day. Capturing these fiddleheads with my pal does not win me any awards or fees, but certainly fills my heart with joy. I hope you all will pitch in to this discussion of what makes success, for women and men in life. There is a tenderness and integrity in giving the gifts we are blessed to embody.
For the past 3 days I have been sewing.
Now, you could holler across the cyber waves at me and say, “Suzi- what else do you do? Sew? Make hats? For teenagers?” Fair enough. One day I am leading a workshop with Karen on the Daily-Ness of Art. One day I am lounging around thinking about that workshop. The next day I am kneeling in a sea of horsehair, organza and velvet while ruminating over how to make a 22 inch circle fit on a 22 inch lumpy noggin. Just this morning I completed the 6th hat and delivered them to the dress rehearsal of my son’s high school production of “St. Joan”. If you live in the Berkshires, you could come see it- for more than the hats. Teenagers doing Shaw is worth the ticket.
But, yes. I sew. I know how to make hats. I am fascinated with knots, thread and needles. I love to cut things in to shapes. It follows I guess, rather obviously, but worth noting, that I live the Daily-Ness of Art simply by being the parent I am. Does this measure up to success? By my measuring tape, I think it does.
Tomorrow I will be baking Sweet Amandine’s almond cookies. Until then, look at all the ways you measure success and keep me posted. Look for the whorling ferns and notice the next hat you see.
With all my love and a little bit of Rumi- Suz
Let yourself be silently drawn
by the stronger pull of what you really love.
April 14th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Great photo.
Hurray for hats & hatville.
Hope to see you soon. Karen xo
April 14th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Thank you Karen. The velvet dust is all swept up… just a few bags to put away. I have lots of fabric! Yipes! So excited for art day tomorrow. What are you going to work on? I brag I got a great piece of mail art today from Lorre. Really sweet. xoxoxo Love you, S
April 14th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
How lovely to find you and your thoughts & images by way of Gabriel’s e-mail about the Daily-Ness of Art workshop at the Art Kitchen! I hope to find you in the Berkshires sometime soon.
April 14th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Welcome to the Laundry Line Cris! I am thrilled you stopped in. XO S
April 15th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
I do art masterpiece at my kid’s school and I brought many pictures similar to yours and had them draw using pastels. It is called Koru art and the kids did an amazing job with it.
April 16th, 2010 at 7:48 am
Is that a program Tammy? Art Masterpiece? I am curious. You have an amazing life out there! Spring is really popping out here. I am off to garden with a class at my kids’ school today- time to turn the compost. I hope the rain ceases for those hours. Love, S
April 17th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
coincidentally, i just had a conversation with my 17 year old son … i was showing him my latest collage and he said “i think daddy likes that you make collages” i told him “that’s nice but its also nice that i like to make collages. instead of answering the question “what did you do today with “i worked for 8 hours, did 3 loads of laundry, 2 load of dishes” now i can say ” i worked for 8 hours, did 3 loads of laundry, 2 loads of dishes, AND MADE A BEAUTIFUL COLLAGE THAT MADE ME HAPPY!” hurray for the dailyness of art and for my kitchen collages!
April 18th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Poster Woman for the Revolution. xo S