April 19

A lot has been going on the last couple weeks... I have allowed the scraps of paper to accumulate on my tile floors, the tables and counters have been covered with paints, papers, pens and pencils. I was preparing and playing... the last hurrah before the cleaning time, but cleaning time has come... kind of the moment of reckoning for all the fun I've been having.

I co-led a workshop over the weekend... this booklet, which is still in process was the result. Everyone began their own book. We had five participants and everyone did marvelous unique things.... of course, I forgot my camera. Urrrrr...
two sheets of 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico sewn together.... all pages painted both sides..... this is one of the stages of what becomes the "cover"

cut hearts from this textured paper found in a magazine, napkin edging, lots of gold and yellow ochre, but some greens and coppers in there too

Here I painted the hearts and added lines and the words,' letting go'

The center two pages were first painted gold, then black over... then I wrote in the wet black paint... after it dried a bit I glued in this cut out of two women facing each other...

I've been reading Wendell Berry's series on the residents of Port William, KY... it has really made me thoughtful about connecting and forming community... these two women facing each other reminds me that we need to see and cherish each other... no matter what our convictions we can no longer afford to stand apart.

then there is this little ditty... a small book made of reclaimed everything... well, not the paint, but pretty much everything else... and the bird singing for all he is worth....

reclaimed board, repurposed dress patterns, reused tea bags, scrubbed, torn, and folded old watercolor paper....

measures about 2 and a half by 3 and a half inches

and all sewn together with nice waxed linen thread.

Every time I look at it I feel pleased.

and then there is this carrot. I planted some seeds in October or November and had very low expectations for how the carrot growing would turn out... only about six of the seeds really made it, but in the last few weeks I have begun to yank them out of the ground... and what-da-ya-know ... they are not the deformed little nubs I expected... I have carrots! Well, had. There is one left in the garden and I think today is the day it comes out.