the sun will rise, the stars will shine

things

Well... I seem to have fallen behind, with the whole daily posting of things made. It was been very busy lately, ofo course. I have been making a lot though. I promise.
here are somethings:

Here is my bubbie reclining in a comfy new necklace that I knit her...





I think that I got the itch to make things for the pups from Pamy who has always made little garments for the boys...



It has become very important to make things that are not stressful, not related to sales.... not for show, but for my more intimate life. little things for the dearest of the dear.

My friend Despina has started this really cool thing on Facebook called MAKE PER MONTH. Everyone in the group makes something for another person each month...

this is what I made for Despina:




my friend Kendall made me this beautiful little quilt.... which I lost the picture of... check back soon.

Along the lines of studio excitement, Cayewah gave me this awesome old thread spool holder!






It has lots of pegs and other storage places for my threddys and other sewing stuff.
We don't know who made it, but someone did, probably in New Mexico, maybe 50 years ago.

daily practice

The grad classes in my department engage in an organized daily practice. Each person chooses something managable, simple to make every day. Making is something that can happen for a variety of reasons, due to a variety of circumstances. Making because it is what we do in general, rather than because we are particularly moved to make something is an incredible stregnth, a burdon of sorts, and a colossal relief.

Making always helps me to keep myself together and have better eyes when navigating thru the mountains of things which inevitably come up. As important as the personal act of making, is keeping sight of other people's making and why we make things; what we make.

SO, I am trying to start a new daily practice - it has 2 parts:

1. make something for someone in particular, document

2. find something that someone else made that i love.

there is a lot of figuring to do, and taking these small steps is probably the most productive way to do it.

i like birds

surfacing

I am finally surfacing from what has been an exceptionally long, exciting, wonder-filled, eventful and exhausting 2 months.

The last time I managed to write something on here was in december - freezing cold, making things in Massachusetts. Since then, I have been back in Savannah, mostly working at the YMCA and on my NEW BOOK - The Loop It Up Savannah Project: Making a Fiber Art After School Program in Your Town!

it's finally done!
this has been an exceptionally challenging project for me. I had long planned to make this book, but because of a priceless oppurtunity to go to the American Craft Council Show with the book, the writig and making had to SPPPEEED up, more than I can even believe actually happened!

The past few months have been nearly entirely devoted to this project. I finished the first edition last thursday. We have printed two copies which I made into hand bound books with incredible covers by the kids! These books will travle with me to Baltimore this week. We will soon be printing a larger edition, which will be available for $25 a copy!

oh my the world wizzes past, doesn't it? for more specific info on LOOP IT UP, you can visit the blog : www.loopitupsavannah.blogspot.com

OTHERWISE, I have been here in SAV. We recently had our very first Fibers Open Studio in the NEW BUILDING. Very lovely and HUGE event!

This is a sweet little felted pony that one of the girls made in INTRO



Lexa and Lynzo with the color wall - what a dream!



JJ petting one of my quilts.... this was for Pamela!



As we were leaving the building at the end of the night, it actually started SNOWING! here in SAVANNAH GA. Cayewah got this great shot of Lyla.
Her first snow!



The very next day, we had the First Annual LOVE DAY trunkshow at Fabrika!
Cutest day ever.... FREEZING, but adorable!




Now I'm laying in my bed with RIVA, trying to recover from a nasty cold (which very politely waited until AFTER the book was done!) we, well not riva but me! leave for Baltimore and ACC on tuesday! more frequent updates to follow! I can promise you that! xo

oh yeah, the rest of our lives!

So, despite the blizzard yesterday we had our second trunkshow. It was lovely. Katherine First came and played her fiddle. It was a wonder.

Today we have been layin low, cleaning the house, walking the dogs, trying to get everthing ELSE in our lives back together!

Most importantly for me, it's time to work on the LOOP IT UP SAV book!
I've been doing some research and thinking about it, and I think that we will make a small edition of hand made books (me and the kiddos) and then print an edition of oh, say 100 which can also come with us to ACC Baltimore.

Here are a few wonderful things and then I'm going to have to sign off for the day:

1. Brandi Carlisle who we LOVE in 526 sings, "just when you think you've had enough, your dreams come true."

2. James!



3. Peter Doliber, director of my YMCA and dear dear friend/ visionary just wrote to me, "both respect and esteem are built. But I am way more concerned with respect."

4. Isolina says, "we may not be able to love you enough to fill the void... but shit, we'll try."

5. Bub and Lu sleep on. soon i will to.

suddenly december

It was been a while!




I have been...

- packing up the house and prepping for MA

- moving materials around at the YMCA

- running around like mad, making up for a stolen phone - yes, the night before the long drive.... naturally

- driving up 95 with Riva and Lucy (cayewah's pup) for 9 hours, stopping in with Joellen and Jason for the night, driving 10 more hours thru the rain and fog

- Arriving in Northampton. Florence actually.

- Snuggeling

- Binding quilts and embellishing mittens



- doing trunkshow # 1 - went very well (here is Lulu, we did the show at his house)



- making doggie jackets




- knitting (basking in loving admiration for the importance of making)

I'm up in MA, taking good care.
Making, trying to keep my dogs and myself pretty warm.

Everything is going very well. We are most certainly on vacation, despite the ever epic lists. The days are less full and the freezing-ness is making me drink more tea and wear thicker socks.