Existential Examen - Day 4

 As part of trying to sort myself out this year, I've been participating in a variety of small groups online -- "chat" rather than Zoom, so I can visit at leisure, read and respond (if I want to).  Yesterday one of the posts was about rediscovering joy, and the practices the writer had incorporated into her life to do so.

I've been a long-time journaller, and have shared my delight in fabric, fibre, floss and gardening in these blog pages -- but happiness isn't the same as joy.  Dr. Brene Brown, in writing about the difference between the two in her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, talks about the role of gratitude -- and how it's more than an attitude; it's a practice.

That was news to me.  Until I read that, I'd thought about the trend of keeping a "gratitude journal" as, well, trendy.  A fad.  Another self-help 'fashion' that wouldn't really amount to much.  

I was wrong.

Four days in to this series of posts, expressing gratitude in this arena, and I've already found nuggets of actual joy in my days -- such as the noisy parties the birds have been having in my ornamental fruit trees and around my evergreen shrubs, as they dine on whatever birdie goodies they can find.  

Yesterday morning, I just sat and watched.  I was so entranced that when the birds moved from view in my living room, I travelled down the hall to my bedroom to watch them there.  As I became absorbed in watching their birdie behaviour, I realized the feeling that arose.  It wasn't happiness; rather, it was happiness that gave way to delight that gave way to joy.

Today I am grateful for Dr. Brown's work, analysis and wisdom.  I am also grateful for the beauty and busyness of birds -- and I am grateful for the gradual return of joy to my life.

Babies, Birds and Blocks

It's a b-b-b-busy time of year...and I feel like I'm on a roll!

The delight of a new wee one in the family is at least in part responsible for some of the energy.  Yes...my cousin R 'down East' has a new grand-daughter (born Nov. 11)...so I just had to put a new little sweater on the needles:

Pattern: Bluebell Cardigan designed by Schneckenstrick - free on Ravelry
Yarn: Schachenmayr Bravo Color (discontinued)
Colour-way #2084

The photo above is just the start of it.  It's a top-down, and I've done all the increases.  The sleeves are on stitch holders and I'm working on the body.  Another inch or two and I'll be finished that, ready to complete the sleeves, and finish it off.  Before long, it will be ready to send off to Baby M.  (No, she's not named after me!)

Then there was the commission to do a 'birdie' piece for a friend to give as a gift...and I made three, finished yesterday:

Answering the Dinner Bell 
SOLD to my client

At the Tween Stop (C) 2017

Home for Christmas (C) 2017

Home for Christmas - Detail

I couldn't help myself with that third one...it just called to be done.  If not sold before, these will be available at the Lacombe Art Show and Sale in April (again, assuming I am juried in once more).

And...to allow my brain to rest, I worked on Clue #1 for Bonnie Hunter's 2017 Mystery: On Ringo Lake.  She started us off  with classic nine-patches...and having reviewed her instructions for cutting strips, I was delighted to find that mine intersected beautifully around the centre square!

For some reason I have more than are called for.  No worries!  I'll find a spot for the extra ones somewhere along the line.  :-)

What's up for the rest of the week?

•  Regular Car Maintenance (while knitting on Xmas gifts) tomorrow;
• Work at The Shop on Thursday (and it's our busy season);
• Friday and over the weekend...work on those commissioned pillow shams...the second one is ready to be marked and sandwiched for quilting.
• Bonnie's Clue #2 lands on Friday!

It's all good!  Linking up to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network...and wishing you a great rest of the week!  😊

EBMC February II - For the Birds

In my last post I showed you my inspirational photo/drawing and the two sketches I sent to EB for evaluation.  Frankly, her words surprised me -- and thrilled me no end.  Apparently, I'm actually getting a handle on this stuff!   I don't feel comfortable sharing everything she wrote, but I will tell you this: like you, she preferred the second of my two sketches, the one that was looser, freer.

About that, she wrote:

Sketch 3 - this is where the artist realizes that there's a better way to portray the movement of the birds..we don't need the technical details of the feeder and we're really not interested in what kinds of birds these are but rather their constant fluttering movements as they approach and feed...furthermore look how she has echoed the curves...the curves of the head, of the wings of the tail and off the feeder - all is harmonious, all pulled together and the whole nicely balanced.  The whole meaning is there with great economy and simplicity that is so elegant.  Nicely done student 8!! Love it!!!  Worth all the thought that went into it.

Whoa!

Even before I received this feedback, I had an idea for one way of doing this piece, so this morning I worked it up -- a sample just over 9" square.  I began by tracing my original sketch onto a piece of white-on-white cotton.  Then I sandwiched it with batting and a cotton backing, and 'thread painted' it, as if I were doing a pen-and-ink drawing:

At the Feeder (C) 2915
Approx 9 1/2" square, unfinished

I'm not a 'comfortable' free-motion quilter -- by the time I'd finished the dense stipple-meander around the birds, my shoulders were up around my ears!  For the curious, here's the back:

It's a cute wee piece but small (in my usual style)...and I wanted to try it out with a variety of fabrics so I made these two mock-ups:

At the Feeder 2 (WIP) 2015
Approx. 18" W x 14" L

Just the Shapes, M'am!  ;-)
At the Feeder 3 (WIP) 2015
Approx. 13" W x 9" L

And yes, I know it looks like the feeder is floating in space in each of these!  That little detail would be handled either simply by stitching or by couching a narrow cord...depending on the weight of the piece.

Of these two, I actually rather like the top one.  It could be the background (self-dyed cotton velveteen) or it could be the fact it's less geometric; I don't really know.

What do you think?

I think I'll link up with Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday...and then go for a jog in the sunshine!

What a party!

The Cedar Waxwings been partying heartily in my yard for what seems like weeks now. First, they flocked to munch all the dried old berries off my Mountain Ash and decorative plum/cherry trees. Now they're working on the ones they missed on the lawn. The partying goes on as they come in droves -- even in the rain and even late in the evening.

I figure they must be making up for lost time. The berries, for the most part, have been on the trees since last summer -- but we had an early frost and snow, scaring the birds off till this spring. Now they entertain me, as I watch their activity and their antics, and I cannot help but smile as they go about their hunt for new nibbles.