been to be

today would have been my mother and father's 68th anniversary...a fitting way to start the new year wishing them, had it been theirs to be.

And so,
a peek into what sits in my hands these days:

a little lost in thought

thinking about little things

detailing the moments.

a year lost in dreaming, (also asked by Hamlet, "what dreams may come")

for those who may find their way here, greetings to another year.

ending february

 february ends and meteorological winter supposedly has ended, but ha, the cold and snow is still with us.

continuing, here are nos. 24-26.

 the detail shows a little ragged edge pocket (24)

 a simple bit of couching  found here (25)

the brown stain on the cloth is from experimenting with dye: cutch with a ferrous sulphide dip and a chance touch of indigo (26)

back to shoveling snow and fighting the cold again this week.  my seed packs are saying, no, not time yet!

keep warm and enjoy the sun whenever you find it.  not too much has peek'd around here. 

third week of february

things that passed through my fingers this week.

The detail is showing a tiny little "pocket" opening of the top section.  

The details here also have little "pockets" on the pleated areas.

 

For the friend from insta/world/gram who used the word "tease," this is the full view.

To break the thread flow, I also knitted up a few hats this week.  Another stash, another story.

Thaw is a word that might have to be eliminated from the vocabulary - we are suppose to go back to a deep freeze again during the next week.

So for those who wander by, keep warm and cheers.

Exciting week ahead.  Stitching from Northern England, Karen Ruane's SimpleStitch4 starts.  Join the madness in search of cake crumbs.


Cheerio.

caring for the heart

as that day approaches

let us remember all our heart of hearts

The "phases of the heart: for the lost, broken, forgotten" is no. 20 in a series that i've been stitching for  the year, 2014.

"prevailing winds" is no. 19.(below)

Each piece is about 9x9, the white base.  The center is roughly 6x6, center.  These are my memory keepers for the year.  And, isn't everything we do, in a way, a memory keeper? 

I have a template that I sometimes use to pin out ideas and or make "meaningful comments" to myself.  It passes the time.

So far, this year to date, in 2014. 

Treat hearts kindly.  

Thank you for stopping by if you still remember this place.  

my first teacher

would have been 93 today:

moja mamusia

dreaming of home

story teller

an artist

holding

kochana mamusia

things held

 edges may hold:

as decorative or functional

 protection of the center/heart

define a space

recollection

attract our attention

*

 provide us with thoughts

or be as simple as a threaded needle guiding stitches to hold two things together. 

*I'm starting the year re-reading anne truitt.  she speaks of perception, process and self-examination.
(Daybook: New York: Pantheon, 1982)

seasonal II

walking in december

The last Saturday of the year was remarkably warm here so took time out to stroll out in a preserve not too far from me: Morton Arboretum.  Finding my beloved Quercus at arms length is not a challenge here and enso magic in a little waterfall.

one more round of circle game

The center of the last 9 patch for 20-13: traditional 9 patch covered with scrim and further embellished with some split stitching. 

A good time to listen to Joni Mitchell.  

Respectfully, 2013 wanes.