skbgstudio

with a pencil in my pocket

The pencil project has commenced! The first color to arrive in the mail was Douglas Fir.

Funny, I didn't realize that the problem wouldn't be WHAT to write, but how to edit what I wrote... I realized it may be fun to have a separate space to share the different stories inspired by the color as well.

So, I kept it simple, honest and relative to a personal story. Instead of an action inspired by the color (which there could have been many...) it was more of an observation of this historical and abundant tree. I wrote a snapshot of part of the best seven days I experienced this February, which was with my grandmother, Pheba. We giggled, drank coffee, watched t.v. We made pot holders and pillows with my new sewing machine that was overwhelmingly amazing to her. My life and pulse slowed down with hers and I was reminded, or learned for the first time, how important it is to slow down, pay attention and do things by hand. She even held a needle and a thread in her hand for the first time in years as she showed me how she started quilt pieces back in the day. My visit inspired her to start working on scraps that her 90 year old sister had given her a few months back. I will post more about my visit later, but this post is about the pencil project, so...

Here is what I turned in to Lea Redmond as my first of 20 colors:

Hearts in Snow

Billy and I went out of town for a craft show I was in on Valentine's day. We spent the end of last week making valentines for others! We didn't buy each other anything for the romantic holiday and for our valentines day dinner we stopped at a local pizza place in Logan on the way home. But, before we left, we made each other fleeting valentines in our yard.

Enjoy the long weekend and cuddle up often with good music!

caught between snowballs and swimsuits

Looking at spring trends while cuddled in the throws of a winter snowstorm has never been comforting... it inspires yet another new goal and not related to New Years resolutions because who are we kidding? When does winter weather inspire anything but hibernation sprinkled with a few brave days of venturing out when you have to or are inspired to? Does moderation come easier when you live in a climate that is consistently moderate?

dusting off...

I would love to own this painting by my friend Maureen Shields. I just came across it as she was having a sale on her Etsy site. I realized that I have had dreams about this painting and have a half realized drawing of it in one of my old journals from when I lived in Chicago. I post it today not only because I love the story of the Princess and the Pea, but it sort of describes how I have been feeling this winter...although I am identifying a little more with the pea than the princess.

I've neglected this page after a few looming technical difficulties and the passing of important birthdays and wintery holidays. I also get easily overwhelmed with the million of ideas I want to a. communicate, b. execute and c. document. I let the old fashioned "overwhelmed" fairy take over and let the duvets of ideas pile up over me while literally nestling with my baby under every blanket in the house.

I see the triumph in the princess and look to her for inspiration. Bird by Bird, I will peel back the layers of inspirational detritus and trust that they will form themselves into some kind of tangible matter, even if it's a new quilt, fait main, to add to our collection.

feeling a little tom waits nostalgia

"It's all in there,' he smiles. 'Crop failures, dad dying, train wrecks. It all gets handed down, and everything you absorb you're going to secrete. A lot of those old songs stick to you, and others blow right through you, and some of them get trapped in there. You keep hearing them every time you sit down at the piano.'"

-Tom Waits in this interview

a view from highway one. more to come...

as if i need more distraction

okay, yes... while in san fran i want to be a total tree hugger. but, i would be lying if i didn't just buy this book with fantastic projects, beautiful designs and more fun distractions for little old me. I came across this shop last time I was in the bay and I can't wait to visit again.

When I was there before, I found one of my other favorite discoveries.

so then, I must add that when I go back, I also get to see my friend Michael McConnell's work at another great shop.

the woods i spoke of earlier...

the photos are amazing. but the story is even better.

invite

billy has been scanning in all the photos from my grandma's old photo albums.

she will be eighty in november. my mother will be sixty. and billy celebrates his thirtieth. all in november. here's what i've been working on for her invite.