This week

This past week, dear readers, has been lots of work and happy surprises.  I played some cowboy tunes at Farmer Alex' memorial.  We were outdoors...it was supposed to rain and it Didn't!  I want to say more but I can't find the words...he was a very very fine man and I'm grateful to have known him and to be a family friend.

Elizabeth, from Ballarat, in Australia, sent me the most beautiful surprise.  First came a wonderful dragon card:

And then this exquisitely handmade (by her)...

needlecase!

The outside is wonderfully patterned of muted misty colors, from an old obi, and the inside is like the moon appearing in swiftly changing cloud landscape.  I've never had a specially designated place for my needles, but they are much happier not having to mingle with the pins in the pincushion.  Thank you thank you Elizabeth.

Also, I've been taking Glennis' indigo dyeing online class...I started late due to my travels and I'm still working on achieving reduction in my vat.  It's not quite warm enough I think.  Someone, I think it was Grace, mentioned wrapping it in a space blanket to contain the heat, so I tried that.  It's on an orange plastic old tablecloth with a lightbulb providing warmth...this is what it looks like at night!  Rather like something from outer space has landed in the living room:

And here is a painted tipi curtain from about 1870 in Montana or Wyoming.  (Art Inst. Chicago):

Wishing you all health and lovely things to look at, always.

Fond thoughts

and prayers with love for Jude's Was and family...

Home Sweet Home

Hello everyone.  I'm very happy to be home after my transcontinental train journey.  We passed through Whitefish, Montana on the night of the full moon:

But before that, while in Washington, D.C., inspired by Elizabeth's blog, I went looking for equestrian statues, and found Ulysses S. Grant, who fought in the Civil War for the Union:

I am fighting a Civil War internally, hoping to vanquish some very potent  cold germs. Pretty soon I will go get some herbs, because that always helps.

Here's a ghostly view of Mt. Hood in Oregon...part of the last leg of my trip:

And lastly, 2 projects I've been working on.  This is an experiment using applique techniques that Jude has been demonstrating in her Magic Diaries 2 online class.

And this is the beginning of an ipad cover (I think).  I visited my grand-parents grave in New Jersey...my grandson is very into the Beatles and this song kept going through my mind...I like to think that my grand-parents are still here...

That's all for now...stay healthy!!!