In the Garden

Fingers have been occupied with other creative pursuits recently.  Handing this over for the newest member of our clan to enjoy, I find myself missing the mad stitchery, the solving of design problems unique to this art form.  And now, back to the drawing board - literally.

Yes and No

Yes and No

Moving things out of the studio this week made the space more inviting, felt like air was flowing through the room and my mind more freely.  I felt pulled in to the space, the empty stool in front of the work area.

A drawing made while the mind had no settled thought, only impressions amid noise (while waiting for youngsters to have their fill at a Gamer convention)  was added to and played with over the past few days.

Yes and no.  Choices, balance, the hovering between options not decided yet - what is that called?  I know there is a term for it.  Bardo.  That's it.  There's a balance point where anything is possible.  You can't stay there long, but until you close off other options by choosing, you can turn in any direction, open any door within reach.

"Jump" Illustration Friday April 27, 2012

Inspired by the Illustration Friday word: "Jump" and the quote:

"Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to 'jump at the sun'.  W might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground".  - Zora Neale Hurston

This word, this quote sent me bouncing - quite literally - in memory, to neighbourhood pogo stick competitions, children all tossing baseballs back and forth, making blades of grass whistle between their thumbs, skipping ropes or trading roller skates while waiting their turn to try and be the one who could stay on the pogo stick and jump the longest.  It makes me think: how rich we were, in our choices, our pastimes, the community of children from who we drew our friends, our challenges, our memories.    It was this environment, with the memory voices of all our mothers in chorus saying if not quite to 'jump at the sun' then at least: Get outside.  And once outside, the sunlight would find us.  No ceiling, no walls, the only barriers being custom, courage - and bedtime.