handswork

i can't tell you how many ecoprints

i've made,

on paper, mostly

but on textiles, too.

ecoprints for caliban press

this morning's work

i can only say that it's a lot.

this has been my pattern,

make as many variations on a theme as i can think of.

then move on.

miniature tapestries, igolochkoys, small editions of booklets

yarn (oh, how much wool i spun)

my hands love making these things. 

there are processes i don't like: felt making is not for me.

there are others that continue to compel me:

pulling sheets of paper

spinning a thread

sewing a seam

plain weave. 

just plain weave.

plain weave is enough to weave a life around and through.

~~~

there are related things my hands only liked doing,

ripping out a seam

braiding my horse's mane for a show

folding paper

nailing a board.

all liked well enough.

(indigo on shifu and daylily paper, and habu paper, spun)
~~~
but i have always been grateful for my small,
serviceable,
one tendon repaired,

beginning to be arthritic

hands

and the things they know.

habu love

i was grounded last night by a good, long 

phone conversation with aimee.

so

when i looked at the work out this morning (before i go to work)

 it didn't look as hopeless as i'd been feeling

 little eucalyptus pages

 and this, THIS amazing paper and silk

habu yarn.

i could tell you how much i love this yarn,

but you can see, perhaps what a quirky personality it has

but you have to touch it

to really understand.

 i'm not a knitter,

crochet is the technique i prefer

so this little odd elk bone hook

that i made with jim croft

is getting her test run.

i think this is a new book.