stream to river to ocean

sometimes synchronicity or connection just occurs: 
i got an email
asking me for a sheet of printed paper,
warm colors and fairy wings
were what gabby was thinking about
(this IS my kind of order!)
and last night she sent me a little link.
you should go there.
gabby is finishing up the rigorous two year course at
north bennet street school, studying binding
and aiming to be a designer bookbinder.
 my first bookbinding teacher was a total surprise
someone i met in the tiny IGA in star lake
the late sally smith
 renown designer bookbinder
spent several hours with me
helping me make my first hardback book.
sally worked wonders in leather
and taught in london.
gabby is following a similar path.
meanwhile fiber has always lead me
to new and startling adventures
as did jean
who knows all about the difference one small stitch
can make
my three melbourne books,
oz books, 1, 2 & 3
~~~
i am so hoping htat
this class with dorothy caldwell
at lovely longridge farm
will deepen my making into work that is richer
than i have dared go before.
why else do it?
to gabby and to jean,
thank you. 
this week i have been playing
with a few pieces of kozo graciously given to me
by nancy jacobi at the japanese paper place.
interesting results, and GOOD learning.
mixed in with tim ely's teaching.
seeing what these papers and plants and waters and pigments
will teach me
is enough to keep my brain dancing
as i sort it out and push myself forward.
this is good work for spring.
~~~
then there is a little rest
and then off i go to the morgan
to teach two classes, one a new one
four days with aimee lee and me, laughing and playing and working and making fiber/paper/textiles.

books and play

susan's book
 i can barely wait until i have
this book in my hands
(i did get to read it electronically)
lucky me!
this book came recommended
in a roundabout way from glennis dolce.
and i am so happily reading, savoring each page
every page has wisdom, and is framing experience for me.
i've found that dr. kimmerer is a neighbor (almost) 
her ted talk spoke to my heart.
she brings students to cranberry lake, 
each summer. 
cranberry lake is where my son first swam, 
and where i discovered a book in their tiny library
about something called designer bookbinding.
and then i met sally smith, who spent summers there
and winters in london teaching bookbinding.
she was my first binding teacher.
circles, connections, and love.
~~~
 fetching the mail i found this little one
the chickadees love the ditch there
right by the raod
 on my new path home
 more path treasures
 and i was playing 
with shadows
and sunset
and leaves
we country folk have 
a need for amusement--
books and walks serve me well.
~~~
students this year have healthy funny bones 
and leave behind
reminders 
so do other folks...at home today
  i found three stashes
this one in a towel awaiting me by the tub.
there was a very sweet mention
of one of my hortus siccus books
by bryan from when he visited jean.
thank you!