Thursday Thirteen Random Thirteen

Thirteen things I collect.

1. Sunflowers: I have a window over my Kitchen sink. I had had a Victorian garden with a hose in our other home for 16 years. I tended the soils and it thrived. So when we moved here I had no garden and my body was finished with the gardening due to end stage endo. I also am not able to bend well at the hip, do to narrowing of my spinal column in my L4, L5 and L6. It was over for me and I grieved a lot over the loss. Well, My love of wild birds let to a spring with an unexpected Mass of the most wonderful self seeded sunflowers . So they, to me, are a very present reminder that God cares about my gardeners heart.

2.Beads: Well if you ever come to know me you will discover a little known fact out there in blogger land. I am a bead enthusiast and Jeweler, I began as a child when an Native American Elder found me working at my parents gas station ( I was 9 years old) she took favor of me and showed favor to me and gave me her tin can of scrap beads. This was a promise she showed in me, the trust for the future.
I have been in a gallery up in the Arizona mountains. I sell some of my work when I have time to, or like the resent lanyards to defray gas costs or I give as gifts. I have an earring collection that would make you drool. I do consignment work from time to time. Prom season I am very popular. It is my hope to have a little more time to set aside and place some of my work in local shops. I have hopes of a web page at some future date. I don't like selling. I however would like to be more helpful to beloved some day earning some extra funds. I haven't showed you that part of me. Does any one want me to post my work? I do not want to be tacky.

3. Willow Tree and Figurines that depict life moments: The lovely little figurines. I really appreciate the simple understated beauty of this artists creations. Others noticed that I did and so over the years I have been given such gifts of generosity. It started with a dove, I saw it in a store. I told God that I loved it and that if any one wanted to know what I wanted for Christmas this was it. I received it as a gift. This has happened so many many times in my walk within His Love.

4. Signs: Words have the power of life or death. So I surround my family and myself with signs, images and words of good character.

5. Fabric: I love textiles, my favorite is cotton. I live in a very hot land so cotton is the best for weather hear. I love silk and trimmings and notions. I am a conasur of COLOR"!... I eat it up!... I love sewing, designing and creating. Not only clothing but anything we might have need of or desire.

6. Quilts: I have made so many quilts mostly utilitarian tied bed linens. However a quilt is the most amazing form of artistry to me because it incorporates story and texture in the most intimate of ways. The large California King Quilts I have made incorporate the textiles of life spent. My first large quilt has cloth from all of my childhood as well as cloth from garments of my husbands youth. His mother also sewed. It is trimmed with left over satin from my wedding gown that she made for me.

7. Aprons and Antique Kitchen Gadgets : Aprons are a life force unto themselves. The story of a womans life is found in her apron. I did not always have such wonderful electric appliances and equipment. I grew up and matured on the old fashioned tools of our fore mothers. If I loose power I know how to do my work. Many of my tools are hand cut wooden spoons ( both very large to the very small) , spreaders, measures and all are full of the crafters' love. Some are the treasures of carvers who have past on now. Things that were made of wonderful hard woods (trees of the forests) given to me as kindnesses.

8. Children's Books: Quality children's books are a must in my home. I am over run with them. I was never allowed books in my youth so I am lavish. I enjoy them as much as the children do . I prefer older ones with images drawn by artist that were as good as the authors . You know the wonderful pictures that set story to memory. I am a writer and this is the joy of it when I watch a child in fascination glow , eyes full of imagination. ( I wonder where my Dove gets it? :))

9. Miniature Books: I find a demure joy in sweet little books. I must have a dozen of them. They are on these types of things on my list. Poetry and prose. Dog breeds, Flower etiquette, Birds, flower meanings.

10. Wild Life Images and Plant and Flowers Images: Wolves, Hummingbirds, Wild Birds, Eagles, Hawks, Doves, Wild Bunnies, Dolphins. All forms of flora and fauna natural in their element. Each has a memory of God's very presence with me when the world of humans was not a safe place to be. It was nature that was my Mother Father Teacher. Our walls are covered in images of life, in realism. I thrive on books with the wonder of beauty as well.

11. Leaf forms: in dishes , beads, cloth, ceramics and trays. I love the leaf. It is life.

12. Cards to give and Write: This is a love in my former life before children. I have a sweet correspondence desk that was right by my front door at the other house. I would always send a card a day when I had my morning tea ( I used to love that too. I once had a tea cup collection it was destroyed when the shelve it sat on was hit into, they all shattered. I never replaced them.) I have stickers to adorn the envelopes too. Perhaps when the children get settled in school.

13.Art Supplies of any kind. I am multi artistic. Everything but yarn. The texture is not pleasant to me. I scrap, paint oil and pastel, water color at little. I enjoy crafting utilitarian and decorative house hold items. All notions, ceramics too. I once had a booth and often had yearly arts/ craft sales in the Victorian Living Room of the old house. I would serve mulled cider and baked goods in my home made apron. I had neighbors all around for blocks and blocks. The affiliation was a great loss when we moved. (they were building the freeway and a casino in my back yard).
I am considering doing a show this holiday at the church I did it in last year. Last years show was all jewelery. Jaye and I had talked about doing some craft sales. I don't know if we will. It is hard with the time spent parenting to craft the way I once did.