book number three, full of wonder

 I had a lot of fun making this book, as well as some serious musing*, whilst learning new techniques too. Or maybe not new ones, just stitched stuff differently. I like the effect the wrap-around-the-string-stitch offers and am enamoured with the rainbow, I intend to make loads more, as they bring such joy. The poem is hidden away in a pocket. It has thus become a book with and without words. During the sewing I listened to Jude’s golden oldies and stumbled upon the snow globe, hence the snow beads surrounding the moon. I also half-saw the first season of Downton Abbey….as last week was much cooler than the previous weeks it was a good one to stay indoors and sit and stitch slowly. I became quite obsessed with this book.

Toad’s short poem

hi,

I am the quiet toad

silent and stold friendsill

it may not look like it

but I'm smiling

smiling on the inside

by now, maybe you are too

first posted here

 *A surprising amount of violence occurred during the process: the countless needle-pricks, the cutting of cloth with the sharp scissors, the tearing of fabric, the pounding of the torn leaves with a hammer…..and these are just some of the things I have done! The iron ore extracted from the earth needed to forge the steel for the needles and pins; the cotton grown using water and pesticides, then harvested, dyed, washed, woven, transported, I have doubtless forgotten lots that happened along the way. I contemplated all of this as I sat sewing quietly, at first feeling rather smug with myself at being able to be content with ‘so little’. After my sobering thoughts I felt decidedly less high-and-uppity, realising I too am part of the violence that is inherent to life and living. In life there is death.  To me it is apparent that everything is connected, connected in ways I cannot begin to imagine. What I can imagine is what I make.

Whatever my thoughts I am happy with book number three!

namasté

A beautiful rendition of 'What a wonderful world' by Jon Batiste