Over the last couple of months I have been receiving wonderful things from my friends in blogland. First, Liz Ackert from Texas sent me one of her embroidered "imagine peace" pins. Then, because I had fleetingly indicated a preference for pink, she sent me another. It is hard to articulate the satisfaction these little pins evoke in me....the beautiful colors of natural dyes, the delicate embroidery, the warm tactile quality of cloth in a tiny bit of "jewelry". Liz is an accomplished needlewoman and I love holding the results of her labors in my hands.
The next surprise was a packet from Mo Orkiszewski in Australia. I had read on her blog that she is planning to show an art piece in a Sydney gallery including pennants made from a vintage wedding dress. She said she would be sending these satin scraps out to people that she knew to embellish as they saw fit according to the theme: " I dream of a world where love is the answer". It didn't even cross my mind that I would be included until the pennant appeared in the mail. I am so honored to be part of Mo's work. She too, is an amazingly gifted artist, needlewoman, illustrator and book maker. I am trying to decide what I will do with the pennant and will show my efforts as I go.
Then, to crown it all, another windfall through Liz from Australians Barry Smith and Fiona Dempster. In honor of International Peace Day (September 21) metalsmith Barry made over 200 silver leaves with the word "peace" stamped on them and distributed them to his friends around the world to give away to their friends and so on. His wife, Fiona the totally inspiring printer, bookmaker and artist, included a letterpress saying with his leaves...mine says "Let Peace Be A Daily Conversation". Liz, bless her heart, decided to give her leaves and letterpress pieces to the people who made blocks for Dee Mallon's Hearts for Charleston quilt in 2015 to commemorate the people killed in the church basement by that sad shell of a human being, so that put me on her list again. Please go to Dee's blog to see the finished quilt, (look under Hearts for Charleston on her topics list) it is something special. Liz also included a scrap of silk she had dyed with brazilwood to a gorgeous subtle red, reminding me of the incredible ability of silk to take color, and a part of one of my favorite poems...The Silken Tent by Robert Frost:
She is as in a field a silken tent
At midday when a sunny summer breeze
Has dried the dew and all its ropes relent,
So that in guys it gently sways at ease,
And its supporting central cedar pole
That is its pinnacle to heavenward
And signifies the sureness of the soul,
Seems to owe naught to any single cord,
But strictly held by none, is loosely bound
By countless silken ties of love and thought
To everything on earth the compass round,
And only by one's going slightly taut
In the capriciousness of summer air
Is of the slightest bondage made aware.
This poem perfectly articulates the connections with which blogging has favored me. I have never met Liz, Mo, Barry or Fiona in person, but I treasure the glimpses of their work and thought that I see on their blogs and these actual items that have come from their hands increase the strength of the "countless silken ties of love and thought" binding me to "everything on earth the compass round". I worry about the effect of technology on human relationships, but must admit that in my case the blog has introduced me to people I never would have known otherwise. I am reminded daily that my tribe is much larger than I might have realized. It opens my heart to all the people I do not know who share our planet and the trials and joys of being human. Lucky me! Heartfelt thanks to Liz, Mo, Barry, Fiona and Dee.
Addendum:
Apparently none of my links are working. Here are the addresses of the blogs I have mentioned:
Liz: imgoingtotexas.blogspot.com
Mo: itscrowtime.wordpress.com
Barry: rustnstuff.blogspot.com
Fiona: paperponderings.blogspot.com
Dee: deemallon.wordpress.com