recent thoughts

Good morning,

When I woke up yesterday morning [day after election day] my mind was swirling with thoughts. I had so many thoughts of hope, and excitement, and looking forward and things I wanted to share but hadn't the time. And then I taught all day long and when I finally got home last night all I wanted to do was eat soup and watch tv. I was just too tired. And today is my studio day, I always wake up giddy on my studio days. And recent events only add to that for me.

On Tuesday when I walked downtown to the post office [and picked up my free Starbucks along the way for voting] my copy of PEER was waiting for me! Renee did a wonderful job putting it all together. I really like the size and thickness of the paper. It is so interesting to see fellow artists work and hold it in my hands. I am looking forward to adding color to their beautiful images. It seemed like just the right day for it to arrive.

Speaking of coloring, I don't know when I've ever concentrated so hard on coloring in a bubble or within the lines as on Tuesday. I looked and looked at my choices and made sure I filled in the bubbles on the ballot as best I could.
Yes. It is finished. We're ready to move on and forward. Right?

Tomorrow I hope to share some studio news about art card subscriptions and letterpress with you.

Thank you Diana, for your sweet post today. She has some wonderful modern handbags in her shop you will like to see.
And thank you Alicia for mentioning my sequin hearts yesterday! :)

off to work for me!
H

trying to focus

Good evening,

Today I printed more on these and took a fabulous walk through thick paths of yellow leaves. I have a [huge] stack of dishes in the sink and laundry to dry, but am neglecting it. I've been distracted all day. I suppose I'm itchy for tomorrow.

a few good things :
} hello handmade paperie
} so happy
} and emily has returned home safely

So, how are you?

H

sunday

Hello,

I hope you're having a fabulous weekend. Are you? It was foggy early this morning which nestled the autumn leaves into layers of color and texture.
I just had to make biscuits this morning so I could taste Alicia's pear butter. It's delicious. I could eat it right out of the jar. It causes me to remember the apple butter my grandparents made yearly using the apples from the tree in their backyard. Yum yum. You just can't beat homemade.

Oh, Rachel posted her polaroid wall that I mentioned to you Friday.

It's so sunny and warm here today. A perfect day for a long walk and taking some pictures of remaining pockets of autumn color.

see you soon,
H

a note on beauty

[alternates from the week | beauty from friends and beauty from God]

Good morning,

It's Friday. Can you believe it? Already!

Thank you for all your thoughts about hope the other day, I feel like we're all in hope together. And that's a wonderful feeling!

A kind reader commented on beauty which has made me think and notice beauty in recent days. [thank you :) ]. Yesterday as I was driving back from visiting two dear friends I thought about the beauty of friendship. The beauty of onion tart, spinach salad with strawberries & almonds, and chocolate molten cakes! The beauty of Rachel's amazing wall of hundreds of polaroids. The beauty of others who send so many sweet wishes.

Driving past farmlands I noticed so many hues of gold, that seemed only more golden in the warm sun. I thought of the clusters of fuzzy cows grazing by large trees and ponds. And the sun scattering diamonds on the surface of those ponds.

Each of these moments of beauty are wonderful reminders that bring joy, hope, peace, and comfort. And they remind me of something greater. And that brings even more joy.

So I hope you are finding moments of beauty this autumn or spring, wherever you may be.

I wish you a beautiful weekend,
H

I'm thinking HOPE

[china that belonged to my husband's great grandmother | working on a new letterpress card]

Hello,

Today as I was letterpress printing a hundred big blue starbursts and listening to all the election commentary on NPR, I found myself saying H O P E, H O P E,
H O P E, over and over to myself.

While I am feeling a little uneasy right now, I don't want to express all that I'm unsettled or concerned about. Rather, I'm going to decide to focus on hope. And focus on making art. And think of the ways that art and hope overlap. How art has the ability to inspire and communicate hope and meaning. Yes, art and the handmade has a place, an important place, in our lives and in our minds and hearts. It has a role to play, it has a job to do.

Yes, I'd rather think about all of that. And think about my job as an artist, as a person who wants others lives to be affected in positive ways.

} Alicia just added a few beautiful aprons to her shop.
} We posted our last collection at echoes and our final post for 2008.
} you are beautiful by Michael McDowell/mudpuppy.

in hope,
H