A few bright spots in the week:

} A box of my grandmother's belongings that I selected arrived via my parents today. This is a stack of her silk scarves. I love how they still smell like my grandparents' house when I hold them close to my face.  I kind of wish I could wear them all at once.

} This week we saw Herb and Dorothy. What amazing art collectors they are. While watching it I turned to M. and said, "I want to do THAT!"

}  I really like Zach Motl's tiny flat, via Frolic.  Makes me feel like organizing, or at least straightening up my stacks a bit.

} Tonight a new show PLACE opens at The Lawrence Arts Center. I have two new pieces in it, large fillm photographs actually. This will be the first time I have shown my photography in a gallery. Rather a different feeling for me, to put that work out there. I'll share them with you next week.

}  And this morning the birds were chirping "spring is near" or perhaps I wistfully heard them say.

Have a nice weekend!

H

What Remains Inside sneak peek

Above is a sneak peek for What Remains Inside. Shari and I will reveal a new portfolio next week. We are grateful to Abby for her nice post today about our project, thanks Abby! Plus check out 15 Questions About Art with Shari here.

Today we've been getting a snow globe kind of snow. The snowflakes are swirling about like swarming gnats and the semi-sunniness makes the flakes sparkle like sequins. Which reminded me of my little sequin heart pin I made a few years ago. I decided to attach it to my favorite Mom-knitted hat today.

I made a new {to me} cookie over the weekend. They're so good with tea.

More soon,

H

A few things I have been enjoying lately:

Beginning the book "The Delicacy and Strength of Lace" letters by Leslie Marmon Silko & James Wright, gifted me by a dear friend.

Exploring film in black and white.

Seeing our neighborhood park, South Park filled with families and then over fifty snowmen after yesterday's Save Our Neighborhood Schools march.

Visiting the wetlands yesterday. I like to go there and see how the landscape changes from season to season. While the ground was rather mooshy from all our recent snow, we had fun tip-toeing toward a flock of geese and watching them slide one by one, from the ice into the water.

Last night we made egg rolls, probably for the first time. We stuffed them with tofu, mushrooms, garlic, ginger, mixed veggies and cabbage, They turned out great!

Today is my Grandfather's 93rd birthday.  I hear he really enjoyed his birthday brownie. :)

I hope your weekend has been nice,

H

What Remains Inside

top image: Shari Altman

bottom image: mine

As fast and furiously as life has been whirring and churning past lately there are happily still those wonderful things that are worth their sweet time.  Like the aroma of bread dough rising, a slow infused cup of tea, watching for the sun to peer from the clouds, or waiting for that roll of film to be developed.  

Over the past year Shari and I have been exchanging handwritten letters and poems with one another through the mail. And today we are happy to tell you about our new collaboration What Remains Inside which we consider to be a public extension of these musings.  Like in a cozy white-walled gallery we'll "hang" photos from time to time and whisper a few words on different thoughts.  The "shows" will grow and change quietly and organically.  We would love for you to visit and feel it is a place you can return to for a few moments of calm and refreshment.

Hey, look at that. The sun came out today after all!
H

1. I will follow 2. to the clouds

3. forming a new peace 4. little joys

5. TIED TOGETHER 6. I saw three leaves TRANSPARENT in the SNOW

This past weekend I had the warm feeling that life may be returning to normal, the sensation that things will be ok. Focusing on the simple things we took afternoon walks in the sun, made chocolate chocolate chip cookies, ate homemade soup and watched "500 Days of Summer" {a very cute movie btw. Have you seen it?}

Shortly after my grandmother passed I took time from all that was happening and painted these watercolors {above} without pressure or expectations in mind. I was thinking about loss, healing, finding calm and peace. Truly there is a time for grey skies and thick fog and time is needed for mourning.  And sometimes we just power through until we have to stop and rest.  But now the heaviness is lifting, slightly and I have new hope in mind.  So I'm happy these watercolors {plus some other watercolors of mine} are part of the COLOR show opening at Eyebuzz Fine Art tomorrow, Feb. 2. Also showing are two amazing artists Jennifer Judd-McGee and Eunju Kang.  I'm thrilled to be part of this gallery, owned by husband and wife team Tara and Tim who are very wonderful to work with. Thank you!

Since we finished all the tofu & mushroom soup {it's been the winter for soups!} I hope to make veggie lasagna tonight, with spinach salad and a new boule.  Seems rather ambitious for me on a Monday night but we'll see.

Thanks for visiting me today.  I hope you're having a hopeful start to your week,

H