The sky was blue and the sun was warm, I opened the doors and windows in my studio and let the air in. I pulled all the wilted morning glory vines that were growing around my windows off and tossed them in the compost. I composted the potted marigolds and geranium outside my door, that died in the snow. I knew I wouldn’t get into the studio today, just one day home then back on the road tomorrow, but I wanted to visit it and somehow cleanse it so when I came back to it next week it would be new again. A step towards shorter days, colder weather outside and warm wood stoves inside.
Throughout the day I did my laundry, leaving the clothes to be made into quilts and pillows for last. I got a big bag of clothes from Dumptique and some squares of fabric from a thrift store on Martha’s Vineyard. Dumptique is actually the town dump. Some volunteers have made a building to house all the things people throw away that someone else might want. I felt guilty filling up two bags with clothes, but was continually encouraged by the volunteers. Even as I was there, bags of new clothes came in, there wasn’t enough room for them all. I wanted to leave a donation, but it’s a dump, I was doing them a favor. It was like a dream where you actually get to eat the ice cream cone before you wake up.
I got lots of corduroy (I wish the pink pants were my size) and bright cotton tee shirts. But I think the shoe potholders will be a good first project to come home too. Small and quick, unless a streaming piece comes into my head and won’t let go, I’m helpless when that happens, and in between I can see myself laying the corduroy out on my floor working it’s way into a quilt.
So much fabric, so little time.
The corduroy immediately made me think of the Gee’s Bend ladies – and I know they were inspirational to you. You’ll do the items from Dumptique justice by giving them new purpose – that’s donation enough!
I love that you’re looking at preparations for spending time indoors working that was that you are – so often it seems easier to be upset or depressed in bad weather. A stitch in time, they say!
That is so amazing to me, fabric that works its own way into a quilt! When the colors and the feel of the cloth speak so clearly, you really do know that you were born to be an artist. Annie