My New “The Orphaned Woods” Words

I sat up and looked at the clock.  The days are getting longer, but I’d swear it’s darker at 7am than it was just a week ago.

I woke up thinking of my Orphaned Woods words.  I lay in bed picturing them.

The way I had stitched the word “Woods” was just right in my first attempt.  I liked the hickory bark and acorns.  And I could see the word “The” as a tree and branches.  Sandwiched between the two, the word “Orphaned” needed to be different, softer.  A contrast to the solid ends above and below it.

I was eager to get up and get the day started.  Excited to get to my studio and create the new words for my “Orphaned Woods”.

I was sure it was no later than 6:30, but the clock said otherwise. 7am and just getting light out.  Still I’d get an early start.  In the past couple of weeks, I haven’t even woken up till after seven.

I was in my studio at 9:30 after morning chores, breakfast and a ride into town to make a deposit at the bank.

The words swirled around in my head, begging to be let out. I chose the nubby, off-white canvas for backing then wound a bobbin of maroon thread and started on “The“.

I still wasn’t sure if each word would be in its own separate bubble or if I’d piece them together.  So I decided to stitch each one separately.  This also freed me up to not have to worry about the spacing of the words.  I could make a mistake on one word and start it over without having to redo any of the others that came before it.

It came easy and I enjoyed creating all the small details.

Once I got the words done I pulled seven or eight pieces of fabric from my stash for the background.  I chose the insects and leaves because I liked how it evoked images in a field guide.  Organic and orderly at the same time.

It was dark when I left my studio at 5:00pm.  And I thought again about how the mornings seem darker even though it’s staying lighter a little longer at the end of the day.

Don’t ask me to explain it, but it’s true.

I found the article,  “Why sunrise gets later in early January, even though the days are getting longer” in The Washington Post.   I read the article twice and still don’t get it.  But you can read about it for yourself.

And even though I still don’t understand why, what amazes me is that it took me almost 57 years to realize that it happens.