“Birds stitch the sky to the land and the water and then the water to the leaves and the moss to the shade.” Birds Dream the World by Freda Karpf
I was working on my Holding Pillow, struggling a bit with the image for the circle. Out my studio window I saw Jon sitting under the apple tree. It was warm enough for me to have my studio door open all day.
I still had work to do, had tried to get the image and fabric for the circle three times already. Maybe I thought, this is just the right moment for a break.
So Jon and I sat together watching and listening to the birds. Those who have been here all winter and those newly arrived. I can only identify a few of them, but I don’t need to know who is singing to enjoy the song.
When I heard the hollow culking of the ravens, I easily spotted one then another spiraling low over the tree tops.
I’d been thinking of the Freda Karpf’s piece Birds Dream the World while I was making the pillow. Now, being outside among the birds, I knew what my Holding Pillow needed.
So I went back to my studio and stitched the bird with a thread in her beak, the bird who pulls the world together.
I love how you added that thread and its meaning. Beautiful.
I’ve always held a pillow when I meditate. Can’t do it without. I hold it on my lap and realized a few years ago it is a way of protecting my sacral area connected to sexual abuse. So your pillows having such an affect on others right now makes so much sense to me.
I so get that Barb. The idea for my first pillow came on a night I was having a tough time. There does seem to be something natural about it.
I’ve loved the Holding Pillow concept since you first created them. It’s a wonderful, generous idea.
I’m still a bit surprised by it Maggie. It seemed to come at just the right time.