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.
