Lovely World

spring things

Here is a little blue rabbit I made, in honor of spring's arrival. The top photo is from a folk art book I enjoy flipping through for inspiration. The little white rabbit sitting on the upper left hand branch of the green tree inspired my pattern.

The bottom photo is of a basket sitting on the edge of my work desk that catches pieces I have in progress but am not currently motivated to finish. I have to think on these - what to do next, how to make a certain feature, and the like. The doll (which I showed earlier) now has hair and an embroidered face. I'm thinking about how to clothe or embellish her.

I am happy to tell you that my web site, Lovely World Handmade (lovelyworldhandmade.com), is up and running! Please let me know what you think. My etsy shop has a new banner and will soon have new work in it.

❀ Maribeth

sheep

I've worked out a pattern for a sheep. I have had several pieces of this gorgeous German mohair for a while and am very careful about what I use it for because it is very expensive. I think it makes a beautiful coat for this sheep. A poof of cotton candy. I have also used various colors of the mohair for lion's mane and camel hair.

I have made myself a pinterest account and put up a number of boards. Do you use this site? I am finding it a nice way to save images of things I want to remember. I am also interested in how my particular aesthetic began to shine through once I had posted a variety of images. I suppose we all curate the world with different eyes.

❀ Maribeth

leaping dog

A friend recently asked me to make this leaping dog as a gift for her daughter and her daughter's husband. The couple is adopting a labrador retriever and she wanted to give them something special to celebrate.

My kids return to school today after a week's vacation. Our trip to Washington, DC was busy but very satisfying. The climate rally was exciting, particularly for the kids. Politics are tough in DC, but I was glad to see that environmental leaders are coming forward to organize and hopefully sway us all in the right direction. Interestingly, there were a number of Native American leaders who spoke. They were eloquent, and brought a much-needed perspective and long view of things.

We also saw so many sites and museums, but there was a lot we didn't get to do. I missed being able to visit the Smithsonian art museums, particularly the folk art collection. The favorite activity of us all: ice skating at the sculpture park rink.

Take Care ❀ Maribeth

display

I recently had a display of my work at our local public library. The library keeps an enclosed glass case near the circulation desk, and exhibits rotate through the year. I enjoyed the conversations and positive feedback from people in my community who were inspired by the display. I sold a few things, and was commissioned to make several new pieces as well.

I am hoping to have my website up and running very soon. A friend is helping with some design work and I think we will meet this week to finalize things. Once that is done I will be placing items in my etsy shop.

We are heading down to Washington, DC this weekend for the Climate Rally. My kids have never been to DC and this is a very exciting way to first experience the capitol - with political action!

❀ Maribeth

costume

:: I recently found an old book filled with images of traditional costume from around the world. It is such a pleasure to browse through. I sometimes fear that local and regional style will be lost and everyone will be wearing a t-shirt with a corporate logo emblazoned on it. How sad that would be.

:: My 12-year-old daughter is very interested in the theater. She is involved in a program with Shakespeare and Company. This past weekend she went down to their costume shop to pull outfits for an upcoming fundraiser she and her classmates are performing in. She was so happy in that costume shop. She told me that at one point she was wearing around a large viking hat that had been gifted to Shakespeare and Company from the Metropolitan Opera in NYC.

:: The bottom photo is me holding a doll I made over a year ago. It is still unadorned because I wasn't sure what to do with it. Browsing the costume book is a chance to get inspired. I am doing the hair and face today.

work and worth

:: Dear friends. Thank you again for all the warm comments you have left me as I return to my blog. They are very meaningful.

:: Here you see a collage of many patterns (the lid of a vintage paper box, a small embroidery that an etsy seller from abroad tucked in my package when I ordered from her shop, and a clipping from a recent New York Times Weekend Arts section). I pair this photo with a "Bird in Flight" that I made this month. Hand-dyed wool, vintage silk flowers, and an old factory spool. I bought a handful of these spools at the Brimfiled Market last spring. I hope to get back to the show this year to find more of these. They allow me to portray and support animals in motion.

:: I read an interesting post on Bookhou this morning about the worth of handmade work. I recommend both makers and purchasers of handmade goods read this. Arounna is articulate in her argument. I also have to say that, as an owner of two Bookhou bags, her work is beautiful and worth the investment.

:: Finally, along the lines of work and worth, I read this in Mary Rose O'Rielly's spiritual memoir The Love of Impermanent Things:

"It was so hard for me to learn to value my own vocation - it's still my basic instinct to spill over for anyone who asks - and now, in midlife, I am not going to give up what I know."

Does that sound familiar to you?

new projects

CRAFT WORK

I have been making new animal patterns and sewing on a fairly regular basis. My favorite part of the process is the moment the animal's face is in place. Each has a unique personality, even for those animals made from the same pattern. The quality of the fabric, embellishments, and my own hand lend to the variations and individuality.

WEB PRESENCE

I am building a website for my craft work, Lovely World Handmade. This has been challenging, but I am getting close to finishing. I have actually found satisfaction in making the site myself, learning curve and all. I will announce the link to the website here soon! I will also be adding new work to my etsy shop at the same time.

THANK YOU

Thanks to all of you who have reached out to welcome me back to my blog. I really appreciate hearing from you. I have also enjoyed browsing through your own blogs.

XO Maribeth

snow lace

Lovely antigue lace fabric: a gift from my mother.

Reminds me of the snow finally blanketing the ground. More snow expected tomorrow evening.

Merry Christmas.

xo Maribeth

textiles, with a touch of imperfection

:: My mother gave me two vintage linen tote bags: one with peacocks done in a knot stitch, the other a border motif in cross stitch. They are both so well executed. I can see a few "extra" stitches on the cross stitch. You can too if you look carefully.

:: These extra stitches remind me of the Japanese concept of Wabi-sabi, which in general means the acceptance of imperfection and transience. How freeing is that, particularly set next to some of the Western ideas about beauty and perfection?

:: Here are some other words I came across to describe the qualities of Wabi-sabi: simplicity, economy, austerity, asymmetry, modesty, irregularity, and appreciation of natural objects and processes.

:: I one time made some Raku pottery. In Raku, the vessels are fired at a low temperature. When you remove them from the kiln, they are immediately submerged in cold water (traditionally maybe even tea water!) or smothered in material, such as sawdust, which catches on fire and then finally cools. This dramatic process from hot to cool causes very unexpected, uncontrollable results: crackling of the glaze, marks from the smoke and fire. Raku is a very good example of Wabi-sabi in action.

:: I also like to think about Jazz music and the quilts I have seen made by African American women (see here and here). Improvisation leaves lots of room for imperfection and happy accidents.

return

I have been away from this space for quite a while. From my last post, it appears that I went away on holiday and simply never returned!

But, I now turn again to my Lovely World to collect and record my creative efforts and those things that inspire me.

I have continued to read, and be inspired by, the blogs of many of my dear readers. I hope some of you will find your way back here!

Above:

3 images currently posted on my bulletin board

A new animal I made in November: "Circus Elephant"