Sketchbook Writings

~ From my sketchbook writings, Thursday April 5th, 2012 ~

I saw the first amethyst blooms of the lupines today.  I don't know why that flower holds such a potency in my heart.  Why it makes me feel hoary and timeworn, even as they spring up from the sandy earth in a flush of youth.
This brings me to the ancestors.  My own lineage is pockmarked with great holes of unknowing which leaves me free to wonder:
Have my people always needed water, great, dark rushing bodies and the physical sensation of tides?  Were they struck dumb, hearts cracked open at the permeating energy of ancient redwoods?  Did they always wear feathers in their hair, were they always the familiars of the red hawks?  Did they believe the white tailed deer understood them, and feel a sympathetic trembling in their tendons?  Did they scan the undergrowth for ferns before staking camp, did they run fingers along spore spines?  Did they whisper wishes for raven calls at sunrise and gray foxes in the night?  Did they leave a lock of hair for the cedar, offer the best blackberry to the birds, gift song to the sweet peas, and rock on their heels, breathing thanks for stone treasures, wood treasures, bone treasures?
I guess what I'm truly asking is this:
Did they realize, each Spring, just how much breath they held waiting for the lupines to bloom?

* * *

For the Light Seekers

Introducing The Mothlette Cuffettes!

For the light seekers,
The night flyers,
The ones who don't give up,
I offer a winged totem for your wrists!

These mini cuffettes are so pleasingly dainty and svelte, perfect for wearing solo or fitting right into your collection of wrist-wear.  I've been wearing mine with an assortment of bangles and charms all weekend and heartily give them my stamp of approval!
Naturally, you can find them in the shop right here...

Addict

I'm out of control with the mug situation.  Someone should stop me (but no, really, don't stop me).  The collection of handmade and vintage mugs, cups and tea service has outgrown the cupboards and now a rotating collection resides on a massive plater on the counter.  I won't admit the number but I will say it's well over twenty.

But this one had a jackalope.

You know I can't say no to a jackalope.

Is it any wonder my work is somehow always greenish-blueish-violetish?
*
The world here is saturated and dewy and everywhere smells of cedar and fennel.
*
The river runs deep - our normal running trails are under four feet of rushing current.
*
I'm infatuated with rain-light.
*
I've thirty minutes to shower and doll up for dinner out and live jazz at the wine bar to follow, so here's to the weekend friends!  May they treat you well!
~ Umber ~

Listings

~ one ~
I salut you with a kefir smoothie!  There is no shortage of beverages in this household (just five minutes ago I heard BC groan "so. much. liquid." from his office).  On an average day there is coffee, almond milk, herbal tea, freshly juiced greens, kefir, wine (or gin) and of course, 10-12 glasses of water.  Ridiculous!

~ two ~
I've become obsessed with moths.  Again.  Furry little lion men, focused on the light, weaving their way through atmospheric scentings in the night.

This one is my new favorite.  But aren't they all?  Isn't that what I say each time?  But something in my heartstrings tugs and gets swept up in the orbit of those tiny dotted halos and I feel my solar plexus sprout wings and flap towards the moon.

Le sigh.

Moth Love
(Sterling silver, turquoise, size US 9.5)
{If she calls your name, she can be reserved by sending me a convo here Reserved!}

~ three ~
We've been staying up too late.  Do you ever get stuck in one of those rotations where work carries into the evening, dinner happens a little later every night, and finally it's after midnight and you're settling in with a book and a cup of tea (see?  I told you: the beverages are out of control).  The thing is, I love to tinker in the dead of night, and at the same time I love to watch the sun rise.  Really there are just too many interesting things to do to lay around in bed!  I've never been good at it.

~ four ~
I'm reading a book about Frida Kahlo and fighting some very strong urges to paint the walls royal blue and all the furniture like fushias and lemondrops.  Maybe I should just pile on even more jewelry and start pinning my curls up into a traditional crown and take a deep breath.  That woman was such a spitfire in ruffles!

~ five ~
I just received a letter from a friend which included a DRAWING.  I love this.  She reminded me of just how much I love it, of the silly self-portraits I've done by the dozens to amuse their intended recipients.  How do we forget about these things?  I intend to bring them back, to sit myself down with a 2H pencil and a sheet of white and document some frivolity.

 Alright all you moths and mothettes!
Signing off and sketching up,
~ Umber ~