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So it did not snow as much as expected. But it is February for a while longer. I looked through the door glass this morning.
A little snow blew in but all went well, the wood is dry, there is not much snow to clear and it was warmer in the kitchen. I have tacked some plastic sheeting (that was left in the storeroom) over the smaller windows, which really worked well, keeping it light and dry. I love that I can see the thin spots on this quilt from the other side and I know where the mending is needed. I will add some ties so I can secure the quilts to the posts, keeping the wind movement to a minimum. I think I can create cloths specifically for this purpose. Customized in size. Oh! What If I warp the spaces and weave?
Weaving, yes🥰
Hi Jude!
I’m so happy to have reconnected with you and your work. I stepped away from textiles for about a decade, but missed the tactile quality of sewing by hand.
It’s funny that in my rabbit hole media scrolling for textile artists, I “found” you. And then after watching a YouTube on weaving cloth, I realized I had done that and still have those pieces.
Anyway, all this to say please don’t go away, your everything is needed.
Oh that was nice to hear, thank you…
I have a history on the web at this point, who knew I would still be at it after all these years…
I’m deeply touched by all you are describing here.
Self-care – I’m still learning that myself, and understanding the importance of it more and more
Taking care of your heart and soul, just being who you are and going for it. It’s not something that is easily done, I know, it’s a process of years, of growing. In Dutch we have the word ‘Levenskunst’ meaning the art of living/ life.
Love the image of the cat hugging her heart and the hearts you made.
That is the true art. Living. We are a gallery of curiosity .
Oh, I love that: a gallery of curiosity.
Social media is not that social… Although I have an IG account, I’m uncomfortable sharing there. I started a personal blog that’s private to document my practice. I named it peace love and fiber art. A diary I guess that I may share with family and friends that I don’t see often. I thought that’s what Facebook was but it wasn’t. I like it here in this small space. I found your blog during Covid and it was comforting. You have a soothing voice and easiness in your practice. The simple stitch and storytelling.
It was all ok until it became too big and too much a form of “media”. Even having a YouTube channel is overwhelming. Too hard to know who is interacting and why. I’m gonna switch that back to unlisted and just have it to enhance my private teaching.
Hi Jude
I’m someone who recently found you on Youtube if you are wondering who your audience is. And I’m so glad I found you before you disappear. I have so much enjoyed watching the way that you work, even though I’m not sure I can produce anything like you as I am not an artist, just a fiddler around with scraps of cloth.
I did sign up to follow you on Instagram as well, but decided a couple of weeks ago to get rid of the account because of who is behind it.
Anyway, just to say I look forward to your posts and really appreciate the work you have done to put it out there for people like me.
Liliana
A fiddler, is, in my opinion, the highest form of creative endeavor, so yay! I’ll be here, fiddling away. Just keep going, you’d be amazed.
Thanks for the calm thoughts on social media. I think we developed in a much smaller world and are just beginning to see the effects of being able to see everyone and everything all the time. So many are saying that a website, newsletter or blog would be more than enough. What I love about IG is being able to see other artists because I live way out in the woods 8 miles from town and 50 miles from the edge of a bigger city. Where there might be groups, galleries, museums etc. But I don’t have time for all that. I learned such a lesson 40 years ago when we would take our little boys to the city on a hunt for something we could not get closer to home. We would go to one of those toy stores and the youngest could never decide on a treat. It almost always ended up with him sobbing in the car on the way home. The whole expedition was just too much, kind of like social media.
As an artist IG has been an amazing open door, to see other artists, just see them and know they are there. But every time I open it, l think I should be posting my work which at this point is giving it away. I really would love to just give it away, when I see someone’s eyes light up, wouldn’t it be just the best to be able the say “this is for you”! Too many times I’ve made the mistake of watching cute puppy video’s and within a few days the algorithm starts feeding dark, sad puppy video’s. At this point I’m strictly controlling what I will see ‘25 looks like a good year to end the two letter world. Just actually read those news letters.
The technology is an amazing tool, but like everything else it has not been considered carefully and somehow has worked it’s way into the dark side of human nature. Maybe I am just being me, after all, I am a hermit by nature…😂
Everyone will have to make their own decision about what is important to them.
Jude for me you are your work. I love to go back into the old lessons and just slowly do…. How would I survive without the ‘glue stitch’!
The good ol’ glue stitch holds us together… ❤️
Jude , it is always great to hear your voice ! I love your observations about social media . I love the place for kindness you have created here . Have a great day ! Dewey
I’m so tired from so many things as I sense so many of us are. Let’s exhale.
We all need lots of self love and self care. ❤️✨
yes and sometimes we forget
Jude what a beautiful effect you have made with the quilts hanging. Perhaps a awesome idy to make them in so,e for .next winter.
It sounds so cold. We used to hang in my child hood blankets before the windows o keep the house warm.
I am a lucky one i have centraal heating. And the winter is less worse. Keep your self busy. It will help you.
I know I will make some custom cloth pieces for this place. I don’t feel cold anymore, I’m used to it and the work involved in making this place liveable.
The universe loves a laugh eh Jude ? . At last you get to live the life you always imagined, but the practical side turns out to be VERY challenging due to us all getting older ! Your thoughts on what to grow next season are interesting to me as I’m also rethinking my plot (who needs sacks of potatoes any more ?) So great to hear your voice, thanks for taking the time to let us all know how things are going for you both .A huge hug and best wishes from across the pond 🥰
Yes, growing food to grow food. Silly as I look back. And I am surrounded by farms here.
😁
Well, I finally got a chance to listen to you. I found Truth and Beauty in what you said … But most of all, Comfort. You are not a COB in the Woods …. You are Comfort in the Woods, for whom I am grateful.
I have simply overcome so much personal fear lately.
Amen.
Reminds me of Lucky Shie’s St Quilta the Comforter.
not familiar, will check it out, but I do know susie shie’s work from way back…
Good to hear your voice today. I, too, love “stay sharp calm and kind.” I’ll have to put that with the other Jude quote I have on my refrigerator.
You are awesome, girlfriend.
It has a nice edge to it…
jude, each time u post sparks joy. the imaginary line between real ‘n make-believe gets gloriously blurred. your patchwork porch covering seems to laugh at the cold. and your pic of becoming a nine-patch. ha!
love exploring the usefulness of cloth with u… x
I think a lot about how story contains both real and imagined. What a special form it is.
Thank you for the update ❤️ I love the tent effect of your porch. Textiles in doorways feels very Japanese to me and I enjoy the idea of a soft boundary. Soft boundaries…physical and otherwise. Hmm. As you know, I’ve struggled with the social media relationship for years and I think I may have finally said goodbye to it. It’s a bit lonely on the other side at times (and learning to be ok with that is maybe good practice for me), but I find myself naturally having less to say or share. Some days I miss instagram but a small world is certainly what I need. Also, it no longer feels as benign as it once did. I have a nervous system that can MAYBE handle the daily activity of a shtetl…not the entire world. It’s too big, there’s too much that grabs attention and burdens my sensitive soul. You’ll find your right rhythm, I know it. And you can (and will) change your mind as often as needed! You’re the boss ❤️ Sending you big, warm hugs.
Hey you! Good to hear from you. Soft boundaries, yes that was a beautiful image in my mind. I totally get what you are saying. We can only process so much and remain useful. I do change my mind a lot , everything keeps changing ! 😂
Jude,
Loved cloth hanging on the porch. Brilliant!
And your audio especially “Home” & “Social Media”.
You brought me back to my 30s when I owned a house but my income was minuscule & had to improvise to get by.
I’ve been contemplating removing myself from Instagram. I don’t post my art work.
Tired of being a consumer of information & making rich white men richer. Knowing there is a difference between consuming & being.
Being & community are richer ways to live.
Peace
It’s hard, right because it is a kind of bait, disguised as a tool but a form of addiction. It could, and has been ok but the poison is taking hold.
Love seeing your quilts hanging for the world to enjoy as they drive by. They look so very beautiful and curiosity will probably have many new peeps dropping in to say welcome as soon as it warms up a bit. You’ve created a magical wonderland for all to enjoy, including all your followers here. Sending you so much love and good wishes as you continue to settle in.
Not too many folks driving by, and hard to see from the road. But I want to host an open house for my neighbors in the spring… get to know them.
I love the wrapping and weaving idea! Winter is a great time to reevaluate. I appreciate you sharing your process. I am also working through my life. It’s actually mostly good in spite of the state of the state. I will be 69 the day after your birthday. It’s amazing to still be here and learning and changing and reconfiguring. Spring is on the way and hopefully we’ll all be feeling better and able to move forward with our lives and work.
It is a great privilege to be alive and safe and healthy and forward thinking.
Glad to be back here in the more calm quiet zone … hiding out is good! 🌳 🏡🌳
💙✌🏼
I’m gathering my thoughts, quiet works.
warping and weaving a life! Sounds grand 🙂
Love seeing the quilts hanging and how all those years ago…it was important to Tell The Children The Truth. Still is.
BTW~ The first audio and the one under Social Media are the same, for me, far as I can tell.
So nice to hang out with you at your place. xo
O, let me check, tks.
Thanks, I fixed that.
Jude~ Yes to a smaller world. And yes to feeling the blogs are a bit of a different beast (even if I sometimes wonder/worry that they are not). For me it is the conversation and the sharing that feels good and necessary. It is a way to communicate in a small community with folks you have built long, ongoing relationships with. In those ways it feels important, especially now.
I’m glad I could listen to and consider your thoughts on this.
Yes, social media is taking up too much of my time, I’ll be back.❤️
I can never see what ide dot post. ?? Redid along one and it said it was a duplicate???? It wasn’t don’t know what??
It’s there, it does that sometimes.
Oh ya, the first (that disappeared) I mentioned that I did not realize forever zone had anything more than previous classes and since I’ve taken so many I never bothered to check. Will now, as I always want to support you I always acknowledge you and Judy Martin as my two top fAvorite stitchers and influence..be well and stay warm. ❤️❤️❤️
We sure go way back, all of us…
Gosh darn, it didn’t recognize my email and it just went blank😩 I commented on so many things. Thanks fir being the boost I needed in these turbulent times and to help me redirect thoughts to myself. Love the ide if weaving in door way👍 didn’t realize your finished pieces were somewhere else other than thread crumbs??? Always want to try and catch another. 😊 have you ever thought of selling little packs of cloth with some of your thread and maybe one with a small motif stitched by you? You did that about 25 years or so ago. Be well and stay warm hope this goes thru thus time😊
Well I have thought about a lot of things. But …😂 you know how it is.
I’m smiling at your quilts handing outside I of your new abode. I’m smiling hearing your voice and feeling your strength and softness. I’m smiling at the “crazy old bitch in the woods.”……the “Spirit Cloth Woman”….I’m smiling about the sisterhood here …..and remembering the trails my life has taken me on too.…into the forest. Thanks for sharing so much hete with us. ❤️
😀 smiling too!
Old Spider Woman 💖🕸️
😂
😆😅😉😍
This life is temporary so we might as well have fun with it and make it beautiful in our eyes.
Yup.
I am fascinated by the star/flower shapes where the log ends have split … and how quilt-like the matrix + wood looks, especially with your cloth hanging beside it
Yes, the log ends are mesmerizing. This structure is so patchwork, in perspective…it will influence my going.
Jude .. you are an inspiration on so many , many levels ..I admire you so much for the woman you are .. thank you for sharing your thoughts today and always .. x
Thank you for listening.
Love the idea of sharp, calm and kind…yes.
Yes!
Those first few pics… I thought Baba Yaga. Over and over again you have shown me the way it might be going forward and I so appreciate that. Love.
Baba Yaga…I love that idea. 🙂
I feel a personal peace
So glad you are working it out. I love your idea of weaving the spaces!
I am very excited by that idea.
Hello, Jude. Thank you for opening gaps to your world. Aren’t you afraid that someone will destroy it? This is really a journey. 🍀
That’s life.
This is what I have done wherever our golden wagon has parked. Set up camp using ribbon, safety pins and clothes pins. Practical (and move able) Magic!!
It’s temporary.
Yes! Feels so good…