If you follow my work - you will know of my fascination with the color blue. As a swimmer and a sailor, the ocean blues appear regularly in my work.I love to hand dye my blues – either with cold water synthetic dyes or with traditional indigo dye pot. It all comes down to the subtle variations I can achieve by hand dying my threads, and then weaving them in a fluid progression.
The 56″ 8 H work horse!
Shuttles at the ready.
This month I have been busy with the weaving of a series of large panels of these gradated blue linens. There is almost an unspeakable beauty about this progression of blues, from deep to pale.These panels are about 4′ by 6′ - and will ultimately hang side by side to giving the viewer the feeling of a wide oceanic horizon.
Summer in Maine is so incredibly brief ….. I just want to stretch each day and make time slow down. Luckily when I thread the loom or weave, I am forced to slow down. There is no fast way to do these activities – without making mistakes!I am currently weaving cloth that will be weathered, rusted and aged after it comes off the loom. My experiments with ways to transformed my cloth continue!
Frieda comes running
This weekend we head off for a month of living aboard our beloved Witness. Frieda is getting better about living aboard – even if it means using a carpet on deck for “her business”!
I hope wherever you are you find a way to slow down and soak up these beautiful days.
I am back home from a month of sailing on the coast of Maine.
Witness at Merchants Row
We have a 30′ sloop named Witness – actually she is the third boat named Witness that we have owned. For over 30 years I have sailed these waters with some awareness of the connection between sailing and observing/seeing.
August sailing journal
But this summer, after four weeks of living aboard, I think I finally “got it.” What I came to understand is that these weeks have been literally about just seeing – observing and witnessing.Prior to heading out to sea I packed a pile of drawing supplies, three journals, paper to write on, to draw on and paint on. I packed paper to spin along with my drop spindle. I packed needles and linen thread. I packed scissors and a knife. I packed several books to read. I also packed a small iPad with headphones and the reference guides to the energy work I am studying. I was prepared to be busy and fully occupied.
Shifu spinning at sea
It quickly became clear the the muses of the ocean had other plans for my time and attention. When we were under way, either by sail or power, I used my full attention to navigate our course. A few times when we were at anchor I was able to draw in my journal or the ship’s log to document our cruise. Twice I used my spindle to spin paper into Shifu thread.But for the most part either by choice or design – this past month I spent my time just looking. I observed the waves, the tides, the wind direction and speed, the motion of the lobster buoys, the seaweed, the porpoises and seals, quahogs and smooth granite ledges.I heard the cry of an eagle, the huff of a harbor seal, the thwack of the halyard and the hum of an outboard motor. I smelled rotten fish, dewy evergreens, stinky boots and diesel fumes.
Vinalhaven sunset
But mostly I saw the beauty of the natural world that my heart was thirsty for.I saw a deep connection between my husband and myself.
Thru the eyes of a puppy
I saw life through the eyes of a puppy.I’ll admit it is really wonderful to be home where it is dry and warm. And it’s wonderful to be back in my studio with room to make art. But all this feels deeper and richer for the past month of simply witnessing aboard “Witness.”
