mjd - 2015 - offering bowl on necklace 

thawing is happening here,

revealing 

tender things.

trusting green shoots

and 

hopeful hearts

that will soon belie

their fragile appearance

with a blossoming

worthy only

of the strong. 

------------------------------

one of the things i love most about living in a place with four true seasons is how subconsciously and deeply i am affected by the outside world. each season is welcomed joyfully with its promise of what makes it wonderful and unique. but even my love of tranquility and snow began to give way at the sight of small shoots and woodland creatures seeing if it was time to emerge

9 march - resident chipmunk scouting above ground

if you like to use fibers in your work, be sure they are strong and up to the challenge of where you put them. cotton is not always your best bet.

reinforce your knots - you don't want all that work falling apart!

and if you are interested in stringing gemstones with fine holes, look into a pearl stringing thread like griffin that has a built in needle and comes in many thicknesses. 

you are a maker

mary jane dodd

mjd - fragile strength 2013

and you are human.

it's no secret that last january i became mortally ill. 

there have been surgeries, 3 months of iv antibiotic infusions, and more.

more is the residual, lingering pain.

but this post isn't about the pain -

it's about being a maker and being human.

and what do you do when you get cut off from what allowed you to express yourself?

when i couldn't get to the bench to do metal working, it sent me into a depression. not just because of my inability to physically work (though that was big), but because it was and is how i process thoughts and feelings. 

mjd - pin weaving 2013

to my great good fortune, this post came to my attention - and i was able to interpret this technique into something that spoke my language. above you see it as a pendant. below, i changed the shape of the pins into leaves.

mjd - woven leaves 2013

mjd - 2013

i then became interested in small affordable looms that allowed me to make these:

mjd - mat with carved stone 2013

thanks to pinterest (that font of inspiration) - i learned about boro and japanese stitching

mjd - peace flag 2013

and added it to my weaving.

autumn arrived with its gorgeous foliage and hydrangea petals stained by summer.

mjd - fragile strength 2013

mjd - pumpkin garland 2013

i find the stitching to be very soothing

mjd - 2013

mjd - 2013

the point of this post isn't about me -

it's about you.

life doesn't always go along as planned.

and if you are a maker

it is imperative that you find a way to keep doing that.

for you it might be baking,

knitting

crocheting

making your own cards

sewing

or something else that resonates with you.

i just ask you to keep trying

depression

physical injury

emotional injury

are all debilitating.

but you are stronger than any of them -

even on your worst day.

mjd - open heart 2013

remember

'the wound is the place where the Light enters you.'

- rumi