… and a singing bird will come.*
The sunny weather makes this a perfect day for a Quilt Show on my back porch! Today I’m unveiling the brand-new “Seattle Quilt” no. 4, which sports a green Seahawks T-shirt in its center, alongside “Seattle Quilt” no. 3 (with a navy blue Seahawk jersey) and “Seattle Quilt” no. 2, an homage to West Seattle. All three are available now!
*Proverb recounted in Neurodharma, by Rick Hanson.
I do not propose to write an ode to dejection, but to brag as lustily as chanticleer in the morning, standing on his roost, if only to wake my neighbors up. –epigraph of Walden
“Every morning was a cheerful invitation,” writes Henry David Thoreau in Walden, “Morning is when I am awake and there is a dawn in me…. to be awake is to be alive. … I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do.” (Walden, chapter “Where I lived”)
May these images of spring from my neighborhood in West Seattle–including one photo of our very own chanticleer on Admiral Way, from last spring!–bring hope and inspire you to enjoy this day. Or at least keep trying to do so…
Life can be sweet. Hard but with moments of grace. As I was writing this, Richie Havens, “Here Comes the Sun” came on the airwaves thanks to my favorite radio station KEXP, and reminded me of this flowering tree seen recently in Chinatown. Yes, let’s have some hope! Spring is coming, hate has lost, help is on the way. Tomorrow Trump has to leave the White House by noon, and we’ll have new leaders : President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris!
After four years of Trump, it is amazing to survive intact. And after all those years in the drear darkness and punishing snow and winds of Indiana winters, I am surprised by the light touch of winter in Seattle–it’s a damp darkness, slow-moving but livable. While we await vaccines and better times, I gave myself a task of capturing the rage and despair inspired by Trump, but now that “The Ten Days til Post-Trump” is done and published, I am ready to move on.
We persevere, holding book discussions while shivering at a picnic table, finding things to do at home, suspending judgment, just getting by. My sewing gives me hope and love; I hope the feeling comes across and gives you a little lift. Here is a sneak preview of “Respect” quilts no. 7 and 8, in progress.
Well, we made it to today! Yay us! (But now that we’re here, it feels a lot like yesterday.)
Nevertheless, I take solace in small things, like these pretty forget-me-nots seen on my morning walk, this friendly-looking table which keeps me company as I sew, and our new window sign (week 8 of Shelter-in-Place has now begun! Hooray! One week closer to … something else).
Wishing you a day of small pleasures too.
Until tomorrow,
Fyi, yesterday’s face mask production:
Walking around the windy streets this morning, I thought with a big smile (in bold), “Il fait frisquet ce matin!”
Always loved that expression in French, meaning that the air is just a bit brisk. As the dictionary says, “petit froid vif et piquant” (a little chill, sharp and energizing). [Etymology: frisquet comes from the Flemish, Frisch, meaning fresh.]* From there I wondered, “Is frisquet connected to frisky, maybe?
(Always loved that word too, ever since a beloved childhood show called “Frisky Frolics.” Anybody remember that??! a quick search found nothing but confirmation that it existed, a children’s show at 7am on KVOS, but I found a link to a 1932 cartoon by the same name which is cute too!]
About “frisky,” our friendly Oxford English Dictionary reports**:
frisky, adjective, “given to frisking; lively, playful” and sends you to the main entry frisk
frisk, adjective, verb & noun. [Etymology: Old French frisque, vigorous, alert, lively, merry, var. of fri(s)che, perh. rel. to Old High German frisc, fresh, lively.]
Wow! See why words are so interesting! It is strange to see how a light and playful concept has morphed into an action that is widely feared at least among Americans. (Hmm. There’s another random, sort of interesting topic …)
On that note, here’s the pic of yesterday’s mask production. Back to work!
Hello again,
During a little walk around the neighborhood this morning, I enjoyed seeing the sun peeking through the clouds and immediately started singing in my head, “I Can See Clearly Now.” (Even if I can’t).
Jimmy Cliff, we miss you! Time for another concert in Seattle!
Also saw some cool driftwood furniture on my outward-bound journey, which was made even lovelier with a neighbor sitting there, on my homeward journey. A smile and brief chat really do make the difference.
Keep up those good vibrations, neighbors!
And finally, here are the face masks produced yesterday. One order includes three Petite-size masks for Easter baskets! What a nice Easter bunny those kids know…
I Can See Clearly Now
By Johnny Nash
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
I think I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I’ve been praying for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Look all around, there’s nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, there’s nothing but blue skies
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Oh what a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Johnny Nash
I Can See Clearly Now lyrics © Nashco Music, Inc
Hello long-suffering fellow inhabitants of Planet Earth,
Saw a cool poster of enigmatic street art this morning: “Trust the Flux” it says. Any ideas on what that is supposed to mean?? It’s a seasonal thing? yin / yang and all that? It’s groovy for sure but I wish I knew what it was supposed to signify. Maybe more will come in the days ahead…
Seen on northeast corner of Hiawatha Park, West Seattle. Also seen were this friendly rock and a daffodil bobbing in the wind:
Other news includes this image of yesterday’s face mask production and an update on our policy: face masks will now be give free of charge to the unemployed and the aged, as well as medical personnel, upon request. 6 per household. Distribution at my “store” (a chair in front of my house in West Seattle; see below) or by mail order with prepayment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Contact juliawsea@gmail.com for more info.
see ya tomorrow
This quilt, made of tiny pieces of Japanese kimono silk, really sparkles in the sunlight! May its beauty shine some cheer into your day.
The border fabric is cotton with a violet pattern from Terao, Japan, a region known for its wisteria. (Thanks to Ashley M., who deciphered the characters for me.) The silks and cotton wisteria fabric came from Hosekibako–the elegant Japanese resale shop here in Seattle. Can’t wait to go back for more treasures!
P.S. I went to the Seattle Asian Art Museum today at the grand re-opening. It is a spring-like day here today; perfect for a trek to Capitol Hill. As we made our way back to West Seattle, the roads were (relatively) clear and trouble-free, the sky had fluffy white clouds, tiny sailboats flickered about on the blue waters off to the West, and all was cloaked in a subtle sense of well-being. That happiness is due in part at least to the art museum visit: seeing so many smiling, warm-looking Buddhas wishing you well does a world of good to the soul. And you must love the camels out front this art deco building–it brought back fond memories of climbing up and relaxing in their warm, smooth embrace, as a little kid. Reminded me of the Art Institute of Chicago also, and its lions.
The exhibits were all exquisitely balanced, well-contextualized by clear but un-intrusive signage, and thematically interesting. I liked the thematic organization; it makes it easier for non-specialists to see the differences between Chinese, Japanese, and Tibetan sculpture or painting , for example, when you see the objects side by side. Loved the Chinese landscapes with the tiny human figures and soaring mountains wrapped in mist, the adorable ducklings in the Chinese style, and the plum bough cloaked in snow.
But the best thing was to discover a link between my recent creation and Japanese tradition! Below you’ll see my big discovery: an eighteenth-century overcoat or kesa, where wisteria winds around other “auspicious motifs” including chrysanthemums and peonies. A phoenix flies by, adding to the baroque feel and hopeful message.
This visit reminded me of the profound eloquence of symbols. The crane–symbol of longevity–is featured in many delightful objects seen in the museum: for example this exquisite writing box. My quilt also has a tiny crane–or more precisely, a white heron, also an emblem of good luck*–tucked inside; see it hiding in the reeds below?
It is so inspiring to see and to create objects that pass on an uplifting message with eloquent symbols. Since I already have two more underway, I hereby vow to create an entire line of Kimono silk quilts, and each one will have a crane and other “auspicious motifs” sewn directly into it, thereby providing hopes for good fortune and long life to all the people they touch.
*Thanks to my new acquaintances at Hosekibako, for explaining the difference between cranes and white herons!
Epictetus wrote: “Know first who you are and what you’re capable of. Just as nothing great is created instantly, the same goes for the perfecting of our talents and aptitudes. We are always learning, always growing. It is right to accept challenges. This is how we progress to the next level of intellectual, physical, or moral development. Still, don’t kid yourself: If you try to be something or someone you are not, you belittle your true self and end up not developing in those areas that you would have excelled at quite naturally. …. we each have our own special calling. Listen to yours and follow it faithfully.”
–The Art of Living: The Classic Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness, ed. Sharon Lebell, p. 65.
Over the past 16 days, I have challenged myself to do something with a bunch of tiny rectangles of silk from a catalog of Japanese kimono silks, which I received in an old cookie tin from a thrift shop. As mentioned earlier, I first found them frustrating to handle–they slip so quickly out of grip! But the more I worked with them, the more fascinated and delighted I became. Unlike cheaper fabrics, these tiny scraps are sturdy and cooperative; they feel so soft yet they are strong. They take a fold easily with a cool iron, though one must handle them extremely carefully when sewing or they will stretch out of shape.
The photos here give a glimpse of how it came about, bit by bit. It was a perfect project for an accomplished perfectionist. What I now marvel on, looking at the finished project, is how the scraps seem to have fallen naturally into color categories–blue, purple, orange, yellow, and green. I had no plan in mind upon beginning; I was just following the instructions on making a Log Cabin quilt from Quilts from the Quiltmaker’s Gift. The crucial difference was that instead of imposing a color scheme, I let the color scheme emerge from the materials–and it became a rainbow! Then I framed it in white and grey, to enhance the yin/yang message. And it became Kimono quilt no. 1, “Rainbow”: a perfect emblem for this rainy and flowery place. I’ll have it done right in time for Cherry Blossom celebrations of the early spring!
Today I’m heading back over to Hosekibako, the Japanese resale shop on Weller Street where my husband bought that tin, in the hopes of finding more Kimono silk scraps. I love the way they tell stories, if you’re quiet and look carefully…
and I can’t wait to make Kimono silk quilt no. 2!
The papers and news bring non-stop horrors, worries, and looming dangers on the horizon. The weather’s been terrible! Cold, rainy or snowy, and it’s past Tax Day. Our house remains on the market which means more cleaning and forced departures on demand. Luckily Honey Girl isn’t shedding too bad yet… it could be worse!
And on a lighter note, despite being in “withdrawal” according to the pharmaceutical industry, off two hormones I was prescribed for over ten years and taking only 10 mg. of an anti-depressant I was prescribed for all that time, I feel fine.
Spring really is here now, and I for one am just grateful to be alive.
I’m also happy to see Sarah Vaughan on postage stamps these days. Rich used to play her records for me, years ago on Ravenna Ave in Seattle, and it was very romantic and sophisticated. Here’s one of my favorite Sarah Vaughan songs, “I Love You” (click below, under the lyrics):
I love you
Hums the April breeze
I love you
Echo the hills
I love you
The golden dawn agrees
As once more she sees
Daffodils
It’s spring again
And birds on the wing again
Start to sing again
The old melody
I love you
That’s the song of songs
And it all belongs
To you and me
It’s spring again
And birds on the wing again
Start to sing again
The old melody
I love you
That’s the song of songs
And it all belongs
To you and me
Daily Joy with Honey Girl 