A big thank you and creating social change

A BIG thank you to everyone who came to my studio and bought. I deeply appreciate your support. Because of you these kids will receive food and clothing. Because of you these kids will receive love. I am both deeply passionate and disturbed by the injustice being done to these innocent kids. We as a rich, western society can not simply abandon our children just because for whatever reason their parent's have. These children may be undesirable as foster children in the sense that they may have drug and alcohol issues and other poor and or bad behaviour (ie. stealing) but that is still not an excuse to care for them. I do not have any experience with advocating social change through our political system but I do understand that I need to contact the local mp. I do not see myself as one with the skills or resources to do something about this situation. But I can not sit silent at this injustice so until someone else more qualified than myself takes the reins I will do my best to help these kids. If you have homeless kids in your town what is being done about it? Have you advocated for social change and do you have any advice for me? The picture is of my daughter feeding a chickadee in our yard.
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To bloom

It's hard to know why some parents walk away from their children. Some opt out early. Other's later. Sometimes it's addiction, mental illness, or a combination of factor's. With the lack of commitment in relationships today sometimes home environments become unbearable, complex, abusive and children opt to leave. The reality is there are teens today who do not have a home. They live with the contents of their lives in a backpack and stay at a friends house - until it is time to move on. Hopefully they have another friend - whose home they can stay in and that it too is a safe place. Maybe they can surf enough couches until they graduate. Sometimes they get a job and drop out like one of the teen's I became familiar with last summer. His father had opted out when he was born. There were problems and the day came when he couldn't go back to his mother. He was alone and did not have other family member's who could step in, help, nourish, love, and guide. I don't know why some parents walk away but I'm not here to judge what just is. To be human is at times to fail. I know I have. My daughter and I have a peaceful, happy home. We have food and clothes. I have gratitude for what I have. All kids need food, shelter, clothes and love and in return they give the gift of a flower.

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Open Studio

My studio will be open for visit's on Wednesday, August 26 from 10 am until 3pm. The photo above is from part of the second framed tapestry on exhibit. This tapestry is titled, "Duck Bay" and it measures 27" wide by 29" long including the frame. It is woven with New Zealand wool that I dyed with acid dyes. I wove this tapestry last winter on my hand made loom. Why bother making a loom when I already own a top quality american made one with all the bells and whistles? The reality is it takes far more skill to weave on a primitive loom than on any factory built loom used today. I needed a challenge - and I found it in first constructing this loom and than on learning to weave on it. I also needed to feel that primal connection and I love this loom for giving me all of that and more. The price on this tapestry is 885.00 Canadian dollars. Forty percent of that is going to buy clothing and food for homeless teens. I charge actual shipping only. If you are not happy return the tapestry to me within 14 days of receiving it and I will refund you minus the shipping charges. I want you to be happy with your purchase. If you think you may be interested email me and I will send you more pictures. Together it is possible to make a difference and share the love every kid deserves.

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To make a difference

Could you put all your belongings in a backpack? Have you missed a meal today because you don't have money? My annual open studio is coming up quickly. Through a turn of events that happened last summer I became acquainted with some B.C. rural kids (ages 13-18) who didn't have a home. With last summer's sale approximately 12 kids were helped through out the duration of the school year with much needed winter clothing. It was because of those who came to my open studio and bought that those kids received help. Some of them graduated. Sometimes a little goes a long way's. This year the vice principal of the rural B.C. high school who I am continuing to work with has expressed not only a continued need for winter clothing but also for food. After all the cafeteria isn't open for supper or weekends or Christmas. Our world is full of pain and suffering and the biggest gift we can give it is to be the change we wish to see. For me the inspiration is my love for God - my husband. This year I have two framed tapestries on exhibit. My next post will be on the second smaller tapestry. The photo at the beginning of this post shows a small part of this first large tapestry. It is titled, "Two Islands" and it is from my personal collection. It was woven with New Zealand wool that I hand dyed with indigo that I grew in my garden. Indigo is an ancient blue dye with a long history. The tapestry including the frame measures 38.5" wide and 50.5" long and it is 885.00 Canadian dollars. Forty percent of that price will be going directly to pay for food and clothing for these homeless teens. Shipping is actual shipping charges only. Email me if you think you may be interested and would like to see more pictures and/or if you would like to know about my lay - away plan. In the event that you are not satisfied return the tapestry within 14 days of receiving it and I will refund your money minus the shipping charges. I want your enjoyment.

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Something new

Sunday morning when I went outside I couldn't help but notice drifting through the trees like a swan in the mist was my neighbour's smoke. They had lit the first morning fire belonging to fall. It was cool enough but I decided against following suit as I was going to make canned applesauce on the gas stove. It was a labour of joy and I wanted to dance amongst the apples and jars in the sweet smelling warm heat. Canning does this to me. Lunch was easy. Thick slices of toasted home made bread with peanut butter and fresh, hot applesauce. After eating we sat down to look at an August 1990 issue of "Country" magazine. It was full of evocative images celebrating a country harvest. There were pictures of children with farm animals, a combine working a lonely field and snow geese migrating through a misty sky. I was amused to see no pictures of apples or woodshed's brimming with seasoned wood. Fall is relative and means something different for everyone - but for all of us who live with four seasons it brings change. What does fall mean to you? I told my toddler we were going to move things around for something new including some of her toys. The afternoon passed quickly and while the last batch of applesauce was in the canner an apple pie baked in the oven. After the little angel was fast asleep I put on my work clothes as I needed to go and stack firewood and that's when I saw the bunny. This - like fall it's something new.
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Seasonal changes

Summer in a subtle way is shifting to fall. Evenings are not quite as long before the ribbons of a fading sunset tie a bow in the sky. Squirrels have begun harvesting cones in the tree tops around the cabin and I've been busy working on a myriad of projects - most of which are still undone and in various stages of being completed and other projects that I haven't started - like the woodshed. So I have no beautiful photo's of any completed work but I've been busy. It's nice to work outside - everything is dry and it's pleasantly warm but most of all life is peaceful and for that I am eternally grateful. Last winter I learned a technique on how to store firewood in this environment and this winter I am implementing it on all of my wood. The stovepipe has been cleaned but the top of the stove needs touchups and the new seal for the door needs to be glued in place. Mornings are silent - the nesting birds have faded away like the early dawn. Sea breezes in tree leaves sing a lullaby for the nesting mice in my shed. Wait a minute! Their gone now - I evicted them. Some days I keep the cabin windows closed but I like to open them - just to hear the falling rain. The reality is we are somewhere between late summer and early fall. When does one begin and the other end? To me they mingle together like the red and yellow on a once green leaf.
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Camping and family visits

We went tent camping overnight on the mainland and met up with family. There were several things that happened. One was in the middle of the night I got up to go to the bathroom and discovered my headlamp was stone dead. I unzipped the tent door and through the trees I saw the most beautiful moon - her light casting a dimpled pathway across a darkened sea. My daughter and I picked blackberries and when we got home I mixed the blackberries with the freshly picked cherries family had brought us and I made some really good jam for all of us. Having family around reminded me how much easier life is when you have someone earthly to share it with. They have gone home now and I will miss them a lot but the joy of their visit and the image of that night accompanied by several passages of scripture remains with me. This is one of them; "..If you remove wickedness far from your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you.....You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways." Job 22: 23-28.
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