Frayed edges

 I'm working (rather slowly) on pages for a book.  It's taking time for me to think things thru and get my ideas to come together.  I do know that I want a chapter on "frayed edges", or the things that are darker in my life.  Topics will include: grief, sadness, loneliness, etc.  Today I am working on a title page:

Flowering crabs

 I've enjoyed our flowering crab for years. It's a wonderful place for the cardinals to congregate in the winter, before they hit the bird feeder.  This spring we decided to add 2 new trees to the gardens across from the kitchen and dining room windows.  I was pleasantly surprised when both new trees bloomed this week!

This tree is probably 10 years old:

Red work...

While trying to increase my stitching time and productivity these past few weeks, I realized that I needed a "gimmick" to keep me going.  This week I decided to work on projects using RED threads and fabric. I see that my pieces will need further work, but for now I am happy with starting a project that can take it's time to speak to me later.

Questions I ask myself:

Do they work side by side? 

What text shall I add, if any?

Is this a good spread to add my religious trinkets?

Is the black on the left too harsh a background?

For now, on to something else.  Revisit later...

Figge - fill the creative well

 I enjoyed a wonderful morning at the Figge art museum in Davenport this week. The museum has an excellent collection of Haitian art, and currently has pieces on display that I hadn't seen before. The voodoo flags with a bajillion sequins really wowed me. I need to up my beading!