I don’t know
It’s April. I am scattered. I made a to-do list. Most of the items that are easily done are crossed off. The ones that remain are mostly difficult and I’ve been procrastinating about them for years.
I’ve been planting seeds, trying to take care of them. I planted fava beans yesterday in the warm-ish sun.
I looked at some objects in my workroom. I don’t know what this one is. Some sea creature? I don’t know where I picked it up, in Connecticut somewhere I think. It feels delicate but firm, papery but sinewy. When I pick it up, I feel what it feels like not to know.
Another object I unearthed from a box – a pinch pot made by my son in an early ceramics experience. I like the rough form and the deep lines scored in the sides. It’s got a thick layer of dust inside.
Petals dried last summer. I’m surprised they kept such bright color. I don’t know what to do with them. They are hanging around, but will require more careful handling if I’m going to keep them safe.
I put these pairings together. The base is a very mottled linen I dyed last summer. I thought I would stitch the threadcrumbs down, make small cloths. But really I didn’t know what to do with them. I felt happy when I realized this pile was the beginnings of a little stitched book.
Oh, I so understand the scatteredness and old, still procrastinated projects. Too many of mine seem to be “a depends on b, b depends on c, > > > … depends on a.” Where can I start? And for some of the big items on the to-do list, I have no idea how to break it into less overwhelming parts.
Petals can be good collage fodder.
The sinewy thing makes me think of a turtle, but I don’t think that’s it.
I need to look at the to-do list again. Maybe I can replace the “major” things with small things to get started. I am very inspired by the petals, I like the idea of collage fodder. They might paste down easily with matte medium.
I once read about the idea of a To Do NEXT list. So instead of the big overwhelming project, you start with the first step. Instead of make new quilt, you say cut squares or prepare fabric ore whatever. Before you know it, you’re on your way!
I think I learned this at one time through my job. Good advice.
the sinewy thing reminded me of the whelk and skate egg cases we used to find on Shelter Island beaches … as I looked through Google images, I’m now wondering if it might be a shark egg case
love that little pinch pot …
That pinch pot is adorable, glad I saved it. Maybe the sinewy object is an egg case. Someday I want to build a box to showcase it, but needs to be open on both back and front – both are interesting.
The bottom photo looks like small prayer flags for Ukraine. Beautiful.
I didn’t see that, but you’re right! Thanks for this perspective.