Having and Wanting

This is my first Cavendoli art piece. Cavendoli is a form of macrame and is comprised of horizontal and vertical half hitch knots. In this case it is done with c-lon thread - think carpet thread. They're little. They're tiny. They're addicting and they are all I want to do, much to the dismay of my sewing and knitting.

Mike's been pretty impressed with this. He watched me struggle with the framework or armature as it's also called. He watched rows of knots go in and those same rows come out, not once, not twice but several many times. A lot was learned from this tiny piece (3x5 inches) mostly what it taught me was that it takes patience to make art and the art itself will always be your best teacher.

When I wasn't working on it I was thinking about it. I was wanting to go back to it and never felt like I had to. There were no deadlines. Nobody expecting it. There was no "having". The process was pure, unadulterated "wanting". Each time I approached it there was joy in being with the knots and with the product they were wanting to be. I opened my hand and my mind and art became form. The whole experience was peaceful, yes, even the "unkotting".

This past week Bemidji Community Arts Center announced it's member's show. Mike, who joined at their individual level, and I'll let him 'splain that, suggested I submit this piece. Knowing I wasn't the member I thought I could be immune from the show, but no, he could submit any art he did or owned and could submit the piece for me. I ignored his request. He tried it again a few days ago and then again tonight. Feeling a little pressured I explained what entering the piece would mean for me at this point, it would be the difference between having and wanting.

I've been listening to what this piece wants. I learned to listen to the art on another collaborative piece I'm involved with and boy that piece will NOT accept anything it does not want. I feel that if I were to submit this piece (and for god's sake I should name it) I'd have to have it mounted and framed and would I have enough time to get that done? I'd feel like it was something I HAD to do. I'd have to have it done up for the show and then I'd be obligated to it...it...it....it would become a, I shudder to say, responsibility. I would fear, at this point anyhow, that my newly found art form, the form that flows from me, through me and draws me to it would lose it's luster because I had to do something with it and more might be expected and I'd have to... well you get it don't you? I'm not ready for this to feel like something I have to do. I want  to want it. I want it to control me not visa versa.

So, no show. I'm gonna be a no show artist. For now anyhow. Oh I'll post pictures. I may make a few pieces to give away or sell but for now my art is my art and that's how I want it.

Peace,
Karen

Neglected Not Abandoned

So, my brother-in-law Terry thinks we've abandoned the blog.....not. We've just neglected it. There's a difference abandoned is to never return, neglected is like not watering the plant for two weeks.

We've been busy! Just like you guys. Getting ready for and getting over the holidays. Working for the man and recovering from last year! And, we've been social for the first time in about two years. We feel like getting out and having friends over! So, I will try to catch you up to date here.

Since October:
Mike had surgery on that shoulder he wrecked back on October 16th. Turned out he had two bone spurs up in there that just severed two tendons and a third that wore a hole in his rotator cuff. Surgery was in November, just before I turned 50. He is doing physical therapy and slowly, very slowly, to get his strength back.

Mike did go deer hunting and shot a nice spike buck the week before surgery. I, under Mike's tutelage, skinned the deer. I can now add another mad skill to my bag.

In November, yup, 50 happened along with a great party complete with my husband on percocet! I don't feel any wiser, maybe that happens later in the year?

My fibro rehab is going well as long as I do the work. I have since we last talked taken up running or at least I'm making an attempt at it with the help of the Couch to 5K program. I did my first road run back in early December on a 45 degree day. (More on our non-winter later) This running thing was put into my head by our financial advisor who knows I'm a big time Packers fan. She invited me to run a 5K at Lambeau in July! It may have been the only thing anyone could have said that would make me run!

Just before Christmas I sprained my ankle at work. Two weeks off from running and biking - I have a bike trainer so I can ride my bike inside on the days I'm not running. I'm dead serious - I'm gonna run at Lambeau. I swear I will even if I have to drag myself across the finish with my lips.

We have had no winter to speak of. Two days ago we finally had some real snow. I was able to crank up Briggs (our snowblower) and move all three inches of snow off the driveway. Tomorrow it's supposed to be mid 30 with a chance at 40 by the end of the week. The snowshoes just hang on the wall and weep.

So that was all last year. Now for this year:

Mike thought we should spend New Years Eve decluttering the house. On January 2nd we were finally done. I had a great check up at the dentist and a cleaning by a hygenist who apparently had anger issues followed by a serious adjustment by my chiropractor who may have had some anger issues of his own as he tried to pull my clavicle up over my forehead and then rip my head off with it. In the end he did fix what seems to be the problem that all the kings doctors and all the kings men could not. Hopefully we learned something here.

The last bit of new from Whiskey Jack Flats is a promotion. Beginning today I am the manager of Anderson Fabrics Factory Outlet and Quilt Shop. It means a great deal to me that the board and my bosses have given me this opportunity. I'm excited to see where my staff and I can take the store in the next year.

So there ya have it. I could resolve that we'll pay more attention to the blog but I don't believe in resolutions. We'll be here when we can and we hope you will be too.

Peace
Karen