.to be more like the river.

 

how can I be more like the river

let it go

to sit in the river and feel it pushing past me

i can't help but to be changed 

for the molecules of my skin to tingle with the fresh water 

with the pullin of the stream 

I lower myself amongst the big rounded river rocks, let me legs float 

like buoys to the top of the water

in the corner of the river where the fallen trees have slowed the motion

I look out at the beauty to feel so small amongst the pines

.studio flow.

 This weekend I spent time in the jewelry studio for the first time in a long time. The energy just arrived out of nowhere and I listened. I spent Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning working out two ideas, in a flow. It felt refreshing to feel the familiar flow and transcendence of working with metal where time seems to disappear. Coming back to the studio reminded me that things take the time they need. Don't worry abut another season, just be here and know it always keep moving. Sometimes it comes back and sometimes it take us somewhere else, but the time is always right. 

During my last week using my residency at the Grunewald Guild, I was focused on iterating design ideas inspired by the river. This has been a studio practice in the past, taking an idea in one medium and translating it to another. So that's what I did, I took the fiber ideas around the river, flow, and current into post earrings. I love the movement that came out of the pieces and want to try making a couple of these to see where they land and evolve.

The other piece I made was from a rock found at one of my favorite places, Ancient Lake, an incredible vast coulee formed by the Missoula floods. I wanted to make a piece that mirrored the coulee and the open - expansiveness. 

.yellow reflections.

I went on my favorite nature walk by the river this weekend. When I got the end of the trail I realized that the water level was so low there's now a little patch of sand to stand on, almost a beach. I walked down to the river to watch the ripples distort the reflection of the vibrant yellow trees. The days are quickly fading into the dark, and yet, we still have the yellow of fall. The final burst of color. I found the yellow reflections so captivating. 

I've also been experimenting with weaving polished hemp. It's such a rigid materials. I wasn't sure it would work, so I tried it on my lap loom. It worked. I really like the structure and spacing of the material. I think I might try it on my rigid heddle next.