April Round-Up

First of all, let me express heart felt gratitude to everyone who made it out to my shop update a couple of days ago. You sold me out of 86 pieces of jewelry in 3 minutes — a truly glorious tornado of support! I spent 12 hours printing shipping labels and packing jewelry and it is with great joy that I send this apple blossom collection out into the world. I will be carrying this series through April and possibly into May, not just because there is demand for this work, but because this series has brought me so much joy! I want to make more! So I shall.

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Last night I finished this book in bed. It was so beautiful, I wish I could read it again for the first time. This is the third book I have read by Michael D. O’Brien and I’m not sure I can compare his work to any other writer in the world — past, present or future. He’s an amazing storyteller. His characters are so human that it makes them almost super human — they endure and survive such suffering and agonies that by the end of the story they seem to glow with simple brillance…their suffering illuminates something within them that cannot be snuffed out. If you’ve read any of his books you might know what I mean. The other thing I will mention about his writing is that he writes about awful things, sometimes the suffering of these fictional characters is UNBEARABLE for me to read about. His stories are woven together with ideas about art, faith, suffering, resurrection, philosophy, humanity….and they’re SMART…anyway, if you are looking for a new book to read, Island of the World is phenomenal (so is Cry of Stone and Father Elijah). Here’s an excerpt I read last night from Island of the World, if you want to understand the complete context please read the book!

“The poet who sees himself as a hero or a prophet, or a priest of the socio-political forces to which he is loyal, which he believes are the historical necessities of his times, too easily becomes a puppet. He has no external measure with which to assess reality. Whether he submits to the forces or rejects them, he becomes a parody of himself, and then without knowing it submits his gifts to the demons of his era. He loses his place in the continuity of time. He becomes dependent on social affirmation and the drug of exalted feelings common to all revolutionaries. He destroys, even as he thinks he creates.“

This especially resonated with me as I do my best, each day, to not become one more soldier in this culture war. I am not called to be a soldier, I’m called to be something else. I am attempting to serve humanity by creating an uplifting catalogue of work that buoys my supporters, my friends, instead of alienating them and dragging them down into the mire. Sometimes I am successful in this work, sometimes I fail, but I am always trying. I want to bring people together. I do not want be one more person hammering wedges down deep.

Nobody owns me. Nobody owns my mind. The work I am doing is free work born of freedom. I’m going to do my best to keep it that way. This is my pledge as a free thinking woman and working artist.

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These lovely, simple egg trays by A Question of Eagles. This is a favorite ceramicist of mine.

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I watched The Durrells last summer and have meant to mention this show to you ever since! It becomes increasingly difficult to find interesting, funny, wholesome movies and tv series and this one tickled my funny bone in the very best way. It’s great storytelling, the characters are quirky and human, the setting is very small town, very rural, which is relatable for me. I also love the way British and Greek culture is portrayed in the storyline. I think this is a series you could enjoy alone or watch with the family. I share it here with high recommendations! It is streaming on Amazon but I think you can also watch it via PBS. Enjoy!

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My dear lady friend, Hilary, over at Two Poppies Apothecary is brewing up wonderful, clean things for the mind, body and soul. Try her serums and mists to help ease your complexion out of winter and into summer.

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Tara left Instagram around Christmas but you can still find her writings and ruminations on her mothership website — Slow Down Farmstead. She is smart, she is deep rooted, she is hardworking, and she’s a fine writer. Reading her short essays and prose is always food for thought for me. While I don’t always agree with her (I don’t need to agree with people to find their ideas interesting), I agree with her on many topics, and I’m thankful for the way she consistently pushes my mind out of its comfort zone. Her writing is not for anyone terminally addicted to convenience and consumption…or maybe her writing IS for those people? I don’t know. Read at your own glorious risk and be curious and inspired or be provoked and filled with rage! It’s up to you.

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This pretty thing. Pretty as an almond blossom.

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The farm is in bloom and I need to spend some time over the next few days doing a little wandering about with my camera. Springtime photos to come!

Happy spring!