Awesome ... Hearing Adeline on the radio ... That’s my baby!
Serendipity
I’m loving my new pins from Merchant & Mills. They make all my other pins seem absolutely brutish.
serendipity . . .
Here is my Moon Star, so beautifully framed by Chris Durante (in Danbury, CT). He makes such perfectly proportioned shallow shadowbox frames for my pieces, frames which never compete with the art but quietly and beautifully display it.
The artwork floats on an extremely fine linen substrate and Chris finished the cherry wood frame by staining it with India Ink and then rubbing and burnishing it to a fine patina. I chose to use Museum Glass, which is a splurge but well worth it. It really looks as if there is no glass at all. People always want to touch the piece and they are always startled by the invisible glass barrier.
But, oops! I dropped it! And it broke.
However, It looks better without the glass. It’s just brighter, more light, more accessible. And that’s serendipity.
For now, it’s in the kitchen, above a fine miniature quilt made by Kate Adams. Puddle approves.
cancer update . . .
On the subject of cancer . . . I’m done with "the treatment" and now . . . what? Up to this point I've been occupied with radiation and chemo, and now that’s done and I feel sort of untethered.
There’s so much more I could write about it, but I hesitate, not wanting this blog to become Morna's Cancer Diary.
I was at MSK a couple of weeks ago and, in keeping with my tradition, I took selfies in the restroom. These may be my last "wig pictures." I’ve grown weary of wearing it. My hair, such as it is, is about 1/32" long. And that’s not flattering! But it sure is easy maintenance.
POPPY PODS :: IF THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL, IF THEY INSPIRE, THEN ARE THEY TRULY DEAD?
Nevermore . . .
RAVEN TAKES A STROLL (detail) :: BY JO-ANN GILBANKS CORDES
Doug and I went to the annual Mark Twain Library Art Show Gala in December. It’s a very fun event in our small town - lots of people, lots of art, plenty of passed canapés and champagne. Of course I haven’t had any alcohol in ages - my kidneys are busy enough dealing with the chemo cocktails.
I visited the library the afternoon before the gala and I was gobsmacked because, as I walked into the library, I was stopped dead in my tracks by this incredible bird, a great big black raven, and he was looking straight at me. I love birds, blackbirds in particular - crows, ravens, call them what you will. And my spirit animal, who showed up to help me with my cancer journey, is a bird. I like to think now that it is a raven.
That evening I was first in line when the doors opened. I went straight to the acquisitions desk and made Raven Takes a Stroll mine. I was thrilled to know this painting would eventually be at home with me.
At one point in the evening, I noticed two women gazing upon "my" painting and I joined them. "Do you love it?" I asked. Oh, yes. they did. "Well, it’s MINE!" Kind of cheeky of me, but I was feeling giddy and they didn’t mind at all ... because, one of them was the artist, Jo-Ann Cordes! She and I proceeded to have a wonderful conversation about what the painting means to each of us and, upon discovering we live in neighboring towns, promised to get together in the new year.
FROM "MY" CHAIR IN THE FAMILY ROOM :: I SEE THE RAVEN AND THE RAVEN SEES ME.
For those of you who are in southwestern Connecticut, Cordes’ Ravens are on display at the Bethel Public Library, through February 21st (an extension of the show’s original end date). If you’d like to read an article about her and the show, click HERE.
Want to know more Raven Lore? Click HERE.