Bones (wands) from II to X – I wanted the backgrounds to feel related, and I got a box of bone beads that really spoke to me. For me the bones represent the hot center of the structure that holds us up. I am thinking of warm blooded mammal bones here, even though there are many kinds of vertebrates.
The bone beads are stitched down, but the extra pieces to finish each card, the dark circles and some beads, still need attaching.
After a hugely successful and very emotional launch, I took two days to regroup, and have started a new long term project.
The long term project is illustrated above – I’m working on a set of tarot cards. I like the way looking at the cards encourages me to think in more creative ways about what I am doing. I also love that the iconography is so flexible and so powerful that it can translate into so many different decks, and accommodate so many different artists’ interpretations.
And a new short term (or until the weather is too cold) project.
I am taking my (beautiful, fast) boat out by myself. Part of the reason I built the boat was so I could go rowing on the river without scrounging up seven friends and a coxswain. On Monday this week I took the boat back to the D.A.R. State Forest to see how hard launching and retrieving by myself was going to be. And it wasn’t bad. Admittedly I cannot yet back up the trailer, but on the positive side, it is light enough to use as a dolly to get the boat closer to the water. I got on and off the pond in pretty good order, and decided I could try the river next. Which I did this afternoon.
That is Mt Holyoke behind me, and a persistent tree with a lot of riverbank washed out from under it.
So when the weather is nice, I will row. And when the weather is less nice, I will be in my studio.
I’m not sure you can see how hugely I am smiling in any of these. It was a very good day. Many lovely people came to see Ursa Minor take to the sea pond. After having her bow splashed with ginger beer, she was floated off her trailer by a crowd. She floated like a feather on the pond. I rowed many people out and about, and brought them back. Other people also rowed out and about and back.
She is a lovely little vessel – easy to move about on the water, comfortable in her motion, and (crucial for a land locked boat) easy to trailer as well. And I built her. While I can certainly see all the places my concentration or determination wavered during construction, I am still deeply pleased with myself for getting this far. I am anticipating rowing adventures now.
name: Ursa Minor
launch date: September 17, 2017, D.A.R. State Park, Goshen, MA
who is invited: Everyone!!!
capabilities: two stations for rowing, sailing gear still in process
hours to date: 127
hours remaining: 40?
bugs attached to resin and varnish: 43
random attached to resin: 1 fern, 1 feather, 2 pieces of origami, two fabric polar bears and a pair of gold leafed stars
tools located in shop (not purchased after all): 20 clamps, random orbital sander
new tools required: shopvac, tiny plane, 20 additional clamps, router+2 round-over bits
people who’ve helped: Alice, Molly, Al
people with very useful advice: Matt and Orin
people who’ve kibbitzed: JT, Al, Aerin, Jared, postal delivery individuals, UPS truck people (2 of them), lawn mowing guy, guy who owns the lawn mowing service, across the hedge neighbor, across the street neighbor, two straggly lines of local pre-schoolers who walked over, my brother
most drawn out process so far: building the rudder assembly (more parts than the hull!!)
most un-nerving moment so far: cutting a hole in the bottom of a perfectly good boat
far easier than expected: using a router, building the trailer
poetry committed: 1
hours to date: 93
hours remaining: 25 – 110
bugs attached to resin: 17
random attached to resin: 1 fern, 1 feather, 2 pieces of origami
tools located in shop (not purchased after all): 20 clamps, random orbital sander
new tools required: shopvac, tiny plane, 20 additional clamps, router+2 round-over bits
people who’ve helped: Alice, Molly
people with very useful advice: Matt and Orin
people who’ve kibbitzed: JT, Al, Aerin, Jared
most drawn out process so far: shaping the dagger board
most un-nerving moment so far: cutting a hole in the bottom of a perfectly good boat
far easier than expected: using a router
poetry committed: 1
potential names: Ursa Minor
Last weekend Aerin found John Masefield’s Sea Fever and read it aloud while I was sanding down lumps of solid epoxy. It was kind of her to keep me company, and the poem spoke to me, but I realized it had NOTHING to do with the feelings I was after, and the reasons I was building a boat. So I rewrote it for myself.
With Apologies to John Masefield:
I must go out on the pond again, to the place near the river bend
and all I ask is a small ship, some wind, and maybe a friend;
and the rudder bangs, and the breeze whispers, and the tan sail flapping
and the shining sun on the midday pond, and hungry ducks quacking
I must go out on the pond again, for the call of the being afloat
is a strange thing, a persistent thing, and only requires a boat
and all I ask is a breezy day, with clouds quickly skimming
and the children shriek and the paddles flash, and the wild geese swimming
I must go out on the pond again, but only the afternoon
for the pond is small, and close to home, and I’ll be coming back soon
and all I ask is a tasty supper, from the bbq shack on the way
and a quick unload and peaceful nap, at the end of a sunny day
hours to date: 75
hours remaining: 45 – 125
bugs attached to resin: 7
random attached to resin: 1 fern, 1 feather, 2 pieces of origami
tools located in shop (not purchased after all): 20 clamps, random orbital sander
new tools required: shopvac, tiny plane, 20 additional clamps
people who’ve helped: Alice, Molly
people who’ve kibbitzed: JT, Al, Aerin, Jared
potential names:
Ursa Minor
Crow Feather
Raven’s Wing
Elephant’s Tusk
Patchwork Girl
My Favorite Plum
Boaty
hours to date: 47
hours remaining: 75-145?
bugs attached to resin: 3
foliage attached to resin: 1 fern
potential names:
Ursa Minor
Raven’s Wing
Elephant’s Tusk
Patchwork Girl
My Favorite Plum
Boaty
pictures of progress, some seen already, roughly in order…
I’ve been working on these people sporadically over the last couple of weeks. I originally thought of them as totems, but I don’t thing they are representing anything important enough. So they are just strange peoples for the moment.
Al looked at two on the wall downstairs and declared they were not “chewy” enough, which I think means they need more stuff. I have beads, and heavy thread, and I was even thinking about paint and stencils and then I started looking up laser cutters and fell down this rabbit hole and had to stop and fan myself.
In the boat department – the shelter is up and has survived the spectacular thunderstorms that rolled through. Tomorrow I shall find better stakes for holding it down because it is, as Alice correctly points out, one giant sail held temporarily horizontal. The weather is slated to clear out and cool off Wednesday and Thursday, so I will finish making plans and start unpacking the boat box then.
polar moon, 2017
blue fabrics, stitched
beads, buttons, found things
$85 framed
I’ve been working steadily on these smaller pieces, interspersed with working on the tall thin figures that are kind of haunting me.
I like the little pieces. They can be finished. They absorb a lot of thread and beads and foolishness, and they don’t eat up a lot of time. Also thinking about ice bergs and polar bears and moonlight makes me feel cooler. Slightly.
Lee Thomson 