Christmas in their hearts

I am a needlework fan. This is the wall next to my bed, where I put my book at night, and my glasses too, before I put out the light.

Some of these craftswomen have sent me the most wonderful things, like this embroidered bird, from Jone at Pantry Violets. I keep it with my spice jars, right in my kitchen.

http://www.pantryviolets.blogspot.com/

This beautiful bunting was knit by Lori. I had a big blank space over my bed, and then Lori sent me this package and I nearly tripped running down the hall to hang it here! Isnt' it amazing how the colors match the quilt?

http://www.loritimesfive.blogspot.com/

Mary Stanley sent me this little house which was just what the neighborhood on my wall needed. Mary hooks rugs too, and is a wonderful needlewoman.

http://www.marystanley.blogspot.com/

this isn't exactly needlework, but its a gift from my talented friend Delila in Finland.

http://www.robinandthesage.blogspot.com/

Its resting against a sketchbook, with a needlework cover, by Viv at Hens Teeth.

Viv is a rock star in the stitching world~

http://www.hensteethart.blogspot.com/

A close up of my quilt, the lady who made this cut out and appliqued these flowers all over the top of this, its so lovely. Got it at a garage sale in Santa Barbara. yup.

close up of Lori's work

These ladies are all the best, and feel like 'old friends'.

Little needlecase from New Hampshire, a gift from my mom.

Thanks for stopping by, always such a pleasure to have you visit

xxx

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

my green sky

I know flocks of girls who admire bluebirds. There's Carolyn, Barbara, Pat , Nancy, Sandi, Delila Vicki, Colette,Dana, Lori, Nina, Jody, Janet and Heather. And Carol g! and thats just the beginning. They must feel like Thoreau who said 'The bluebird carries the sky on her back'....

Every once in a while I paint a bird girl piece. This pale pink wall in my studio is holding them up for now

While we are in my studio, right outside my window, there's a blooming going on of pink and white petunias

Back in side, here's one of my first girl and birds, a swan.

I've got loads of spoons to list. They're dangling from an old rake while they wait for me to
get busy with the camera.

But instead of being productive, I decided to write down things that are pink.

I forgot mouse ears.

and cotton candy!

A pink breasted pigeon. Isn't she beautiful?

This is my best friend, Kary. she is a little shy, loves red gingham, Teddy, home, and 1962. Calls this hairdo a 'birds-nest'. And her favorite bird is the owl.

http://www.myfarmhousekitchen.blogspot.com/

Emily Dickinson wrote 222 poems about birds, including The Hummingbird.

Here's what Pablo Neruda had to say about humming birds;

The small bird on fire

Which dances out of the pollen

Just a short drive from here the pink sweet peas are washing the hills

Standing in the middle of this pinkness I was swaying with the scent . I wanted to lie down and sleep there. But I carried that scent home with me, in the form of a single sweet pea .

Because I beleive in the Chinese proverb

'If I keep a green bough in my heart,

The singing bird will come.'

wishing you a pink spring

xxx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Away away

Last night I dreamed
that I was swept
up to the blue
where stars are kept

It could be the flocks of birds I've seen lately, or some I've been making out of clay, or maybe I'm just feeling happy at the start of this new year. It seems as clear and lucid as a pool of fresh rainwater.

I've been dreaming alot about flying. I looked it up, and the combined wisdom writes that meanings include: Inspriation, relief from tension, or striving for something better.

And of course the desire to get away, for a bit, and just soar up there.

So tuck a bird feather under your pillow and dream away, and I promise you'll land safely again.

Listing today in my shop, some flying pieces and down to earth ones too.

xx

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Remembrance cups

its you whatever a moon has
always meant
and whatever a sun will always
sing is you

A wedding deserves a token of affection to celebrate eternal love, but sometimes the nicest things happen all in a rush and no invites have gone out. And you want to remember.

Like the fall when a rare bird landed so close to you , you could see its heart beat beneath it's feathers. Or the moment when your baby said her first word. (This yellow butterfly cup says 'flutterby' on the reverse.)

Mr. Pricklepins. I remember the first time I saw a hedgehog. They are so small!

all the pretty birds dive into

the heart of the sky

all the fish climb through

the mind of the sea

Have you ever seen a bird's nest in your very own garden? This nest piece is actually more like a bowl. It would hold a nice portion of granola, (very nesty) or vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce. Maybe even a little whipped cream.

Or seen a fox dash across a clearing, his white tipped tail all lit up like a candle?

The reverse reads;

joy was his song and joy so pure

a heart of star by him could steer

Thank you for checking in to see my new cups. Let's light the fire now and put the kettle on.

all poetry courtesy of e.e. cummings

xx

julie

juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com

Song Thrush nest

The shearwater lays her egg in a bare hole dug in the peat; The kingfisher gradually ammases fish bones for a bed for a tiny fist sized cave in a riverbank; the song thrush builds its nest in a thick hedge or ivy growing against a wall, and it's as tightly woven as a teacup. My bird books list song thrush along with the wood thrush. One book even shows its song in musical notes! The eggs are beach rocks I've collected from Otter Cove. Bird eggs are full of promise, like Robert Louis Stevenson says
Younger than we are
Oh children and frailer;
Soon in blue air
They'll be singer and sailor.

Winged Suitor

A hermit thrush peers in my bedroom window each morning, as soon as I wake up, then he dashes up and down on the tree branch, batting his wings. I've painted his portrait on the scalloped soap dish, and there's a few other bird pieces in honor of birds in general. Did you know when you find a feather on the ground that you've received a letter from a bird?