Like so many things, for the last couple of months our 2nd Monday weavers gathering has been on hold, with limited contact via email to see how everyone is dealing with this time of uncertainty, fear and isolation.  Our country is experiencing continually rising numbers of covid-19 infections in part due to a lack of leadership in our government. Our small rural town while seeing rising numbers has not had the overwhelming surge others are dealing with.  Still it is here and apparently not going away anywhere soon.  It messes with your head a bit to think of how this ha affected our whole world.

Despite the coronavirus, with social distancing in place,  our June meeting took place at a local park and it was such a joy to reconnect with everyone in a way that email and facebook just can’t.  As a person that is pretty content to be alone, this has been enlightening to me how much I value the people that I have in my life and how important face to face communication is. So while everyone caught up on each others lives we had a meager show and tell. As near as I could determine Elin is the only one who has actually been doing a lot of weaving. I don’t know where this woman gets her energy but sign me up.

I have been totally uninspired to create and am just recently finding the where with all to pick up some new projects. With our local studio tour and art fairs canceled  it has been a good time to explore some of my other interests. I’ll get back to weaving when the time is right usually when I have a deadline looming. Recently Nan and I have been teaching ourselves some silver soldering skills so we are getting creative making  jewelry.  VIVA Gallery that we are both members of, reopened at the beginning of June, a sign that our little town is slowly bringing some normalcy back.  We are signed up for a jewelry making class in September and so far that hasn’t been canceled yet.

Our world and America in particular has had a wakeup call about systemic racism that exists and is being called out in a way that is giving me hope that some change can actually happen. May 25, George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis was murdered by a policeman.  This is not the first time and has already proved to not be the last but has sparked off a series of demonstrations, most peaceful, some not. All over the world it has sparked a discussion and desire for change that I hope can evolve into something that brings humanity together. I have never experienced a time of such upheaval and division about racism, where as a privileged white woman I have been too unaware of my own part in it.  So as I make an effort to educate myself I have great pride in my daughters who lead the way in protesting, donating and getting involved in the upcoming election and I have hope when I see many of the people I know doing the same. How can this wave of conscientious striving to do better not start a change and a healing that America most certainly needs very badly?

On a happier note these bring me joy right now. Puppies and flowers.

Walking down State St in Madison, Wi. was somewhat surreal. Most storefronts are boarded up post rioting, and are now covered in some very powerful artwork. The emotion is very evident and lets hope others find this art as healing as I did.

wake up people

it was really good to reconnect

Elin has been busy creating

Judith found this on Instagram. Seems like it would be an interesting book for our group to read.

Some new jewelry. This is making me happy right now. Pounding on metal and shooting molten blobs of solder around the studio. And thanks to Olga and Gordon for the beautiful wood scraps that are so lovely to display jewelry on.

new rug

Lily of the Valley always makes me think of my grandmothers house

how can that joy not rub off?