Stars in the Backyard

I love the anticipation & wonder of December. Will it snow soon? Will the sun peek out today? And if it does, will it gently illuminate snowflakes & make them sparkle as they fall silently to meet the earth? Each new day brings another facet of Winter's quiet beauty & strength. Yet in spite of her cold & frost, her night stars always seem to twinkle brightest.

And as the holidays press upon us, I like to take time out to count my blessings as well as look around me to see who's been a blessing to me & the community in return. One way that I can demonstrate my gratitude is to "Buy Local" for the holiday season. It's my way of thanking my hardworking & artistic neighbors—the "stars in the backyard", if you will—who endeavor to make my community more colorful, vibrant & creative each and every day.

Luckily, in my small mountain village in Colorado, the local cultural center & various vendors hold art & craft fairs during the holiday season so townspeople can do just that—buy local. Not only is it a chance for me to peruse handmade gifts crafted by exceptional artisans, it's also a time where I can chat with my neighbors, catch up on local gossip, and be stunned by how many talented people actually reside in my area!

One such talent is Megan DeSmidt, who creates artistically-designed fabric purses, satchels & backpacks for her own company, St. Clair Designs. Interestingly enough, St. Clair happens to be Megan's maiden name & is also the name of the patron saint of embroidery—so it seems destined that Megan would apply her artistry to creative sewing! You can see more of her fabulous designs at www.stclair-designs.com.

Megan DeSmidt—fabric purse designer

I'll admit it it—I'm a sucker for the fabric arts (particularly creations that feature the interplay of different textures & patterns), so I couldn't help buying one of Megan DeSmidt's charming purses as a gift for a favorite relative for Christmas.

The "Dena Bag" by St. Clair Designs

Then there's Tina Rodholm, who takes breathtaking & evocative regional photographs of mountainscapes, vintage western scenes & brooding Colorado sunsets. You can check out more of her stunning work at http://tinarodholm.zenfolio.com.

Tina Rodholm—photographer

Another artisan who inspired my awe is Helen Cahill with her "Wreaths of Hope." Similar to dream catchers, her lovely weavings made from pine needles are designed to "prompt a treasuring of nature." She says her hope is that "love, laughter, friendship and kindness will be as free flowing as air through the openings of her weavings" in the homes of all who purchase her unique gifts. You can reach Helen Cahill at touchofpine@gmail.com.

Helen Cahill—"Wreath of Hope" weaver

And speaking of weavings, the southwestern flair of Douglas Narigon was on full, vibrant display, hearkening back to the Native American heritage of our Colorado mountain region. For orders, he can be reached at 719-424-2036.

Douglas Narigon—weaver

And for the nature enthusiast, the delicately beautiful wood sculptures of Stan Dewey, who specializes in birds of prey, fish & wildfowl, were extraordinary to behold. He can be contacted at 719-439-8318.

Stan Dewey—wood sculptor

Not to be outdone, however, is Stan Dewey's wife Sandy, who is also a wood & gourd artist. She created the following charming & whimsical holiday pieces.

Sandy Dewey—gourd & wood artist

Just in case you're tempted to believe this gallery of artisans features work for the mere "common folk", bear in mind that Kenneth W. Shanika's original oil painting titled "Christmas Eve" sold at an art show within the first five minutes for a whopping $900 (and 2 others sold for that price as well). Gasp—it's gorgeous, but I'm afraid I could only afford his holiday card reproductions for $15! ; ). If you admire Kenneth's fine artistry, you can view more of his paintings at www.ShanikaFineArts.com. or visit Colorado Expressions Gallery at 122 East Kiowa Street in Colorado Springs.

"Christmas Eve" by Kenneth W. Shanika

Kenneth W. Shanika—oil painter

All this creativity & color made me want to break out some brushes & paint a few things of my own! If you have any free time at all this holiday season, perhaps the greatest gift you can indulge yourself in is the opportunity for creative free play. Paint, whittle, sculpt, draw, stencil, bake, write—it might even be fun to invite your relatives or guests to do the same! Below is a woodburning I created one season while I was hopelessly bored during a heavy storm that snowed me in. They say necessity is the mother of invention, and because I was low on funds that year & worried about how I could afford holiday gifts, these nifty keepsake boxes turned out to be heartfelt & homemade treasures for my loved ones <3

"Fox Box"—original woodburning by Diane J. Reed

And who knows—with enough creativity & effort, you may discover that the star ready to twinkle in your backyard might turn out to be YOU. Here's to a joyful & imaginative holiday season that sparkles deep within your soul & brings light to everyone you touch...

 (Photo credit note: All images on my blog are either my own or were gleaned from pictures in the public domains of facebook, pinterest, or other popular social networks. If you own the copyright to any of these images & do NOT want them used publicly, please contact me & I will take them down immediately! : )

  



Stitching Hearts

Few things herald the coming of spring to me quite like a quilt show. Especially in early March, when temperatures are still rather brisk, the bright colors of quilts always lift my spirits & remind me that winter's bleak grays & browns will eventually be replaced by the courageous early blooms of crocuses & daffodils. So when I saw an advertisement for a local quilt display in my rural area, I jumped at the chance to go.

This particular "Album" quilt was a showstopper for its extraordinary use of detailed applique with traditional designs using a vibrant rainbow of colors.

And this bold "Star Reel" design was entirely stitched by hand. Although this quilt was completed in modern times, it made me wonder about the women who quilted in the 18th & 19th centuries in America out of necessity to provide warmth for their families.  Even though quilts back then were considered a practical item, the women's artistry still shone through.

Of course, there was no radio or television in those days, so perhaps quilting was a welcome respite during long winter evenings lit by candlelight, if one wasn't already too exhausted by chores. And then there was the social aspect of quilting—quilting bees offered isolated women the opportunity for much-needed female companionship (not to mention a chance to catch up on local gossip : ).

 But there's another aspect of quilting that has always fascinated me as well. I often wonder if, in the long hours spent in the tedious work of hand stitching, women can't help imprinting not only part of their personalities but also their souls into the patterns of their quilts. After all, each quilt acts as a permanent record of the woman who made it, reflecting her personal choices & what was important to her in that particular place & time.

This quilt, for example, is the traditional "Tree of Life" pattern that serves to remind us of the importance of faith & the hereafter. But notice how the quilter embellished it with birds at the top & bottom. Their charm adds a bit of lightness & whimsy to the overall quilt design—could there possibly be a message from the quilter here? Could she be saying, "Yes, prayer & spiritual devotion are always good—but don't forget to sing & make merry while you still can"?

It's impossible to say what each quilter intends, and perhaps it's that very mystery that has always drawn me to quilts, as though each one contains a series of stitched hieroglyphics that sheds light on the spirit of the quilter, if one can somehow decipher their meaning? 

For this reason, I loved using a quilt as a metaphor for the "magic" that is passed down through generations of women in my novel TWIXT. The quilt created by Corvine O'Dannan in the 19th century might look like a "Crazy Quilt" to the casual observer—a haphazard design of herbs & moons & totem animals—but to Corvine's modern descendent Rose, the quilt is actually a sacred heirloom that holds the key to unlocking the special alchemy of the ’twixt women (who are part fairy & part human).

With their unique colors, patterns & textures, quilts preserve the heritage of the women who came before for the women who come after, and each stitch links their hearts in an eternal chain. As we pass these heirlooms along, quilts act as conduits of the love & tradition that went into making them—and the warmth & security they provide remind us of the value of history & hard work, but also of the creativity & whimsy that makes each quilt unique. As a result, quilts are the  colorful "soul records" of creative & enduring women who brightened their own worlds with every stitch & left behind a piece of themselves with each design for posterity to remember & enjoy.