Creating

The other day I said that I would be getting a 'sculpted' (as in - polymer) Santa on Ebay each week from now til Christmas. Right. Who was I kidding? I must have been swept away with Ebay Fever. Which is pretty easy as once I get back on to playing Ebay, I'm hooked.

What I especially love about it is the wonderful people that I get to connect with. Many are dear sweet folks who have followed my work over the past 6 years that I've been offering my Christmas creations there.

When I see a familiar name in bidding, I am totally humbled. There's no greater compliment to me than someone who already has a piece of my work in their home, to want to have another one. The fact that anyone takes the time to even look at my creations is in itself humbling.

Some of the folks that I have met through Ebay have become good friends. It's them that I miss when I've not been keeping up with it. I'm the same way with artists whose things that I watch over the years - when they're not listing, I miss them & wonder what they're doing and worry that they're alright. It's hard to describe, but it's kind of a comfort to know that they're 'up there'. I like to watch artist's work who I can see & feel exactly WHO they are - the ones whose personality and soul speaks through their work and their words. I like to envision them where they are, working away like I am.

It gives me huge pleasure with my own things, to know that there are people who are watching what I do. It just warms my heart when I see my e-friends names appear. I love it when I get to send something off to join my other creations that are living in their homes. And I love it too when a new person wins a piece because that's potential for a new friend. It's not really appropriate or appreciated by everyone, but I'd like to put a little card in the package that says: "Now that you have a piece of my heart & hands in your home, we HAVE to be friends:)" Some might think that a little strange, but the people who know me best know that the creation of 'items' is purely secondary to me - the creation of 'relationships' has always been Number One.

This is the link to this week's listings: http://tinyurl.com/evscottebay

Last week's creations went to two dear & long-time e-friends - one in Yacolt, Washington and one in Redwood City, California - and a 'new friend' (who doesn't know it yet - lol) in Warren, New Jersey:)

Goodbye, my Easter Donkey

Pete moved in with his new family yesterday. Besides having a new home, he's going to have a new name. 'Pete' is a boyfriend & that could set up a whole bunch of issues, so they are renaming him - perhaps the Iroquois word for 'Little Protector' - which I can't remember, but was really pretty.

It's so bittersweet for me when my babies move away. I am happy for them - that they will be loved & cherished and will bring such joy to a family - especially when it's their first introduction to how sweet and wonderful long-earred friends are.

But I always have a few quiet tears. Not for the baby, but for the mamas. To listen to them call and cry just tears my heart out every single time. Even though Pete was very independent & didn't hang out with Samantha much anymore, she paced the field looking for him and called for hours. I could hear her mournful bray in the middle of the night. She has a three year old daughter, who moved right in by her side as soon as Pete left. She's been feeling totally left out since he came along & welcomed the opportunity to snuggle up with her mom again.

I can't imagine how hard that is for those dear sweet mamas, to have their babies taken. Some animals are quite happy to have their babes move on and out - I've seen that with the cats & the puppies. But donkeys are different. They are soulful animals. Twenty eight years of raising donkeys & it still tugs on my heart.

Christmas Line '009

I so love getting to play 'Christmas' creations again. I always think that I'm going to keep it up after the season, because I really do enjoy it & it would seem that perhaps folks do add to their collection throughout the year - but it never happens. I get busy doing all the other things that are calling me & the next thing I know, Christmas is knocking on our door again. Once I get started again, I get right into it - spending hours up in my studio & forgetting about everything else.


I especially love making the children and animal vygnettes and the old German style Santas. Even though the little children are created from a mold I made from some antique German dolls, every single one of them looks different and has a little personality of their own. It gives me great pleasure to imagine some family bringing them out each year.

This year I'm also going to try to get on some more sculpted Santas. What I'm aiming for each week is one tiny little set & one medium one in the primitive style and one other Santa sculpted in polymer.


The listings will end each Sunday night. If I have some ready on the previous Sunday, they'll be on for a 7 day listing, if they're not done, I'll put them on Tuesday nights for a 5 day listing.

This week there are three creations - a goat, a bull and a deer. And Santa of course.

The link to Ebay:http://tinyurl.com/ebayevscott

November

My friend Kathy had that line of a poem. She didn't know if there's more, but actually more might dilute it - it says it all.

Just like flipping a switch, when the calendar turned over to November 1st, there is not a single leaf to be found. I swear there were a few here & there when I went to bed, but I awoke to a naked world.

I am not a fan of November. But today I looked at it with different eyes. At three o'clock when I took these photos, the sky was such a deep, yet soft, indigo blue. The clouds were so subtly shaded that they looked like a painting. And then were some that were lit - little jewels & gems that advertised that somewhere behind those clouds, the sun was shining.

My issue with November is the fact that it is generally 'non-descript' ... colourless - no redemptive qualities whatsoever. But being tossed a hauntingly beautiful day like today, there is perhaps room for movement.

Fall Back

Thank goodness my GBs came trick or treating last night. Other than them, we only had 5 children but enough for 30, so there I'd be having to eat up all the darn candy and have KitKat for breakfast, just because it's there.

This is one my favourite days of the year - when we 'FALL BACK' and gain an hour. That one hour delights me multiple times over the day. I sleep in & then am pleased that I really didn't. I spend hours just diddling the morning in & it's STILL morning. I leave the clocks at the old time, so when I look and see that 4 o'clock is actually 3 o'clock, that means I still have lots of time for a nap before I think about supper. It gets dark and it seems like it should be bedtime, but really it's only 6:30. Each and every time, I'm pleasantly surprised.

I have been known to leave the clocks like that for a few extra days, so I can feel like I get more out of the day. It drives Brian crazy though & eventually me too, when he keeps saying, with less patience each time 'What time is it REALLY?' But even when I do change the clocks, he doesn't trust them because of all the years that I've played the 'Bonus Hour' game. It doesn't take much to confuse him. And it doesn't take much to amuse me.

Coal Black was Pink not Blue

Back on June 12th, I announced the birth of my Coal Black Jack, who I named Cole. He's been a very demure little fellow compared to Wild Man Pete - quite shy & reserved and very petite. Where Pete runs around like a mad man, jumps on things like a goat and generally makes his presence known, wee Cole quietly minds his own business.

He was so timid that he refused to cross the brook that runs through the pasture. Everyone else stayed on that side all day - actually for days at a time, but he never would across.

Often, when I'd see him by himself, I'd feel badly that he was lonely & missing his Mom & his donkey friends, so I'd slip over to visit him. Any time I did that, the whole herd would look up & say to each other 'Hey - that woman might have treats, we'd better get over there.' And they'd all rush over & push wee Cole out of the way. But the mission would have been accomplished anyway - he'd have company.

A couple weeks ago when I tried to have a sneak visit with him, no one noticed and it was just the two of us. That's when I noticed that when he relieved himself, the water was coming from a different spot than it should have been. On closer inspection, yes indeedy, Cole was not a Jack at all. Cole was Colette. And it was perfectly fitting that he is demure & dainty - he's a lady.

Some folks connected in regard to a posting I had about having a little Jack for sale. It turned out that they really did prefer a little long-earred girl & I just happened to have one. A couple weeks earlier, that would not have been the case. We knew that it was the right match when it turned out that she had been born on their Anniversary, transferring the tradition of 'Special Days' to her new family. Today, our sweet little Jack-that-turned-into-a-Jenny left for her new home where I know she will be treasured & loved and will live happily ever after, befitting of the little Princess she is.

Lost October

There simply have not been enough. Enough 'Golden Days' this year to fill my deep and thirsty need. October is a Favourite Month. The earthy fragrances. The rustling sound from the ground or goose good-byes from the skies. The first crackling fires of the season. Crunchy Apples. Cozy Sweaters. Wonderful things, all of them, but none compare to an azure sky and the vibrancy of delightfully colourful fall foilage lit by an autumnal sun. It causes me to pause, to halt, to breathe it in, to absorb it and horde it to combat the dull, dreary, draggy days of November. Autumn is Art. Artumn.

We have had too much rain. Too little blue. Too few trees that make me stop in wonder & awe. Too many leaves have left without celebration and too many trees are bare already. So I was especially glad for Sunday - happy to be with dear friends, walking through a woods that did have the leaves & the colour & the glory that I have been so desperately missing. Without feeding my soul, without a single Golden Day, how would I possibly get through what is to come.

More than twenty years ago I clipped this poem. It is the only poem other than 'Flanders Fields' that I know by heart. It has caused me - or perhaps allowed me, to put off work but never play on such a day. Even at the best of times, there are simply too few.

LOST OCTOBER

There never comes a day like this,

All gold and shining like a bubble in the sun,

That I recall the time I told you I'd no time to play,

Work must be done.

Work must be done, and there that gold day wasted,

And there, the mellowness of earth and sky and leaf and air,

Went hour by hour untasted.

For scruples sown too well in such as I.

And there October's brightness faded, turning

Her dear enchantment into dull November.

Setting in my brain one question burning.

What, now what do I remember,

Of work I bent above that day until,

It was too late to climb the golden hill.

Is this not about Life in general? I most definitely subscribe to this philosophy. Anyone who knows me, knows that I never, ever turn down a chance for Play - for chat, for tea, for nurturing friendships & relationships. Indeed, the memories that keep the Golden Days glowing in my heart, come not from the 'work I bent above', but from the wonderful folks that fill my world.

Angel #1 is Eight

Eight years ago Brian and I stood right outside the labour room door while our first grandchild was delivered. I will never forget that feeling when I heard his first cry and I was moved to tears myself. I could not believe that my baby was giving birth to her own baby.

What a ray of sunshine that dear child has brought to our lives. He was a sweet baby, a darling toddler & an adorable little kid, so it goes right along with it that he's a incredibly awesome growing-up-boy. So loving and lovable. All-boy with his passion for every sport going, and cars and guy-things, but nurturing & sweet & wonderful with his sister and little children and especially babies. A real sweetheart.

He's often ran into the house, calling out 'NAN ... your Angels are here!!' When I said one day 'here's my kids', he corrected me with 'We are NOT your kids - we're your ANGELS.' He has proclaimed that they are the Little Angels and I'm the BIG Angel. A little too much emphasis on the BIG.

I phoned tonight and told him I needed to have one last conversation with my 'Favourite 7 year old in the whole wide world'. He was quick to offer his friend, Mattie for that position now that he is moving up to be my favourite 8 year old in the world. He told me 'I'm having my birthday at Chuckie Cheese and you'll be there.' I told him that I wouldn't, that it was going to be for his friends. He said 'Oh, but I want you there. I really like it when you're at my birthday.' I replied, 'That's so nice.', - such a thoughtful child. He said 'Do you know why I like it when you're at my birthday?' 'Tell me', I said, thinking that he was going to say 'Because I love you SO much'. He answered so sincerely: 'Because you always bring me a really nice gift.' Sweet AND honest.

In the Spirit

What a perfectly awesome show we had - even the weather co-operated, which was much appreciated after the Novemberish days that we've been having. The Little Church was filled with inspiring creations from 17 artists - paintings, pottery, designer purses, decorative gourds, carved Santas, creative chairs, floral designs, stained glass and garden art.

It's a very welcoming atmosphere & we were encouraged by the positive and enthusiastic feedback that we had. Quite a number of people came back both days. One dear soul said 'I just HAD to come back - it was so magical that I didn't want to leave.' She brought two car loads of people with her, to share the experience.

It was like one big giantic 'visit' - much different than so many of the shows that I've done where people parade past your booth & if you do get to chat, it's for just a brief moment. It was like each person who came was a guest in our home - we all felt that. It was such a delight to have so many friends come by - besides being fun, their support meant more than I'm sure they know.

We call the show 'In the Spirit' ... inspiration' comes from the word spirit. We find that being in the place, in that space, surrounded by so much creativity and commraderie that we are most definitely 'In the Spirit' ... a joyful spirit.

THANKS giving

What a blessed Thanksgiving weekend we had. There is nothing more wonderful & more important to me than to have all of my precious family together under one roof. Every single one was here for dinner - happy, noisy, boiterous chaos.

For a table centre, I stuck a candle in a wee pumpkin and had everyone add what they were thankful for. It was quite an extensive list. There was all of our family on it & the dogs of course, a donkey & cat & a couple of Scotty's friends, and sports & rain & trees & colour & sunshine & maple syrup & hair & life & the number 3. It generated a fair bit of discussion. It was little 5 year old Lauren who remarked that who really needed to be on it was God. We not only needed to be thankful TO Him, but FOR Him.

Out of the mouths of babes.