this is a very good day.   Enough has been done.

004

008

the top edge has been stitched under.  the other three edges are ok as is for the time being.  the skipping goat is all secured.    nothing will come loose.

so it began with Spirit Cloth,  with the burning desire to understand the meaning in my own life of those two words ~ went on into Patchwork Beasts with the appearance of the little goat ~ then  into Cloth to Cloth  where the Daughter Cloth came into being as the holder of dreams. 

and i want to say here again, that the large cloth is from strips and strips and strips torn from unwanted scraps of "good household cloth" as Jude called it, from our local thrift shop in combination with the central motif that my daughter lingered over at the big thrift shop in Albuquerque.  the back, which will be may be the middle some time is a very used but strong flannel blanket.  all tea dyed  and what is the very very greatest thing to me,   sewn by hand.                    cloth unto cloth unto cloth.      one of these days when i am in the same place as she is again,  i will take it on in to Contemporary Woven Boro.  mosaic weaving,  stitching.  i look forward to that day.   for now, i learn in Sun Moon and Stars Whispering and will practice these things, both to finish off the edges of the SUN's rays and also for those stars,  those  beautiful little boro stars……..

009

so, here we have it.   the little scrap of onionskin dye near the sun rays, i almost forgot.  will be stitched in to a ray.  she will recognize it as frog eggs where we are going and Spadefoot Toad eggs from where we've been.  needs to be there.

thanks for everyone's endurance with this    xoxoxo 

 

Posted in

43 responses to “the time being”

  1. Jude Whaites Avatar

    I love this, it is wonderful how all the pieces have cloth have come together to make one.

    Like

  2. deanna7trees Avatar

    the story of this cloth should be written down in book form. your first novel, grace.

    Like

  3. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    thank you so much for looking…and yes, me too. it was
    a total experiment and i was unsure about if i could
    possibly do it*….it makes me so happy on so many different levels. a large part that it allowed me to
    compromise with myself…i would NEVER have stuck with
    making a traditional quilt. they are so beautiful but
    i wouldn’t have had the discipline. this, being done
    by hand, and being woven recycle made it a real challenge.
    and it tells me that i could make ANYTHING i needed to
    with woven strips, by hand. anything. a home even.
    and too, it gave me time and place to do all the things
    i have learned so far from Jude. i feel like i’ve gotten
    to maybe chapter One of the cloth journey.
    again…THANK YOU for coming by and letting me know you
    are here…xoxo g
    *like when i needed the ladder for the weaving, eeee!

    Like

  4. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    you make me laugh.
    no…it’s me and cloth from now on in.
    i want to “write” with cloth.
    oh, and i couldn’t put words on it as you suggested in
    SEW, i am a very crooked stitcher.

    Like

  5. jude hill Avatar

    grace. i know this one is square, but to me it is a circle, a very full circle. we have come a long way, i feel i have known you for a lifetime. i love that this one will travel and you may follow.

    Like

  6. Wendy Avatar

    Just so wonderful. I feel so lucky to have seen all this, thank you Grace.

    Like

  7. KaiteM. Avatar

    it’s an epic grace, a beautiful, insightful and playful epic.

    Like

  8. Suzanna Klein Avatar

    Grace, it is so beautiful and full of love…I love the contrast between the woven part and the square center…a harmonious contrast…a treasure…

    Like

  9. nance Avatar

    i know what jude means as far as it being a circle…. to me too. full circle. you found your path and the cloth has its path too. the rainbow will lead to dreams that you dare to dream. your daughters dreams. … the parts around the outside will be added to from time to time? and maybe other things too…. a work that could be complete at any particular time. like our lives. we just never know. love…

    Like

  10. cindy Avatar

    Grace! You are amazing on so many levels. This is such a love story cloth- love for your daughter, love for cloth, love for yourself and finding a true path for you. I cannot believe how this has come together, but then again, knowing what I do of you, yes I can. I think of you up on that ladder.
    From beginning to end, you made this story come true. Thank you for sharing this.
    You are You, and that is a wonderful thing.

    Like

  11. jennlui Avatar

    grace! such a beautiful story on cloth. different than what words could relate, the stitch has it’s own way of story telling…
    i was visiting handstories’ blog and in her post from saturday she mentions how you said that “if you do lift a needle, something always happens”. this is perfect timing for me to hear this… thank you 🙂
    xox

    Like

  12. Peggy Avatar

    Dear Grace, you have the perfect name, you know. You make Grace-full cloth. It is filled with Grace. In so many ways.
    I’m so glad to have followed along as your Daughter Cloth came together. (Although I didn’t do the beast class so not for the goat.) Now that you’re giving it a rest, I can’t wait to see what you make next! xo

    Like

  13. judy martin Avatar

    This cloth is very beautiful on so many levels.

    Like

  14. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    Jude…what to say. i thank you for every word you have
    ever said to me and to Everyone else. i thank you for
    every stitch you have taken, every fragment of cloth you
    have held and then placed. it Is a lifetime, in a certain
    way…thank you for saying that. i remember the first
    night i found Spirit Cloth blog…was looking and saw
    the word COMA. clicked.
    watched the images flow, spill forth and i
    cried.
    seeing something so incredibly familiar but also Never
    Seen Before.
    yes. this one will travel and i don’t even know what to
    think about that. but it will travel. and i will follow.
    to Continue. more to be mended, more to be understood.
    much love to you,

    Like

  15. judy keathley Avatar

    damn grace.
    i started the day going to cindys blog where i sat stunned —-& couldn’t write a word —
    then i came to your house & i just had to close my eyes & shake my head—
    i turned off my computer–& went out for a walk & looked up at the bluest sky —
    & heard an owl call –in the middle of a hot morning —
    to see this completed ( for now ) cloth folded on your table just took my breath away —
    thinking back on its story –i imagine jenny at the thrift store touching that cloth for the first time–in those moments –its like the world shifted —& i imagine you standing there watching & as you stood there ,this cloth began —
    & there were ladders & laundromats & a trillion stitches —
    & the cloth stands for all that has happened –between you & her —& all that is ahead —
    its a doorway —
    & it is so beautiful—& so amazing–
    as are you my dear—
    much love–

    Like

  16. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    Wendy..i am so happy that you found your way here today.
    so many thoughts i have and want to share with you. maybe now.
    just before this i am out giving water to those who lived through the odd winter and thinking of you, thinking of
    the words we exchanged some time back. thinking of
    sustainability.
    so much to exchange.
    and when i think of Continuing with this Cloth, i often
    go to look at the beautiful mosaic mending on your blog.
    it is the most amazing.
    love to you

    Like

  17. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    Suzanna…it’s interesting, isn’t it…how that made
    itself happen. no plan, at least on my part…. ~
    love

    Like

  18. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    oh nance. i have muddled along over the years, haven’t i.
    but yes. you are completely right…”complete at any
    particular time. like our lives. we just never know”.
    Big love,

    Like

  19. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    Cindy…who’dve guessed, huh. but here we are. in
    good company. yes. in very very good company.
    a very happy love to you

    Like

  20. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    dear beautiful jennlui…it ‘s what i tell myself. over
    and over and over and over it proves to be true.
    and yes…different than words. i love that.
    xoxoxoxoxox

    Like

  21. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    Peggy…it is so good to have you know it’s “history”
    as it appeared. i love that. and me neither…i am
    SO ready to just see what happens!
    love to you

    Like

  22. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    Judy…word mistress
    you go straight to the Heart of it
    and yes. the world has shifted.
    and yes and yes and yes.
    and much love to you, but you know.

    Like

  23. Valerianna Avatar

    I came here to touch in, after a long day, long car rides, visiting family… had the thought this evening as I looked back upon the unfolded day – that “this is a very good day”… connections, plant adoptions, beauty of sea and home again to forest – and here I stop on my way to bed to see the SAME words for today… and to read all the comments lifted my spirits even higher in celebration of so many open hearts offering beauty, reflecting beauty… beautiful cloth and hearts. Gratitude.

    Like

  24. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    V..i LOVE your words. and isn’t it the way it can go????
    reflecting the Light? this
    is the great great gift of this community.

    Like

  25. Nancy Avatar

    complete at any particular time. like our lives. we just never know…
    so profoundly truth. yes.

    Like

  26. Nancy Avatar

    Dear Grace,
    I am so glad to have begun following along on your journey. Your words, your cloth…you always seem to touch me deeply. Thank you for sharing yourself and your beautiful cloth. This is good.

    Like

  27. Nancy Avatar

    PS My daughter and grandson live in Albuquerque!

    Like

  28. Deb G Avatar

    Grace, I don’t have many words today, but I do have these… This gives me hope and fills my heart. Love Deb

    Like

  29. Penny B Avatar

    No endurance at all at all. It is magnificent and I have always, always loved little dancing goat. To me he is your symbol.

    Like

  30. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    kaite…just went back to read these again, all the
    comments and looking for yours with the word
    playfull
    i wanted to read that again
    and see that my response got lost…
    Whaa.
    thank you for using this word…
    playfull.
    yes. we very much need this playfullness in the days
    ahead.
    xoxo

    Like

  31. KaiteM. Avatar

    TypePad HTML Email
    playrich, playfull, playtime, playfree, playzone,
    playinggg………
    http://kaiteyarngarden.blogspot.com

    Like

  32. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    thank you to Judy…left comment on your blog

    Like

  33. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    Nancy…thank you…thank you for being here, in this
    community of Spirit Cloth.
    Albuquerque!….do they like it?

    Like

  34. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    Deb…those are just enough words.
    hope
    would have been enough.
    xoxo

    Like

  35. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    (s)he is the daughter’s symbol….me….i am still thinking about
    all that.
    thanks, Penny.

    Like

  36. k Avatar
    k

    I keep coming back to look again, the cloth is wonderful (and so are you). The grace of the dancing goat makes me think of Olympic gymnasts performing with the long strips of fabric (do they still do that?)

    Like

  37. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    k..thank you so much and if they don’t still do it, they should.
    little goats are just like this…beginning on day one. by day
    two, they are spinning.
    i am now lost in my mind for Magic Diaries. i see that you
    are there too….
    such a loooooooooong time till july

    Like

  38. helen salo Avatar
    helen salo

    Sometimes when I come to your blog I feel like I’m eves dropping on a personal conversation with you and others, as it gets so personal and deep, but I did want to comment that congratulations is in order for completing this wonderful gift for your daughter. So many times we (well some of us) start out with the best of intensions and never complete to fruition no mtter how much we desire to do so, or want the recipient to have it. Your drive and persistence is admired and acknowledged. Another person added to my list of people to aspire to.

    Like

  39. Cristina Ortega Avatar

    grace,
    i love the foldedness of the daughter quilt.
    so much cloth on top of cloth, love on top of
    love.

    Like

  40. Linda Avatar

    Grace
    I am a little late coming by. Life gets too crazy
    So glad to see this.. a folded cloth. I agree that it is a circle… a circle of love to your daughter and a circle of friends that have gathered here and at Judes. I can’t believe that I found Spirit Cloth and what it came with. I have signed up for the big magic cloth. I would never think I could do that. BUT I will. You have given me so much inspiration and I am now thinking of where to start.
    I love this group of ours and I am so glad to witness your story..
    love to you

    Like

  41. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    Helen..please don’t feel that way..that something personal
    is going on…well, i guess it IS “personal”, but only
    in that it’s just a Life, and so talking about it is
    just talking about it…
    there is nothing here that is not “yours” too. so just
    please come in and take off your shoes…check out the
    refrigerater, see if there’s anything you like and
    settle in for however long. i always enjoy your thoughts.
    and yes. i am proud of my persistence, of continuing.
    but it has brought me to a new point in my life that i
    am very happy about.
    please come back soon as you want to….love,

    Like

  42. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    Cristina…a cousin to your Auntie’s quilt. it’s an
    amazing feeling, isn’t it.

    Like

  43. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar

    Linda…yes..i love this group of Ours too. everyday
    i am in wonder of it all. feel so very lucky.
    well…this next Large cloth…we will all see, won’t we.
    i’d thought, as i looked at that folded one above that
    it was The One…but, now look. here i go again. this
    one will be different tho. it will be a very long time
    in the making. forever, i think.
    love to you and i hope your life quiets, if that is what
    you need…xoxo

    Like

Leave a comment