arrived today...
Like Pearls in the Sunshine...
only linked, plied, twisted, textural, soft...
...from as far on the opposite side of the world as one could be... from me,
..far away... but connected... caring, sharing, giving...
and Surprised was I when the post master said I had a package today,
Oh, I wasn't expecting anything.........
Wonder...
Oh, I am so touched that she did this... so touched by her kindness... her thoughtfulness... her writing my name on the package and sending it off, with hope and happiness in her thoughts...
spun from the sheep of her own flock of English Leicester... I just want to wrap myself up in these many skeins and smile... and smile... and smile
Dear Soul Arija, Thank-you so much... you have touched my heart with your generosity!!!! I cannot begin to tell you how this makes me feel.............
This gift is so lovely... I feel the beauty of it... I am so humbled...
ps... dear Arija, please thank your sheep too...
...for all those who don't know... Arija's daughter is the amazing textile transformer, author, imagination inspirer, workshop giver, India Flint.
37 comments:
Beatiful and thoughtful Arija and your lovely sheep. Enjoy my Seaside Friend! Can't wait to see your creations.
Those pics are lovely. I lvoe simple, "primitive"objects, I love the way you show how aesthetic they are.
Aren't packages the best? And just in time for cold weather too.
Dearest Gwen. I had planned to send you unwashed EL wool last year but my darling daughter warned me that customs would confiscate it. The I had it set aside to wash but was not well enough to manage that at the time. I had envisaged you spinning it by the fireside and had even written a poem addressed to you, so this year I took the shortcut and got the spun stuff under way in time for your cold weather.
Whether you knit socks or anything else from it or just gloat over the lovely sheen, have yourself some fun, you have worked so hard all year, you richly deserve it!
Love . . . Arija
beautiful gift and the sunlight photographs make me want to reach out and touch them
OH! I know how you feel. A Flickr friend from Hawaii did the same for me a few years ago. The wonder of it....and the best thing....every time you lay your eyes on this so beautiful gift, that same precious feeling comes back.
Thank you for making me smile for the joy you feel :~)
p.s. Forgot to mention how I love the fashion show ~ beautifully captured the pearliness Gwen ~
Shelley, aren't her English Leicester sheep beautiful... brings back memories of when I had my Border Leicesters..
Thank you Guillaume, something about the patina of old oiled wood that complements almost anything.
Steven... especially a most unexpected one, with contents waiting to be created into something not imagined yet.
Sally, and it had been a gray day with the sun coming out for only that brief time.. such providence.
Oh Arija, I am still smiling.. Your thoughtfulness will never be forgotten.. I remember when I used to hand-clip my small flock of Border Leicesters.. and for the large size of this breed of sheep, how gentle they were to handle.. I could just sit them down on their rump and they would stay there with only gentle persuasion till I slowly gave them their clipping.. and I was slow.. they really had patience.. it feels romantic when I think about it..
I will be admiring these skeins for a time (and gloating over them,like you say), while I imagine what they may become... you know they have as much play power in them as a box of Lego given to a child... and I still love Lego...
Thank you again so very much!!!!!
What a beautiful gift! I see in your first picture that you have a wool winder. When I was small it was my job to hold my mothers skeins of wool stretched around my hands with my elbows braced on the table, while she wound the wool into balls for her knitting. I would urge her to wind fast because it was tiring for my small arms. Then she found a wool winder at a rummage sale. I loved it! all those magical little sticks that unfolded into a skein holder with just the right tension. As it slowly turned to the rhythm of her winding the scene was mesmerising to me. A happy memory awakened by your post!
hehe christmas came early!
thank you so much being being my first foolish friend.
i think that is fantastic :)
Kathi, I could just imagine little pixie you sitting there helping your mom...
Even with the strain on the arms... those were the days weren't they?
I remember the first time I saw an umbrella swift I thought they were the greatest invention too.. up and down and round and round.. they were like a toy...
to The Fool... it sure did... You aren't fooling me are you?
Visiting you is always such a treat, Gwen...what a lovely surprise and a thoughtful friend. Now I wait to see what magic you will spin with your strings of sunshine pearls.
What a beautiful earthy gift. I too look forward to seeing what you create with the wool.
you've captured the beauty and warmth of that gorgeous wool with your pictures waiting to see how the wool will be transformed.
Hi Gwen what a lovely gift! Your thank you post is beautiful as well. One can only imagine what beautiful thing you will make from thi gift? HoPe you post it.
Deborah, I haven't knit for a while but I am leaning in that direction...
Ruth, yes earthy and eco-green... as those happy sheep are still wandering in the meadow and feeling fresh with their new haircuts...
Thank you Embellisher, it is lying across the room tempting me right now..
Hi Cathy, I really am looking forward to twisting it through my fingers...
Thank you so much Helen, ... so you know this happy surprise... that is exactly what I feel.. every time I look upon it I know i will recall Arija's kindness and generosity..
Such a wonderful gift to recieve, bright white new wool to be knitted. Into something that you will treasure, very likely forever, and when you feel it's warm softness in the cold days of winter, you will remember, never likely to forget Arija's thoughtfulness.
That is wonderful... isn't it amazing how one act of pure kindness can mark our memory indelibly, for life ? Can't wait to see what the raw material will turn into...
My fingers are wriggling to hold that wool. What a lovely gift Gwen. Arija must be happy knowing just how much you appreciate it.
Heron's View, oh yes, the chilly winds of approaching winter is the perfect time to warm up our very soul
Owen, so true ... now if all the world powers would be kind to each other!
Robyn, Lovely indeed.. I don't deserve it, but I love it.
Isn't this blogging world wonderful? I too recently had a box arrive in the mail. It came from someone I have never met, but I hope we are 'connected'.
I look forward to seeing what you create with such softness.
I'm with Ruth on this. It's such a wonderful earthy gift, but I'm just as interested in discovering what you make out of it. Keep us posted.
herhimbryn, you know the feeling... I so agree...this Blogging World is wonderful..
I will, George, I'm hoping to dive in as soon as these Christmas Shows are taken care of.
when the world gets me down all I have to do is connect with the blogosphere, posts like this cheer me up without fail! Enjoy your beautiful gift.
Gwen, I must say your verbal skills far surpass mine, I could not begin to put into words what I really felt about the beauty of this post or your email.
The bird I featured was an Australian darter, Anhinga novaehollandiae. I was too tired at the time to look it up and have amended my post since then.
yes Valerie, we have much to be grateful for in this big world. and the sharing makes it even better.
Thank you Arija, When you said it was a Darter I had to go and see if they were related to our Cormorant. ...sure enough, they are... they certainly look alike.. a gangly bird but beautiful in that strange way too..
Gwen,
You really should write a book with your "meandering thoughts" and lovely photos...would look quite nice on a coffee table! Your gardens, your lovely views, your art work, your visions! It could be fabulous.....
Wool and wood, sheep and trees, gifts and giving, warm hearts. ♥
What a lovely gift! There's nothing like a fiber arts project with the approach of winter.
Yes, what a pearly glow your gift gives off...I can only imagine you would glow, too wearing something made with it...
What a beautiful gift from Arija. Glad I saw this post.
Thank you All for your kind thoughts.
A lovely and thoughtful treasure gently and generously bestowed! In my minds' ear I hear the soft clickety-clack of the yarn wheels and winders. There is no greater gift then when a friend recognizes your talents and contributes to them from the heart.
So well said, Lord W.. and so appreciated.
Hi Gwen,
In looking over your blog, I fell in love with your work, most especially your people earrings. I work at a small non-for-profit private school for kids with alternative learning styles and am interested in your earrings for our faculty. If you could email me at Brochall@aol.com, I would love to talk to you about the availability of these pieces. Take Care,
Olivia Shultz
Hi Olivia, you are sweet! and I am so pleased you came across my site. I am very interested in your request. and will be contacting you.. Thank you so much!!!
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