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I’ve always been one to work within the time that I have available. If I have two days, that’s about how long it takes. If I have two hours, I can ramp up my speed and finish before the time is up.

Now, with my scheduled events on hold, I feel like I have all the time in the world. I’m choosing projects that are very involved. I’m diving deep and having fun.

For example, this new appliquéd jacket. It’s a piece with many, many layers of my skinny bias tubes. I wanted the colors to blend together like an impressionistic painting. For that, I knew I’d need lots of strips.

Below, the pile of organza cut out and ready to be sewn into tubes.

Next, sewn and turned inside out. They’re still round like spaghetti, soon to be ironed flat like linguini.

I found the most perfect kimono silk to go with my colors, a pink and black check that had been over-dyed with a blue/grey shibori design on top.

The base fabric cut out, I pinned the strips into place until I got the result I was looking for.

Then I basted down the strips. And basted. And basted. Many hours, but, it’s ok, that’s what I have, many hours.

The front, pictured above, with the bias tubes temporarily sewn down and ready to be permanently hand stitched in place.

Next up, the sleeves and the back and the collar.

Stay tuned.

I love how Mother Nature has zero concern that we humans are in the middle of a pandemic and have to stay home and practice social distancing. She just keeps moving along doing what she does best. And right now it’s all about Spring.

It is here! Everything is beautiful. Beyond beautiful. Gorgeous.

Like my tree peonies. They went over and beyond everything that they ever had done before. Last year, there were only a few blossoms. But this year, Crazy Beautiful!

They were huge!

And not just my yard, the entire neighborhood has woken up.

Like these lovely iris, planted in a parking strip next to a gravel road. Doing their very best to outshine everything else.

This small wildflower patch, tucked in next to the stairs of an old house. Every square inch was packed with beautiful flowers.

And not too far from the wildflowers, this lovely lady.

Is it scotch broom? Does anyone know? The yellow variety is invasive, but I’m not sure about this one.

I mean, this is so pretty.

But the most amazing, astounding, mind blowing plant here in Portland, is this Agave Montana. After 20 years it has sent up this dinosaur of a flower. And not only that, it is blooming right along the sidewalk next to the street.

It’s drawing a crowd. People are walking, riding their bikes and driving to come to see this amazing sight.

It’s upwards of 14 feet high. And putting on the very best show you could ask for.

It even has it’s own instagram hashtag: #monteagaveexperience

Who needs Netflix or YouTube?

Thank you Mother Nature for reminding us that sometimes the very best show is available right down the street.

And thank you for reminding us that it is not all dark and dreary.

Happy Mother’s Day to all our mothers and especially to the mother of us all, Earth.

Here we are, sheltering in place. We’re in week number 9 billion? Or am I exaggerating? Is it only week 7 billion?

OK, maybe it’s been less. None the less, it feels like we’re in limbo, all of us who are sheltering in place. Those who are on the front lines keeping all the rest of us going, what more can I say. You are so appreciated. Thank You.

I had been thinking about a design for a new coat. I’d start with a lovely kimono silk plaid and lay over it gentle curves and lines as a contrast. But as I added my skinny bias tubes, I saw that it was more and more about disruption. Without thought, just following my instincts, out came an expression of disorder and anxiety. Over the calm and symmetry of vertical and horizontal lines, I laid the strips going every which way, twisting and turning back over themselves. Turmoil and chaos.

Art! Such a wonderful way to release what’s going on inside. So much better than hiding under your bed in a fetal curl. Whether it’s through sewing or painting, poetry, music, gardening, cooking or however you express yourself, there is no better way to let it out and feel better.

The name for this coat, ‘Disruption.’

We were taught to match plaids, right? With this one I was just barely able to manage. Look at how out of whack it is! No fussy measuring when they wove this. Instead, it’s a free form idea of plaid.

See how it matches at the top of the picture? Then shifts completely off by the bottom. So perfect for what all else is going on.

I have some left of this silk. I’m looking forward to using the rest for a very un-matched plaid project.

A detail showing my strips basted in place. Next up, hand stitch everything down.

Please take care and stay safe!