Friday, October 16, 2009

Blog Jam


We had a bad storm on Tuesday night. Winds howling at over 120kmh in this little outport, even higher elsewhere. Buckets full of snow were blasted at the windows, clinging briefly to the panes and then falling in a puddle on the ground and disappearing. Phones blew out, dialup was a dim memory, dinner was cooked on the fire and gratitude was in the heart for being safe indoors as plans were deferred.

The sun came out yesterday bathing all in its path with that special light that only the aftermath of a storm can bring. A wondrous golden hue to everything. Like the child who shrugs after doing something really bad. "Who, me?"

I wore my aran sweater yesterday. I wear it, oh, once a year. It is too bulky to go under a coat and far too warm for spring and early fall. But yesterday was perfect for it. It will last a couple of hundred years at this rate.

We caught up on one of the deferred plans and went to the fishers' museum in St. Vincent's. Fishermen's Museum really. But I do prefer the more PC term. Because it wasn't only the fishermen. It was the women who toiled and slaved and worked so hard in the houses on the shore.

I was completely bewitched with the quilt shown above. Utterly and completely. I don't think I've ever seen women's work more honoured in one outstanding piece of work like this. In stark black and white.

Profound and gorgeous. I had to be pried away. I wanted to spend all day with it.

12 comments:

  1. [:) Undoubtedly, you could happily live without any comment (like this one); and while, on a frosty night wearing an Aran]:
    What lovely (put) thoughts.
    The peace of the night.

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  2. I'm pleased you weather's tantrum was fairly shortlived - sounds a bit fierce for October !

    What a beautiful quilt - so unusual in black and white - I like it better than the multi-colored ones we usually see.

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  3. Good news that the storm didn't linger. The quilt is unique both in beauty and color. Are the silouettes cut outs from black cloth? Artistic talent jumps out at me and the patience to do it is amazing as I'm impatient to get it fininsed sometimes disappointed with the finished product.

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  4. That's a fascinating quilt. Is it just a series of disconnected images or is it meant to tell a story?

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  5. I can see why you were so entranced by the quilt. I would like to slip it into my bag and take it home. It would be just right for those stormy nights!

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  6. ditto my aran sweater. but i'm glad i have it, for those rare days when i need it.

    and that is truly a fabulous quilt.

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  7. Great quilt, I love it too. And I think I may have a sweater or two like your aran, they sit at the bottom of the sweater drawer, too beautiful to part with but too warm to wear most days! Storm season is upon us, I've lived in the north, the west and the east and by far the worst weather is right here on the Atlantic. Love your image of the bad child sun!

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  8. @ Sean:
    Sure I love the comments, it means people are reading me!!!
    @ T:
    I always love the creations that leave something to the viewers' imagination.
    @ Anon:
    Yes, cut from black silk it looked like, I didn't like to handle it, as I was deemed trustworthy cnough to be left alone with it (it was hard, so hard!!)
    @ Nick:
    It told the story of a woman's life back in the day, each panel a vignette, the graveyard I found particularly touching, so many infants buried there. I personally know a 91 year old who has 8 infants buried in the local graveyard.
    @ GM:
    It was tempting, to tempting!!
    @ Laurie:
    I know, I'd like to get more out of mine too (as I did knit it myself)!
    @ Annie:
    Quite alarming, those tantrum storms!!
    XO
    WWW

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  9. I wonder how you felt when that storm was howling around your house. It must have been quite impressive. Did you feel as if you were going to be blown away, like that house in Annie Proulx's book, The Shipping News? I've never been by the sea in a huge storm, but I can imagine it's a mighty huge experience. It would send shivers up my spine and I would have hated to have been a fisherman's wife back in the olden days. The worries they must have had! I must look up what an Aran sweater looks like.

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  10. Yes, it was, it whistled through the old clapboard like an discordant orchestra.
    the Arans are the ones with the cables and diamonds - my favourite kind of knitting...
    XO
    WWW

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  11. The quilt is truly amazing. What artists women can be and creative in the use of their fabrics and imagination. Wonderful to see.
    Hope you recovered from the storm.
    XXOO
    Holstein, ON

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  12. Ellie:
    Welcome to the blog.
    Yes, finally women's artistic work is being more honoured. About time!!!
    yes I did, thanks, it is back to fall again here now, great walking weather!!
    XO
    WWW

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