Making a List, Checking It Twice

Okay, I don't promote or discuss my work here at risk of offending people who come here to hear about basenjis and junk, but I'll make an exception.

In a year when iPods, tacky novelty sweaters and gifts screaming out obscene consumption are acutely out of touch with the current global realities, I encourage readers to check out the Beyond the Box - a Better Way to Give. Seed banks, cuys, women's literacy classes and HIV/AIDS training are gifts that won't break a budget and can contribute to changing someone's corner of the world.

Please pass it on to others, and add a link or widget to let more know about this chance to reach people around the globe

Enjoy Gift Bearing Strangeness

Even more than gifts that come on time or early, I love those that come late. Above is a photo I received yesterday honoring my 20th year at work commemorated on September 15 and below a creation made by my sister who is becoming gloriously more eccentric with age. It is made with fabric from drapes in the house we grew up in. I've asked her if it has a name.

UPDATE: An explanation from my sister. The "north 40" is the name for the family land and house we recently sold.

Her name is Norty II. You will find a little ID card in the back of her coat. Of course everything is symbolic. Her "heart" is my key to the North 40, a fan from one of Mama and Camille's Christmas angel projects that I found on my last walk thru of the house and the blue bead was by the side of the porch when I left the last time.

Her hair is from the roll of baling twine in the barn. Her coat is made of various fabrics from the archives. The majority of the pieces are from the living room drapes at the farm and the original drapes at the North 40.

To me the most symbolic pieces are the two urns, the three "webs" representing the three homes that now hold Mama and Daddy's treasures and on the back notice the two birds from the farm house drapes. You only see the wing of one as it flies off into the unknown and you see the other complete bird as it follows.

The day before she was completed the little butterfly appeared from somewhere and I thought it was Mama's, but later Camille said that it was hers.

This was my first opportunity to use my Dremel to drill the holes for the eye hooks in the arms and legs. Its smallest drill bit is the size of a needle.