A big thanks to everyone who entered my acorn giveaway and for your kind comments, so very much appreciated. I received a happy number of entries. It is good to be sharing my thoughts and writing with you here and I hope to continue. If you did not win an acorn this time I suspect I may have future giveaways lined up…. But please note you do need to be a subscriber. I had a few emails/messages from people who wanted to enter but did not want to sign up. I know perhaps substack is new to you, but please know you will not be bombarded with spam. So please do subscribe….
My newly created studio assistant (temporary) helped me put names into a bowl and pick three out at random.
Well then the winners are:
Tina, Hollie and Natalie. Please email me at: ccullis@gmail.com with your address. I will get an acorn sent out to you each asap.
Working with textiles and wool feels especially ‘right’ at this time of year. It is autumn, it really is now. This morning was a dark and foggy start and my boxes of doll making things are waiting for me to get on with work. I sometimes shift my working pattern around so yes I do work on a Saturday or Sunday. I like the quiet of a weekend day when people are slow to get out their lawn mowers (or leaf blowers).
When I am hand stitching, I will sit in the best spot for natural light. In the morning this will be by my front downstairs window. I will watch the birds in overgrown rose branches. At this time of year the old rose hangs heavy with bright rose hips. Though it is more than woody and the base of the rose is skeletal, I am reluctant to cut it down. I like the wildness. I prefer a garden with a wild edge, with a tangle of this and that. I don’t care for manicured everything and I don’t think nature cares for it much either. A few days ago I sat stitching and watched my neighbour walk up and down his path with a leaf blower, though there was scant evidence of leaves to be rid of.
I tend to leave the leaves. But do I have a small broom propped by our kitchen door. Many years ago it was custom for women to ‘park’ their broom by their door (either by or above) to suggest they were at home and the neighbourly type who welcomed visitors. Or some communities believed the broom warded off evil spirits. There are various superstitions regarding brooms depending on region and time period. Over many years this symbolism has got mixed up with the whole ‘witch and broomstick’ story. I simply keep my broom there, by the kitchen door because it is handy and because I like to feel part of a tradition of people who have little or no regard for leaf blowers.
I also like to think that my broom might keep burglars away, or at least burglars who are scared there may be a witch living here. I am not sure how many such burglars exist in the world. Chances are they are not scared of witches. I am fortunate to live in a neighbourhood where I can leave a broom by the door and it doesn’t (to date at least) get stolen.
I am no witch myself, though I have been called one in the past. When I was very much younger, at primary school, I had disobedient wavy hair and some children gave me the nickname ‘Witchy’. I was sad when I was taken to the hairdresser and had my hair cut short. I liked having a tangled birds nest of hair and I liked being called Witchy. I was a quiet, stoical child who liked the sense of power being Witchy gave her. With my hair cut short I felt a gift had been taken from my grasp. Now I choose to have short hair: my choice now.
But hark at me talking about my hair again! Last week’s mention of grey hair seemed to resonate with many of you. Thank you.
Have a good week ahead and thanks for reading.
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When we lived in the city we had a lovely small yard and all my husband would use there was a push mower. We had a hard time finding one! Now that we live in the country our yard is far too large for a push mower but we think back fondly on those days!
As for hair, as a child I was always getting mine cut short and permed which never lasted more than a few days. As soon as I was old enough to choose I let it grow long and wear it long to this day— and that’s a LOT of days! 😉
We, too, have a broom by the porch door for botanical detritus in the growing season and snow in winter, although at times we have a snow shovel parked alongside it. Interesting that people poke fun at those with brooms but not much fun is made about a silly plastic scoop shovel. 🤷♀️
I hate leaf blowers too, but thankfully I don’t think I have any neighbours with any. It got me thinking of the old manual lawnmower I used as a child, it was probably quicker, if harder work to use it. By the time the cable of the hover mower is unwound, the power breaker is found, having to go back to the house to switch on the power to the garage etc I could have cut the grass. I don’t have a huge lawn and the manual mower seemed a lot more manageable. I miss the particular sound it made, no high pitched whine, the sound was solid and satisfying, I miss the sound of a rotary phone too.