Some very sad and beautiful photographs by Chris Jordan. He made these in early October on Midway Atoll, a tiny stretch of sand and coral near the middle of the North Pacific.

These are Albatross chicks, nesting babies whose parents have soared out over the vast polluted ocean, collecting what looks to them like food to bring back to their young. On this diet of human trash, tens of thousands of Albatross chicks perish every year by starvation, toxicity and choking.

Midway Atoll is part of the Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, one of the world's most remote marine sanctuaries. It sits 2000 miles from Hawaii and is part of the territory of American Samoa.

Albatross are incredibly large, grand birds with feathers of pure white, a two-tone coral colour curved beak and deepest black eyes. Their giant adult size explains the capacity of the young ones' stomachs to contain so many objects.

Please think with love on these wonders of creation and give a donation to RSPB if you can.

Love Is the Only Force

capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.
- Martin Luther King Jr.

I'm looking forward to this.

And when I came across this again yesterday after lots of years, I right away wanted to give it to you:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves: "who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?"

Actually, who are we not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing Enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

- Nelson Mandela

Duffle Mitts IV

OK
the appliqué on the second mitten is done, fur liners are sewn in and edging criss-crossing is complete on both. I attached one of the creamy rabbit fur cuffs onto the left mitten today but will wait to take some pictures tomorrow when the other is in-progress.

And I had time to cut out another little (very little!, and very red) pair for the Pinecone today. I'll make grey rabbit fur liners for those as well, and add a braided string to slip inside the snowsuit.

What a treat to stay up late and DO STUFF! I'll pay tomorrow -a little- I'll pay a little.
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Look at this from Carolyn and Andy London of London Squared.
Thank You, D.
Love + miss you.
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A Big Fire

C, S, P and the dogs and I ripped it up last night with a great big fire, some good scotch and a few cheap marshmallows.
Such a beautiful fall night.
And this morning we woke up to falling snow.

Natural Bristle

...placed into some lovely brushes.

The numbered group is from Mason Pearson,

You can order this lovely one, handmade in Sweden, for next to nothing,

And I thought to include the print of the little brush-tailed rat kangaroo just because his tail is really something.

Kata Golda

i couldn't resist these cuties - Kata !

Duffle Mittens III

Finished the appliqué and embroidery on one mitten last night. Working on the other today.

Check out this and this with Ricky.

Duffle Mittens II

I got the rabbit fur liners all sewn up (blanket stitched). The right one needed gathering at the top as the front piece was larger than the bottom piece. I wish this'd been the case for the left as well = more fur around the tips of my fingers. I'll keep this in mind for the next pair.

And I started the polar bear appliqué.

Ode to a Nightingale

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Looking forward to Jane Campion's Bright Star with Abbie Cornish.

The content and costumes.

Abbie Cornish played lady-in-waiting Bess opposite Cate Blanchett's warrior queen in Elizabeth the Golden Age (2007).

Ms. Campion's next film is Runaway, based on Alice Munro's wonderful 2004 novel which won the Giller and the Commonwealth Writer's Prize that year. A recent interview with Eleanor W. can be found here.

Embroidered Paintings

in silk, from Vietnam. A 700 year-old tradition. These incredible demonstrations of labor-intensive handwork are owned by a friend who has traveled extensively there. I was able to take some pictures of them yesterday while the daylight was less grey.

The Cyril N.K. "Nordie" Kirk Collection

Acquired and used by RCMP Inspector "Nordie" and Leona Kirk while posted to Aklavik, Northwest Territories from July 1945 to July 1948.

3 delightful items made by Martha Stewart, the wife of Special Constable Andrew Stewart:
- a pair of moose hide and beaver fur mittens decorated with floral embroidery and lined with duffle with a braided yarn cord attached for hanging.
- and two pairs of moose hide, stroud and beaver fur mukluks. Covered with cotton fabric and hand-worked with embroidery and rick-rack.

The Kirk Collection is housed by the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

(I love the name Cyril)

Making Duffle Mittens

in a class taught by Shelby Blackjack. The exterior shell is evergreen duffle wool and I'm planning a little appliqué for the backs. Will continue to post images as this pair progresses.