Every morning I run the dogs out in the pasture, I tell Red to “come bye” and he races around the fence perimeters. Fate loves this, she has taken to hiding in the corner of the Skid Barn, she tries to hide until Red comes by and then she jumps out at him and races with him across the pasture. Clever girl. If Red knows he is playing this game, he doesn’t show it, he just keeps running. Fate always – always – manages to have a good time. Red always goes along.
End of a minor era, we got to the ice pond this morning and it melted in the 60 plus degree temperatures of Wednesday and Thursday. Fate was unfazed, she just waded into the water and pulled out some sticks and piled them up. I will miss Fate skating on the ice, that is a wonderful way to start the day.
Something new and quite remarkable came from the fevered brain of my wonderful wife yesterday, the first of a series of Bedlam Farm Tote Bags from her Schoolhouse Studio. This one features one of her very popular and eclectic goddesses, others will have donkeys, cats, chickens or whatever comes out of her artistic ferment.
I have to say I love these tote bags, Maria wants to make at least 30 of them, sell them right away and perhaps save some for the June Open House, or if she is sold out, get some new bags. This one, the first, will go up for sale this morning for $35 plus shipping. You can check out the tote bags and Maria’s other art on her blog.
The bag is made of canvas, the drawings with permanent magic marker. The prices might vary, depending on the drawings and how much time they take (warning, she does not take custom orders for stuff like this, she makes it and offers it for sale as is, and bless her for that.)
Maria’s art is evolving as rapidly as she is, it is a celebration of nature, independence, the divine feminine and the idea of finding voice and identity through art. I don’t think she would describe herself as a feminist artist – we both choose to define ourselves – but I see some powerful feminist themes emerging in her art and her life as she figures out who she is, what she wishes her art to do, and seeks to define her own sense of strength and decency.
From the first, Maria seized upon potholders as a kind of inexpensive and utilitarian art, are that can be seen, used and hung on walls. I think the tote bags are another step in that evolution, I can’t wait to see what goes into these bags. She’s excited. There is nothing more important than being fulfilled.
