The book and bookmark 

The Abbey, being created to stimulate committment to artistic productivity. has captured me once more. Back in my cell I constantly get ideas for my next project. I have gotten Quesadillas for my childrens families for Christmas already, plus a book on tortilla fillings...but how much more festive would a book bag and a book mark be. Perhaps tomorrow I will make a couple of pot holders to match. By the way, the machine is red too. This really puts me puts me in the Christmas spirit.  

Abbey kitchen

Once back in the Abbey I headed straight for the kitchen. The smells coming towards me were beyond imagination. I pushed open the huge carved door into the kitchen and was bombarded with the sounds of laughter and many voices . It looked like a party was going on. I started to back out as I did not want to intrude on all the excitement but the Enhanteur saw me and came rushing over. "Come, come," "Now we all are here"…" she called. The delicious smells drifting through the Abbey were like the gong in the chapel, calling everyone into the kitchen. Falcon was in the kitchen stirring a huge pot of the source of those delicious aromas and Lois was passing out a huge platter of pasties. Each crescent was golden brown and inviting. I hurried over and picked up a plate and squeezed in between Gail and Chameleon at the long plank table. The conversations that swirled around me were stimulating and just what I needed after so many miles alone, but right at the moment the pastie were dominating my thoughts. They stirred up many buried memories from the past. My husband was raised on pasties and soups in the frigid mining community in Northern Wisconsin. My mother-in-law taught me how to make them when I was just 19, exactly as Lois had made them. Pasties were my husbands favorite meal and were made exactly as Lois had made these. Only thing is family always put ketchup on them. Anyone have any ketchup?

My working space

As the tower came into view I saw an old lady, wrapped in a hand woven blanket, coming towards me. As she approached I could see it was Baba followed by three dogs and four cats. The dogs ran ahead and greeted me and I recognized them from the day I was looking at the buildings around Babas tower. She embraced me and encouraged me to walk faster. "I have your building waiting for you". I started to ask how she could know and then realized who I was talking too. Of course..she knew all the time what I needed. I too became very excited.
I was right to be excited as the building we entered far exceeded my expectations. It was a vision of comfort and efficiency, a hard combination to duplicate. I walked over to the counters and pulled out drawers viewing ribbons, beads, gold threads and yarns of all colors, and a cupboard of patterned and colored companion fabric pieces. Two sewing machines and a serge sat at the end of the workspace. On the other side were my water colors, oils, acrylics, dyes, stamps, assorted papers…etc. Anything and everything I ever would need to create in any medium. On the north wall was a 10 foot high window with an easel and stand in the middle and comfortable overstuffed furniture facing the view. There would be no excuse for not producing in this environment. I headed back to the Abbey in high spirits. I was settled in and could not wait to start.
BUT now I realized I was hungry. Hopfully there will be a pot of something waiting in the kitchen.

After finishing this embroidery machine project I I finally experience a glimpse of satisfaction. I hoped to create some keepable tote gift bags for Xmas gifts this year but the way I am going they may be done next Christmas. For me it is a slow process to create something that shoul be whipped up in an afternoon, but I spend more time creating then sewing. I do not like to use patterns and that often gets me into trouble. There are still errors in this bag but I feel that I am getting closer to what I want. Its a necessary learning process I guess. 

Discovering ones place

Ever since walking on the Silk Road with the enhantress and her followers I have been searching for a place to settle. The older I get the less I have a need to explore other realms and a strong need to stay put and produce from my own well of creativity. I wish to discover what could add to the world that was never there before? Searching Baba’s world I have had glimpses of every part of her personality and realm during my 74 years, and now entering Babas Golden Spindle realm I think I have finally found my place.
I have visited her cottage and viewed her Challenges at different times in my life. I have now climbed her towers and observed those spinning their tapestries and I have walked the paths within this walled retreat, exploring tower annexes and rundown, neglected buildings. All the time I am strolling, reading, and viewing, a nagging need keeps tugging at my mind. Through the years Baba has become my friend. I have gone through her hells, and and have come through all challenges without lossing my spirit. I know this nagging feeling is her, tugging at my intuition, chanting, "Find yourself, feel yourself, be yourself." "You have earned a joyful niche in my realm."