Happy New Year, 2020!
I hope your holidays were all that you wanted them to be and that you are well and happy as we begin this new year. I’m planning on a great year. How about you?
In coming blog posts, I’ll tell you about some exciting new projects I’m working on, but today I want to share with you a wonderful new collaboration of sorts I’m doing with a fellow artist here in Lewisburg.
Patches of Peace 2020
Ann Keeler Evans is an ordained minister at UUC of Susquehanna Valley, an activist for peace, and an accomplished poet (among other amazing talents). She writes in the form of 14-line psalms — one a day, every day. Her theme is always peace. Recently, she asked to use my 100 “patched” amulets as the basis for her psalms in 2020. That she sees peace and hope in my work is rather eye-opening … and humbling. I was honored and delighted to give her my permission.
Ann says she will use each amulet three times, three days in a row, and in fact, has already begun. The amulet at the top of this post was my first and so, of course, the first she started with. Here are her first two psalms.
Beautiful, aren’t they? I receive Ann’s daily psalm in my email every day. You can, too, by signing up for her daily mailings on her website. You can also find her psalms and much more on her Facebook page.
A Wish for the New Year
My wish for the new year is that we’ll stay in touch. I’d love to hear your thoughts on Ann’s psalms, your work, your adventures, and your projects. In return, I’ll continue to share mine with you!
What an inspiring and challenging (!) project. The friendly universe has connected you.
Indeed. I have known Ann for several years, but this is a total surprise. I hope you can follow. The Jan 3 post (today) is the kind of criss-cross I had envisioned. That someone “gets” what an artist is doing from “inside” is something we rarely get to see/know. S
Thanks for letting me know about the psalms. I also try and write a few lines of poetry most days. Mainly haiku but I’m trying to expand to longer verses. Happy New Year!
I hope you can follow Ann’s writing. She is a strong proponent of peace, love, and hope– and also draws our attentions to helping others and reminding us what is right. Poetry is a discipline I have never embraced. I salute your efforts to make haiku. Would love to read a few…You have my email. S
New year greetings Susan!
Love your website, your work and this sweet message.
Life is good in CT. Hope we can connect in 2020. Our trip to Japan has positively informed my art and my life. Glad you are well.
Fondly,
Leslie Bok
Leslie! Thank you for your kind words.You move my heart to hear that the Japan trip has stayed with you. I have fond memories of watching you discover each day of the tour with joy. Please email me some photos of your work. CT is not so far away. Let’s meet up.S
I look forward to seeing Ann’s everyday psalms and her posts about your amulets. This move and the process of unpacking and discovering that I have no room for many of my treasures has been a little disheartening and depressing. Starting each day with something positive and uplifting, words that take me outside my world and make me realize how truly grateful I am for all I have, both physically and spiritually, is a good thing!
Glen- You’ve been through A LOT these last few months. Moving is among the top 3 stressors we face. Even though you had lots of help, it was your things and your memories that got sorted through. It’s a very brave thing to do. Give yourself a little time and yes, get outside the inside of the house. You are a very strong woman and you will find your balance soon. I promise.
Susan: looking forward to a daily peace message. The amulets are doing their works of wonder, inspiration lives in them and in the one who inspired them. I’m inspired to work small to perhaps take on a 100 day art project myself.
Thank you, Jean, for always being my witness and friend, encouraging and cheering me on. I would love to support you in a 100 day project.
Oh Susan, the psalms from your amulets are an incredible blessing – for both of you, and all of us. Thank you for sharing. Would you consider a class on making amulets? Maybe on line? Not so much on how, but the who, what, where, when, and why? Or do you have some references? There is something there calling my name. Happy New Year from the farthest corner of California.
Judith- so great to hear from you. Happy New Year to you from central PA. Agreed about the timing for Ann’s psalms. As for an online class of any sort from me, it doesn’t seem likely… I did try to write about each amulet as I went along, and those musings are still on my website. There is also a reference to amulets (in Japan)on the “100 day project” page (a sub category of Amulets in the Gallery). I can email you the link. If only you were coming to the east coast? We could make some together!
Amulets and Psalms – is this not the foundation for a beautiful inspirational book?
Well, that would be wonderful. Thanks for your vote. Waiting to hear about my submission. I’ll let you know.