Coming, Coming!

My friends, just a quick note to say I’m still with you!

As I mentioned last week, I had a little eye episode. Things are coming around now and getting back to some kind of normal.

Thank you all so much for your prayers, good wishes, and encouragement! I would like to respond to each of you, but alas, a general note of thanks must do for now.

At this point, it takes about three times longer to accomplish anything small-task-oriented or technical. Oh, sure! I can do laundry like a fiend. But computer work and stitching? That’s a whole different kettle of fish.

After the suffering brought about by the recent disastrous hurricane Helene, and the current anxiety over what’s coming with Milton down in Florida, my troubles really are negligible.

I just need to regroup, rethink, figure things out, find out how things will work out going forward – and that’s all ok. This is part of life for everyone, in some way or another.

Anyway, I’m ok. All will be well.

St. Lucy, Patron of Eyes

I’ve grown a little closer to St. Lucy lately. St. Lucy (whose name means “light”) is the patron saint of the blind and those with eye problems. According to her history in the Roman martyrology, she was executed in Sicily under the Roman emperor Diocletian. Popular history adds that her eyes were gauged out. Her feast is celebrated December 13th during the darkest point of winter, just before the natural light begins to lengthen the days again.

In art, St. Lucy is often pictured holding a golden plate or cup with her eyes on it. In the artwork above by Francesco del Cossa, the symbolic eyes are held much like a flower.

She also is a key figure in Dante’s Divine Comedy, guiding him out of darkness.

Today, we night know of her more for her popular association with St. Lucia Day as celebrated in Scandinavian countries, with candlelight and saffron buns and the like, in honor of the “festival of light” on her feast day, which corresponds pretty closely to the time of the winter solstice.

I probably shouldn’t mention here Garrison Keillor’s version of the song “Santa Lucia” – every time I think of St. Lucy’s Day, that song pops into my head and sticks with unreasonable tenacity.

Of course, as a saint in ecclesiastical traditions, she is much more than these popular depictions!

St. Lucy in Ecclesiastical Embroidery?

I’ve been on the lookout for years for an embroidered version of St. Lucy, especially in antique church embroideries and the like. I keep thinking one will certainly show up for auction, on a remnant of vestments or church banners or something similar. I would like one to hang on the gallery wall here in the studio.

I have yet to find one! If you happen to be the type of person who scours for old pieces of historical and / or ecclesiastical needlework, feel free to keep an eye out for me! (Oh, wow. That was a bad pun.)

In Other News

The first photo in this article is of a heart that’s embroidered with battlement couching, using shaded metallics.

I’ll have a bit to say about these metallics soon. I’m listing them in the shop shortly – just in time for adding a sparkly touch to holiday stitching, but suitable for any stitching that needs a little glittery affect, any time of year.

Here’s another quick sample, below. I worked both of these samples up last Tuesday. It’s probably the intense sparkle in the threads that set the eye off! (Juuuust kidding!!!!)

Oooooooh, there’s something very Van-Gogh-Starry-Night-ish about those blues, don’t you think? I’m dreadfully in love with them.

But there’s more to show you with these, and lots to talk about. You can do so much with them, and I want to tell you the how’s and why’s and wherefore’s!

Finally, Harvest Hues

I’ll have something for you this Friday, to get you going on Harvest Hues. And then we’ll quickly try to get back on schedule.

In the meantime, back to the eye doctor again this morning. Four times in seven days is a record for me. I think I’ve spent more time dilated this week than undilated. Whatever it takes, right?

I look forward to getting back into the planned schedule on Friday. See you then!