11/12/06 Indian Summer in MI
Although it is early winter in Michigan (the middle of November) typically by this time we are usually under a few inches snow. Instead, we are enjoying a bit of unexpected and glorious “Indian Summer.” The past few days have been a sunny and warm 65 degrees and I have been spending as much time out-of-doors in the woods and marshes as possible. Spirit and I have been out hiking every day and it has been wonderful.
I have been collecting dried marsh grasses for a project I am calling ”The Tall Grass Marsh” as well as lovely grey twigs with red berries (we think they are decidious holly) and White Pine and Juniper greens for our gallery whiskey barrell pots and window boxes. Although it feel quite odd to be collecting greens in mid-November, I know this is just a temporary lull in the real winter to come. In a few weeks I will be happy that I have the decorations set at the gallery and even more happy that I was able to collect and arrange them when it was warm outside!!
I’ve done some experimenting with the marsh grasses this fall. I have been simply soaking, hand cutting and blendering and adding them to the pulp. This has worked quite well. They dry as thin, soft tan colored bits in the finished paper and have been working well for me in the new “Winter Air” series I am working on.
Today I plan to look for others grasses or fibers in the marsh that I might collect and experiment with.
Maybe I could create”Indian Summer” papers or collages!
