Guest Artists: Cirelle & Nancy Fit in Halfalnd

Lovely Cirelle planted Rana's cottage window box so that it looked exactly as if it were growing. We all loved how the flowers looked from inside the cottage. As creative guests, she and Nancy were asked to sign the artist autograph board.

Darling Nancy got her hands into the sumptuous woolen yarns, hand-dyed velvets and silk strips she used to create little cocoon spool props that will look amazing next to Rana's chairs. Twigs had to be snipped to length for a uniform result.

While standing outside Paul's local book signing the other day, I struck up a conversation with two lovely women, Cirelle and Nancy, whom I've known by sight for many years but hadn't ever gotten to know at any depth. I was stitching a gift to keep busy and Cirelle offered to sew a bit of it. That got my attention as I've not known many people who would want to do anything with their hands like that besides myself.

We started chatting about Halfland and wasn't I surprised when both she and her dear friend Nancy got excited to come to Halfland to help. They could not have been nicer, we really had a lovely afternoon planting a cottage window box and winding hand spun wool yarns onto twig spools as props.

We talked and ate and tried to stay warm, but the best news of all is that THEY REALLY WERE HELPFUL!! They both took wonderful sensitivity and care to the tasks I had planned out for them, each doing a perfect job, such that I won't have to re-do or alter a thing! Ladies, you're talented hands fit right in!

Their coming over gave me the shame leverage I needed to do a major clearing in the workshop. I got all the prop materials organized found that there were in fact several jobs that can be delegated to whomever might come here to lend a hand. No matter the level art experience or skills, it seems all that's needed to contribute in a major way here is a kind, open heart. I'm at the point in the project now where I can clearly see what tasks can be handed over to whomever is offering to help.

In the case of Cirelle and Nancy, I found they both had the detail awareness, patience, and knack for getting inside the project. They seemed very attuned right way to the peaceful, rustic little world being created bit by bit, and craft beautiful things, saving me a lot of time.

It was wonderful having you both here, Cirelle and Nancy. I hope you'll come again!