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| Links to 29/31 & the 31 Vibrant Things Launch Post |
She has created many vibrant things, serving platters, Christmas decoration, and I'd wager she's nearing maybe 219 mugs. I josh, but we do indeed continue rotating them through our cupboards. Whatever, I'm glad this makes her happy.
Dear friends, it occurred to me that I haven't yet asked you to name a vibrant thing. To refresh, philosopher Jane Bennett's research asserts that "things have a sort-of agency—they can "speak" to us, they open windows to memories and ideas, they summon a deeper relationship."
What special item comes to mind and why does it "speak" to you?
I can see why that's your favorite mug! It's beautiful, personal, and creative. I have a favorite mug, too. It is old and the design is washed away, but I love the shape. I also have a favorite spoon that is all that's left from an earlier set we once had. I also like the shape of it, and the design. I guess shape is important to me? I like how they look and I like how they fit in my hands. Plus, they are old and consequently filled with magic.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely magic for sure.
DeleteTwo artists in one family is not something that is common in my experience, but good for you. I like the mug
ReplyDeleteAs you “items speaking to me” I have trouble with open-ended questions, so I don’t have an answer at this moment.
I suspect it's your camera, sir.
Delete...I learned early on, "happy wife, happy life!"
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you two have found your groove.
DeleteThat's a beautiful mug your wife made for you.
ReplyDeleteOne of my vibrant things, two paintings my mum bought while in Rye, UK. She wasn't sure if she should spend the money, I told her to go ahead. Now they hang in my living room. The paintings are of the bluebells in bloom in the woods, something she remembered when she was growing up in England.
Oh those sound very special indeed, a solid link to each other and family history.
DeleteI have a few things that fit that description. They're from both paternal and maternal grandmothers. A large dolomite salad bowl with Pennsylvania Dutch art (I use it on my kitchen table as a fruit bowl) a cookie jar that looks like a strawberry shortcake that's 80 years old that I recently passed on to my daughter, who has loved it her whole life, and a set of spice jars that look like a dachshund. All of those things were treasured by the grandmothers who had them, and in turn treasured by me. And now my daughter.
ReplyDeleteThey must have been very special grandmothers.
DeleteI LOVE this mug. Gosh you are both talented. I wish talent could be shared. I wasn't given one or any. My husband was given a lot. Next life for me.😀
ReplyDeleteI think you're forgetting about your writing talent, Peggy.
DeleteI love the details and personal knowledge your wife put into your mug. You and she are lucky to share the artistic mindset.
ReplyDeleteSo many things I have are "vibrant" things - the drawback being that it's hard to downsize now. So many things my husband used or gave me are the really tough ones. So instead I'll choose today the owl cookie jar my mother gave me when she was decluttering. I always liked it as I grew up; it sat on the kitchen counter throughout my childhood. It rarely held cookies because my mother didn't bake much, but it had intrinsic appeal beyond anything it might contain. It now sits on my kitchen counter and still doesn't hold cookies - I store my recharging cables in -but it brings me pleasure every time I see or use it, which is often. Thanks for writing about your vibrant things and for asking about ours. You've made me think about all the things that hold good memories for me.
Love this comment; thank you for sharing how personal this was for you. I can visualize that cookie jar and I bet you see it through your childhood eyes, a bit of time-travel, look how far you've come.
DeleteRealmente, há objetos a que nos sentimos particularmente ligados.
ReplyDeleteAssim de repente, não consigo nomear nenhum.
Abraço de amizade.
Juvenal Nunes
Returning the friendship vibes your way too.
DeleteThis is a mug to love, for sure. I love it. I love a painting that I bought while camping in Cornwall, sneaked it into the boot actually. It is an abstract painting of a beach, rendered in vibrant reds, pinks and orange. I gaze at it often, it hangs in perfect view from my favourite armchair in the kitchen. My kid call it the weird squiggles and they were always very negative about it but recently my daughter admitted to have warmed to it!
ReplyDeleteArt has a way with words, doesn't it?
DeleteI have enjoyed your 31 days of vibrant things.
ReplyDeleteThank you for saying that; it means a lot.
DeleteThat is such a beautiful mug! I have two items that are special to me. One is a painting that one of my students did. It is a re-creation of a Van Gogh painting that was destroyed by the Nazis. He was a very artistic student and he created a news program discussing the story behind the painting. He gave the painting to me at the end of the year as a gift. It is proudly hanging in my living room. The other is a collection of small rounded stones that I picked up off of a beach in Iceland. I loved the smoothness of the stones, and the varying black and grey colors. I was going through a tough time emotionally, and the smoothness and roundness of them somehow brought me some peace. They sit on my dresser in my bedroom. I am sure someone walking into my bedroom would wonder why I have small stones there!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely had an impact on several of your students, Michael. Well done.
DeleteThose rocks make perfect sense to me...I have rocks from Nova Scotia and Scotland and Sicily and Ireland....
Very nice and beautiful mug. I have a bunch of wool winter hats that my wife made for me through the years. I alternate wearing them each year and I always pick a new favourite. I also have a vase that I keep my driftwood in that I collect at the different beaches I go to walk.
ReplyDeleteExcellent examples. I have a toque from Ireland, plus two classic Canadian winter bomber hats my son gave me, all favourites.
DeleteVibrant is colour, in my mind. Some purples, orange, lemon, hot pink. Another thing is our male hummingbirds who are defending 'their' birdfeeders with determination this week. The contrast with the slow-moving, peaceful Rose Breasted Grosbeak is amusing. And sitting at my kitchen window watching them do their thing is lovely.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful mug. How very talented your wife is.
ReplyDeleteI missed this post somehow, but have to say, that mug is stupendous! -Kate
ReplyDeleteWould you consider music to be a vibrant thing? Because there are certain songs that stir up memories and transport me back to specific places and times in my life.
ReplyDeleteOMG. Love this mug. Mug making is something I want to get into at some point for sure. And bowls. And plate bowls. OMG. All of it. Fun.
ReplyDeleteI dunno if this counts ... right now the vibrant thing is being outside with paint brush and a sander. Sanding the decks and then the porch followed by staining with a brush. There's something so magical, fun and vibrant about paint brushes.
Kay of Musings: That is a wonderful, loving mug. Your wife is very talented.
ReplyDeleteBut now you’re making me think…. What is special for me? Hmmm… I have a certain hat that I wear on trips. It makes me smile to think of the places we’ve been.