Greetings from the den—
I’m writing this message on a misty morning in between storms, with a steaming cup of black tea. Each one— warm drink and cold day— made more delicious by the other. Around me are the sounds of a tree frog calling out a raspy creaking, soft drops of water falling off the metal roof onto stone, the comforting hiss of the gas stove, and Eastern Sounds by Yusef Lateef on the speakers.
I’m writing this to give you the first look at a small new collection of valentines and other romantic & bespoke things in the web-shop, and share some musings on what went into them.
If you’d like to just head straight to the shop so you don’t miss out, as these small drops can go fast—here’s the link!
It’s late winter here in Northern California. The land is deeply saturated and quiet, blanketed in green. I love this time of year for its soft, almost awkward, new growth. There’s something quietly charged and erotic about it all. All freshness and willingness, both tempered and heightened by the time spent in winter’s dormancy. There’s a sense of yearning and quiet intimacy to it all— the soft new growth and my own aching desire to see it all emerge. The first exquisite blossoms are always thrilling.
“The first move” is made in the great courtship that keeps the world alive. This time of year feels like a potent opportunity to hone our skills of heart renewal—our own hearts and those we love. I know Valentine’s Day has a mixed reputation but I am a sucker for the sweetness of it all, and I particularly enjoy thinking of it in the context of this specifically and strangely erotic season. Our small human love-lives unfolding within a bigger cyclical love story. We are given this chance to offer exquisite blossoming expressions of love just when they are needed most! We can slough off our dormancy and risk intertwined aliveness! So romantic!!
“Ripened on earth” is a fragment that comes from a devotional poem to the Sumerian goddess Inanna, written by Enheduanna. I was gifted a book of translations of her hymns—Lady of Largest Heart—by a dear friend recently, and was captivated by the spectrum of tenderness to carnage that they contain. Deeply devoted to the whole—the largeness of her heart not meaning noteworthy benevolence, but rather encompassing absolutely everything—from the most sublime to the most horrific. It felt fitting for these times. I found myself startled by gem-like phrases— evocative, erotic, life-affirming glimmers from amongst the violence—and writing them down to keep on my desk to accompany the making of this collection of Valentines:
ripened on earth
everyone sings sweetly a joy song
a soft bud swelling
my eager hands
moisture bearing light floods the dark
I hope you are all delighting in moments of love, wherever you’re finding it amidst all the darkness. I’ll leave you with a couple of pieces of art that I was sitting with while making these painted copper valentines:
Chasse of Champagnat, French, ca. 1150
Miyoto Ido, Bird in Sunset, 1960s
With love and freshly dew-drenched manzanita blooms,
Catherine