# 1 IN BOOK SERIES

   In early March of this year, right as we were beginning to learn about Covid 19, the Iditarod sled dog race was beginning in Anchorage. I remember thinking, "Now that's the ultimate social distancing." I would watch the coverage of the sled dog racers crawl across the the windy, snow covered landscape. During that time I was able to listen to a recorded version of “ Call of the Wild” by Jack London. So this was actually # 1 in my book series. Can you believe I’ve never read it before. It was hard to listen to in many parts. I hate with a passion animal cruelty, love all dogs, so it was hard. I have a huge dislike for the fact that so many dogs are forced to live on chains. Living in Alaska you see it alot. I don’t know maybe it’s everywhere. But I digress.  Buck, the dog hero, doesn’t die. I put up this review from an 11 year old. 

January 29, 2020

Brutal Characters in a Freezing Landscape

If you like a survival story, Jack London's "Call of the Wild " is for you! The main character is a dog named Buck. He is good main character because he has thick fur, he is big and strong. In the beginning of the novel, Buck becomes a sled dog and pulls a sled.The book takes place in the Yukon Territories.

I like this book because Jack London uses vocabulary I did not even know existed! One word that came to mind is feigned; it means to pretend. I also like that it is a survival story because it makes me feel excited about what is going to happen next. If you like survival stories packed with brutal characters, in a freezing landscape then you will enjoy this book. Beware, it can be hard to read at times because there is animal cruelty. I recommend this book for people twelve and older.

 I did the beadwork back in March but am just now finishing up.  

If you’re like me you have lots of projects going at once...

" I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS"

 The fourth book in my series is  “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou. After watching the debate last night I felt like getting this out there now. When Donald Trump declined to disavow white supremacists, and then when he was asked directly to condemn the Proud Boys he said “ Proud Boys, stand back and stand by “ I was not surprised. I’ve known men like him my whole life. In Angelou’s book, which is auto biographical, she deals with her personal experiences of oppression in a male dominated society. Through out the book she does a riveting, seriously intense job of describing what it's like to live in a world under racist oppression. I was moved, I cried, but at the end of the book I felt hopeful. Now, my feelings are up in the air, hopeful or despondent?

 I didn’t read this book in high school, like so many of you probably did. I  attended a program called Project Careers in Juneau Alaska. Basically it was kind of like getting a GED, which means I tested out. I was 15, living with sister who was 19, and we were on our own.  I needed to graduate so I could get a job. So, I missed out on many of the required reading wonderful books. I’m glad to be catching up on my high school reading now.  

 When I was designing this beadwork I made a few choices that I’m happy with. Using the black, white and gray color scheme seems to work. Up in the the top corner I used the notes from “ Lift Every Voice and Sing”.  I'm so far from finished, but I wanted to voice my thoughts tonight.

KAFKAESQUE

" The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka written in 1915, is my third piece in a series about books I've read during the pandemic. I'm having fun with this. It kind of reminds me of being back in school and doing book reports, only instead my reports are beadwork. In this tale Gregor wakes up one morning to find that he has turned into a giant dung beetle. Unable to leave his room, he is literally crawling the walls. Similar to the circumstances many of us find ourselves in lately. Alienated from our fellow man with too much time on our hands, left to think about if there is a meaning to life or if it's just simply a shit happens and then we die type of existence. When all the regular day to day stuff is removed, things can feel a little surreal, hence Kafkaesque. 

I'm getting ready to lazy stitch the beadwork to the leather, there are three color choices. A wrinkly eggplant color, turquoise and basic black. I appreciate your input, which color do you like?

   

 

ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

These are the side panels for my Alice in Wonderland piece. I think I've gotten most of the elements I wanted in there. The elixir bottle she drinks from, the extra large Alice looking in the mirror, and the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly. I thought about beading the playing card of the queen of hearts, but settled on the crown instead and I really like the way it turned out. The queens mantra of "Off with their heads" is why we see the rabbit skull. The timid mouse is my favorite. I was motivated on this subject matter by the part of the book when the afraid little mouse was listening to Alice talking about her wonderful cat Dinah. The other day, when we were cleaning out the wood shed to get ready to stack a new winter supply, we made a gruesome discovery. Crazy, our cat, has been stashing tons of mice carcasses in various states of being eaten under the wood chips. Little mice should be afraid! As for the the colors, I'm glad I was able to keep the scheme going on the side panels and not add any un-needed new colors willy nilly. Now, on to assembly.

SUMMER SOLSTICE

        I confess that I've been paying way too much attention to the garden and not enough time at the bead table. The yard is like an art project that's always changing. This longest day of the year has everything growing at an incredible rate and in need of constant watering. But when I do sit down to sew, I'm feeling very creative. My Alice in Wonderland piece is going well. With everything going on in the world right now, it seems appropriate. The unresolved nature of chaos, themes of capricious dictators, struggles with life and death. " Off with their heads!"
                                 

In any case, when I walk out my door and away from the bead table, I have my own little wonderland. Happy solstice!

PREVIEW AND TEST RUN

Blogger has informed all of us that we will be having to use the new blogger. In the spirt of that, I've changed everything up and went with a more modern look and an updated address. kateboyan.blogspot.com

Kate Boyan's Gallery: MY PROCESS

Kate Boyan's Gallery: MY PROCESS: Because we are all staying home and sheltering in place, I thought I would share a little bit of my process. My posts are usually far a few...