Blue Valentine

She sends me blue valentines

All the way from Philadelphia

To mark the anniversary

Of someone that I used to be. . .

Blue valentines

Like half forgotten dreams

Like a pebble in my shoe

As I walk these streets

               (The Great) Tom Waits, Blue Valentine

There's nothing like crusty-tender Tom Waits songs on a gray late winter day, and since I've heard from several old boyfriends this week, that song seemed like the right one for the morning. I once made a beautiful painting that was called "Blue Valentine" -- I'm not sure if the owner still has it. I love the notion of a blue valentine , for all the unconventional hearts and all our sweet old memories and heartbreaks. 

Jane, who truly understands the quiet, glorious Japanese textile aesthetic, left a comment in the last post that the Kubota kimono really must be seen, if you're near Canton, Ohio, and you possibly can. If you do, please send a note and tell us about it. Here are a few more images of the kimono; click to enlarge, as these are amazing.

For the other end of the Japanese textile spectrum -- the beautiful patched, raw-edge textiles made from old or worn fabrics -- I love to regularly scroll through the SRI Threads blog. Those pieces are like blue valentines themselves, worn and mended but full of heart and soul.

Have a happy day; I hope it's full of true, adventurous romance.

Blue rose photo by tanakawho. 

Comments

[bobbi]

Thanks for another fascinating thread...I hadn't been to the SRI blog yet and they've got the most amazing silk textile...