leaf-strings and new music

Tom was in Wellington over the long weekend, and he brought back this Joanna Newsom album for me:

Although I adore her music, I hadn't heard this particular record in its entirety. It's not often we buy new music anymore, so i am especially excited about this one. I listened to it on repeat last night while doing some hand-sewing. The lyrics/poetry are amazing. The cover design is a painting by Benjamin Vierling.

The children and I spent some time pottering in the garden today. Many of the autumn leaves have fallen now and most of them covering our path are a brilliant red. A and K gathered up a pile of their favourites, and we brought them inside.

We sandwiched them between two layers of clear seal, then cut out each one with a border of seal around it, then strung them on thread, ready to hang in their bedroom.

A little way to save that autumnal goodness...

Comments

[Fiona]

I like autumn leaves. They evoke a sense of warmth in me. One day I'll like to jump into a huge pile of them.

The stringing of leaves looks like fun activity. How I wish I was there to take part. :-)

[Megan]

Don't have any of her music, but it sounds very interesting (just read her Wiki profile), and as for that album cover - breathtaking. Wish I understood the symbolism a bit better to translate all the bits and pieces in it.

[esther]

what a fantastic idea! The reddy-orange looks lovely against the blue palings too

[Jessicah]

What a great idea with the leaves! I went through a phase a couple of years ago of sewing coloured feathers into plastic pouches..... Soon all the lovely autumn weather will give way to frosty mornings- we had our first good one down this way on sunday night!

[Kielz]

There are so many leaves in big piles that about 3 weeks ago it all got too much. The class next door and my class had an interclass leaf fight. One of those random moments of madness that kids remember the most. Awesome. I love your way of preserving nature :)

[Zelia]

Ah! the thing i miss most about Canada are the autumn leaves. I left at ten. Here we have beaches and sun, no colorful leaves:(

i love the cover of that album. Never heard of the singers though!

hug
Zelia

[Sarah]

hehe! what a cool idea meliss. Autumn leaves remind me so much of home and the hours we spent playing under the umbrella tree and up in the 'vines' on the bank, which is now the fejoa orchard. Remember that!?

[kimberle and Lies]

What a great post! I love that you love Ys by J.N. I adore the song 'emily'. Luke bought me the album for Christmas only I discovered it on the ipod pre christmas and had a guilty listen :)
You have such artistic eye with your photos... and the autum leaves project you did with your children is so beautiful that I showed my husband. He nodded and said and approving 'mmmm' which is a big compliment for him .

also the J.N. cover art reminded me a bit of this illustrator and I think you would heart her work. http://www.juliemorstad.com/index.html

-kimberlee

[Charlotte]

Love what you've done with the leaves. We collected a big pile of them at the Domain yesterday - now I know what we can do with them!!

Good to find a whole heap of kiwi blogs :)
I came via Anemone...

[VictoriaE]

Wonderful idea with the autumn leaves. It looks beautiful.

[Chara Michele]

Such a lovely idea! I love the colors of the leaves:)

[Stacey]

I love this album too! It is so beautiful. I should also admit I have a penchant for kinda weird female voices. Victoria Williams and Catherine Irwin (of Freakwater) are two of my absolute faves!

[tiffany]

hi melissa. it is really starting to heat up here so i am happy to see your pictures of autumn colors. lovely idea for the leaves. hope you are doing well. take care. xo

[Dawn]

Aww, I love that. How sweet to have them hanging in their rooms to remind them of a special day with mum ( it it weird to read an American writing "mum" instead of "mom"?). Anyway, I've not heard of Joanna Newsom so I will have to check her out.

[Taimarie]

What a great idea- we always collect stacks of leaves and then they just crumple away- I'll have to give this a try next time autumn visits these parts. I've not heard Joanna Newsom- I'll have to check her out.

[alisonmc]

That is so cool I wanna do it for my bedroom, in fact, I think I will go leaf collecting on my walk this afternoon. What a wonderful crafty idea for the kids (and big kids too).

[alice]

that is *such* a good idea. I found a crumbling leaf in my pocket earlier from an elm tree in the park near my house. if only you'd posted this a few days ago, it might have been saved :)

[belinda]

Beautiful album cover and the leaves- also beautiful.

[heidi]

oh autumn goodness! i can feel the chill over here! what wonderful colors!

[Debra]

Hi, it's so nice to relate to someone else's blog that is also having the same weather and the same effects around us!
I also got into the autumnal fabrics and colours for a while but the summery ones kept fighting back, ha!
I love what you all made with the fallen leaves as window hangings - earthy and adorable - like you ;-)

[Felicia]

The orange pictures on this post are so very beautiful :)

[Emma]

Autumn is by far my favorite season. It has always been the start of my creative year.

How good of Tom to bring you Newsoms album! She is simply wonderful. Ys is new to me too, but I loved her last alblum. What do think of it so far?

[Kimber]

I love the leaf strings! Such a great idea.

[amisha]

i love the idea to hang those autumn leaves. i had a big bowl of red leaves as a table centerpiece last autumn (the few that we get in florida!) but this is such a nice way to preserve the color.
xo