'Blankets'
Holly Farrell, 2019
as seen on CanadaPaintings page on Twitter
"Happiness is a warm blanket."
CHARLIE BROWN
How charming! A pile of blankets. Neatly folded.
I never would have thought to create Art
from such a common household item.
Yet something of the wondrous steals into my soul
when I see this lovely painting by Holly Farrell.
The Canadian artist says nostalgia drives her subject matter,
and still life is her main focus.
Yes, her pile of blankets makes me feel it too—that nostalgia,
that sudden awareness of something unremarkable made remarkable.
Something commonplace and yet so necessary... so very comforting.
Almost I feel a kinship with these blankets:
Who isn't reminded of Hudson Bay's iconic pattern by the one at the top?
I think I once slept beneath velvet plush, maybe even in yellow.
And who hasn't dreamily rubbed satin ribbon bindings between your fingers?
Or felt blue and white flannel cozied against cheeks rosy from coughs and sniffles?
The purple and white check? Oh, now that one is for wrapping 'round
your shoulders on a snowy afternoon, with tea and a good book.
The sturdy cocoa brown one near the bottom surely suits
the building of blanket forts, don't you think?
* * *
I never saw so clearly how this ordinary object really is a gift—
of grace and beauty and comfort. I’ll never say it's just a blanket again.
* * *
For more about the artist,
click HERE.
* * *
On that note,
I'm wishing you a cozy, beautiful day.
Brenda
Top Painting: Holly Farrell
Bottom Graphic: Artist unknown
... and flannel rag quilts that Mom made, and buttery yellow crocheted afghans, and picnic blankets!! Every blanket tells a story and “I’ll never say it’s just a blanket again” either. ☺️ Such a cozy read. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteButtery yellow afghan - that sounds delightful! Oh yes, and picnic blankets, there's a happy tingle on that phrase!
DeleteA great painting, out of which you've teased out some lovely word pictures for us! Warms the cockles of my heart on this blustery day:)
ReplyDeleteBlankies on a blustery day - sounds positively providential! :)
DeleteWhat would we do without blankets? A necessity of life, I say.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Kim! A necessity for body and soul.
DeleteI love blanket, comforting and cosy. We have them on our beds rather than Duvets....back to childhood I think! You could pull them fluffily over your nose and pretend that staying in bed for ever would be possib;e!
ReplyDeleteI grew up with goose feather blankets, so they were in duvet covers. They were so cozy. It would fall and form right around you, no air leaks on a wintery night. :)
DeleteI always have a blanket on the couch during the cooler seasons.
ReplyDeleteI've come thisclose to using my snuggie (blanket with arms) while working from home. LOL.
Margie, I think you should just slip your arms in and be cozy! :)
DeleteBlankets are tangible comfort. What a delightful painting, along with your delightful thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lorrie! I thought you'd enjoy this. :)
DeleteWhat a perfect January gathering-of-thoughts-and-coziness. You have brought back a memory of a quilt (actually, there were two of them) that we used as on our childhood "sick bed" made on the living room sofa on sick days. It was made by my great-grandmother (my mother's grandmother) and it was heavy and so warm and comforting. Someone once said that it was "as warm as toast" and then somehow the quilt had a name: Toast. Thereafter, it was always referred to by its name. (Even though there were two identical quilts, Toast was the name for both.)
ReplyDeleteNo, a quilt is not the same as a blanket, but the thought of being covered in something warm and comforting made me think of Toast. Thanks for the sweet memories!
It matters not whether they are quilts or blankets, they are all meant to comfort, warm, and cheer bodies and souls. I loved your story, Cheryl, about your 'sick bed' quilts named Toast. To have even given them a name tells how much they were an integral part of your family.
Deletei love snuggling in my blanket when it's cold. very cozy and comfortable.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Ray! :)
DeleteWhat a lovely painting. When we lived in NC we had a couple of Scottish plaid wool blankets that we would cuddle under on our porch on a cool fall day.
ReplyDeleteScottish plaid wool - now that sounds lovely and cozy! I love plaids.
DeleteThat's just my sort of aesthetic. Very appealing. I'm thinking of wrapping a blanket around myself right now. It's brrrrrisk.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it, Vee. It's brrrrrisk around here as well. The sunshine belies that the temperature is sitting in the basement this week.
DeleteSuch a warm and loving look at blankets. It warmed my heart. It made me want to make a stack of blankets in the library to warm my soul.
ReplyDeleteLisa, I think it's a lovely way to display our blankets. As you say, a way to warm our souls.
DeleteBlankets are why I love winter so much. I mean, when else can you curl up in a blanket in front of the fire, with a cup of hot chocolate by your side, and your nose in a book!
ReplyDeleteBlankies really are comforting on a cold winter's day! :)
DeleteGood morning, Brenda. This post struck a cord in my heart. It seems as though I absolutely adore anything old and connected to home - especially quilts. But then there are tablecloths, and pillowslips and of course blankets. If you could see my closets you may run out the door. Such treasures are a real comfort on a cold winter day, as are books.
ReplyDeleteYou may or may not remember, that in one of your post several years ago, you recommended a book "The School of Essential Ingredients." Oh, what a book! The author was Erica Bauermeister. I was so pleased to see she was the Writer in Residence of 2022 for "Victoria Magazine. I enjoy her writing so much. I thank you again for the introduction to a wonderful writer.
Sandra, I know that I wouldn't run out the door; more like I'd be hoping for an invite to see some of those treasures you've collected over your lifetime. We could oooh and ahhh together. I am so pleased to know you love Erica Bauermeister's books. Essential Ingredients remains one of my top forever favourites. And thank you for telling me that she is Victoria's Writer in Residence for 2022.
Delete