bathtub poetry

I took a bath before to try to help with my fibromyalgia pain. I was reading a book called How Poetry Can Change Your Heart by Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley. I only got a few pages in when I realized I had a poem inside me, waiting to burst free. Luckily, I had my cell phone near the bathtub. I opened up my "Notes" app, where I regularly write poetry, and wrote this short poem. Do you ever write poetry in odd places?

We Will Not Be Silenced 

the stories they

whisper about 

behind the backs 

of the unfortunate 

protagonists are

the stories that

must be shouted aloud

in the most brash,

urgent way possible

printmaking adventures!

Back in October, I went to a printmaking class at the Montclair Art Museum in Montclair, New Jersey (USA). I was nervous about going to the class because I had never made art in front of other people before. I was able to relax and enjoy the class, though. In fact, I had a ton of fun! The class was six hours long. We spent the first three hours working on a gelatin plate. The second half was devoted to making designs on a thin plate and then passing through a letter press.  But the fun did not stop once the class was over. The class inspired me to have a few more printmaking sessions using my gelatin plate. Have you ever taken an in-person art class? If so, please tell me about it!

discount code for my Etsy shop

If you have always wanted to purchase something from my Etsy shop, Green Owl Crochet, I have good news for you! I am offering 15% off anything in my store with code "AWESOMESAUCE". The code works from now until November 1, 2019. I also accept crochet commissions. If you are interested in commissioning me to crochet you something, my email is ericalaurend on gmail. Thank you!

cat bedding donation

Hello, lovely people! As you know, I love to crochet. In the past year or so, I have crocheted maybe 25 beds for cats. I  donated some to an organization I heard about through a woman from FreeCycle a while ago. Last week, I donated twenty of these cats beds to the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge in Oakland, New Jersey (USA). These beds are all created by hand. It takes about two hours to crochet each bed. I pay for all the yarn myself. It's quite an investment! However, I know that the bedding I make helps the cats at the shelter, so I'm happy to do it. Did you know that I also have an Etsy shop? It is called Green Owl Crochet and it's really cool! I also accept crochet commissions. Cheers! 

more crocheted rock cozies

Hello, beautiful people! Last week, I crocheted five rock cozies. I sell them in my Etsy shop, Green Owl Crochet, as paperweights. They are really fun to make! I am also happy to announce that I even sold one of the crocheted rock cozies. I was delighted about that! I hope everyone is having a good summer. I am definitely looking forward to the fall, though, as I dislike the heat. How about you? Are you looking forward to fall? Ciao! 

two short poems

Mermaid Oracle
you put the shell to
your ear but
instead of the ocean
you heard
the hazel tree
tell you
grow grow



Betrayal, Heartache, and What I Wore
a dress of crimson velvet
crushed like our dreams
rough against my skin
like my ex-boyfriend's stubble

Spring 2019 update

It's mostly been a cold, rainy spring here in New Jersey. We have had a few nice days, though. I went to the park one day to read and write in my journal. It was fun! 

Our baby birds have gotten so big! In exactly one year and a day, we had six babies. That's virtually unheard of for hyacinth macaws. We feel incredibly blessed. 

Speaking of blessings, my dad finally helped me get a book shelf in my bedroom. Finally! Now I can display some of my books, which makes it much easier to peruse my collection than if they were in boxes. Can you tell I love books?

I've still been crocheting up a storm and making art, of course. I made a few paintings this month. I also crocheted a bunch of cat beds, a mason jar cozy, a headband, and some other items. 

It would mean a lot to me if you would check out my Etsy shop, Green Owl Crochet, where I sell some of the items I crochet. I also accept crochet commissions. Thank you!

Composition (poem)

Composition 

You are from the plenitude 
of stars in our vast 
heavens. And you are
made of the clear water that
runs through deep 
valley streams. And 
most of all, you are 
dedicated to the 
planets, the estuary,
the quasars, the
leaves of marjoram, the 
jasper, and the 
totality of being.

March 2019 update!

     Hello, mates! It's the early morning here in New Jersey. I'm awake so that I can feed the baby birds. I figured now is as good of a time as any to update my blog. 
     Last week, I was able to make some art! I made six pieces of art on canvas or cardboard and three pieces of art on 4" x 6" postcards. I was so happy to finally be able to make some art! I'll share some pictures of my art below. Please don't forget that I am @EricaBerrie Instagram. I share more of my art, crochet projects, etc on there.
     I've also been crocheting a bit. Recently, I've made an ear warmer, a wreath (for a customer), and two hats. I also worked on the granny square lap blanket I had started back on Christmas day at my cousins' house. I love having at least one large, easy crochet project going at any given time. If you're interested in buying any of my crocheted goods or commissioning me to crochet something for you, please check out my Etsy shop, Green Owl Crochet. Thank you! 

One of the hats I made! March 22, 2019

Bermuda Circles (mixed-media on canvas)

Angelina and Erica March 2019

Tanager Senna (mixed-media on cardboard)

Yes!! (mixed-media on canvas)

late February crochet projects

I've been hooking up a storm! It's late February and here in New Jersey, it's still nice and cold. We had a snow day last week. I was stuck in the house all day, so I used the down time to crochet a whale stuffie, finish a hat, and start on a cactus stuffie. I still haven't finished the cactus stuffie, due to lack of a dark brown yarn (for the cactus's pot). In the past two weeks, I've also crocheted two cat beds, an ear warmer, and two cowls, and I started on a fall-themed wreath for a customer. Speaking of customers, have you checked out my Etsy shop yet? If not, please check it out! It's Green Owl Crochet. Thank you!

yarn bomb excitement!

I'm thrilled to announce that I was able to take part in my first "real", in-person yarn bomb! I've done smaller yarn bombs by myself and also participated in various yarn bombs by mailing my crocheted pieces to other artists. However, this was my first time doing an in-person yarn bomb that involved wrapping my work around a tree. 

This yarn bomb was held on February 3, 2019 and was hosted by the Montclair Art Museum in Montclair, New Jersey (USA). I decided to go with a winter theme, so I crocheted an aqua background and some white snowflakes, which I sewed onto the background. 

On the day of the yarn bomb, I partnered with two other artists, Brooke and Carole, to cover a tree. We were lucky because we were given permission to cover the tree that's right in front of the museum entrance. What an honor! 

It was interesting because even though Brooke, Carole and I had never met before, we worked together well and our tree came out looking fabulous.  I had a lot of fun! I was also interviewed on video camera. The idea of being on video made me nervous at first, but now I'm so glad I did it. Thank you to Gabrielle Frasco of the Montclair Art Museum for hosting the yarn bomb. 

PS- If you'd like to support me and my work, please consider buying something from my Etsy shop, Green Owl Crochet. I also accept commissions. Thank you!

Tapio (poem)

I wrote Tapio about ten years ago. I still remember exactly where I was sitting when I wrote it. I was sitting at a picnic table at a park near my house. This park is close enough that I can walk to it. So, one summer, I would pack up a bag and go sit at the park for a while. I wrote in my journal, wrote some poems, and even started writing a novel. Even though I enjoyed sitting at the picnic table in the summer, I couldn't help but wonder what the heavily-wooded park would be like in the winter. And thus, Tapio was born. Enjoy! 

Tapio

I sit here,
in brilliant solitude,
amongst the strong evergreens.

Snow has fallen.
The air is crisp.
The sky heavy and gray.

There is silence abound,
save for the charming sounds of nature-
a bird calling, a deer sprinting, a squirrel leaping.

The winter forest is
beauty, peace, joy.

Happy new year!

How was your holiday? Mine was fun! My mom, dad, and I drove to Massachusetts to see my aunt, uncle, cousins, and my uncle's brother. I got a bunch of cool gifts, including lots of yarn. The car ride home was really tough, as it made my leg pain much worse. Of course, my fibromyalgia pain is always bad, unfortunately. I was even in the hospital two weeks ago. Anyway, I spent much of the weekend crocheting a bunch of snowflakes. I think I made fifteen of them. I used a pattern by London Kaye. Also, I donated some of my handmade cat beds to a local animal shelter. One of the volunteers was nice enough to take a picture of one of the kitties enjoying my handiwork. Bliss! I have a bunch of cool stuff in Green Owl Crochet, my Etsy shop. Please check it out.