My friend Merle

I love how you meet new people through your friends. I met my friend Merle through Lisa, her daughter. We have known each other a couple of years and met on one of her trips visiting Lisa. She was part of our group of friends who vacationed in San Carlos, Mexico last Christmas and that is when I really got to know her.

She is energetic and affectionate, loves to laugh and is a great conversationalist. She is definitely a feeling-driven extrovert who passionately expresses her views. I love our conversations.

Among other roles, like mother and university childcare center executive director, she is a fabric artist. She recently had her first gallery showing at the university and her work has been published in a magazine. Her work is quite wonderful and ranges from personal expression to vivid landscapes. She highlights a number of her pieces on her blog, which is featured on my links on the right, "Moile de Poile."

So, when she was in town last, I commissioned her for a project. As some of you may know, Beth and I are heading to Burning Man for the first time with our friends in August. While I have never been, I understand Burning Man to be a week long festival of free expression that takes place in the middle of the Nevada desert. Each year there is a theme, like this year is Green Man to celebrate the environment, and individuals are encouraged to create art which aligns with the theme. Artists from around the world create huge installations and some of the best DJs converge to create a 24 hour dance party for the duration of the festival - that is one of the things I am looking forward to most.

In addition to the music and art, "Burners" are encouraged to wear clothing they would otherwise never wear in their daily lives. In that vein, I commissioned Merle to make me an item of Burning Man apparel, specifically a cape! That's right, a cape! I have always wanted to be a super hero and here is my chance!

The cape arrived this week and is beautiful! It is green with a large heart embroidered on the back which reads "Deep Romantic Boy"! How great is that! For pictures check out Merle's blog. I love it! Now, I just need accessories, like a mask, boots, gloves, shirt and pants. It will be interesting to see how it comes together.

Anyway, thanks Merle! I love the cape, thanks so much for making it! =)