Monday Meanderings - Madonna of the Red Thread

Today I started on a new piece of artwork for a friend online. It was quite by accident how this project came about. I saw a tweet from her to another great artist known as Dede, asking her if she could do a Virgin Mary for her.
Dede aka Inkwell is one of the most amazing collage artists out there who is beyond generosity itself when it comes to sharing techniques and current works in progress on her Ustream channel: Coffee and Art in the Morning.
I figured I was safe, after all Dede could handle this project probably in her sleep.
This moirning, La Musa poked me in the side with her sharp yellow pencil.
"Well?" she said.
"But she already has Dede working on one for her."
"So? Why can't another Virgin Mary show up in her post? Besides, yours will be unique and a wonderful surprise to her."
"And not only that", she continued, " but you have Marguerite's Birthday on November 1, you could effectively Madonna them both!"
"But, but but," I countered with, "Though I respect their beliefs, I am not Catholic nor Orthodox!"
She waved her hands dismissively, " You already are a Brighidine Flame Keeper for Brighid, who was known as the Foster Mother of Christ or Mary of the Gaels, so your argument is not valid. Get busy already!" (How is that La Musa sounds like a Jewish Mother at times?)
I HEARD THAT!
Darn, can't get away with anything around here!
**
It just so happens... (and isn't it always the Way?) that...
I have been reading a wonderful blog called Letters From The Red Thread Cafe" by Shiloh Sophia..  She has returned to the Orthodox church after many years of searching and her journey and videos are wonderful to view and muse upon. In one of her posts, she explained why her blog is dedicated to Our Lady Of The Red Thread  and published a photo of the Madonna with a drop spindle in her left hand, crimson wool wrapped around with a single skein looping from  it.
From her Blog:
"A Russian icon from the Novgorod School, dating to the first half of the twelfth century. It is now held by the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. The icon is commonly known by the name the “Ustyug Annunciation.”
One of the distinctive features of the Orthodox tradition of depicting the annunciation is that Mary is usually shown spinning, as opposed to the western European tradition which often depicts her as reading. In this icon, Mary is holding a drop spindle, spinning a crimson thread. Here is a close-up of Mary’s hand, holding the drop spindle."
**
The hidden Moon
still pulls me
even though her slender thread is no longer crimson
but silver..
I wonder -
Is she a weaver like Mary,
my silver thread wound round her drop spindle,
darting in and out of her loom,
the tapestry of my days, falling to her feet.?
(c) LTN 2013
Blessings to all those who follow,worship or respect Mary, in whatever Guise She May Be.