I don't know what it is about stress and my inability to deal with it. When I encounter a family member's life threatening occurance, it seems to inhibit my ability to be creative. The ordeal has happened, it has been dealt with for the present time, but that ominous cloud that seems to hover up there in my subconscious, just won't let me pass on into my right brain. I seem to feel that I must continue to stay focused on that issue and continue to live with the stress.
At last I decided to go into my studio and see what would happen. After looking around at a quilt I had laying next to my machine, half quilted, another on the design wall, waiting for inspiration, I picked up a baggie filled with leftover 2 inch squares of fabric and began to sew them together. Please understand that I am not a perfectionist when it comes to the technical aspects of quilt making or sewing. But I tediously worked with each piece to make a perfect 1/4 inch seam. If it didn't appear to be perfect, I patiently ripped it apart and sewed the seam again. Of course, once I had all these four patches sew together, I then felt that I had to create a quilt design to place them into. I could not think of anything that I wanted to do with a huge stack of four patches. So I began to go through all my of quilt books and magazines. I came upon the "perfect" plan in one of Kaffe Fasset's books. Or so I thought. But no. As I put it on my design wall, it looked horrible. It is far too structured. I cannot do another traditional quilt. It bores me to tears, and I know that is something that I will never complete. Don't be offended if you love traditional quilts. I love them too. I just cannot make one. I could begin one, but I would never, never, ever complete it.
So here I am with this stack of four patch squares, and AHA. Why not just do what I enjoy doing? Grab a basket of random scraps and start sewing them all around these perfect, little four patches. Oh, what a stress relief! Hello right brain!
Voices
Ok, I've been reading blog after blog by all sorts of folks. Most are very interesting and many are quite informative. I've never thought that I had enough to say that would hold anyone's attention or interest long enough to complete reading what I have to say. So I guess I'll just do this for my own satisfaction. To get things off my chest, to put into words some of my bursts of : WOW why didn't I think of that sooner. And also, because, at my age, I tend to forget that brilliant thought that I just had, in the time it takes to walk from the laundry room to my computer. Which is, I am ashamed to admit, is only 15 steps. And now all that being said, yes, I have indeed already forgotten that flash of brillance that I wanted to jot down for posterity. So much for my first blog post.
Now, most blogs that I read are very professionally done by artists of all types and many of those in the 30 something generation. So I hope that the over 60 something people out there will find me and be able to relate, just a bit, to what I am attempting to do here. I most likely won't have a daily post. Like I stated before, I just don't have that much to write about. But I do hope that this will stimulate some of that left brain, or is it right brain?, activity and I will continue this on at least a weekly basis.
The brilliant burst that I have already forgotten walking from the laundry room to the computer, seems to have concerned something about having a voice. Not just a vocal voice, or a polititical voice, but a I am who I am voice. Many artists and designers seem to feel that they must conscentrate on one particular area. I totally understand this, as today's world seems to be one of specialization. That is of course a good thing for many professions, but sometimes I feel that it is overkill. What good is having a specialty in this fast paced, constantly changing world? Yesterday eggs would kill you, now they are a good source of protein. What happened to the "jack of all trades, master of none" theory? Why not chill just a bit, explore all areas and learn all you can from all areas of expertise? Of course, if you have something that you are passionate about, go for the gold ring. But in the meantime, keep searching and learning and expanding. Hey, what's wrong with being a bit A.D.D.? I think I have always been that way, but in 1955, they just didn't have a name for it. Or maybe it's just my excuse for not teaching myself to focus. Momma always told me growing up, that if it's good enough to start, then it's good enough to finish. I disagree - sometimes it's just not worth it. Maybe this blog thing isn't such a good idea . . . . . . . .
Now, most blogs that I read are very professionally done by artists of all types and many of those in the 30 something generation. So I hope that the over 60 something people out there will find me and be able to relate, just a bit, to what I am attempting to do here. I most likely won't have a daily post. Like I stated before, I just don't have that much to write about. But I do hope that this will stimulate some of that left brain, or is it right brain?, activity and I will continue this on at least a weekly basis.
The brilliant burst that I have already forgotten walking from the laundry room to the computer, seems to have concerned something about having a voice. Not just a vocal voice, or a polititical voice, but a I am who I am voice. Many artists and designers seem to feel that they must conscentrate on one particular area. I totally understand this, as today's world seems to be one of specialization. That is of course a good thing for many professions, but sometimes I feel that it is overkill. What good is having a specialty in this fast paced, constantly changing world? Yesterday eggs would kill you, now they are a good source of protein. What happened to the "jack of all trades, master of none" theory? Why not chill just a bit, explore all areas and learn all you can from all areas of expertise? Of course, if you have something that you are passionate about, go for the gold ring. But in the meantime, keep searching and learning and expanding. Hey, what's wrong with being a bit A.D.D.? I think I have always been that way, but in 1955, they just didn't have a name for it. Or maybe it's just my excuse for not teaching myself to focus. Momma always told me growing up, that if it's good enough to start, then it's good enough to finish. I disagree - sometimes it's just not worth it. Maybe this blog thing isn't such a good idea . . . . . . . .
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