Simple or Complicated?

Now that things are a bit settled around here, I am back to business as usual. Once I've done all the "shirts and blouses" blocks (refer to my blog back on March 4) that I can bear to do, I realized that I was in a pretty dark spot. Do you think that your life is reflected in what you might be trying to create at the time? As I look back on my home decor, my clothing and my quilts, I can definitely see a trend there. I spent most of my life trying to follow the rules. Be a good daughter, wife, mother and do what is expected of a proper, southern lady. I tried that through out my high school and college years, on into adulthood and beyond. A few years ago, I heard a life altering phrase, "out of the box". I realized that I was never a muted person on the inside. Not that I am a radical rebel, but all those rules just wear me out. A friend of mine has this quote following her signature on her e-mails.
"I can't understand why people are frightened by new ideas. I'm frightened by old ones" ...John Cage
That is saying something. It has also been said that there is nothing original in the world, or something to that effect. I am far from original in my ideas, but it is so liberating to stop listening to some of those rules and structures that I thought I must always follow. Now I am learning to just say HA to the quilt police. Doesn't it feel good to give yourself permission to be just yourself?

Back to the muted plaids and stripes blocks - I just knew it needed help, but it wouldn't do to overpower all those busy blocks with my favorite bright colors and prints. So I had to compromise: a few wonky blocks here and there with a greyed/brownish linen that I found buried in my stash. And lots of Kaffe fat quarters strung together for the backing. It is looking better already. Here is the top in it's current form. Now to get it sandwiched and quilted.

Before I end for the day, I might as well admit right now that I didn't stop with the shirts and blouses, but went on to delve into just the "shirts". Here's the idea. Not sure what will happen with these blocks, but I am just about tired of making them, so we'll see what happens next. Oh but wait! Here's another thought, make just a few more of these blocks and cut them into rounds or ovals. . . . I just have to get back to those things that my right brain really enjoys, as in "why make it simple when you make it complicated."

Validation

My world seems to have skidded to a stop after just viewing the movie, Precious. "Lausie mercy", as we used to say. (That was as close to cursing as a young southern girl ever got). Here I am, the waspy whimp, whining about my privileged life, forgetting to stop and consider what many of the world's population must be forced to deal with. Especially the female population. The very next time anyone reads about my pitiful woes, just remind me with a slight smack up side of my head. I highly recommend to everyone who has the opportunity, do not miss seeing this film. Beware to some who might be offended by the adult language, however that ain't nuthin compared to the story. A story that children, who may be living just around the corner from you, may be living. Don't let me discourage you because, on the other hand, it is an uplifting story, inspiring and hopeful in oh, so many ways. It is a Can Do tale, that leaves you exhausted but ready to take on the world.


I had just began writing a draft the other day about my creative ideas being validated. It began with these words, "why is it that I seem to need my creative thoughts validated? I have these "brilliant" ideas, begin the process, then decide that it is not worth pursuing. Months later, I buy a quilting book with the same brilliant idea that I had. Suddenly my thought was worth pursuing after all. Has this ever happened to you? Or am I the only one with such a lack of self confidence? After all, there seems to be nothing new under this sun". Why should I attempt this new project. I'll never get it finished anyway. I have just been reminded of a valuable lesson from a fictional 16 year old, African American girl. And yes, I realize that it was a film, based on a novel. All the same, it is a lesson for all of us. Get yourself up, stop the wondering and searching for approval. Appreciate that you have so much more and have so many advantages and opportunities. Don't just sit there and think about it, go after them. Just like Precious. Just like Gabourey Sidibe, the young unknown actress who portrayed the lead character, nominated for an academy award for acting. It starts with one small step, a bit of effort, and deep breath and a new sun is shining.

Honors

I have just learned that my big Orange Hibiscus was juried into the AQS show at Paducah, Kentucky. What an honor. It is always a thrill to be one of many selected to hang with some of the most talented quilt artists in the world. I never expect to win a ribbon, since my technical skills are somewhat lacking. Or more aptly said perhaps, woefully lacking. Still, the honor lifts my spirits and inspires me to continue to practice, practice, practice. Hibiscus has just returned from a stint at the Road to California show as well as the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XXI in Virgina, where she was in competition with some tremendously talented quilt artists' pieces. She was quite humbled to be there and bask in the back lights of the others, though not receiving award recognition.


As I noted earlier, Thistles has won an award at the upcoming Smoky Mountain Quilt Guild show, opening March 19 - 21. 2010. For more information on this fabulous little show and all the incredible talents in this group, go to their website at www.smokymntquilters.com. Again, an incredible honor to be selected.

This will be Thistles first outing. When she has completed her time at the show in Maryville, Tennessee, she will have to ship out to the NQA show in Columbus, Ohio. in June. She was a very long time in the making and endured several crisis' with me before she was able to hang in full view. So she is very eager to get out of the house for a while and see what everyone else is up to. I am very proud of her success thus far and hope she will continue to be able to hang out with the beautiful ones. I'll tell you more about her birth and growth at another time. Just sorta enjoying the moment right now.

Comfort

Let me introduce you to Little Orphan Annie, aka Princess Anne. She came into my life at a family reunion several years ago. During a lovely Labor Day picnic, right before I left my lawn chair, plate in hand, to go to the table, still overflowing with delightful southern comfort foods, she appeared from the fields. My great-niece initially discovered her, a pitiful sight, covered with burrs and mud. She was very skinny, with a couple of chipped teeth, no doubt incurred during her homeless ordeal and encounters with curious dogs. However, much to the dismay of my great-niece and I, it seems that this creature decided that I was to be her chosen one. AAAARRRRRGGGGGGGG. I am so very allergic to cats. I already have one stray cat, who thinks he is a dog, but that's another story.



So now, here is this poor thing who likes me, she really likes me. She's camped out under my feet. What's a woman to do???? I have to take her home, pick out the burrs, get rid of the cooties, and take her to the vet for all the appropriate treatments. And now, Princess Anne rules the homestead. The best thing about Annie, she not only loves to cuddle, but she absolutely loves quilts. All I have to do is put a piece of fabric near her and she is on it like a duck on a Junebug. She continually lavished her attentions on the piles of fabric that I had strewn about my studio while I was creating my latest quilt, "Fractured Honeysuckles". I have almost gotten my Honey quilted, but here's a sneak peak. I will post honey in all her glory, once she is completed. You know, I think that just maybe Annie felt a kinship with this piece, considering her unknown origins, perhaps hiding from the unfriendly dogs in the late summer tangled honeysuckle vines of southeast Tennessee.

Art Imitating Life

Ah, to be young and living a carefree lifestyle. I sure didn't have all the luxuries that this younger generation seem to have when I was that age. Life's a Beach!. huh? Real life can come along and hit ya up side the face sometimes. I am still trying to get a grip. Today has been tumultuous, it's only 6:30PM and I'm ready for bed. Oh well, "tomorrow is another day", as Miz Scarlet said. And I say, it surely can't get any worse.
I've been perusing some of the lovely blogs and websites out there. That has helped to lighten my spirits. Life can still be beautiful, if you only open your eyes. There is so much that a person could submerse themselves into. (sorry, dangling participle?) So instead of drowning my sorrows, let's go work with some fabric. Back to those 4 patch squares. I have slashed bits of shirting plaids and sewn them, semi log cabin style around the 4 patches. I think I'll call the finished quilt Shirts & Blouses. It can make a nice lap quilt for someone. All those muted plaids with bright bits of color. Whacha think?




Just so you know, this is not the type of quilt that I currently enjoy making. It is far too simplistic albeit more user friendly. But it is something that is getting me through this time in my life. And to add to the upbeat trend, I just learned that my latest piece has received an award in it's catagory in a regional quilt show. SO NICE. Thanks folks. To paraphrase Dirty Harry, "You just made my day". Here's a closeup of a small portion of thistles.


So to sum up my past few days, when life leaves you with dirty dishes, as Tony Soprano might say "forget about it!" And I say, "Go play with fabric!"

Stress

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 . . . . . . . .