quilt I repurposed for Descent 1
When I first began stitching on cloth, I heard this expression more than once….not everything is a masterpiece! It is quite a humbling statement and one that keeps this artist from taking herself too seriously. It has been however, quite a long time since I have had to repeat this phrase…until today.
It all started with my deciding to re-purpose an early work! I pulled out a quilt from my stash, which I had created from a whole cloth, designed in a Kerr Grabowski workshop. While I loved the cloth and the subsequent quilt, it was one of those that never seemed completely pulled together.
repurposed quilt, Descent 1, detail
So I over-painted it, heat set the paint, and brought it up to the studio where it sat around for about six months. A month or so ago I decided I should make some work about living with (a partner with) Parkinson’s since that is my daily life. It was a brilliant idea as I had a drawer full of sorted and color labeled fusing scraps.
So the first Descent piece was designed, stitched and turned out marvelously well! I am not posting a full-view now as it has not been photographed yet! I thought if one turned out great, then let’s do another.
This time I grabbed two early quilts; one a traditional Rob Peter to Pay Paul small purple and orange quilt; and the other a much faded rose block quilt of 9 blocks. I sewed them together, then took downstairs and over-painted purple. It was really stunning, as the orange poked through in various places!
working title-descent 2 is descending into the dumpster..
I cut and fused the design and began the stitching and subsequent procrastination set in! All these rainy days and I just could not seem to get going on the stitching on it. I finally started in the center and all was well in the world until I got to the seamed portions where the two re-purposed quilts abutted. I was trying to stitch through at least 8 layers of cloth, including batting, and the Juki was having none of it. I tried several times, coming at it from different angles, on different days.
I began to think that huh…maybe I could just cut this up and make smaller quilts when I have to donate something! And then I remembered...not everything is a masterpiece! At first, I ignored it, as I am likely to do, until my shoulder began to hurt from trying to force it through the machine. There it was again….not everything is a masterpiece! And then I got it. It was perhaps the most liberating thought I have had in days!
My first clue on this particular piece should have been my extreme procrastination in working on it! Being a high energy person I often have several things going on at once; either mentally, physically or both. I’m currently working on two artistic projects, taking care of my hubs with a debilitating disease, volunteering two days a month, walking myself and the dog for our cardio, overseeing all the home maintenance, including water seepage into the basement as a result of our two weeks of the atmospheric river express (after five years of drought.) So maybe when I am feeling so overwhelmed by a project, it might just be a great idea to pay attention to that.
What will become of it? Who knows? Who cares?! What I know for sure is letting go of this one is liberating. Now on to something fun!
An apt name for your piece of art! Not seeing the whole, it looks like maybe spirals, which would also be apt?
I am learning through therapy that letting go is quite liberating, although I am still working on it. Not so easy at times. I believe you have come to a point where all your life lessons, good and bad, have come together and you really get it! It is what makes you a strong and wonderful artist. I envy you, my friend.
Love and hugs always!
hey Cindy,
yes it is definitely a spiral. he often says he is ‘circling the drain,’ so it is based on that. ah letting go…my old friend! that indeed is a life-long theme, isn;t it?!