quiltersmuse.com Blog

Tonight, there was a special on TV about Crafts. Various artists were featured, some basket makers, furniture makers, and a blacksmith. One of the furniture makers had spent a lot of time making a cabinet, a beautiful cabinet. Then, he attached a bent nail with some staples, in a location where one might expect a knob or a handle. Everyone wanted to know why. Why did he, in essence, deface this work of art? He said that he is tired of being asked about the bent nail, but it was just something he had to do.

Part of the process of creating something is knowing that we can make it any way we wish. In an old quilt I have, the quilter’s initials are, “S. M.” She decided to turn the second letter on end so that they (the embroidered initials) look more like, “S. E.”

I have heard of a process by which someone pieces an entire quilt top and then gets out the rotary cutter to slash it and then it is reassembled in a more haphazard (artistic?) manner, an idea, not that dissimilar to that of a crazy quilt (asymmetrical, etc.)

Yes, part of creating is knowing we can destroy. It’s also having the freedom to re-build again, in any way that suits our personality, our choices, or our mood, at the moment.

I have made some crooked rope baskets, not on purpose, however, but only because I did not have the skill to do a better job.

I’ve come to some conclusions. In my opinion, it’s one thing if you do sloppy work or work just to suit yourself, and you decide to call it “art.” If your work is simply a demonstration that you haven’t taken the time to learn your craft or art well, then it is a reflection of your lack of skill.

Do your homework before parading yourself as an artist. A lot of poor work is being turned out today and labeled “quilt art.” Instead, it is really narcissistic, self-expressionism taken to new heights, made by someone without enough art training or quilting skills to make the final product what it really could be, in terms of meaning to others, and an object of intrinsic, artistic merit, were there more attention given to details as well as necessary skills applied to make the piece “fly.” Wow, that was a mouthful! Please don’t send out the cavalry!

Some would call the purposely-bent, added nail on the cabinet, “artistic.” The woodworker knew exactly what he was doing, could have made it as “perfect” as any man could have, and yet for a reason of his own, decided to add a built-in flaw, if only to make an “artistic statement.”

To simplify my thoughts: If you paint outside the lines because you want to do so and know you are doing it, fine. If you do that because you don’t have the skills to do any better, maybe you should practice and get the skills you need. That statement could apply across the board to any of the many areas of artistic, creative endeavors. Capish?

Rhetorical question of the day: Is it really true that artists are “rebels without a cause”?

Pat

http://www.quiltersmuse.com

We have lots of ways to measure things in life, and we have ways to measure life itself. We have cup measures, teaspoons, tablespoons, beakers, gallon jugs, quart containers, rulers, tape measures, barometers, hygrometers, and thermometers, just to mention a few measuring tools. We make marks on the door, in pencil, to measure our child’s vertical growth. We have scales that may serve to remind some of us just how sedentary we have become.

We could measure our lives by how much money we have in the bank, how big a car we drive, what kind of home we live in, or even how many friends we perceive ourselves to have.

What I want to tell you next is simply my opinion. Your life and mine cannot be measured…except by what is in our hearts. Is your heart filled with kindness or consumed by petty jealousy? Do you want to help your fellow man or woman, or do you prefer to go your own way? Are you ready to say a few kind words whenever you can, or do you prefer to avoid extending yourself, or even giving credit where credit is due? Only you can answer these questions.

In the long run, it is not the size of your waist that matters, or the size of your feet, too little or too big. The true measure of a person’s success is peace in knowing that he/she has does his or her very best. The true reward is not in hearing the applause of others. Ribbons, trophies, Academy Awards are symbols. Fame and the approval of the masses is fleeting and never stands the test of time.

The most important thing in life is to accept yourself and all of your own foibles, whatever they may be. If you don’t like something about yourself, try to change. If you feel you can’t change whatever is bothering you, then concentrate on accepting it.

In the end, there is you, and there is Eternity, and at that point, applause from anyone else matters little.

Patricia Cummings

Whether someone is a textile fanatic or not, it is a common truth that we all use textiles in our daily lives. What would life be like, without sheets, towels, dishcloths, wedding gowns, baby outfits, blue jeans, and so much more?

More than anything else, people want to dress well for special occasions, and even for daily wear. How we dress can actually make us look better. For example, a jersey with horizontal stripes will not look very becoming on a very wide body. In that case, vertical stripes are in order. Conversely, if one is thin, then horizontal stripes will look great!

Certain colors look better with specific skin colors. While I love the color orange, in a quilt, I do not look good wearing orange near my face. It makes me look washed out, and it does not complement my pinkish complexion and hazel eyes.

No matter if we are careful in our choices of color or not, they do have a psychological effect on those around us. I really enjoy it when Jim wears a blue shirt or a gray one. Those colors suit him and match his calm, serene, uneasily riled, personality. Whether we realize it or not, the colors of clothes cause a profound response in the viewer.

As I started out to say, clothes and textiles are with us, from cradle to grave. Some items are ornate like smocked and embroidered dresses for little girls; others are strictly utilitarian, like tablecloths and embroidered dish towels.

I guess I’ve been very lucky over the years in being able to find unusual, old textiles to study and to discuss in my writings. It’s been a lot of fun learning about the specific categories of old textiles, domestic and foreign, and their history. Clothing and textile-related topics are inexhaustible and I have a hunch that I will not run out of interesting things to study, regarding all of that.

So, it is with great joy that I continue my quest daily to learn more about this exciting subject of textiles: how, when, where, and why they were made, and for whom; and historical trends and connections.

Have a great Tuesday!

Pat Cummings

http://www.quiltersmuse.com

As a society, we are in love with animals. The most heartwarming tale I have heard lately is that of a dog adoption that resulted from an intervention by U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes of New Hampshire. Due in part to his efforts, an Iraqi dog that was very special to twenty-two year old, Army Specialist Justin Rollins, has come to live with the deceased soldier’s family. Rollins, called “Ro-Ro” by his comrades in the 82nd Airborne Army division, had become attached to the short-haired puppy, now named “Hero,” right before his death on March 5. The military man always had been fond of his own family’s pets, while he was growing up. Now, his family will think of him as they care for a dog that he loved in that far away land.

Animals often make the news. Remember the air-conditioned dog house purchased by the Bakers? Yes, we humans tend to spoil our pets. Dogs, especially can be our most constant and most forgiving companions. A poignant story was told in a television Hallmark special, some time ago. A dog had lost his master and every day, he returned to where his former owner was buried, and laid on top of the dirt. If the dog was missing, that was where he was sure to be found, waiting for his master’s return.

There is an unmistakable bond between pets and their owners. Pets alert us to danger, “hear” for the hearing impaired, “guide,” for the seeing-impaired, and “search,” for rescue teams. Dogs get frustrated when we are not at home. They do things like grabbing the end of the toilet paper roll and trailing a stream of white throughout the house. If left for an even longer time, they will shred the paper into tiny bits.

Dogs and horses are particularly gregarious. Horses will clamp their teeth onto the boards of their stalls, and “crib,” breaking off pieces of wood until half-circles C shapes have been removed from the boards. They are bored and do not like to be couped up for a long time.

Animal behavior is a challenge, and a study. Sometimes it is predictable. The parents of the poodle we had, when we lived in California, came into this world because his mother jumped over a baby gate to be with “Gemini’s” dad, while their owners were both at work.

Animals make us laugh with their stunts, and they make happy to see them, in all of their glory, in dog shows, horse shows, etc. Sometimes, animals cause us to slow down. Who can move a sleeping cat off of one’s lap, when the purring is just so intoxicating and hypnotic?

People have celebrated animals in photos, paintings, television shows, and even in quilts! I made a quilt with the image of a Dalmatian in the center…and had a lot of fun creating that baby quilt, I must admit. Animals are fun and they bring such comfort. I’m always happy to hear stories that have a great ending, like the one I shared. I think that the Iraqi dog will bring a lot of peace to the soldier’s family.

Hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend.

Patricia Cummings
Concord, NH

http://www.quiltersmuse.com

http://tinyurl.com/2a8437  link to a WMUR news story about Hero’s arrival.

For those in the world of “work,” many will take a vacation day tomorrow (Friday) so that a four day weekend will be in store. A holiday is always a welcome respite from work, but Memorial Day (on Monday) is always a very special day because it is a day that we honor our loved ones gone before. Especially, we pay tribute to military members who have given their lives to protect Liberty as we enjoy it today. This year shall be no different.

Besides the usual trips to cemeteries to plant graves, say prayers, and pause for a few moments to reflect on the lives of formerly living people, anyone who is human cannot help but also consider the short time we are all here. One line of a song in Spanish says, “Soy polvareda que al viento va,” – “I am but dust that blows into the wind.”

In addition to poetry selections on our website’s poetry page, such as “Flander’s Fields,” and “High Flight,” this week I have added a mid-nineteenth century hymn to our site, “Work, For The Night Is Coming,” that speaks to the shortness of human life.

Some singers reflect on the their lives, in retrospect manner while they are still here, such as Frank Sinatra’s song, “I Did It My Way.” (We’re so glad he did!) The fact of death is acknowledged in prose, poetry, and song, and our fascination with it, as humans, seems unending.

On Memorial Day, we look at the impact of wars, including the current one. We measure and demonstrate our own patriotism by standing at attention, hand over heart, when the parade flag passes by. We sing traditional, patriotic songs. We eat some of the season’s first potato salad made with chives from the garden, and perhaps enjoy a barbequed hot dog. If we are lucky, we’ll eat a piece of pie, cake, or fresh strawberries and cream, with biscuit or not.

While we are celebrating the sacrifices of soldiers, we are also elated that it was not OUR personal sacrifice. Life goes on, babies are born, the economy rattles along. We all pay the price for peace on our shores, even indirectly, when that means that a fill-up at the pump costs a little more.

Yes, Memorial Day is a time to laugh and a time to cry, a time to appreciate those still with us, and a time to honor the vacant seat at our kitchen table. No matter what language one speaks, a universal theme seems to be “Remember Me,” – “Je me souviens.” Although we may sometimes feel like one ant in a teaming, swarming ant hill, we must remember that we are each important to the Author of the Universe. If we are honest with ourselves, we all hope to be remembered.

Enjoy the day, but please take a moment to reflect on this bittersweet entity that we call “Life.” Savor the joy of every waking moment and hold close those around you. On Memorial Day, we shall honor our heroes with pride, and treasure the fact that they gave their all, just for us.

Best Regards,

Pat

http://www.quiltersmuse.com