hand stitches

 

 

they are made one at a time, each takes one second
they strengthen
they soften
they are beauty
they are power
they are what you will remember about my work.

protection blanket

 

I made hold me  in 1993

It was one of the first pieces I made to protect me.

Making it caused me to realize how much I'd come to rely on quilt making to help me get through difficult personal situations.

I have little control of events that happen to those I love, but I can control my art.
I can find beauty - even create beauty, while chaos happens all around me.

'when you consider something like death, then it probably doesn't matter if we try too hard are awkward sometimes or care for one another too deeply"  Diane Ackerman

a good dream

She told me her dream while she made her toast.

'we were on a British motorway, in traffic, the two of us, you and I mom.  And you were driving.  And you were doing well.  You merged and I encouraged you and you did it.  we were going fast, the steering wheel on the british side.  Then i wasn't in the car with you any more, but watched you from a distance as you merged and went on.  You did it mom.'

She looked up the dream to find its meaning.  It means that the dreamer feels as if the driver is taking control of the situation.  If the dreamer is angry, then it's a bad dream.  If the dreamer is happy, then it's a good dream.

We decided that this was a good dream.

In england

 

I want some advice.

the days of my life

 

I am stitching.
Sometimes I look at my stitching.

"What the painter adds to the canvas are the days of his life.
The adventure of living,
of hustling towards death."
Sartre