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Open Poetry #45
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A Quilter's Block Undone
| Open Poetry #45 |
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A Quilter's Block Undone |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
A Quilter’s Block Undone From across the needle’s tip, Attached a thread to eye, Awaiting the feel of fabric, The pattern in which the squares will lie. The creation’s want continues As no ideas will come to head, Frustration is the level, Crushing ideas down like weighted lead. The just-sewness corrupts my visions Of where my threads might tread With Left-blank decisions, Pressured art from within my head. From oil paintings to that of fabric, my thoughts share creation’s dread lacking of self to fill the space, The space of legacies said. But the making is approaching, The doing must be done, The letting of expression As felt by needle joining thumb. Then, the hands shall work together to move each shape in space The color shall wheel the magic, A smile upon a face. [This message has been edited by miscellanea (07-10-2009 11:10 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2009 Cathy Farmer - All Rights Reserved | |||
Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Oh, this is a wonderful read, on so many levels. I never did succeed in quilting, started but never finished two projects. They only got completed in my head. LOL. But maybe my garden designs are a kind of living quilt, created with shovels, rakes and scoops of compost (as opposed to needles and thread on fabric) before the plants and stepping stones fill in the blank spaces in a matrix of variegated shapes, textures and colors. I'm keeping this poem, thank you.  |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
Dear Misc', I deeply enjoyed your words, the quilt creation inspired you to create contemporaneously a wonderful poem. Like Kacy, I love quilt, but haven't done any on my own. But I have a friend who appreciates if I give her rests of fabric that she might use. Oh, yes, dear Kacy, your garden project demands a similar skill ... combination of colors, size of the plants etc. Most beautiful, dear Misc! Love, Margherita  |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
Sometimes its fun to just let the quilt happen and not worry so much about a pattern...or as I have done with some students as a fun activity, I let them design one square each and then put the quilt together for them. It turned out wonderful. ( was based on "The Keeping Quilt" a story about different cultures) M |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I imagine that quilting a new pattern is sometimes just as difficult as forming new thoughts to trickle down onto a page. Is there not an artist who wonders at the blank...and dreams to fulfill some need to color wildly?   I've missed you! |
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Artic Wind Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080Realm of Supernatural |
I LOVED this one! ~ I've bee wondering where you have been. Your poetry has been missed p.s~ What grade do you teach Maureen!? ARCTIC WIND |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
Oh, my dear Rapunzel, you veritably put your blood into this yarn. (Sorry, I know, that's a groaner! lol) Your creativity is expressed in countless ways, my friend! I give you an A for this quilting B. Ooops! Another groaner!  Loveya! Linda |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Cathy, I am going to have to share this with my best friend. She's a quilter and I am the fortunate one who has received three of her quilts. One is a small wall hanging, the next is a lap quilt and the last was a drop-dead gorgous quilt for my bed. Quilting is such a maginificent art form. I never fail to be amazed and impressed by each one. I am sure that there are lots of pricks and drops of blood spilled in the process of creation. Thank you for this poem. Alison |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Kacy, What a neat comparison--a quilt to a garden! The idea of it reminds me of 3-dimensional tic-tac-toe or chess! To be able to deal with color, texture, space, shapes, price, availability, growing period, etc. and pull it all together from ground to sky and from foreground to background must be challenging! And then... there's consideration of medicinal purpose and habitat! Whew! To me, now that's a challenge! I bet your garden is beautiful, offering a sense of spirituality! I enjoyed your hearing from you. Have a terrific day. hugs, cathy |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Margherita, It's great that you share your fabric with a lucky friend. I bet she appreciates new swatches of design. I remember piecing a long string of quilt squares together with my grandma when I was about five. I liked it then! When I was about eleven, I tried to piece together small corduroy octagonals into a pillow. The idea was good, but... maybe a little over-ambitious! My appetite for design is much greater than time availability. (Probably, I'll get back to the natural fabric of things when I retire someday. Until then, I just pack up as many ideas and techniques as I can.) I can imagine you would be a great narrative quilter, piecing together a story to pass on or illustrating your beautiful poetry. hugs, cathy |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
M~ That's what I like my art to do--to just happen! That's the stuff I like to keep! And it seems that the more trouble I have with something (those happy little accidents!), the better it turns out! Still, I worry too much about my skill level. My love for art has intensified since I was asked to teach it, but as I was not a fine arts major, I've had to learn a lot on my own, and when I attend workshops, usually I'm embarrassed to create in front of people who've studied and taught art for years. I attended the workshop today after a lot of apprehension, but now I think it's going to be fun! We're supposed to create a figurative type quilt describing someone...Hmmmm, this should be interesting.. (Better not tell the person who he/she is! Hm... could have a little extra fun with this one!) Thanks for sharing the book, The Keeping Quilt, with me! I'll have to check it out! It's been a pleasure to hear from you again. I'm glad to hear you're still working in the schools and doing such fun activities with your students. Cathy [This message has been edited by miscellanea (07-10-2009 09:49 PM).] |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Sunshine, "I imagine that quilting a new pattern is sometimes just as difficult as forming new thoughts to trickle down onto a page." I bet so, but I think I would like the math and the problem solving that would be required to design one... I imagine you would, too. We just need a long, uninterrupted vacation to do the things we'd like, eh? I've often thought I'd like to design clothing, by seaming bits of color and line together on a manikin. Is there not an artist who wonders at the blank...and dreams to fulfill some need to color wildly? YES!!! The artist in you reads loud and clear!!! You hit the hammer on the nail! Thank you for all your thought provoking responses. (I've missed you, too!) hugs, cathy |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Artic Wind, Thanks for your enthusiastic kindness. It's a pleasure to hear from you again. Have a super week, AW... Cathy |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
to my Earthy Angel, You and your groaners! What would we do without you! You tickle me! hugzels, Rapunzel |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Alison, You lucky lady! Gee, I wish I had a generous quilter friend like that! She's a keeper! I guess I didn't realize how artistic quilting had become! I now compare the thread to a pencil and the swatches of fabric to paint! Cathy Jeffers is our instructor. Her work is breath-taking! It's good hearing from you again! I'll see you at your post soon! cathy |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
You just cracked me up with your "hugzels, Rapunzel" ha ha ha  |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
mY EARTHY aNGEL, OH no! It distresses me greatly that you have become one of those who have cracked, but if it is any consolation, it is good to know "UP"ward cracked you've been! LOL hugzels, Rapunzel |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I grew up ducking under the quilt frames hanging in our house and my grandmother's... and now, a quilt that came off those frames is one of my most prized possessions. Unfortunately, they didn't pass on their talent? *puzzled look* I've made several quilt blocks... painstakingly *G*. But only one survives... and undoing is harder than doing! *S* I enjoyed this a lot! *S* |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
my dear friend, suthern, You are just the dose of smile I needed! Thank you! It's so good to hear from you! I have to contradict you, though, because if you piece quilts together like word, sound, and thought, then I would imagine your quilt to be absolutely fantastic, full of stories and wonderment. Have a terrific week! misce' |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I seem to have a compulsion to unravel every stitch. LOL That one block that survives does so only because it was my contribution to a remembrance quilt made for a friend's son... out of my hands, I couldn't unravel it. LOL So if you ever need some scraps??? LOL I saw on another poem that you'll be on here less because of work... just as I found a bit of daylight. *sigh* Hurry back, lady... maybe one of these days the work gods will be kind to both of us simultaneously. *S* |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Yes, it would be marvelous if the work gods would coordinate that! Maybe we ought to do a "work-dance" so they get the picture, eh? And your quiltage, I love every stitch of the story! I bet your son's friend loves it! Be well, miss suthern, dream well. ~ miss misce |
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Callista Member
since 2008-10-05
Posts 63USA |
Not undone. Aptly completed! You show the yearning "creation's want" and satisfaction "just sewness". Then the artist greatest fear ".."lacking of self to fill the space.." Cal |
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Oklahoma Rose Senior Member
since 2008-02-28
Posts 1586Oklahoma USA |
I've tried many things. But, I have never tried making a quilt. Truthfully, it sounds like something I would like to make. |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Callista. You're very observant! I'm glad you got all of that out of this! Have a super week! misce' |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Oklahoma Rose, There must be something rewarding in quilt-making. Some many people actually finish them! Teehee. Wish I could settle down and finish something! It was nice to hear from you again. ~misce' |
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