On Sunday I am leading a workshop on doing Art Quilts.
Art quilts start with an empty space.
You arrive without a pattern.
And, you let your imagination tell you what kind of fabric would be so perfect.
You begin on a journey where the ending is a surprise.
It is like present moment quilting.
In life we believe we have planned enough, so we know the ending. There appears to be comfort in knowing, or even believing you know that which you can't know.
Creating Art quilts is the opposite of planning to know.
Your imagination feeds the next step and the next fabric selection. It is to be open and present and listening for ideas that will seemingly appear.
I create by feeling.
By feeling excited, and delighted, when a totally fun idea pops up.
When an "accident" happens and it makes the quilt's soul.
If I am having joy and delight while creating, it somehow shines through on the finished product.
Is this the same in life?
Are each of our moments displayed with our inner feelings?
So, perhaps following patterns, in life and in quilting, appears to be a safer space to walk in. The outcome is more or less known, and it blends into the background of society.
But, doing art quilts or living life outside of the patterns, you will be seen.
More, your feelings will be seen.
The soul of who you are.
I am not sure if I can lead ladies away from the patterns, into the space of imagination, but I am hoping I can give them a safe place to try.
Imperfection is the main overlay.
Nothing needs to be perfect to be Art.
Just as in life, our lives are living art forms.
The more we can live in the present doing things that delight and bring us joy, the more colorful our lives will be.
It is not to say there will not be dark moments, sad and deep sorrows, but we will know how to navigate into these new spaces, with the tools we cultivated with our imaginations.
