I have always found it difficult to create in the midst of chaos. When we lived in New Zealand my studio was in our lounge (NZ for family room). On weekends my husband would take our young children out to give me time to work without interruptions. But before I could start working, I had to straighten the pillows and fold the throws on the sofa. This baffled my husband. Why would I waste my time doing this? He did not understand my need for visual order in the space I was working.
I had big plans for March. I hoped to design and piece 3 new smaller scale works. These are part of a new series I am exploring. My husband and I started the month going on a trip to Jamaica. This was the first time we had ever gone away together over his spring break. It was also the first trip we had taken in many years that wasn’t related to work, family or medical events. It was just us going somewhere fun for four nights with no other agenda than enjoying being together. Then we came home.
First my husband was told to prepare to teach his MSU classes on-line. In less than a week all classes were on line and all students were encouraged to go home. Same thing happened at my daughter’s university. My daughter, who has not lived at home for almost 2 years, moved home. I spent the next week shopping. I made sure all of our prescriptions were filled. We even bought chicks so we can have our own eggs in a few months. Lots of uncertainty and fluctuating emotions. Difficult to find time to work. And then the quarantine began.
This reminds me of when my daughter and I changed our diet to eating gluten and dairy free. My daughter was only 12 at the time. For her especially it was a difficult transition. It seemed like all of her social activities involved pizza. So we chose to focus on all of the delicious things we could eat. I worked hard to have homemade gluten and dairy free baked goods on hand. We found tasty new recipes for lunches and dinners. Now nine years later our diet is well established and much easier to navigate. At times we still hit bumps, but it is manageable.
With the quarantine I am establishing new habits. I begin my day with gratitude. I am thankful for my hot shower. I am glad I have heat, electricity and internet. My husband and sons have jobs they can continue to do from home. My parents are safely in their new home with my sister and brother nearby to help them. Crocuses are blooming. Daffodils are not far behind. Trees are beginning to bud. I am grateful for Spring and new growth.
In my studio I have plenty of fabric, thread, and ideas. I also have plenty of dye and PDF fabric for my dye studio. I have several tops basted and ready to start machine quilting. And I am supposed to stay home! Now is a time I can focus my energy on creating, but first I must let go of all of the things I can not control. I am letting go of uncertainity. I am honing my focus on what I can do.
I did not reach my goal of three new pieces for this month, but I did make one. Again, I am choosing to focus on what I have accomplished. I have not shared a work in progress before, but I thought I would make an exception in light of the circumstances. Observing the beauty of nature comforts me. To me trees are especially majestic. In each season deciduous trees have a different kind of beauty. In winter time I love seeing the bare branches. Each species of trees has subtle differences in their branching forms. So much variety. My new series is on trees. Here in Michigan I am surrounded by trees. Many over 40 feet tall. The strength of a tree is in its trunk. These tall trees have weathered many years. As I focus on learning from their beauty, I am calmed and re-centered. I can create.
Working title "Red Tree”, 3rd in a series. Pieced top approximately 48” by 48”.