A Colorful Surprise !

                                                     

Like many of you, I enjoy following certain blogs that interest me and one of those I follow is the Craft Gossip site.  Under it's umbrella are several blogs run by various editors, each with their own expertise.   I personally have my favorites, but if you go to their home page  http://craftgossip.com/  you will find a myriad of categories along the left hand page to click on.

In late September,  Sarah E. White, the Knitting Editor, held a giveaway for the marvellous autobiography " Dreaming in Color" by Kaffe Fassett. In order to qualify, one had to comment on her blog as to " what's your favorite color"?  I seldom enter blog competitions but having held a fascination for Mr. Fassett for a number of years, I decided to respond to Sarah's question.  I never thought any more about it and went on my merry way.  In early October, much to my amazement, I received an e-mail from Sarah to say I was the lucky winner of the book and yesterday it arrived safe and sound at my door. I was surprised to find, unlike most autobiographies, this one was more in the form of a heavy coffee table book, which featured extensive photographs of Kaffe's gorgeous needle work, his interior designs, his world travels, friends and family.
In spite of juggling a couple of deadlines in the studio, I was drawn away to sit down at the table and leaf slowly through the pages of the book.  The colors are magnificent and take your breath away and the story lines look most intriguing too.  It is an absolutely mesmerizing tome.  I must have sat for a good hour taking in all the beauty and it was most stimulating, inspiring and delightful.

 

Just as I alighted on the next photo (below) of the Fassett dining room, the main man in my household peered over my shoulder. OMG, he stated, how do you see the food on your plate?  Well, I guess he does have a point there BUT the colorful busyness of it all does have a certain ambience.

Who among us does not find joy in color? This book literally sings to you and I have not yet even begun to read the written word about this gifted artist's life. I look forward to a " time out" in the not too distant future to read his story and further peruse the intriguing photos in more depth. 
                            
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Sarah White for her generous spirit in sharing this gift and especially for covering the mailing costs incurred delivering it to me here in Canada.  Thanks so much Sarah.  I am most appreciative of your kindness and will enjoy this book over and over for years to come.  

                                                                                      

BLOG ACTION DAY – MANY I's BECOME WE

                         

" Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much"  

                                              - Helen Keller

 

Today is world-wide blog action day and participants have been asked to write a post on the  “ power of we”.  I am sure there will be several intellectual and very in depth blog posts written on this subject and I will give you a link where you can follow up and read many of these at the bottom of this post.   However, my post is a simple one written from the viewpoint of a lone artist who has learned first hand the power of WE.

 

Long before the inception of the internet, people and communities have always found a way to pull together.  The call to arms for barn raisings, search parties, charitable fund raisers along with disaster aid and community social gatherings were most often communicated by word of mouth or telephone committee. Today with technical advancements, computers and cell phones have become the vehicles

for news and communication.  Social media like Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo groups etc. have brought awareness to disasters as they've happened, saved lives and brought home lost children, brought fractured families together, helped to overthrow corrupt governments,  circulated petitions to liberate prisoners of conscience and united people from all over the world to come together and do good.

As I sit at my computer, a textile artist, whose work is created in the solitude of my studio, how
can I , as an individual, discuss the “ power of WE” ? 
Being connected via the internet, I have not only seen what a group of individuals can do when they band together but I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of being a part of those groups.

Fiberart for a Cause, created and led by artist Virginia Spiegel, with contributions from various fiber and quilt artists has raised over $ 220,000. for the American Cancer Society.  All of this orchestrated, managed and advertised predominantly via the internet by a small group of women. And their work is not done, as yet another Fiberart for a Cause event is scheduled for February 12 & 13, 2013.

The Art Bra movement spearheaded by Victoria Adams Brown brought together a small core group of fiber artists, who through their originality and ingenuity, created gorgeous calendars, held exhibitions, travelling shows and auctions, raising thousands of dollars for mammogram screening,  research, equipment,  transportation and educational programs that promoted breast cancer awareness. This small movement kicked off a number of women's stitching groups to follow suit in creating art bras in their local communities for fund raising and awareness. Everyone involved in the original Art Bra group was brought together by a love of stitching and a common thread of knowing someone in our lives who had fought breast cancer.  Regular internet postings and e-mails helped to bond us and was of the utmost importance in co-ordinating this massive undertaking.

Luana and Paul Rubin of e-Quilter, philanthropists & co-ordinators, draw on the kind hearts and generosity of their textile customers and world wide contacts to make and donate quilts to comfort people where world wide disasters have resulted in homelessness and despair.  

My Embroiderers’ Guild, again through our mutual love of stitching and textiles has raised funds for women’s community houses, funding and materials for women’s consortiums in other countries and other charitable commitments over the years.

  

Online stitching and quilt groups have clubbed together to help fellow stitchers world wide in times of trouble and natural disasters –  offering warmth and comfort in a variety of ways,  replacing their lost or destroyed stashes and sewing room items, making quilts for their families to keep warm and funds to help them get by while they rebuild their lives.

There are quilters, knitters and stitchers who have connected with the armed forces to send comfort packages, warm hats, gloves and quilts for our troops fighting and defending, overseas.  In turn, some of these soldiers have reciprocated the good will by co-ordinating and distributing drop boxes sent from North America to their bases, filled with fabrics and threads so that women in their surrounding areas can clothe their families and make work to earn an income to help support them.

Never underestimate the power of a small group of dedicated individuals united by a mutual love or passion for a genre or shared interests and a strong communication network.  Miracles have and will continue to happen as a result.  I believe the human spirit is strong and goodwill will prevail in the world as long as we all do our small part in continuing to communicate reasonably and rationally, putting our strengths together for the common good.

" Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has ."  -  Margaret Mead


http://blogactionday.org/live-coverage-of-blog-action-day-october-15-2012/

 

Philosophy Friday - Thanksgiving thoughts

                  " Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel "
                                                                                                           - anon

                                                                                             -  photo credit DM Hoover

 

As we celebrate our Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend  - there are so many things I am grateful for.

•  To be able to live in a wonderful democratic country and for the freedoms and lifestyle we enjoy.
• To have the love and support of a close family and loyal fabulous friends
• To have the comforts of food and shelter
• To maintain my independence
• The joy of being able to continue doing the work I love
• The promise of better health
• The beauty and miracles of nature
• Textiles & beads and the pleasures and comfort they bring
• Music for lifting my spirits and feeding my soul
• The internet for connecting me to the world
• ......and so much more.......

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canucks here and abroad and to the men and women of our Canadian armed forces serving overseas, a special thank you for all you do for us - keep safe and come home soon.