Saturday, October 21, 2017

A little Creative Play

This week has been less than optimal for creating.  On Tuesday, my mother's oldest sister, Mary, passed from this earthly plane.  We were on our way to the hospital when she passed.  We were informed of her passing when we arrived. Needless to say the next couple of days were busy with arrangements and the funeral. 
Then the weather got cold enough that I decided to turn on my furnace. Hmmm.... my furnace decided otherwise.  Because of the funeral I was not at home for the repairman to come that day.  On Friday he arrived and checked many things before determining that the master control circuit board had bit the dust.  Hopefully it will be repaired Monday.  Fortunately, I have lots of quilts to sleep under - and the weather warmed back up also.  Right now it is 70° inside which is cool but comfortable.

On to the creativity! 
I have a couple of sets of placemats that I use on my table, but I wanted to have something different.  With a warp I created for my loom, I wove two lovely simple placemats.  (I only use two -just so you know.)
My table is an old wooden table that I painted and distressed many years ago. Over the years it has become even more distressed, but it is comfortable in the space.

Quite a while back I had woven some hand-dyed fabric to make an art quilt.  Somehow it never seemed to work for anything I tried with it.  Play Time was my answer to using it anyway.  Layering some purple fabric and a yellow scrap over it, I freemotion quilted a flower.  Actually I did two "flowers" - but one of them looked like some sort of amoeba with weird tentacles.  This one actually looks like a flower.
The circle around it was just another part of the play time.  This became a notebook cover that will go in my 'sell' pile for the Holiday Faire. 

Here is a picture of the cover opened up where you can see part of the amoeba/bug covered by another flower.
My basic rule for mistakes is this: find a creative way to cover it or use it as a design element.  Now it looks like two flowers behind the "front" flower.  Shhhh...this will be our little secret.

Sometimes sitting down and getting in the creative mode is the best escape from the events of the day that could bog you down.  Take a creative play time to soothe your soul.  And if you make a mess?  First - laugh at yourself and realize that it is NOT the end of the world. Second - tune into your creative side and see what you can do to salvage it or repurpose it.

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7 comments:

Barb said...

Sorry about your Aunt....but did enjoy your creative play....great projects..

Marlene said...

My condolences on the passing of your aunt. I'm glad you have your creative projects to turn to. They are both lovely.

Rhonda said...

Gene, I'm so sorry to hear about your Aunt. It's good that you were around to help with everything. I'm sending warm thoughts your way. Take care my friend!!

Vicki W said...

Your advice is perfect. I'm glad you got a little play time during this trying week. I'm sending hugs to you and your Mom.

A Left-Handed Quilter said...

Gene, I, too, am so sorry to hear about your Aunt. I like your philosophy - "Sometimes sitting down and getting in the creative mode is the best escape from the events of the day that could bog you down." I've been thinking and doing the same thing these past few weeks. Sending you and your family a BIG HUG - ;))

P.S. Love your amoeba-hiding flowers - ;))

Barbara said...

Heart-felt and sound advice for difficult times, tapping into one’s creative self. I hope you and your Mother find peace. I also have an Aunt Mary, but she is my Mother’s youngest sister, one of the last of her generation. Blessings.

Debbie said...

Condolences on your loss of your Aunt.
The HVAC always decides to fall apart or misbehave at the change of the season. I heard the cold will return by the middle of the week. Those placemats are beautiful on your table.
Love the creative play!