It's not that one necessarily starts or sets out to create a "Grief Quilt" but rather that one is grieving during the making of that quilt. It is my experience, that the life behind the quilt has a way of showing up, in the quilt.
I started my journey, map in hand, with the cocky idealism of youth. With a relatively pain free childhood behind me, I thought I knew where I was going. Nothing really prepared me for the unexpected bumps in the road. The mountain tops and the valleys....the exquisite moments of joy and the dark valleys of pain.
Somewhere along the line I threw my map away and discovered that many roads lead home. At times there is the death of a dream but often around the corner is the birth of a new one. The longer I journey, I find the less I know....perhaps that's a good thing.
There is vulnerability in working improv, as it documents one's journey through life. Perhaps this is why I love working this way so much....for me it's cathartic as I loose myself in the process.
Then suddenly, the quilt is finished and I am often somewhat restless and bereft at that moment. Such was the case when I finished the quilt I started in Krista's Hennebury's Class (Improv Under the Influence).
Finding My Way Home
Finding My Way Home...close up
The center of the quilt is the orginal set of instructions or map, if you will. Then somewhere along the way, the quilt took several twists and turns of it's own. The colours started to mingle and things started to fracture. I also incorporated several different techniques along the way....changing things at will.
I will always see this quilt of part my journey of finding my way through.
Below are several process shots.
And through it all we had a wedding......
My two beautiful daughters at the rehearsal...
And of course, there is nothing like my beautiful grandchildren to give me a reason to Find My Way Home!!
Quilt turned out beautiful !!
ReplyDeleteThe Quilt is striking. I certainly understand the feeling of being "bereft and restless" at the end of a project. In fact, that is where I am now, hence looking for inspiration on your blog! I find the left hand border to be very restful--almost like a series of landscapes, moving from the bridge-like panel adjacent to it. So, your journey continues. Thank you for sharing your work.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Donna.
DeleteIt is a gorgeous finished quilt! While I'm always excited to get to the end of a quilt, I also find I have a few days of 'what now'! It takes a while to move on! I so love our work...so inspiring!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely quilt and posting; I am in process of grieving for my Mom who passed June 5th--and am trying to make a quilt for my grandson--and memories of her keep cropping up in it...darker, colors just seem to make their way into it...and so it goes...hugs, Julierose
ReplyDeleteI love the direction you took from what was going on in your life instead of following the original map. You made this your own and it turned out wonderful. I have not yet started on the quilts I plan on making for family members out of our father's clothing. I have a large family so there will be many quilts made.
ReplyDeleteWonderful quilt!
ReplyDeleteAs always, perfection. Well done.
ReplyDeleteGoodness I've enjoyed watching this quilt come together, Marianne! For me, not every quilt has such depth of meaning as this one, but it's pretty profound when one does. Congrats on a really beautiful and special finish.
ReplyDeleteI really love this quilt!! How can I get started?
ReplyDeleteTruly a wonderful sight!
ReplyDeleteI love every aspect about your quilt, the colours, design and quilting. Above everything I love the journey you took in completing it. Thanks for sharing. ♥
ReplyDeleteThanks so much.
DeleteEverytime I think I have found my way home..it changes...life comes at me at a different angle...and home for me keeps changing. As I look back at what I thought was home..I think of the expression..."Man plans and God laughs".. It is the same in art..for me. We keep evolving...I do anyway..taking a step backwards in grief and then I am hit again...I keep looking at life differently. Sometimes I can be creative and sometimes I have to just sew two pieces of fabric together...For me the key..is to keep on keeping on...both in quilting and in life...I love your piece
ReplyDeletea beautiful meditation on the value of making in these moments. and the quilt is lovely too. xoxo
ReplyDeleteOf course the quilt took detours along the way. But often it is the detours that enrich our journey home. xoxo
ReplyDeletethe journey, yes. thank you for saying so eloquently what it truly means to make a quilt. At least for me.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much life and spirit in that quilt. Very inspirational.
ReplyDeleteThere is something very classic-modern in this quilt, yet it is indelibly yours - I would recognize it immediately! I love your quilts so much.
ReplyDeleteAnd the perspective on life isn't bad, either!
Thanks so much, Marsha.
DeleteAs always Impresive. The post and the quilt...
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is lovely and your family looks healthy and happy. What more can a girl ask for?
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful post Mari. May all your paths lead you home.
ReplyDeleteI love your quilt too! I've been looking at it for much longer than the usual quilt photo. I'm making my first improv quilt and have been a bit startled over how much more the quilter puts herself "out there" to do improv. I find all quilting cathartic but suspect that improv quilting is much more so.