Completing Projects and More...

© 2011 Linda A. Miller

 In process with several pieces for upcoming local calls for entry.  Above is detail of one to share with you...however the second quilt will have to wait to be shown. Suffice it to say both quilts have a lot of hand work. 
While working I listened to the very enjoyable audio book "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" by Helen Simonson.  A wonderful charming story with colorful characters.  Thanks to Margaret Blank for letting me know about it!


Needing to stay focused on quilting meant cutting back my online time.  However, I have seen numerous discussions about the online pinboard, Pinterest.  There seems to be a lot of interest and heated discussions with regards to copyright issues.  Some helpful links in sorting out the issues come from Alyson Stanfield's Art Biz Blog and Artists Bill of Rights .  I do not feel ready to take Pinterest on right now.  I am finding that the more sites that I add, the less attention there is for those I am already following without spending an inordinate amount of the day on the computer.  For myself, there needs to be reevaluation and discrimination so I do not spread myself too thin.  It is great for those who can handle it...more power to you! 

Synchronicity

Articulated (detail)   © 2011 Linda A. Miller

"A 'second breath' is a restart of a work after getting a second opinion from yourself..." Those words opened today's newsletter by Robert Genn.  Such synchronicity with what I was expressing  in my own post yesterday.  Putting things down for a while, and then approaching with a fresh start can help me see where the work is needing to go.   As Genn writes "The human imagination is far richer than we know. Understand this, and you will need fewer books and teachers. The answer is within you. Self-anointed genius awaits all canvasses."

Celebrations

Finally posting a quilt which I had held off sharing with you due to potential entry restrictions.  Meet Articulated.

Articulated  © 2011 Linda A. Miller

I began this piece several years ago with appliqued "vertebrae", inspired by the background pattern from my hand dye.  Some work takes time to resolves itself, so it resided on and off my quilt wall until last fall.  I experimented with weaving strips of complementary fabrics for a border, and here you have the result.  A few details to sort out, but very happy to have it mostly completed! 


The end of the lunar cycle this week brings a variety of celebrations.  On our President's Day, Hindus enjoyed Maha Shivaratri festivals, celebrated yearly in reverence of Lord Shiva.  Tuesday was Mardi Gras.   While many were preparing for Ash Wednesday and Lent,  I went to Losar (Tibetan New Year) festivities at my local Shambhala Meditation Center.  2012 is year of the Water Dragon, similar to the Chinese calendar.  I was born a water dragon myself, and this year is predicted to be auspicious.  May it bring good fortune and resolution to all!  I am ready for a shift in perspective, are you?

Ai Weiwei's Dragon from his astrological sculptures at LACMA

Happy Valentine's Day

May you and yours have a wonderful day!  This heart geranium decided to bloom today...

New Flag Site

I have recently updated the Bhavana Project: Prayer Flags website.  Please visit!  There are many new ways to stay in touch.  Or become a participant...check out the site to see how.  The third set of flags is coming close to completion.

"And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same..."

Nelson Mandela - Excerpt 1994 Inaugural Speech

Needles Moving Along

Another pair of socks completed.  You may remember this yarn from a project I started back in the fall...which got put aside for holiday projects.  I decided I did not want to continue the same pattern after finishing my sister's socks, so I started over with something completely different.  I did my own thing, no specific pattern with these toe up socks!  What fun!  Used Judy Becker's Magic Cast On, and knit short row heels.  Thanks to Charisa Cairn's Lifestyle Socks for giving me the idea to try it.








Also slowly embroidering my way through another quilt...some WIP details to share with you.

© 2011 Linda A. Miller

© 2011 Linda A. Miller

Here are some shots from recent visit to LACMA (LA County Museum of Art) and the astrological sculptures of the Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei.  All were fabulous, but my choice was the dragon in honor of start of this year of the Dragon...being a dragon myself!

Fresh

"Watching the moon at dawn, solitary, mid-sky, I knew myself completely. No part left out."

Izumi Shikibu - Japanese Poet (974 - 1034)

I am cleaning out papers, and came across this poem that I had copied into a journal years ago.  It struck home...so simple, so beautiful.

I leave you with more images from the garden this week freshly washed by the rain...

Opening

Holding the droplet...