Two Friends

 "A bird is washing in a puddle."

I wrote a poem to go along with this art quilt; parts of the poem are sprinkled around the quilt.

 

The wave brown is a close up of this quilted section--I call it machine drawing because I move my quilt around under the needle and draw with the sewing machine.  It's a little tricky and sometimes I have to rip out the stitches if it doesn't look right.  It gets easier with lots of practice.

 

"We are mirror images of one another; though our stories are wildly different." 

There is a line of turquoise hand stitching on the right side.

The back of the quilt shows the outline of the berries in the quilt drawing.  The stitching on the back of the quilt is very important to the beauty of the whole piece.

I'm touching the quilting.  The quilting adds an interesting textural and tactile quality to the art quilt.  It feels so good.  You can see the binding at the top of the picture.  The binding finishes this quilt.  I chose to use the same fabric for the binding as the backing.  I liked how the colors pulled it all together.

Close up detail of the quilting.

Stitching on the binding.  I use the little ruler at the bottom of the picture to measure a quarter inch to stop at the mitered corner before turning and going forward.  A little detail that makes for a crisp corner.

This is a photo transfer of the image onto fabric with the turquoise embroidery stitching around the edge.

I added this cool measuring tape that I received as a gift from a dear friend.

More parts of the poem surround our friends. Here's the prose poem:

“Today brings conversation with my friend about the worries in the world.  She listens deeply and puts her arm around my back.  My shoulders relax a bit.  I put my hand on her shoulder.  We are mirror images of one another; though our stories are wildly different.  Our way of listening deeply to each other makes everything feel a little lighter.  At one point a bird is washing in a puddle.  All the feathers are soggy wet in the drenching.  And then the bird flutters and all the feathers stand up to attention. “A little porcupine bird,” she jokes.  In the silliness and the love of this moment, the world becomes a little more bearable with the help of a bird and a friend.”

MaryLee Eischen 3/24/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Our way of listening deeply to each other makes everything feel a little lighter."

"All the feathers are soggy wet in the drenching. And then the bird flutters and all the feathers stand up to attention." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"A little porcupine bird!"

 "In the silliness and love of this moment, the world becomes a little more bearable with the help of a bird and a friend."

 

Finished size of "Two Friends" 

19" x 24"

Creating Radiance in your Life

Have you ever thought about energy in your body and how sometimes that energy feels good and other times not so much?  I've been curious about this with my creative practice.  

 

Here's a spiral of Emotions with the uplifting ones creating more energy at the top and the debilitating ones at the bottom.

Empowerment, Knowledge, Freedom

Appreciation                        Love Joy

Enthusiasm                          Passion

Belief                                   Positive Expectation 

Hopefulness                         Contentment

Boredom                               Pessimism

Frustration, Irritation

                     Impatience       Overwhelm

Disappointment                    Doubt

Worry                                    Blame

Discouragement                    Anger

Revenge                                Hatred, Rage

Jealousy                                 Insecurity, Guild, Unworthiness 

Creativity is not based on our emotions--though our emotions can affect how we feel and if we want to create.  We  have power over our emotions and can change our emotions. 

There are some situations that people can not change their emotions such as people suffering from depression or mental illness.  In those cases more support from professionals is the recommendation.

I created some cards to remind me of all the juicy good in my life. And to remind me when I need to raise my energy.

This card is about the body and my word is dance.

"Listen to your body, to the liquid gold running through your veins.

You are powerful.

You are beautiful.

Know your body loves to move 

and to dance.

You are strong."

 

 

This card is about mind and my word is write.

Write your story. Write about the highest heights.

Write about the tiny shreds

Write about the cloudy times

Write in the clear sun shining times

Write about mountain top times

Write about clear lake stillness

Write all of You.

This card is about emotions.  My word is play.

Go on the Joy Street 

of your life

be on it and find it every where!

Play with silly shoes.

Play with cloth blowing on the breeze

of the ocean shore!

Play with dancing 

with a hat on your head.

Ride the bicycle of fun

play

laughter

to the fullest exultation!

This card is Spirit.  And candle light

"Connect with me:

Always and in all ways.

Candle light

Twinkle lights

Sunshine

Smile on your face

Smile on another

Soft eyes

Warm heart

Remember liquid gold light shines

in your every cell of your body.

Materials: 140 lb watercolor paper cut to the size of 5.5" x 7"

                  Magazine images and words

                   Imagination

 After I created the card, I looked at it and asked, "What would my Wise Woman tell me?"  Then I wrote down the words in a notebook.  I underlined the words that resonated the most clear for me and wrote them on the back of the card.

The beginning of more creating.

Join me in the fun, if you like.

 

 

 

 

 

Art/Mixed Media Making Class Coming Soon

 

 

A new and exciting class is coming! Explore, play, open your unique creativity!

 

Hand dyed fabrics, stitching, making prayer flags.

 

Bookmaking, painting, playing, fun!

 

 

Be inspired with nature.

 

Join us, Tuesday evenings, in October, 5 -26, 6:30 - 8:00pm,  at Winona Senior High School!

Learn more &

Register here: Art and Mixed Media Making

Look forward to creativity exploding!

2021 Vision Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new year, 2021, what is coming?  What is hoped?  Or desired?  On many January firsts of previous years, I've joined with friends to bring images and words together to bring our visions of the new year into fruition.  We'd share pictures from magazines and words we would cut out to collage some of our hopes and dreams. My word for this year is Freedom. It feels full of energy; though I'm not sure what it means yet.

Here are some things that I'm imagining and hoping for 2021.

Tundra swans rest in the back waters of the Mississippi River.  They feed and rest and chat with one another.  Their sounds are very loud.  This happens in November; then they take flight to their warmer climates south of Southeast Minnesota.  What will they discover?  What is on our paths to discover?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I image more peaceful times.  I imagine people of all colors being respected and listened to.  I'm learning and reading and becoming an ally to all people.

Everything flowers from within

But sometimes it is necessary to reteach a thing it's loveliness

tell it in words and in touch

It Is Lovely

Until it Flowers again.

Be a star, too

along with a friend, a listener, a peacemaker, a creative, a dancer, a maker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No matter, where

we come from,

we can walk together in hope.

No matter what we believe,

we can share one dream of peace.

No matter who we are

we can be one in the spirit of love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share

The Courage to Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I Am Powerful

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's talk about Race, and water, and life. 

Here's to 2021.