March 26, 2007
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One of my favorite things to do is make things. When I’m feeling down, all I have to do is go into the deep dark bowels of our house, where my work shop is located for the moment, sit at my bench and work on any of the numerous projects I have started. Sometimes I just sit there and dream.
I always come away with a great sense of accomplishment. Something has sprung from my brain into reality. I created something.
I do stained glass and mosaic work, painting, mail art, artist trading cards and quilting, and lots and lots of other things too.
It occurs to me that this feeling to create isn’t exclusive to me. That the joy of making something can help even people in some of the worst situations.
I’m thinking now of the Quiltmakers of Gees Bend. In desperate poverty they took what they could find and used it to make blankets to fill a need for their homes, but they also made beauty.
I wonder if these quilts made them proud, If they spread them out and looked at them occasionally and admired what they had done, or did they not realize their worth until the outside world told them?
In writing up this post I was searching for images and I came across the gallery that represents these interesting and colorful women. The quilts ranged in price from 20,000.00 to 25,000.00 dollars. Now I think that is the world showing these women their work is worth something, wouldn’t you say?
Another way the world is tipping it’s hat to the quilters is by releasing these
:The ladies now have the high honer of their work commemorated on stamps. I can’t wait to run to my post office and buy some.
Just looking at their quilts makes me feel good. If that isn’t the true sign of a successful creation or creator I don’t know what is.When the thing you make inspires other people or instills feelings in them, that’s success.
When the feelings and joy that you get creating a thing conveys itself to other people. I hope that someday I can accomplish that.
I have no doubt that these women had no idea at the time they were making these quilt that they would ever mean anything to anyone other then themselves, and yet they took the time and made the effort to make themselves beauty.
What do you do that makes you feel good?
Is there something that you do that you take pride in?
Comments (41)
That is such a cool story! I’ve always wanted to learn to quilt, but haven’t yet.
Creating is a big thing to me, too. It is an outlet for me – it calms my nerves and makes stress just melt away. I do graphic design on the PC, and I also love to do fine art NOT on the PC – watercolor, colored pencil, pen and ink, oil paint. Decorating is another thing I enjoy, and had thought about making a living doing it. There are so many creative things that make me feel good, we’d be here all day if I were to mention them all!
I take pride in my work – creating new and cool things for my tv clients that I can point at and say “I made that”. I take pride in doing things around the house – handyman stuff usually. Because I don’t always have the best talent for that but I do enjoy knowing I can fix more things than I think. My FIL and I are going to completely rebuild our front porch/stairs during the Memorial Day break. That sould certainly be something that I and Shirlann can be proud of for years to come! I also enjoy helping the kids –with homework or issues or just being their Dad. That make Shirlann proud of me and I love that feeling!
Writing. It’s made a world of difference in what I feel . . .
Nice quilts, but it’s a shame we ran out of famous people to put on stamps.
I so love quilts!! That’s all I use on my bed!! These are great!! Wonderful story. Taking the time to play w/my babies makes me feel awesome and very relaxed. I always try so hard to make special play time just for them!! I take pride in the fact that I’m a very giving person!! I love people and always want to help them. I love to love so to speak!! And of course you know that!!
Photography makes me happy. Music is the one thing that can help me thru the most difficult of times though. The mixture of the two can be divine.
I need a hobby, my only hobby is cleaning, working and crisis management
It’s still funny to me that when you made me my quilt, you weren’t thinking about the fact that it would only be a few months before we would be sharing bedding – so we never really got to use it. But I still think about all the love that went into it every time I see it.
RYC: Back at you sweetie.
RYC: I think I have a pretty good handle on the character now. I will see once tax season is over and I start writing again.
My mom and all the grandaugthers make strip quilts and have made some pretty nice ones.
Great story about the quilt makers. I’ve never been adept at needlework, I blame a gnarly old sewing teacher I had when I was 8 lol. For me it’s writing, most I keep to myself but I’ve shared some with friends and family when appropriate. When I feel down, I listen to music, it’s cathartic for me.
It’s so true. When we get into little projects we focus on that, not the other crap in life. I love to work in my little garden, going for a run is theraputic too. My daughter is into beading bracelets…it helps her cope with her issues. amen to that!
I’m a quilt nut, I’ve got perhaps….30? Granted alot of them are some made for the girls or some left over from grandmas and great-grandmas, but still. They’re always warm and always a welcome sight.
i dont have the patience to make a quilt though i love doing smaller crafty activities… but for me sailing is my feel good thing- its beautiful and exhilarating, but i dont know that i take pride in it, its more for me than for anyone else- though i am proud of being a sailor and its usually one of the first things i mention when i meet someone new, so i guess that counts
whats your current favorite project?
Something that makes me feel good? Sitting in the sun and feeling that warmth radiate through me. Something I can do I’m proud of?? Well, I was a heck of a good singer once upon a time…but I’m “tin roof…rusty.”
I am a crafty type myself – I like to take pictures, scrapbook, rubber stamp (mostly cards) and do counted cross-stitch. I have been stitching for years and love completing a project I’ve been working on for months (or sometimes years) and seeing the finished product. Then I give most of them away, keeping only a few special pieces for myself. Quilting is my next thing to learn – I made one last year but it was a little too advanced for my beginner skills, so I’d like to start off with something a little easier the next time!!
Beautiful quilts. Being creative is the best form of therapy. I still enjoy my work which is design, gardening, writing and gardening.
i love doing crafts!!! anything artsy!
Gardening tip 101… plant things that take little or no care!!! (Yes tomatoes do very well with a bit of sun and a little water!)
Projects are good. They let you believe that you are still sane.
^ ^ ditto
and ryc: Demians gonna fix it, thank god we have 2 other bathrooms with tubs
Quilting reminds me of my granny. She was a part of the Quilters Club, and it showed in her work. I think having a quilt that someone hand made for you is about as special as it gets.
RYC: Rascal is growing up really fast. He has more than doubled his size in the last few months!
We are so alike,I LOVE THOSE QUILTS AND THAT STORY!!!!!
Wonderful post Ang!!
I have two bazillion projects all the time,always have.I just found a tv stand for $15 that We added a big top to and made a train table for my nephews Thomas Wooden railroad…I feel good when I see him playing on it,
I help quilt and knot comforters for missions.
I take pride in my ability to eat donuts. I can eat 2!
What do I like to do that makes me feel good?–besides sex- he he he–sorry–I had to say it… I love Esthetics.. I love pampering people and teaching people how to take care of their skin. I also loved to be pampered.. but who doesn’t..
I also am a Realy for Life Team Captain. I feel that it is my contribution to fight the horrible disease. My mother had uterine cancer right after I was born–it had spread to her luings and lymph nodes and my father was told she might live 6 mo’s–35 almost 36 years later she is cancer free…She is a miracle…
I love to quilt–I never have time, but I do love it–My granny taught me–she has always quilted and she has always sold her quilts really cheap—too cheap—I fuss at her all the time–Hers are all hand made–she pieces by hand and quilts by hand–It really is a dying art–Luckily I have several–Anyway, I am rambling… have a good Tuesday!!
I’m pretty good at rubbin one out …
Actually, i dont want to use my brain right now to think
Hey ANgi gal.
I’m always impressed by talented people.
Can we see some of your stuff?
Happy almost Tuesday morning!
you are one classic artist … i say that coz you put a lot of emotions to your work …
I am also very arty when it comes to crafty things – painting ornaments and fabrics……making beaded things (earrings, necklaces etc)…..doing decopague………..so much that I love to do – BUT my home at them moment is really tiny and there is no workspace for me to practice my creativity without my 22 month old getting into my stuff – so for now I am satisfied to NOT attempt it, but soon…………………………
Oh what a great opening story ..Lov you baby you are such a giving and careing person . I feel so lucky to have such beautiful wonderfull daughters who are so talanted each in there own way. Hugs mom…..
good morning sweet one !!!
I think you got the answer to your question on my post today; and, to answer your question: boost away!
I love quilts of all kinds. They make me nostalgic for my grandma who used to get together with Aunts, Cousins, and Friends to make quilts as gifts for special events in their families–weddings, births, graduations. I have some that were mine as a little girl that my children (and I) still use. Heck, SharpDressedBoy was curled up under a Sesame Street quilt yesterday that was my little brother’s.
These are very cool, particularly because of the intricacy of fitting together the fabric scraps they had into a design and the story behind them. Thanks for sharing.
writing poetry (occasionally) and singing always makes me feel good
I don’t go by Craftea for nothing — I like all kinds of crafts (photography, mostly) and I love tea, tea parties, and all the relationship building that comes of that. Most of my other craft projects are so-so, never having wanted to take classes or spend a lot of money on the supplies or learning. Things I’m most proud of the book I wrote about tea parties, and most recently, the fact that I can make roca, brittles and toffees that are better than any I’ve tasted. No one that’s sampled it has disagreed with me on that, so yeah, that’s a source of pride for me.
I really like the quilts. I didn’t know that you could do all of those art projects…cool!
I don’t really know what I am proud of…other than being a mother and wife.
Well, I know that when I finished projects that I am some what proud of, I post it here on Xanga….but that is not that often, and I am not that great. Maybe I am missing out on life….I need to be more proud….in a good way of course.
Talk to you later!
Thehomemaker
Love those pics. But you gotta post some of what you’ve created! I write and occasionally doing some oil painting – keeps my creative juices flowing enough to keep me sane.
Thank you so much for your suggestions!!! VERY much appreciated! I’ll definitely let you know how it all goes
ryc: moving in with A. yes, yes, scary indeed!
i love fiber art by the way. those quilts are gorgeous.
Coo. Thanks.
Aww, thanks Ang!
Dazzling! Fantastic! (See:CQ)
I bet you have brilliant hands
Chocolate.