2010 Talisman

So for awhile now, I have really been feeling the pull...you know, my inner voice telling me I was ready to take my passion for sewing to a new level. I wasn't quite sure where exactly I needed to go with it, but I was feeling open. One day I was dusting the bookshelves and this book, Magical Fabric Art by Sandra McCraw Scarpa, caught my eye. The Marinos, I believe, had given it to me years ago. At the time I had skimmed it, thought it had great stuff in it, and put it away for another day when I would have more time to look at it. Well, you know how that story always ends...it sat on the shelf for years. This time though, I read it cover to cover in a couple of weeks. It was the catalyst I needed to get my artistic energy harnessed. The ideas the book contained planted a seed in me that has grown and Grown and GROWN. I really feel now that I have been able to leave "hobby quilter" behind and truly see myself as a "fabric artist". Although, the structure of quilting and general sewing soothes the type A organized perfectionistic side of my brain, I can now see that fabric art projects are going to nurture my true Self, my soul. Through this artwork, I can more clearly see my essence. This is my first project, my 2010 Talisman.
To make it I focused on my intentions, my purpose, my goals for 2010.

Each fabric section symbolizes some area of my life that I want to focus on this year.

It was an amazing experience to then take those dreams and translate them into a visual using fabric, yarn, ribbon, beads, thread, feathers, etc. I was able to incorporate so many techniques and materials that I love so much.

It was an exercise in meditation for me as I sewed on each piece, being mindful and focusing my energy on the area on which I was working. Just beading my hand outline took 7 hours of labor...you can only sew on 3 beads at a time.

I learned so much and my sewing skills increased tremendously.

One of the most important lessons I learned was not to force it! I would have an idea and spend an hour pushing and struggling to get the desired results without success. In many cases, the MOMENT I was able to let go of that idea, clear my mind, take a deep breath, the answer would come to me. The results were always better and more interesting than the original idea. There are so many instances in my life where I can apply that lesson!

When I set about making this project, beauty was not my highest goal. I really wanted to stay true to my flow, to honoring the ideas as they came and not feel penned in by a preconceived outcome. Now that it is finished I do see beauty and that feels very satisfying.

I would love to talk to any of you about the significance of each embellishment, what each section means to me, but for now I am going to choose to not share that publicly. Those ideas are so personal to me, I am just not in a place where I am ready to publish them on the Internet for the whole world to read. So, if you mosey on by for a visit sometime in the future, I will love talking to you about it.

And so...on to the next project!