So here we are, experiencing a pandemic. Life as we know it is going to be a bit different for a while, and we will all need to make adjustments and learn what sheltering in place means and how to do it well. I think we should look to those who have a lot of experience living like this; people who have gone through chemo, various types of religious monks, and people who live in very remote areas. There’s a lot we can learn from slowing down.
Like everyone else, I’m disappointed there are events on my calendar that won’t be happening, and I’m concerned about making ends meet when my income from workshops has effectively dried up for the indefinite future, but I’m planning on making the most of my time sheltering in place.
I still have work to do for the makerspace that I can do on my laptop, and work on projects I have planned for the fall semester. I have lots of workshop supplies (that I make) that I need to replenish after my recent trip to New Zealand, and taxes, yuck! I started a new knitting project and I’m also planning on reading a few books that I haven’t had the luxury of time to read. It’s a perfect opportunity to be creative and make the most of it.
Besides writing a series of upcoming blog posts about my trip to New Zealand, I’m also planning to paint and do some more slow stitching like I did on my scarf travel project.
Before I left for New Zealand, I bought handkerchief-weight cobalt blue linen from Fabric-Store.com, cut it into a scarf length, and washed it raw edge so it would have a nice fringe. I filled a zipper pouch with blue embroidery floss, a chalk pencil, needles and a pair of scissors to be easily carried in my back pack.
I didn’t have a plan for the stitching, I drew a shape at a time with chalk and filled it with lines of straight stitching that went equally up and down on both sides of the fabric, so that the design would look similar on each side and not have an obvious front or back.
I also did not put any knots in the thread, I chose to use the method of stopping and starting used in traditional sashiko where the two threads are stitched through the fabric overlapping at beginning and ending points. Because the stitching is not holding together seams that would put stress on it, the thread is not likely to pull out of the fabric.
For pattern, I let what I saw around me influence the design; rolling hills, water, waves, wind and plants.
I stitched while I was at airports, on planes, in buses, riding in the car and sometimes just to relax in the evening. I covered quite a distance on the trip and found stitching to be a wonderful way to enhance my experience and have something beautiful to remember it by.
I’m planning on opening my shop again in another week or two, but I’m not home right now to be able to ship things out. My daughter Indigo has a weak immune system and I’m taking precautions of not exposing her to anything I may have unknowingly picked up on my travels, so I’m staying away for another week.
Stay tuned for some eye-candy from my New Zealand trip in the coming weeks, and in the mean time stay safe, and use your new found TIME to it’s fullest advantage.
Keep creating,
Judy
I’d love to spark your creativity at one of these upcoming events:
I’m not sure how many of these events will now take place, but I’ll post cancellations and updates as they occur.
2020
May 27-31 Woodland Ridge Retreat, Menomonie, WI
Tea & Ephemera and Painting Imagery with Textile Paints
Australia!!!
Berry, AU- June 27, 28 Berry Quilting Retreat 2 day Tea & Ephemera Cancelled
Adelaide, AU- July 2, South Australia Quilters Guild Lecture
July 3, 4 Exhibition with the South Australia Quilters
July 10-16 Quilt Encounter 3-day Paint & Printapalooza, 2 day Tea & Ephemera
Brisbane, AU- July 18, 19 Queensland Quilters 2 day Tea & Ephemera
August 11-13 Calico Cutters, West Chester, PA
Tsukineko Inks and Tea & Ephemera
August 31 Color Theory lecture Pioneer Quilters Guild, Loomis, CA
September 26 River City Quilt and Fiber Art Festival, Sacramento, CA Tea & Ephemera
October 18-24 Hudson Valley Quilt Retreat, Greenville, NY
Paint and Printapalooza
ABOUT JUDY
Judy is an artist, explorer, image wrangler, knowledge seeker, instructor, speaker, creative alchemist, and purveyor of inspiration, helping others channel creativity on a daily basis.
2 responses to “Time to engage in the slow life movement”
lovely post, lovely scarf.All one can do in these times is be still, be still on the inside, do what needs to be done to survive and get by, but from a still place. Best wishes from Canada.
thanks Marilyn. 😊 Yes, this is a big wake up call from the planet. We all need to stop and think about this moment in time and how we got here, sit with it, learn from it, survive it, and find ways to make the world a better place because of it. Stay safe, and all the best to you and yours. Judy