It all started innocently enough…and ended so tragically. There, in that split-second moment, in the clash of diametrically opposed forces, the glint of steel, the flash of sharpened blades, the end of passion….
It had been one of those days, the end of which found me reclining outdoors in an Adirondack, reflecting and unwinding, my legs draped over the well-designed curvature of the footrest, feet dangling. The outer calm in a tranquil setting eventually slowed the inner pace until I drifted, dozed, and scarcely noticed night had quietly fallen. The last traces of purple sky faded to black behind the tree-lined silhouette of the horizon. All was still except for the occasional breeze through the tops of the trees and consequent flutter of leaves and creak of branches. And then, wafting in on one of those breezes came a foreign, intoxicating fragrance, strangely sweet, like a tropic flower, but with a subtle spice. Mingled with the moisture of the cooling of nightfall, the scent found me, erased any lingering thought, caught up my senses, distracted, and called to me.
The first fireflies of the season drifted in slow, lazy circles low to the ground, their yellow-green lights flickering here, then there, then sometimes floating up, up, up. Something was in the air: a mood, or feeling, something mysterious and intangible. It wasn’t fragrance or twinkling lights. It was elusive and indescribable, or maybe it was magic. Then, faintly, from an indistinct distance somewhere beyond the trees, a scant few phrases of a high, thin music wove their way through the night, just audible in the stillness between breezes and rustling leaves. The sound beckoned, a Siren sweetly singing on an unknown shore.
Without really knowing or consciously choosing to move, I found myself rising, going, slowly, following, peering through furrowed, quizzical brow into the dark, and step by spontaneous step setting off toward the trees, the smell, the sound. I went, without a care, without a second thought, with no intent, just curiosity, and as I followed an unseen muse, the music grew clearer, louder.
The instrumentation was unknown. Maybe a violin or fiddle, with guitar, or other stringed instruments following a percussive beat. Voices joined in with indistinct words and jubilant calls. The music was lively, lilting, inviting, celebratory. It carried me along, drew me to it, until there, in a clearing, surrounding a fire with glowing, red-orange embers I saw them. And they saw me, and though they did, they carried on, dancing, clapping in syncopated rhythms, making merriment. Their outfits and the whole scene were a swirl of pattern and vibrant colors, an eclectic and eccentric group. Were they a traveling circus troupe, or a band of roaming gypsies? Are there even such groups today? Here, where I live? It seemed unlikely. Was this real, or a dream?
They gestured to me to join the party. My mind swam with myriad questions, yet I felt completely unfettered to having answers. I was spontaneous, I went. No thought of who, what, when, where, why, or how. No recollection given to obligation, or job, or responsibility, or the past. This was here and now, and wild, colorful, bohemian, and beautiful; an adventure of unknown destination or duration. I went….
I was gone, but now I’m back.
Okay, so maybe it wasn’t exactly like that, and maybe I just got preoccupied with other things and didn’t get around to my blog…surely you wondered why I wasn’t posting. In some other reality, perhaps I could have run off with gypsies, or the circus…but in this case, I really have been busy with a number of things. Although the fictional adventure might have been more interesting, I’m just as happy in this reality.
Busy with what things, you may ask. Well, I finally finished the elephant. The project was definitely a learning experience with any number of stops and starts along the way. Why the delay, I do not know. The piece was completed by embellishment with beads and crystals, then mounted on a pre-stretched canvas. It was favorably received by the Art Quilt Group.
We had a small, but good group this past Monday. Others brought pieces they’d created using colored pencils. One member brought watercolor pencils and a sealing medium for us to try. Another showed her progress in developing concepts for a fabric line. A few of us are getting together this weekend to practice with Photoshop, which should dramatically reduce the work time of creating designs for fabric. You’ve got to love technology, and I love Photoshop!
I shared another project I had just completed in response to the Quilting Arts Magazine “Tag, You’re It!” reader challenge. The challenge was to use words, phrases, or other typographic design elements in an 8 ½” x 11” format. If you’re reading this blog, you already know my theme was “Create 2B Happy.” After group Monday, I checked on-line and learned I’m one of 11 finalists for the challenge! (A total of 12 pieces are being considered – one individual has submitted two.) I’m very excited and can’t wait to see where this may go. Really, I’m just please to be considered.
I’ve also been Photoshopping my portfolio in preparation for a talk I’m giving to a local guild in July about Inspiration. I’m not a public speaker, so this should be interesting and new. I actually think I’m a better writer than speaker, and one day I just may tell you the rest of the story with the glint of steel, sharpened blades, and end of passion!
Until then…stay happy!
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