"And I think to myself, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD" - I have completed my February journal quilt, only four days late. That's OK. I'm trying to worry less - kind of like a lenten sacrifice, New Year's resolution, dream wish for life. The journal quilt is for the CPS journal quilt group to which I belong. I think the quilt, together with the words on cardstock explain the quilt enough for now. To read the poem Orange, see the post from yesterday.

I'll talk more about the embroidery another day. I started morning pages and they still need to be completed, huh, it's almost 10 p.m. I want to tell you about what's been happening.

Angels be with you.

Wendy

Orange: I'm not quite certain if this journal quilt is totally finished but will try to squeeze it in yet for artwords whose theme for this week has been poetry. Though some of the words to "what a wonderful world" are on the quilt I was spending a lot of time thinking about the poem I wrote called "Orange" as I was making it.

The photos are of my Dad, my Mom and brother, and then my brother and me. Family is very important to me, for those of you not yet aware of that. Though I grew up with "Orange", I never would have been able to get to the place I am without the love and support of my wonderful family.

When I was a child

With diabetes,

I grew to hate

The colour orange.
The sugar in my body

Needed testing.
Orange

Meant sugar,

Too much Sugar.

And now -

I envision lines,

And lines,

And lines,

In the record book,

Lines of orange.

As a child with Diabetes

What

Went through my mind

About these lines of orange

In the Record Book?
They were always present.

I probably did not even recognize

Any interspersal of beautiful blue,

Or calming green.

Striving For perfection?

Who Me?

Striving to erase all those lines,

Of orange,

Which could never

Be erased.

Striving to erase the lines

Of imperfection

Which would be

Forever

Part of me.

Today -

I can truly appreciate

The colour orange.
Now I understand

It represents joy.

I work towards Joy.

I strive for it.

I strive

For more imperfection.

The striving

Is not easy.

Forever will live in me -

Those lines and lines

Of the colour orange.

Painted fabric:
While we were at the farm I found some time and space to do some fabric painting. I love doing this. I can hardly wait until the summer when I can hopefully let fabric pieces dry outside. Space seems to be at a minimum at home and at farm but once I can leave fabric outside I am hoping there will be more places. I am very pleased with the results. I did seven pieces all together. The red and light pink piece I tore into smaller parts so I could experiment. I'm not really happy with the orange pattern. I'm very pleased with the blue shiva paint-stick on the red. I happened to have a piece of thread captured on the bottom part and was so happy with the effect. I really like what I can do with the paint-sticks. Unfortunately they are oil paints and have a bit of a smell. I may have to take them to Greg's workplace where there is a larger work space in the "back shop" and huge ceiling fans. I'll see what the weather does here. If it stays a bit warmer outdoors I can maybe work by an open window for awhile.

I should mention that I was able to purchase some "folk art" fabric paint in Saskatoon. I was happy that I did not have to order on-line as I was fully expecting to. I have not tried textile medium in acrylics yet but not certain if I will need to because I found many colours of these.

All images but the second are done on scanner. The actual size of each piece is about 20 inches x 28 inches.