Wednesday, April 01, 2020

magic safety net

 When I need to feel better, I make patchwork.
Attaching nine-patches to each other creates a kind of safety net.
When people ask me what I'm doing, I tell them I am sewing magic squares.
This quilt top has been in the works since 2014.  Now it's done.
It was with me during the broken leg.
It helped me get me through 10 days of this still rampant global pandemic.
The ice has started to go out on the bay in front of our house.
I sat for a while yesterday and listened to the ice cracking
and found a heart-shaped rock.

14 comments:

Kathleen Loomis said...

Oh Judy, you are so right -- can't count the number of hours that I have turned my mind off some terrible situation by sewing tiny pieces of fabric together. Doesn't even take Psychology 101 to realize the metaphor -- putting the pieces back together. I'm sewing too, and it helps.

Stay healthy!

PS I envy your ice.

Mo Crow said...

ah, loving the peaceful calm flowing from your beautiful cloth

Judy Martin said...

Dear Kathy
Lovely to have this comment from you. Partly it is finishing something that has been ongoing for a long time. I have an urge now to finish things up - not leave them undone.
You stay healthy too xoxo

Judy Martin said...

It is the emptiness that makes us feel calm I think. So much white with connecting seams. love you Mo - take care of yourself xo

Tina said...

I really love piecing, it does bring a still to the world around us. I love your magic squares.

Judy Martin said...

thinking more about patchwork, and how it is such a positive thing to do - how by adding patches together something grows and who knows where it needs to stop. No limit. Perhaps that's partly why we have this feeling of well-being and energy.
Applique and embroidery do not grow larger, they go deeper and perhaps more beautiful and textural, but they do not have the same feeling of growth.
love you Tina xo

Camilla G. said...

I re-read Sue Bender’s Plain and Simple today:
“Life’s all about moving your patches around. “

Mo Crow said...

(((Judy))) such beautiful inspiring words for growing the work!

jude said...

sanity

Nancy said...

The space and calm, always suggests you exterior world. It is so beautiful.

Grace Martin said...

This is so beautiful
..and then the heart shaped rock at the end!

Saskia said...

both soothing and energizing xx

Audrey Reiss said...

How reassuring to see the images of your work, to see the space you live with, nature around you and the heart stone picked up for love. How centering to read your words and the replies from kindred spirits, I feel at home with, though I haven't met face to face. Thank you all. Really, thank you all for turning up in my life right now xxxooo Thank you Judy for who you are and all you give xxxooo It is my lifeline this beautiful connection....

Morna Crites-Moore said...

Someday, Judy, I would love to see a major retrospective of your entire body of work. xo Morna