Back on Monday I posted about this charity reverse auction that I'm participating in:
Here's a link to my art quilt. Click the image above to see all the pieces.
Truth be told, the quilt was not the only piece I made for this auction!
A while back I tweeted and posted on my Facebook page that I was photographing a piece of art on my balcony and it blew away! Seventeen floors down. I went running down to the street to try to find it, but could not. But at least I got some photos:
Heartbroken, I decided not to try to recreate it. Rather I would make something new!
I made this:
It didn't feel right. I put it away and decided to let go of creating with paper.
I drew some sketches. Drank some Diet Coke. Checked my e-mail. Drew some more sketches. Looked out the window. Made some ice. Drank more Diet Coke. And then, just like Goldilocks, I found something that felt "just right!"
I started sewing together lots of little bits of fabric that I had painted and stamped…
(photo by Cynthia Shaffer)
Once I had a sizeable piece of fabric, I carefully marked and cut away rays of the sun from black fabric and laid those rays on top of my painted and pieced fabric.
(photo by Cynthia Shaffer)
Once I had pieced the rays together, I started stitching.
When I was done with the stitching, I started painting. I painted the sun gold and added the word "tomorrow." But the quilt still needed something! I played with some papers and fabrics on my desk and came up with this cool layered paper and fabric heart:
(photo by Cynthia Shaffer)
The thing that I like about this piece is that it so expresses my feelings about the tragedy in Japan and the incredible way the Japanese people have faced this tragedy, and yet it also speaks to me about so many other things. About being an optimist. About believing that tomorrow will be better, and working towards that. About putting your heart and mind towards a dream of the future.
My mother always told me, "Go to bed. It will be better in the morning." And you know what? She was right! Time heals so many wounds. And while it's not always the literal "tomorrow," it is true that the promise of tomorrow has kept me going through so many of my own personal struggles – big and small.
You can buy my quilt and many other pieces of art here.
Thanks for stopping by!
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P.S. I changed the comments settings. You can now reply to any comment by hitting the "reply" button underneath it. And any of my replies to commenters' questions will appear directly below their comments as well!
Beautiful piece that makes me thin HOPE as well Julie.
Beautiful piece that makes me thin HOPE as well Julie.
Beautiful piece that makes me thin HOPE as well Julie.
Beautiful piece that makes me thin HOPE as well Julie.
That’s think HOPE.
That’s think HOPE.
That’s think HOPE.
That’s think HOPE.
Love the piece Julie. Wish I had the money to buy it. And I hope that someone found your first piece who will appreciate it, really liked that piece too. Mother Nature is sending a resounding message here but only she can tell us what it means. My hope is that things settle down for a while and we can take a breath and recover from all the natural disasters happening across the globe. My heart goes out to all affected as we are all connected and need each other to survive. Hoping for a better tomorrow.
Love the piece Julie. Wish I had the money to buy it. And I hope that someone found your first piece who will appreciate it, really liked that piece too. Mother Nature is sending a resounding message here but only she can tell us what it means. My hope is that things settle down for a while and we can take a breath and recover from all the natural disasters happening across the globe. My heart goes out to all affected as we are all connected and need each other to survive. Hoping for a better tomorrow.
Love the piece Julie. Wish I had the money to buy it. And I hope that someone found your first piece who will appreciate it, really liked that piece too. Mother Nature is sending a resounding message here but only she can tell us what it means. My hope is that things settle down for a while and we can take a breath and recover from all the natural disasters happening across the globe. My heart goes out to all affected as we are all connected and need each other to survive. Hoping for a better tomorrow.
Love the piece Julie. Wish I had the money to buy it. And I hope that someone found your first piece who will appreciate it, really liked that piece too. Mother Nature is sending a resounding message here but only she can tell us what it means. My hope is that things settle down for a while and we can take a breath and recover from all the natural disasters happening across the globe. My heart goes out to all affected as we are all connected and need each other to survive. Hoping for a better tomorrow.
Julie – your “Tomorrow” quilt is GORGEOUS! You’re so talented & definitely a deep thinker. Thanks for sharing your talent with the world.
Nancy
Julie – your “Tomorrow” quilt is GORGEOUS! You’re so talented & definitely a deep thinker. Thanks for sharing your talent with the world.
Nancy
Julie – your “Tomorrow” quilt is GORGEOUS! You’re so talented & definitely a deep thinker. Thanks for sharing your talent with the world.
Nancy
Julie – your “Tomorrow” quilt is GORGEOUS! You’re so talented & definitely a deep thinker. Thanks for sharing your talent with the world.
Nancy
The quilt is beautiful as are the other pieces! But I think the rays emanating from the sun really speak to the hope that God gives after the rain!
The quilt is beautiful as are the other pieces! But I think the rays emanating from the sun really speak to the hope that God gives after the rain!
The quilt is beautiful as are the other pieces! But I think the rays emanating from the sun really speak to the hope that God gives after the rain!
The quilt is beautiful as are the other pieces! But I think the rays emanating from the sun really speak to the hope that God gives after the rain!
Perfect interpretation into art – on many levels. Job WELL done!
Perfect interpretation into art – on many levels. Job WELL done!
Perfect interpretation into art – on many levels. Job WELL done!
Perfect interpretation into art – on many levels. Job WELL done!
Oh wow! These are all gorgeous! I’m so sorry your piece blew away… how crazy!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the colors and lines of the quilted piece though. It’s perfect!
Oh wow! These are all gorgeous! I’m so sorry your piece blew away… how crazy!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the colors and lines of the quilted piece though. It’s perfect!
Oh wow! These are all gorgeous! I’m so sorry your piece blew away… how crazy!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the colors and lines of the quilted piece though. It’s perfect!
Oh wow! These are all gorgeous! I’m so sorry your piece blew away… how crazy!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the colors and lines of the quilted piece though. It’s perfect!
I like thin HOPE, Sue! I have hope I will be thin “tomorrow”!
I like thin HOPE, Sue! I have hope I will be thin “tomorrow”!
I like thin HOPE, Sue! I have hope I will be thin “tomorrow”!
I like thin HOPE, Sue! I have hope I will be thin “tomorrow”!
I’m glad you got pictures of your fly-away art… so beautiful!
I love your “Tomorrow” piece, too. Is it corny that I started singing the song from “Annie” as soon as I saw it? First just in my head, and then since nobody was around, out LOUD… it felt good!
I’m glad you got pictures of your fly-away art… so beautiful!
I love your “Tomorrow” piece, too. Is it corny that I started singing the song from “Annie” as soon as I saw it? First just in my head, and then since nobody was around, out LOUD… it felt good!
I’m glad you got pictures of your fly-away art… so beautiful!
I love your “Tomorrow” piece, too. Is it corny that I started singing the song from “Annie” as soon as I saw it? First just in my head, and then since nobody was around, out LOUD… it felt good!
I’m glad you got pictures of your fly-away art… so beautiful!
I love your “Tomorrow” piece, too. Is it corny that I started singing the song from “Annie” as soon as I saw it? First just in my head, and then since nobody was around, out LOUD… it felt good!
Another amazing piece and technique shown by the amazing artist Julie… Wonderful girl!!! You’re so talented in all kinds of crafts!
Another amazing piece and technique shown by the amazing artist Julie… Wonderful girl!!! You’re so talented in all kinds of crafts!
Another amazing piece and technique shown by the amazing artist Julie… Wonderful girl!!! You’re so talented in all kinds of crafts!
Another amazing piece and technique shown by the amazing artist Julie… Wonderful girl!!! You’re so talented in all kinds of crafts!
Sorry the first piece blew away…but wouldn’t you have loved to see the reaction of the person who found it? I hope it made their day!
It reminds me of some blogs I have seen where people leave art (cards, ATCs, etc) in random places just for someone to find!
Sorry the first piece blew away…but wouldn’t you have loved to see the reaction of the person who found it? I hope it made their day!
It reminds me of some blogs I have seen where people leave art (cards, ATCs, etc) in random places just for someone to find!
Sorry the first piece blew away…but wouldn’t you have loved to see the reaction of the person who found it? I hope it made their day!
It reminds me of some blogs I have seen where people leave art (cards, ATCs, etc) in random places just for someone to find!
Sorry the first piece blew away…but wouldn’t you have loved to see the reaction of the person who found it? I hope it made their day!
It reminds me of some blogs I have seen where people leave art (cards, ATCs, etc) in random places just for someone to find!
What an amazing “find” for whomever recovers your first art piece! Love the hopeful optimism of your quilt. Beautiful!
What an amazing “find” for whomever recovers your first art piece! Love the hopeful optimism of your quilt. Beautiful!
What an amazing “find” for whomever recovers your first art piece! Love the hopeful optimism of your quilt. Beautiful!
What an amazing “find” for whomever recovers your first art piece! Love the hopeful optimism of your quilt. Beautiful!