Mama Africa

Mama Africa, please don’t cry,
though your children are hungry,
your rivers run dry.

Mama Africa, don’t be in pain,
the greed will subside
and a new King will reign

Mama Africa, so much to share,
 of talent, of greatness
an oneness so rare

Mama Africa, lift up your eyes:
 they’ll fail and they’ll falter
and then they’ll realize

Mama Africa be content
your children will grow up and
then realize the extent

Mama Africa, please don’t cry,
though your children are hungry,
and your rivers run dry.

The burning bush

Banner made for the Creative Hands colour challenge. 

Newly updated shop

I've been wanting to update the quilt pattern shop for some time now.

Boasting a new banner, I've also loaded some new patterns. 

The First 12 days of December 2012

These 12 days are going to be hectic. Full guesthouse (thank goodness!) and a lot to do: The first Doll's Blanket is done, except for the labels.

Another couple to go.

Almost Christmas

Today I took out the Christmas quilt. Christmas: a time to love, a time to appreciate nature, a time to sit at the quiet light of a candle and a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Pandora

Creative hands challenge "I opened the box" got my creative juices going.

Pandora opening the box and exposing the world to the 7 cardinal sins.

Popular Alhonse Mucha painting, "Joan of Arc" was used as a foundation for Pandora's astounded expression.

The rough edge of the quilt was burnt and left ragged.

Dealing with depression

According to the Medical Dictionary, depression is "a mental state or chronic mental disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, loneliness, despair, low self-esteem, and self-reproach; accompanying signs include psychomotor retardation (or less frequently agitation), withdrawal from social contact, and vegetative states such as loss of appetite and insomnia."

Dealing with this said state of depression is a daily chore. While designing this quilt for the Jacaranda Quilters Guild 2012 Challenge, I was once again reminded of that fact. Choosing the design in a traditional patchwork pattern, I had to also incorporate my interpretation of the colour wheel. The closer I came to the centre, the bigger the challenge. The project was abandoned at at least 5 stages and it was only with great support, abuse and manipulation that between my sister and fellow group members at Creative Hands, it was finished.

Except for a major "blaps" on the backing, the quilt came out very satisfactory and was crowned with a "Highly Commended" white ribbon at the friendship meeting.

 

I certainly learned a lot. The seemingly simple pattern required precise patchwork. This was a challenge on it's own for a free spirit like mine with virtually no patience. I now own an array of seam rippers in all shapes and sizes. 

The second breakthrough on this quilt was the detailed quilting in the negative spaces. I used templates for the first time. The quilt offered ample negative space where I could practice the technique. The design of the quilting is in lots of hearts, depicting the love needed by us all.

All together a very positive experience that dealt beautifully with possible depression. Does the design make you think of depression, or does it deal a blow to it?