|
Notes From My Journal
Make Your Life A Work
of Art!
I have a long list of artistic skills that I want to
work on some day but even though I haven't found the time to
learn them, I enjoy seeing other artists' creations. Hand-woven fabrics are one
of my absolute favorites and I had an opportunity this past weekend
to sit and watch a woman dressed in Revolutionary garb weave a table
runner on a floor loom at a local festival.
As I watched, it
occurred to me that our lives are much like her weaving. Woven cloth is made up of
two elements – the warp and the weft. The warp is a series of long
threads, yarns or strings that are affixed to the loom and run
continuously through the length of the cloth and are generally all
the same. The weft are
other fibers, which may be absolutely anything, that are woven in
between the warp threads in a variety of patterns. Often the weft is a
different color, a different thickness or a variety of different
fibers, strings or yarns.
In weaving projects that are created as art for hanging,
other elements such as feathers, buttons, sticks, ribbons or wires
may be used.
So
it suddenly occurred to me that I have been changing the texture of
the weaving that is my life in the last few years. The warp threads that hold
me together are my family members and long-time friends, my
spirituality, my ethics and moral code, my love of learning, my
eternal optimism, my independence and even my stubbornness. These have always been a
part of my life.
But, I have been adding a lot of new weft yarns in recent
years.
First I made a couple of holes with some hard but
important personal decisions, but they are hardly noticeable now.
Then I changed the background color by moving to a new locale and
home; I've added lots of interesting buttons and beads in the form
of new acquaintances and friends; there was a short strand of color
for a JOB that turned out to be all wrong for me, but that has been
replaced by rows of thick, lush brightly colored yarn that represent
a new direction for my life's work. There are a few feathers for
travel and adventure opportunities, and a scattering of sequins for
a whole new set of goals and dreams. Suddenly, the fabric
of my life is colorful and interesting again!
How about you – has
the fabric of your life become a monotonous pattern in pale
colors? Think about
hanging it up on the wall – is it a work of art to show off?
There are so many
ways to add interest to your weaving. Join a new hobby group; take
a class; explore a neighboring city; spend two hours in the library
just browsing whatever catches your eye; take the time to set some
new goals; make a decision to change something that is toxic for
you.
Create a
vibrant new pattern – you can do that……and you never know what you
might discover about yourself in the meantime.
Life
& Work By Design |
