Living, Grieving and Creating

"Hope After Sorrow"

We are going to suffer. 
Ant it is going to shape us
Somehow.
We will become bitter or better,
closed or open,
more ignorant or more aware,
more or less tuned in to the thousands of 
gifts we are surrounded with 
every single moment
of every single day. --Rob Bell

I have not posted for a long time and yet, I cannot remember a time when I have been more creative. The ideas just keep flowing out of me as if I am possessed. If you have read my blog, you know that in 2013, I had nine friends and my mother-in-law die. My dad died the following spring. The death of family and friends has continued. This year my friend of more than 20 years died unexpectedly and my cousin Sandy died from cancer. Sandy was convinced until the end that she could beat it. I suspect that Marti might have given up. I have inherited her UFOs and slowly finishing them and finding places to donate them. I do not think I will ever stop grieving, but I also know that if not now, when? 

And so I have given myself permission to explore whatever I my heart desires whether it is assemblage, printing, collage, quilting, etc. I continue to explore "why do we keep the things that we do?" My mother sent me my great aunt's nursing school apron from the late 1930s. I have been turning it into a piece of art. I have also been entering and getting into gallery shows and admit that every success is a surprise and also encouraging.  For months, I have been exploring eco dyeing and pretend I am a mad scientist. I have made more than 50 napkins because they are fun and my grandchildren adore them. I say, "I love you" often and with meaning. I hope you do too. I spend Fridays once a month creating with my friend, Barbara Wester, and feel truly blessed that she is in my life. Art heals. Art has saved me.  I thought I could walk away from this blog and just concentrate on creating, but alas, it is important to me even if no one reads it. 

Life Had Other Plans

I had planned to start a couple of new projects on Monday, but returning home from picking up by piece at the Burning Bush Gallery, I discovered that my cat of more than 20 years, E.G. (named after one of my favorite authors- Ellen Gilchrist) had decided to die. By the time I found her, she had slipped thankfully into a coma. I sat with her until she drew her last breath. While it was and still is extremely sad, I am glad she died at home. She hated car rides and really hated the vet. I knew it was coming because after all she was old and had been going downhill for quite a while. She lived far long than I had ever thought possible especially considering she was feral. The grieving continues and I am ready to start my new projects that I will be sharing soon. How have you coped with the loss of a pet?