Nothing's Gonna Change My World

This is the third piece I made for the September 11th Ten Year Anniversary exhibition I am putting together with The FIber Artists for Hope group.

It is inspired by the Beatle's song, Across The Universe.

It includes hand stitching and sequin embellishments.

The background is an image I manipulated in Photoshop

and printed on prepared fabric from Joann's.

Remembering the Twin Towers

On September 10, 2000 I took a leap of faith and told my boyfriend I loved him.

We were sitting on a bench watching speed boats zoom by on the Hudson River.

He said, “Thank you.” 

On September 11, 2002 as we rode the 1 train uptown to attend the 1 year memorial in Central Park, we discussed marriage. I had always been opposed to the traditional concept of a man proposing and said, “What if we, as a couple, decided to get married?” He replied “ok.”

Several months later we became husband and wife.

We had moved in together about a week before the attacks. He had lived in an area just across the street from the WTC. We spent our courtship in the shadow of those two majestic towers. I would ride the R train from Brooklyn to the Cortland stop. I’d rise from the underground and be greeted by them. I would walk towards them, into them, through them, to reach my love.

We discovered each other as we explored a new part of the city, later named Ground Zero. We fell madly in love and the towers witnessed this, including my declaration of love.

This is how I wish to remember them, a magical time when my heart fully came alive.

My husband and I visited Ground Zero in July during a trip to see family.

Here is the subway station I used to exit. There is Ground Zero in the background.

 Here is a view of the Freedom Tower from near where he used to live.

It was an emotional visit for us.

Remembering September 11th

This is a piece I made in response to the assassination of Osama Bin Laden,

it is called, Not Enough Tears.

 Here is a close up

My husband told me the news right after I woke, my mind could barely process the news. I listened to reports on the radio. I listened as co-workers discussed it at lunch, and I listened as my teenage students made ignorant comments and assumptions about conspiracy theories. I did not discuss it, because I could not. I did not know what to say, how to feel, what to think.

Once I was in the safety of my own home, I watched a video of the president’s announcement. While my mind might not have known what to think, my heart brought tears. I sat and wept. But for what? I was so confused. I tried to process my feelings.

I am fortunate to say that as a New Yorker, I did not lose a loved one, but I know many who have. I was a third year teacher in Brooklyn. I peaked out of my classroom window on that faithful day, and in one moment saw the Twin Towers, and in next they were gone.

While the death of OBL is a victory for America, it reminds me of all we lost, the lives, the innocence, the sense of safety. His single death does not bring me closure, it reignites my heartbreak. As I sat weeping all by myself, I realized, there will never be enough tears to mourn the tragic events of September 11th.

I walked around my house, I needed to do something, to sew, to piece swatches of fabric together. To feel the fabric in my hands, to hear the hum of my sewing machine. I needed to make something. I start with blue fabric, blue for tears. I piece them together, 1 inch squares. I included some orange and yellow at the top to represent hope. We must always have hope. Over the next 6 days I complete the piece. I stitched out the towers in the middle with grey thread. I hand sewed beads to represent tears. I added a black border to represent grief.

Do I feel better? No, I doubt I ever will.

This piece will be part of an exhibit by The Fiber Artists of Hope to honor the ten-year anniversary of September 11th. All pieces will be 9” x 11”.

Sacred Threads Acceptance 2011

I’m very pleased to say that I had 2 of my pieces accepted into the Sacred Threads exhibit. The show will be held in the Washington DC area June 22 – July 4, 2011 at the

Church of the Epiphany, 3301 Hidden Meadow Drive, Herndon, Virginia.

"Sacred Threads is an exhibition of quilts exploring themes of spirituality, joy, inspiration, peace/brotherhood, grief and healing. This biennial exhibition was established to provide a safe venue for quilters who see their work as a connection to the sacred and/or as an expression of their spiritual journey. The objective is to create a dignified exhibition of artwork that touches on both spiritual and personal levels for all those who view it. Sacred Threads wants to share with others the experiences of quilters whose stories may be a source of healing and strength."

Primary Chairs

 This series focuses on illustrating the many ways we can reformulate and recommit in response to change or loss in our lives. We find the strength to forge ahead, either through the love and encouragement of friends and family, our faith to maintain balance, or our own inner strength to anchor ourselves. All three pieces were made using repurposed fabric from men’s shirts purchased at thrift stores.

Keeping Balance

My husband and I have struggled to figure out how to keep balance during a challenging time. Through many difficulties, arguments and discussions we have worked through the anger to strengthen our relationship. We now work together gracefully to keep our life harmonious and function with little friction. We are able to maintain this balance through our great love of each other and our faith.

My creativity map

This is a piece I made in response to a call for art maps for

the Fill in The Blamk Gallery  as part of the Version II event.

I am hoping it will be part of The MDW Fair: visual arts landing in Chicago on April 23 & 24th.

 I designed it so it can fold up like a real map

2011 Word of the Year

Last year's word was JOY

When I reflected on last year's word, and if I had achieved it, at first I wasn't sure.

Then I realized that indeed my husband and I had achieved a new joy in our love and relationship.

In February he started working again after almost 3 years.

This was the beginning of the next phase of our life together.

We have a new appreciation for our time together and spend of most of it laughing. 

This year's word is:

There are many changes I would like to make happen in 2011.

Too many to list, covering the whole spectrum, from health to career.

This is a piece I made in September to mark the beginning of living as if a leaf in the river of life.

I now try to trust more in the universe and not resist or fight the events around me.

I was inspired to live a more peaceful calm life after listening to

Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul by Deepak Chopra.

I highly recommend his work.

The leaf is 3 dimensional and floats above the river.

I have found living this way to be much more enjoyable than my old way.

Christmas Egg Muffins

My neighbor back in NY posted these on her Facebook, so I had to make them.

Use Puff Pastry sheets by Pepperidge Farm from your local grocery store.

It needs to thaw 40 minutes, I used one sheet.

 Bake some strips of bacon with brown sugar in the toaster oven.

 Fill the muffin tins with the puff pastry and bacon

 Add egg, milk and cheese mixture

 Sip on some coffee as they bake, about 15 minutes

 When the egg puffs up like a muffin, they are done

 They pop right out of the muffin tins

 Yum!

I can't wait to make them again tomorrow.