In a recent podcast interview with Pat Sloan we talked briefly about creativity and inspiration. Creativity for me happens when I imagine the possibilities as I plan a quilting project. That happens after I have had an inspiring experience—be it discovering a leaf along the road on my morning walk to the Mississippi River or reading about a new technique or seeing a color combination I hadn’t used before. Serge Bloch said, “creativity is the art of combining a little idea with another little idea” and eventually you have a great idea. When I’m working on a quilted project that is what often happens. I have a little idea and then while I am working on that another idea inches it’s way into my consciousness and I begin a different line of thought. I also do a lot of what some would call procrastination but it’s really just taking time to sit back, reflect and gather in additional information or ideas and allowing them to simmer before continuing.  I savor the process of creating rather than being driven to move to a finished product.

A small project to illustrate the process is this collage that was going to be just a patchwork of shapes of my hand dyed vintage linens cut and sewn in an interesting way with soft pastel colors that reminded me of a particular spring morning. Perhaps I would add some decorative threads hand stitched for accent. I got that part of the project done and it was not as inspiring to look at as I had visualized. So I put it out of sight for a few days, contemplating off and on what I might add to make it more interesting. A spring-like patchwork needed a spring-like flower and some additional linens with different texture, some silk ties of the right color, a touch of rainbow organza leftover from another project, and then some beads and a little more stitching.

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place, and in the sky,

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard among the guns below.”

My first memories of poppies (the Oriental Poppy) relate to the border along our driveway on the farm and how my mother liked their bright color but also considered them very weed-like as they encroached on the other flowers.   I loved their bright red orange flowers and the yellow green leaves that seemed “stickery” but weren’t and didn’t understand why I couldn’t pick them and make a bouquet—they didn’t last long once cut so enjoy in their natural environment. I also remember my grandparents being dedicated members of the American Legion and Poppy Days was an obligation they felt very strongly about since my grandfather served in WWI. I always associate the Flanders field quote with an image of my grandmother and great aunt selling the crepe paper poppies in Shannon City and also in Creston as they had a small paper handout that mentioned Flanders field even though I did not know what that meant for many years.

 

My idea for a round robin effort was to use the pattern from a book by Lisa Bongean, “Garden Gatherings”. I used batIks, homespun and prints with embellishment at the center of the poppies added as part of the round robin. I envisioned an asymmetrical setting that remains rectangular. I love the addition made by each of my friends to make a small wall hanging that I cherish for the many memories it represents.

 

I am thankful for the service and safety of my husband, my uncles, my grandfather, my father-in-law and brother-in-law. I remember with respect those who gave their life to preserve the freedoms we enjoy.