Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Huffing and puffing....I forgot to look up!

The moment I saw this boardwalk at the beginning of Sunday's mountain bike ride at Duthie Hill, I thought....Jean Wells and her book,Intuitive Color and Design. And that was where the thought stayed, in the middle of a plank floating on the boggy waters......beyond this pathway, all guts and a lot of huffing and puffing!
"Noah and Sean, let me go ahead so that I can photograph you as you come down the boardwalk...." I love comparing the top boardwalk that I met at the beginning of our virgin ride to this mountain and then this photo of Noah leaving the park on the boardwalk. Initially, there was only the unknown and nature at its naked raw..... and leaving, memories and real stories of my family's mayhem. If you were to ask me a regret I have from my younger years.....that I did not train and go to the Olympics in mountain biking. It is a passion of my mine that so many people know little about......
Do you see what I see with the theme of this blog post in mind? I bought this fabric last week imagining it to become a part of a quilt with a bird theme....birds of a feather....but instead, tread of bike tires in the mud of Duthie.....and how fun that the bike tread is skewed hearts hooked! Oh the metaphors when one chooses to look and see and play with ideas!
My boardwalk planks are cut from a fabric that was aspen trunks. Little too light in color I realize so I tried to darken with the tan quilting thread. Initially I was disappointed because the planks look like a spine to me. But then....gotta have a backbone to ride the mountains so it seemed to work out for me. I am one who does not like to unpick my quilts so a good spin is a relief for me.
Finished piece......and the story behind the title of this post. The theme of this art piece is, Along the journey don't forget to look up, there are treetops if you take a moment to enjoy them. There are not any tree tops in this piece because I was so focused on breathing and picking my line since it was technical and my first time to this park that I never looked up, just at the trail or my surroundings eye level. While quilting last night on the porch, a friend of mine who has had quite a journey with drugs and alcohol and is now sober and completing college, texted me and I realized this piece was meant for him. He commented at one moment in the conversation that he could not wait to finish school and get on with his goals. I asked him to remember to look up during this final year and see the tree tops!.... Love, Em

8 comments:

Kim said...

Lovely piece of work Em, I hope he enjoys it and thinks of it as loving friend supporting him on his journey in recovery to a life time of freedom from addiction.
My brother just celebrated his 21st year of sobriety!
Even though you did not get to ride in the Olympics, mountain biking is such a great life long sport, and riding with your family....priceless :0)

Happy Sewing

Em said...

Love to u, Kim! So true about playing w family and blog friends of course. Happy TOOsday. Em

beth said...

This is a wonderful inspiring post! Thanks for the encouragement.

Dresden Quilter said...

It is beautiful. I love the story. I have nominated you for the Liebster Award. You may find the details on my blog.

Karen said...

It's perfect!!

Vesuviusmama said...

Great story behind a great piece! I'm always telling the kids applying to college these days to not forget to enjoy high school - they are too focused on what is next. Mountain biking, eh? I can see you doing that competitively. And kicking butt!

Janet said...

Beautiful piece Em. It`s so nice that you have so much time for fun with your family now.

Clare said...

Great post Em. Love the photos. Happy Friday.