Monday, January 26, 2009

Traveller's Blanket for Zenobia



I have been making slow but steady progress on the travellers' blanket for Zenobia.It is a completely different mindset to work on the blue fabric, particularly in chosing the colours of the threads. I do like the quilting stitches in red, though as I look at the image on my screen it does seem to have the effect of purpling the blue. I always love the way the colour of thread interacts with the fabric it is placed on.Anyway there is still a lot more stitching to do, and more squares to be appliqued.

I have been trying to think of ideas for the on-line lino-cut and printing course I want to devise. So much of lino-cutting is about thinking in reverse- and thinking about the textures that can be created with the carving tools, which of course become interesting when stitched- so it isn't simply about creating an image but also about how the textures of the image can be stitched to make them more interesting.

Today is Australia Day , and an indigenous Australian ,Professor Mick Dodson from the ANU, was named Australian of the year.Mick Dodson has been a tireless advocate for his people in a society that often has a very racist and patriarchal attitude to indigenous people and a nation that until one year ago refused to acknowledge that there was indeed stolen generations of indigenous people ( how they could deny it is beyond me as I went to school with several children who were exactly in that situation). Mick Dodson has suggested that Australia day should be held on a different day as his people view it as the day their nation was taken away. Initially i thought that it was not a good idea but as I have been sitting and stitching I think it is the only way to achieve reconciliation- to acknowledge that the creation of the Australian nation was at the cost of taking away anothers' right to their nationhood and shifting it to a more positive mode. That we have to go forward together goes without saying and I think that joint decision should be marked by a national celebration which includes all of our people embracing equal rights and freedom.I think Australia day should not embody the past, but instead should focus on the future- what we might achieve as a brilliantly diverse community. And what better time than now when there seems to be optimism of an uplifting kind with the inauguration of Barack Obama- when Martin Luther King's words have some meaning again, when the Inaugural Poet, Elizabeth Alexander points to the power of words. Not cliches but the beauty of words and language- love , liefde, amour,amore, love for our fellow human beings.
Tell me your words for love in your langauge- make it your daily mantra.


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6 comments:

Eva said...

Liebe
Words are sensitive matter, they easily become worn-out. But action counts.
Words allow to justify everything. People can justify anything, even the greatest injustice, with the word "love". Saying they want the best for the one they actually tutalize, alienate from his roots (because they are "bad"), forcing new habits onto a person. Thats why some say that the actions of the past were justified. The importance of a person's own will has not yet been fully discovered.

Clare Wassermann said...

I love your blanket - I am particularly fond of the red Kantha style stitching

Anonymous said...

In mijn taal heet dat liefde Dijanne, love is the word.

Alexandra said...

Iubire = love, in Romanian.
I love your work and I like you as a person very much, Dijanne.
:-)

Jaysales said...

Dear Sir/ Madam,

Hi…

Hope everything is going well at your end.
As you know we are exporter of Indian Vintage Kantha stitch Throw and Pillows.

Pls note the link for our product catalogue https://picasaweb.google.com/114903978874796814244

Pls note: all designs are in assorted sizes (approx 60”x90”) assorted color and different kantha techniques (100% handmade).
In case if you require any further assistance pls do let us know we will be happy to assist you in best possible way we can.

We welcome and honor your queries.

Thanks with best Regards.

Mahesh
M/s. Jay Sales Corporation
Plot No. 1, Shivesh Vihar,
Gandhi Path, Vashali Nagar
Jaipur-302005 (Raj.)
India
Ph: 91-141-3274297 (4 Lines)
Mob: +91 9928772914
Email : jaysalescorporationofindia@gmail.com

https://picasaweb.google.com/114903978874796814244/

Jaysales said...

Dear Sir/ Madam,

Hi…

Hope everything is going well at your end.
As you know we are exporter of Indian Vintage Kantha stitch Throw and Pillows.

Pls note the link for our product catalogue https://picasaweb.google.com/114903978874796814244

Pls note: all designs are in assorted sizes (approx 60”x90”) assorted color and different kantha techniques (100% handmade).
In case if you require any further assistance pls do let us know we will be happy to assist you in best possible way we can.

We welcome and honor your queries.

Thanks with best Regards.

Mahesh
M/s. Jay Sales Corporation
Plot No. 1, Shivesh Vihar,
Gandhi Path, Vashali Nagar
Jaipur-302005 (Raj.)
India
Ph: 91-141-3274297 (4 Lines)
Mob: +91 9928772914
Email : jaysalescorporationofindia@gmail.com

https://picasaweb.google.com/114903978874796814244/