The spiritual side of fabric arts/LONG

WARNING: This post probably should have been headed "OT" in some
peoples opinions. In my opinion, it is not OT by any means if you are
an artist of any kind. Furthermore, this post does contain a spiritual
connotation. I am not a "religious" person by any means, but I do
consider myself very, VERY spiritual - so if you are offended by
spiritually related topics on this group, please read no further.

I must admit, I did get my feelings hurt this week. I have thought
about it, AFTER having a couple of good nights sleep, and, after having
prayed and meditated on the subject for a couple of days. As of this
morning, and after this posting, I promise to "let it go" and leave it
in the hearts of those it touches. And, as a side note, I will remind
you that I once posted that my mother has said for years, "Tina, you
are just TOO sensitive."
So there is the full disclaimer.

I am not a malicious or criminal type person. I am a human being who
loves and enjoys life and all it has to offer me. I have a terminal
illness, which very nearly, permanently took my life almost 20 years
ago. In fact, I was legally dead for part of my stay in the hospital,
but that is another story which I will be all too happy to share with
anyone who wants to hear it. I learned a LOT from that experience
though, and that is a little of what goes into what I want to say in
this post.

Being an "artist" of any kind, be it quilting, sewing in general,
painting, drawing, graphics, decorating, baking, cooking, gardening,
writing, etc. - is a gift. Let me re-phrase that: Being an artist, and
having a talent, is a GIFT. It is a gift that any one human has been
given, to be able to express themselves, to be able to express
feelings, emotions and the beauty and tragedy of life, through art.
True feelings of a human beings heart and soul just can not be
expresssed adequately in words, that is why we were given the gift of
creating artistic expression. Anyone, who has been blessed enough to
be given that gift, also has a responsibility to themselves, the giver
of that gift and to the fellow human beings whom they share life with,
to share that GIFT.

I am not foolish or naive enough to think, that in this day and age,
there aren't plenty of human beings who are ready, willing and able to
steal and exploit the gifts and talents of others. But you know what?
That's part of the gift too. Being able to stand tall, proud and
confident, while still being humble enough to know that your gift may
be taken in the wrong way, stolen even, exploited even and to "let it
go." The person who stole it, the person who exploited it is also
learning a valuable life lesson that they need to learn. Perhaps the
person they stole it from, the person who was exploited, is also
learning a valuable life lesson that they need to learn. It is kind of
"kharma" in a manner of speaking, the old, "what's goes around, comes
around" and believe me, it does and it will. But how you react to it,
how you take it and learn from it and deal with it is the essence of
your humanity. It is the core of your lifes learning and the kind of
person you want to and will become.

The other side of this, is the people in life who have been given that
gift and can no longer share it. For example, I have a grandmother who
used to make beautiful, handmade doilies. She would work for hours and
hours on end making the most beautiful, most intricate designs that
didn't just attract and touch your eye, they touched your very soul.
They moved you, nearly to tears, that something so delicate, something
so fragile and beautiful could be made by the human hand. It was truly
a gift that inspired people she met in her life. My grandmother now
has arthritis and Alzheimers Disease. She doesn't even remember HOW to
crochet anymore. Her hands wouldn't allow her to hold a crochet hook
if her very life depended on it. It makes her cry. It makes me cry.
But man oh man, can she appreciate and enjoy a crocheted doilie made by
someone else. It makes her so happy, so alive and joyful to see
someone elses handwork. Of course she critiques it, points out what
they could have done differently or better or what parts are
outstanding to her. She doesn't want to "steal" it, she does want to
"steal" a bit of their joy, their serenity in the work, their passion
and that she does. And you know what else, every chance I get, I give
it to her. It may be a picture of someone elses doilies, it may be one
I found at a flea market, it may be one I find in a magazine - and she
loves them all. She gets excited and "alive" over each and every one.
She appreciates the emotions, the feelings the work and the GIFT of,
and from, the person who created it.

I have to say this much - the day, the moment, that I become so good,
so prideful, of my quilting, my sewing, my writing, my gardening or my
art, that I don't want to share it or have it shared with others, even
at the risk of having it "stolen" from me - may God strike me dead that
very moment. I will no longer be serving my purpose in life. I will
no longer be truly sharing the GIFT I was given to be able to create
beautiful things that touch peoples hearts and souls. I will no longer
be enjoying and appreciating my own GIFT if I am no longer willing to
share it with anyone and everyone that might possibily be touched by
its meaning and its message.

In this day and age of technology and convenience, beauty and tragedy,
too many people have gotten wrapped up in the rules, regulations,
commercialism and greed of life to appreciate the GIFTS, the truly
special and important talents and GIFTS of their fellow human beings.
There are a lot of people, just in this group, who still have that
GIFT, who still have the GIFT of being able to create feelings and
emotions that touch peoples hearts and souls through their art, their
craft. There are a lot of people, just in this group, who no longer
have the GIFT of being able to create, or to share their GIFT, and yet
they still have the gift of being able to appreciate and enjoy the GIFT
of others, when they are allowed to. It still touches their heart and
soul and reminds them of the beautiful gifts life has to offer us and
which life truly intended for us to enjoy. The GIFTS of our hands and
hearts, not just our machines, our modern technology or our modern
inventions.

When you sew something, when you piece something together and you stand
back and look at what you have created - do you think, I wonder how
much money I can get for this? Is that truly the first thought that
comes to your mind? Or do you stand back, in awe and wonder, look at
what you have created and think, "Wow, I created that? It's
beautiful!" Does it touch your heart? Does it move your soul? THAT
my friends is a GIFT. Don't you, wouldn't you, want to share that with
others who would truly be moved by it?

I guess I don't know how to explain this enough to get across what I
feel in my heart. I have tried and will have to depend on the gifts of
your heart to fully understand what I am trying to say. Appreciate
your gift and appreciate that others want to feel it in their heart and
soul as much as you do, especially if they can't "create it" with their
hands any longer when they still see and feel it in their heart.

Enough said, now moving on.
Hugs,
Tina

great words, great heart, thanks Tina for sharing your feeling!
ciao


marina in Rome
http://community.webshots.com/user/kometamarina


"Tina" ha scritto nel messaggio
ups.com...
WARNING: This post probably should have been headed "OT" in some
peoples opinions. In my opinion, it is not OT by any means if you are
an artist of any kind. Furthermore, this post does contain a spiritual
connotation. I am not a "religious" person by any means, but I do
consider myself very, VERY spiritual - so if you are offended by
spiritually related topics on this group, please read no further.

I must admit, I did get my feelings hurt this week. I have thought
about it, AFTER having a couple of good nights sleep, and, after having
prayed and meditated on the subject for a couple of days. As of this
morning, and after this posting, I promise to "let it go" and leave it
in the hearts of those it touches. And, as a side note, I will remind
you that I once posted that my mother has said for years, "Tina, you
are just TOO sensitive."
So there is the full disclaimer.

I am not a malicious or criminal type person. I am a human being who
loves and enjoys life and all it has to offer me. I have a terminal
illness, which very nearly, permanently took my life almost 20 years
ago. In fact, I was legally dead for part of my stay in the hospital,
but that is another story which I will be all too happy to share with
anyone who wants to hear it. I learned a LOT from that experience
though, and that is a little of what goes into what I want to say in
this post.

Being an "artist" of any kind, be it quilting, sewing in general,
painting, drawing, graphics, decorating, baking, cooking, gardening,
writing, etc. - is a gift. Let me re-phrase that: Being an artist, and
having a talent, is a GIFT. It is a gift that any one human has been
given, to be able to express themselves, to be able to express
feelings, emotions and the beauty and tragedy of life, through art.
True feelings of a human beings heart and soul just can not be
expresssed adequately in words, that is why we were given the gift of
creating artistic expression. Anyone, who has been blessed enough to
be given that gift, also has a responsibility to themselves, the giver
of that gift and to the fellow human beings whom they share life with,
to share that GIFT.

I am not foolish or naive enough to think, that in this day and age,
there aren't plenty of human beings who are ready, willing and able to
steal and exploit the gifts and talents of others. But you know what?
That's part of the gift too. Being able to stand tall, proud and
confident, while still being humble enough to know that your gift may
be taken in the wrong way, stolen even, exploited even and to "let it
go." The person who stole it, the person who exploited it is also
learning a valuable life lesson that they need to learn. Perhaps the
person they stole it from, the person who was exploited, is also
learning a valuable life lesson that they need to learn. It is kind of
"kharma" in a manner of speaking, the old, "what's goes around, comes
around" and believe me, it does and it will. But how you react to it,
how you take it and learn from it and deal with it is the essence of
your humanity. It is the core of your lifes learning and the kind of
person you want to and will become.

The other side of this, is the people in life who have been given that
gift and can no longer share it. For example, I have a grandmother who
used to make beautiful, handmade doilies. She would work for hours and
hours on end making the most beautiful, most intricate designs that
didn't just attract and touch your eye, they touched your very soul.
They moved you, nearly to tears, that something so delicate, something
so fragile and beautiful could be made by the human hand. It was truly
a gift that inspired people she met in her life. My grandmother now
has arthritis and Alzheimers Disease. She doesn't even remember HOW to
crochet anymore. Her hands wouldn't allow her to hold a crochet hook
if her very life depended on it. It makes her cry. It makes me cry.
But man oh man, can she appreciate and enjoy a crocheted doilie made by
someone else. It makes her so happy, so alive and joyful to see
someone elses handwork. Of course she critiques it, points out what
they could have done differently or better or what parts are
outstanding to her. She doesn't want to "steal" it, she does want to
"steal" a bit of their joy, their serenity in the work, their passion
and that she does. And you know what else, every chance I get, I give
it to her. It may be a picture of someone elses doilies, it may be one
I found at a flea market, it may be one I find in a magazine - and she
loves them all. She gets excited and "alive" over each and every one.
She appreciates the emotions, the feelings the work and the GIFT of,
and from, the person who created it.

I have to say this much - the day, the moment, that I become so good,
so prideful, of my quilting, my sewing, my writing, my gardening or my
art, that I don't want to share it or have it shared with others, even
at the risk of having it "stolen" from me - may God strike me dead that
very moment. I will no longer be serving my purpose in life. I will
no longer be truly sharing the GIFT I was given to be able to create
beautiful things that touch peoples hearts and souls. I will no longer
be enjoying and appreciating my own GIFT if I am no longer willing to
share it with anyone and everyone that might possibily be touched by
its meaning and its message.

In this day and age of technology and convenience, beauty and tragedy,
too many people have gotten wrapped up in the rules, regulations,
commercialism and greed of life to appreciate the GIFTS, the truly
special and important talents and GIFTS of their fellow human beings.
There are a lot of people, just in this group, who still have that
GIFT, who still have the GIFT of being able to create feelings and
emotions that touch peoples hearts and souls through their art, their
craft. There are a lot of people, just in this group, who no longer
have the GIFT of being able to create, or to share their GIFT, and yet
they still have the gift of being able to appreciate and enjoy the GIFT
of others, when they are allowed to. It still touches their heart and
soul and reminds them of the beautiful gifts life has to offer us and
which life truly intended for us to enjoy. The GIFTS of our hands and
hearts, not just our machines, our modern technology or our modern
inventions.

When you sew something, when you piece something together and you stand
back and look at what you have created - do you think, I wonder how
much money I can get for this? Is that truly the first thought that
comes to your mind? Or do you stand back, in awe and wonder, look at
what you have created and think, "Wow, I created that? It's
beautiful!" Does it touch your heart? Does it move your soul? THAT
my friends is a GIFT. Don't you, wouldn't you, want to share that with
others who would truly be moved by it?

I guess I don't know how to explain this enough to get across what I
feel in my heart. I have tried and will have to depend on the gifts of
your heart to fully understand what I am trying to say. Appreciate
your gift and appreciate that others want to feel it in their heart and
soul as much as you do, especially if they can't "create it" with their
hands any longer when they still see and feel it in their heart.

Enough said, now moving on.
Hugs,
Tina

On 22 Oct 2005 10:05:51 -0700, "Tina" wrote:

WARNING: This post probably should have been headed "OT" in some
peoples opinions. In my opinion, it is not OT by any means if you are
an artist of any kind. Furthermore, this post does contain a spiritual
connotation. I am not a "religious" person by any means, but I do
consider myself very, VERY spiritual - so if you are offended by
spiritually related topics on this group, please read no further.

I must admit, I did get my feelings hurt this week. I have thought
about it, AFTER having a couple of good nights sleep, and, after having
prayed and meditated on the subject for a couple of days. As of this
morning, and after this posting, I promise to "let it go" and leave it
in the hearts of those it touches. And, as a side note, I will remind
you that I once posted that my mother has said for years, "Tina, you
are just TOO sensitive."
So there is the full disclaimer.

I am not a malicious or criminal type person. I am a human being who
loves and enjoys life and all it has to offer me. I have a terminal
illness, which very nearly, permanently took my life almost 20 years
ago. In fact, I was legally dead for part of my stay in the hospital,
but that is another story which I will be all too happy to share with
anyone who wants to hear it. I learned a LOT from that experience
though, and that is a little of what goes into what I want to say in
this post.

Being an "artist" of any kind, be it quilting, sewing in general,
painting, drawing, graphics, decorating, baking, cooking, gardening,
writing, etc. - is a gift. Let me re-phrase that: Being an artist, and
having a talent, is a GIFT. It is a gift that any one human has been
given, to be able to express themselves, to be able to express
feelings, emotions and the beauty and tragedy of life, through art.
True feelings of a human beings heart and soul just can not be
expresssed adequately in words, that is why we were given the gift of
creating artistic expression. Anyone, who has been blessed enough to
be given that gift, also has a responsibility to themselves, the giver
of that gift and to the fellow human beings whom they share life with,
to share that GIFT.

I am not foolish or naive enough to think, that in this day and age,
there aren't plenty of human beings who are ready, willing and able to
steal and exploit the gifts and talents of others. But you know what?
That's part of the gift too. Being able to stand tall, proud and
confident, while still being humble enough to know that your gift may
be taken in the wrong way, stolen even, exploited even and to "let it
go." The person who stole it, the person who exploited it is also
learning a valuable life lesson that they need to learn. Perhaps the
person they stole it from, the person who was exploited, is also
learning a valuable life lesson that they need to learn. It is kind of
"kharma" in a manner of speaking, the old, "what's goes around, comes
around" and believe me, it does and it will. But how you react to it,
how you take it and learn from it and deal with it is the essence of
your humanity. It is the core of your lifes learning and the kind of
person you want to and will become.

The other side of this, is the people in life who have been given that
gift and can no longer share it. For example, I have a grandmother who
used to make beautiful, handmade doilies. She would work for hours and
hours on end making the most beautiful, most intricate designs that
didn't just attract and touch your eye, they touched your very soul.
They moved you, nearly to tears, that something so delicate, something
so fragile and beautiful could be made by the human hand. It was truly
a gift that inspired people she met in her life. My grandmother now
has arthritis and Alzheimers Disease. She doesn't even remember HOW to
crochet anymore. Her hands wouldn't allow her to hold a crochet hook
if her very life depended on it. It makes her cry. It makes me cry.
But man oh man, can she appreciate and enjoy a crocheted doilie made by
someone else. It makes her so happy, so alive and joyful to see
someone elses handwork. Of course she critiques it, points out what
they could have done differently or better or what parts are
outstanding to her. She doesn't want to "steal" it, she does want to
"steal" a bit of their joy, their serenity in the work, their passion
and that she does. And you know what else, every chance I get, I give
it to her. It may be a picture of someone elses doilies, it may be one
I found at a flea market, it may be one I find in a magazine - and she
loves them all. She gets excited and "alive" over each and every one.
She appreciates the emotions, the feelings the work and the GIFT of,
and from, the person who created it.

I have to say this much - the day, the moment, that I become so good,
so prideful, of my quilting, my sewing, my writing, my gardening or my
art, that I don't want to share it or have it shared with others, even
at the risk of having it "stolen" from me - may God strike me dead that
very moment. I will no longer be serving my purpose in life. I will
no longer be truly sharing the GIFT I was given to be able to create
beautiful things that touch peoples hearts and souls. I will no longer
be enjoying and appreciating my own GIFT if I am no longer willing to
share it with anyone and everyone that might possibily be touched by
its meaning and its message.

In this day and age of technology and convenience, beauty and tragedy,
too many people have gotten wrapped up in the rules, regulations,
commercialism and greed of life to appreciate the GIFTS, the truly
special and important talents and GIFTS of their fellow human beings.
There are a lot of people, just in this group, who still have that
GIFT, who still have the GIFT of being able to create feelings and
emotions that touch peoples hearts and souls through their art, their
craft. There are a lot of people, just in this group, who no longer
have the GIFT of being able to create, or to share their GIFT, and yet
they still have the gift of being able to appreciate and enjoy the GIFT
of others, when they are allowed to. It still touches their heart and
soul and reminds them of the beautiful gifts life has to offer us and
which life truly intended for us to enjoy. The GIFTS of our hands and
hearts, not just our machines, our modern technology or our modern
inventions.

When you sew something, when you piece something together and you stand
back and look at what you have created - do you think, I wonder how
much money I can get for this? Is that truly the first thought that
comes to your mind? Or do you stand back, in awe and wonder, look at
what you have created and think, "Wow, I created that? It's
beautiful!" Does it touch your heart? Does it move your soul? THAT
my friends is a GIFT. Don't you, wouldn't you, want to share that with
others who would truly be moved by it?

I guess I don't know how to explain this enough to get across what I
feel in my heart. I have tried and will have to depend on the gifts of
your heart to fully understand what I am trying to say. Appreciate
your gift and appreciate that others want to feel it in their heart and
soul as much as you do, especially if they can't "create it" with their
hands any longer when they still see and feel it in their heart.

Enough said, now moving on.
Hugs,
Tina

Very eloquent. Says it all.

--
Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~
http://community.webshots.com/user/sallyswin

Beautifully stated, Tina.

Mary

In article . com,
"Tina" wrote:

WARNING: This post probably should have been headed "OT" in some
peoples opinions. In my opinion, it is not OT by any means if you are
an artist of any kind. Furthermore, this post does contain a spiritual
connotation. I am not a "religious" person by any means, but I do
consider myself very, VERY spiritual - so if you are offended by
spiritually related topics on this group, please read no further.

I must admit, I did get my feelings hurt this week. I have thought
about it, AFTER having a couple of good nights sleep, and, after having
prayed and meditated on the subject for a couple of days. As of this
morning, and after this posting, I promise to "let it go" and leave it
in the hearts of those it touches. And, as a side note, I will remind
you that I once posted that my mother has said for years, "Tina, you
are just TOO sensitive."
So there is the full disclaimer.

I am not a malicious or criminal type person. I am a human being who
loves and enjoys life and all it has to offer me. I have a terminal
illness, which very nearly, permanently took my life almost 20 years
ago. In fact, I was legally dead for part of my stay in the hospital,
but that is another story which I will be all too happy to share with
anyone who wants to hear it. I learned a LOT from that experience
though, and that is a little of what goes into what I want to say in
this post.

Being an "artist" of any kind, be it quilting, sewing in general,
painting, drawing, graphics, decorating, baking, cooking, gardening,
writing, etc. - is a gift. Let me re-phrase that: Being an artist, and
having a talent, is a GIFT. It is a gift that any one human has been
given, to be able to express themselves, to be able to express
feelings, emotions and the beauty and tragedy of life, through art.
True feelings of a human beings heart and soul just can not be
expresssed adequately in words, that is why we were given the gift of
creating artistic expression. Anyone, who has been blessed enough to
be given that gift, also has a responsibility to themselves, the giver
of that gift and to the fellow human beings whom they share life with,
to share that GIFT.

I am not foolish or naive enough to think, that in this day and age,
there aren't plenty of human beings who are ready, willing and able to
steal and exploit the gifts and talents of others. But you know what?
That's part of the gift too. Being able to stand tall, proud and
confident, while still being humble enough to know that your gift may
be taken in the wrong way, stolen even, exploited even and to "let it
go." The person who stole it, the person who exploited it is also
learning a valuable life lesson that they need to learn. Perhaps the
person they stole it from, the person who was exploited, is also
learning a valuable life lesson that they need to learn. It is kind of
"kharma" in a manner of speaking, the old, "what's goes around, comes
around" and believe me, it does and it will. But how you react to it,
how you take it and learn from it and deal with it is the essence of
your humanity. It is the core of your lifes learning and the kind of
person you want to and will become.

The other side of this, is the people in life who have been given that
gift and can no longer share it. For example, I have a grandmother who
used to make beautiful, handmade doilies. She would work for hours and
hours on end making the most beautiful, most intricate designs that
didn't just attract and touch your eye, they touched your very soul.
They moved you, nearly to tears, that something so delicate, something
so fragile and beautiful could be made by the human hand. It was truly
a gift that inspired people she met in her life. My grandmother now
has arthritis and Alzheimers Disease. She doesn't even remember HOW to
crochet anymore. Her hands wouldn't allow her to hold a crochet hook
if her very life depended on it. It makes her cry. It makes me cry.
But man oh man, can she appreciate and enjoy a crocheted doilie made by
someone else. It makes her so happy, so alive and joyful to see
someone elses handwork. Of course she critiques it, points out what
they could have done differently or better or what parts are
outstanding to her. She doesn't want to "steal" it, she does want to
"steal" a bit of their joy, their serenity in the work, their passion
and that she does. And you know what else, every chance I get, I give
it to her. It may be a picture of someone elses doilies, it may be one
I found at a flea market, it may be one I find in a magazine - and she
loves them all. She gets excited and "alive" over each and every one.
She appreciates the emotions, the feelings the work and the GIFT of,
and from, the person who created it.

I have to say this much - the day, the moment, that I become so good,
so prideful, of my quilting, my sewing, my writing, my gardening or my
art, that I don't want to share it or have it shared with others, even
at the risk of having it "stolen" from me - may God strike me dead that
very moment. I will no longer be serving my purpose in life. I will
no longer be truly sharing the GIFT I was given to be able to create
beautiful things that touch peoples hearts and souls. I will no longer
be enjoying and appreciating my own GIFT if I am no longer willing to
share it with anyone and everyone that might possibily be touched by
its meaning and its message.

In this day and age of technology and convenience, beauty and tragedy,
too many people have gotten wrapped up in the rules, regulations,
commercialism and greed of life to appreciate the GIFTS, the truly
special and important talents and GIFTS of their fellow human beings.
There are a lot of people, just in this group, who still have that
GIFT, who still have the GIFT of being able to create feelings and
emotions that touch peoples hearts and souls through their art, their
craft. There are a lot of people, just in this group, who no longer
have the GIFT of being able to create, or to share their GIFT, and yet
they still have the gift of being able to appreciate and enjoy the GIFT
of others, when they are allowed to. It still touches their heart and
soul and reminds them of the beautiful gifts life has to offer us and
which life truly intended for us to enjoy. The GIFTS of our hands and
hearts, not just our machines, our modern technology or our modern
inventions.

When you sew something, when you piece something together and you stand
back and look at what you have created - do you think, I wonder how
much money I can get for this? Is that truly the first thought that
comes to your mind? Or do you stand back, in awe and wonder, look at
what you have created and think, "Wow, I created that? It's
beautiful!" Does it touch your heart? Does it move your soul? THAT
my friends is a GIFT. Don't you, wouldn't you, want to share that with
others who would truly be moved by it?

I guess I don't know how to explain this enough to get across what I
feel in my heart. I have tried and will have to depend on the gifts of
your heart to fully understand what I am trying to say. Appreciate
your gift and appreciate that others want to feel it in their heart and
soul as much as you do, especially if they can't "create it" with their
hands any longer when they still see and feel it in their heart.

Enough said, now moving on.
Hugs,
Tina


What you've said here is beautiful, Tina -- just as much a gift as any
doily or quilt.
--
Sandy in Henderson, near Las Vegas
my ISP is earthlink.net -- put sfoster1(at) in front
http://home.earthlink.net/~sfoster1

AKA Dame Sandy, Minister of Education

Amen!

Tina wrote:
I guess I don't know how to explain this enough to get across what I
feel in my heart. I have tried and will have to depend on the gifts of
your heart to fully understand what I am trying to say. Appreciate
your gift and appreciate that others want to feel it in their heart and
soul as much as you do, especially if they can't "create it" with their
hands any longer when they still see and feel it in their heart.

Enough said, now moving on.
Hugs,
Tina

Tina , very well said, very moving, you truly understand what life is
all about, keep on keeping on and may you stay with this group a long
long time.
Dixie.

When I give to you something I made with my hands I share my heart.

Sic em Tiger!! I got your back.

--
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SNIGDIBBLY
~e~
"
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"Tina" wrote in message
ups.com...
WARNING: This post probably should have been headed "OT" in some
peoples opinions. In my opinion, it is not OT by any means if you are
an artist of any kind. Furthermore, this post does contain a spiritual
connotation. I am not a "religious" person by any means, but I do
consider myself very, VERY spiritual - so if you are offended by
spiritually related topics on this group, please read no further.

I must admit, I did get my feelings hurt this week. I have thought
about it, AFTER having a couple of good nights sleep, and, after having
prayed and meditated on the subject for a couple of days. As of this
morning, and after this posting, I promise to "let it go" and leave it
in the hearts of those it touches. And, as a side note, I will remind
you that I once posted that my mother has said for years, "Tina, you
are just TOO sensitive."
So there is the full disclaimer.

I am not a malicious or criminal type person. I am a human being who
loves and enjoys life and all it has to offer me. I have a terminal
illness, which very nearly, permanently took my life almost 20 years
ago. In fact, I was legally dead for part of my stay in the hospital,
but that is another story which I will be all too happy to share with
anyone who wants to hear it. I learned a LOT from that experience
though, and that is a little of what goes into what I want to say in
this post.

Being an "artist" of any kind, be it quilting, sewing in general,
painting, drawing, graphics, decorating, baking, cooking, gardening,
writing, etc. - is a gift. Let me re-phrase that: Being an artist, and
having a talent, is a GIFT. It is a gift that any one human has been
given, to be able to express themselves, to be able to express
feelings, emotions and the beauty and tragedy of life, through art.
True feelings of a human beings heart and soul just can not be
expresssed adequately in words, that is why we were given the gift of
creating artistic expression. Anyone, who has been blessed enough to
be given that gift, also has a responsibility to themselves, the giver
of that gift and to the fellow human beings whom they share life with,
to share that GIFT.

I am not foolish or naive enough to think, that in this day and age,
there aren't plenty of human beings who are ready, willing and able to
steal and exploit the gifts and talents of others. But you know what?
That's part of the gift too. Being able to stand tall, proud and
confident, while still being humble enough to know that your gift may
be taken in the wrong way, stolen even, exploited even and to "let it
go." The person who stole it, the person who exploited it is also
learning a valuable life lesson that they need to learn. Perhaps the
person they stole it from, the person who was exploited, is also
learning a valuable life lesson that they need to learn. It is kind of
"kharma" in a manner of speaking, the old, "what's goes around, comes
around" and believe me, it does and it will. But how you react to it,
how you take it and learn from it and deal with it is the essence of
your humanity. It is the core of your lifes learning and the kind of
person you want to and will become.

The other side of this, is the people in life who have been given that
gift and can no longer share it. For example, I have a grandmother who
used to make beautiful, handmade doilies. She would work for hours and
hours on end making the most beautiful, most intricate designs that
didn't just attract and touch your eye, they touched your very soul.
They moved you, nearly to tears, that something so delicate, something
so fragile and beautiful could be made by the human hand. It was truly
a gift that inspired people she met in her life. My grandmother now
has arthritis and Alzheimers Disease. She doesn't even remember HOW to
crochet anymore. Her hands wouldn't allow her to hold a crochet hook
if her very life depended on it. It makes her cry. It makes me cry.
But man oh man, can she appreciate and enjoy a crocheted doilie made by
someone else. It makes her so happy, so alive and joyful to see
someone elses handwork. Of course she critiques it, points out what
they could have done differently or better or what parts are
outstanding to her. She doesn't want to "steal" it, she does want to
"steal" a bit of their joy, their serenity in the work, their passion
and that she does. And you know what else, every chance I get, I give
it to her. It may be a picture of someone elses doilies, it may be one
I found at a flea market, it may be one I find in a magazine - and she
loves them all. She gets excited and "alive" over each and every one.
She appreciates the emotions, the feelings the work and the GIFT of,
and from, the person who created it.

I have to say this much - the day, the moment, that I become so good,
so prideful, of my quilting, my sewing, my writing, my gardening or my
art, that I don't want to share it or have it shared with others, even
at the risk of having it "stolen" from me - may God strike me dead that
very moment. I will no longer be serving my purpose in life. I will
no longer be truly sharing the GIFT I was given to be able to create
beautiful things that touch peoples hearts and souls. I will no longer
be enjoying and appreciating my own GIFT if I am no longer willing to
share it with anyone and everyone that might possibily be touched by
its meaning and its message.

In this day and age of technology and convenience, beauty and tragedy,
too many people have gotten wrapped up in the rules, regulations,
commercialism and greed of life to appreciate the GIFTS, the truly
special and important talents and GIFTS of their fellow human beings.
There are a lot of people, just in this group, who still have that
GIFT, who still have the GIFT of being able to create feelings and
emotions that touch peoples hearts and souls through their art, their
craft. There are a lot of people, just in this group, who no longer
have the GIFT of being able to create, or to share their GIFT, and yet
they still have the gift of being able to appreciate and enjoy the GIFT
of others, when they are allowed to. It still touches their heart and
soul and reminds them of the beautiful gifts life has to offer us and
which life truly intended for us to enjoy. The GIFTS of our hands and
hearts, not just our machines, our modern technology or our modern
inventions.

When you sew something, when you piece something together and you stand
back and look at what you have created - do you think, I wonder how
much money I can get for this? Is that truly the first thought that
comes to your mind? Or do you stand back, in awe and wonder, look at
what you have created and think, "Wow, I created that? It's
beautiful!" Does it touch your heart? Does it move your soul? THAT
my friends is a GIFT. Don't you, wouldn't you, want to share that with
others who would truly be moved by it?

I guess I don't know how to explain this enough to get across what I
feel in my heart. I have tried and will have to depend on the gifts of
your heart to fully understand what I am trying to say. Appreciate
your gift and appreciate that others want to feel it in their heart and
soul as much as you do, especially if they can't "create it" with their
hands any longer when they still see and feel it in their heart.

Enough said, now moving on.
Hugs,
Tina