Diversity

Quilters are great at putting pieces together to form a new whole. But there are times when the pattern and the fabric just don't go together. I had that happen to me when I bought a range of fabrics that I really liked and came up with a pattern that would look really nice with those fabrics. Here's the result.

It totally flopped in my mind! It's just........ Too much, too something! I can't really explain why I don't like it.
Funny thing is that it's a cross with a heart inside. Even funnier is that this quilt came to mind this morning when I read my prayer for today from McRoberts & Erickson's book on prayer:
"May I cease to be annoyed that others are not as I wish they were, since I'm not as I wish I was".
Somehow this prayer struck a chord and a movie I recently watched came to mind as well. I highly recommend watching this on Netflix: the Biggest Little Farm. it follows a couple as they start a biological/natural farm in the desert of California. It takes them seven years of struggling and learning, but the results are stunning and telling. We all know that mono cultures are prone to disease and that the more diversity in crop, the better and healthier the soil and produce. Another lesson from our native people is that we need to learn to work with nature, in stead of making nature work for us. 
So what if this lesson is transferred to people? Does the same principle work?
I believe so, if I read Scripture correctly. The main principle that we must love is key to humans living together in harmony. When we love one another, diversity is the best thing ever and also the hardest thing ever. But the pictures that are painted in the beginning of Eden and at the end of Paradise, tell us that it is possible for humanity, earth and heaven to live in unity. And that's what we are remembering during Lent. The Triune God who loves Creation so much that they are willing to die for it. 
"May I cease to be annoyed that others are not as I wish they were, since I'm not as I wish I was".

Evolution

In my busy mind ideas and images come and go. A lot of times it feels like a big crock pot and things are stewing around. I think scientists are on to something when they talk about the primordial stew so many million years ago. I can relate to that when I think about my own creative processes. There are bits and pieces that are put into the brain and they mix and mingle, making new connections, until one day: BOOM! An idea takes shape and form and comes to live in word or picture. 
I've been intrigued a long time by this pattern of an ancient labyrinth in Algeria:

It has many optical patterns in a square. How many do you see?
Since it is a square it lends itself perfectly for a quilt pattern........ At least in my analytical, pattern seeking mind.......

BOOM!

A new creation comes to live. But wait there's  more!

Another pattern comes to mind........

BOOM!

Another idea takes shape.

But wait there's more............

I love this pattern of 4 hearts surrounding the cross in a Celtic knot. I also love labyrinths and there is a pattern in my file somewhere..............

Et Voila! A combination of ingredients from the stew result in a whole new creation. Isn't it amazing how our brain works and comes up with these things?

Stay posted for what is stewing now!