Elevator Moments

Remember Working Woman, a movie about women in business way back in the days of women fighting to the top.  Melanie Griffiths is an off beat secretary working for a driven, cut throat female boss.  In my favourite scene they are in an elevator with the owner of the company.  Melanie's boss has taken credit for an idea and it is time to prove that she thought it up herself.  She explains that while reading gossip magazines she saw a connection between two formerly unconnected businesses.  Bing!  An idea is born.  I love the random nature of her explanation and the fact that she could obviously  take the credit.  Generally there is no explanation for original creativity.  It seems to just happen be it a business plan, a recipe, a quilt pattern, a novel or maybe just a turn of a phrase that is your own.. 

Traditional quilts float my boat.  I love nothing more than leafing through the pages of historical quilt books and identifying the patterns, colour combinations and layouts.  It never ceases to amaze me that I still find quilts that I would love to make or rediscover ones within familiar pages of books that I hadn't seen before.  What turns the imagination on?  The combination of all the influences I collect defines who I am as a quilter.  Recently I finished a series of quilts and a weekend loomed ahead.  I had a photo of a quilt on my design wall...

On a regular basis I find myself staring at this quilt and thinking I'd love to make it.  So, when the opportunity arose I set about to do just that.  Normally I work in strongly contrasting fabrics so I thought I'd try to make a "pretty" quilt.  I hit the stash...
How this mess of treasured fabrics could ever become a quilt is another mystery for another time.  However, I had all the fabrics I needed to make this quilt (and one fabric that I had loved so I bought the bolt!)
OK, it doesn't look exactly like the original but that is never my intent.  Knowing where I am going means I am already there...kinda boring.  The mystery that unfolds as the process progresses is my motivation.  I endeavour to find the easist way to decipher the pattern and release the urgent need to create.  Lets face it, I don't have time to mess around because I work full time!   I won't lie, the process involves bits I like and bits I don't like.  Selecting fabrics to create the mood I want is a thrill.  Mind crunching, swearing kind of math doesn't make me happy but generally, when I get to the end I look back and wonder why I didn't see the easy path to start. (You know, like Lilly on the SBS Letters & Numbers show...what a genious she is!)

I'd say in the process the layout and selection of fabric is my favorite part... the promise of joy...that's what I have always called it anyway.  When the piles of chosen fabrics are gathering and starting to set the tone for the quilt.   In this case I particularly liked the pink.  Not a normal colour for me so it was a challenge.  I often look at pretty quilts and wonder how they are made...easy for some.  So I have called this quilt Almost Pretty because I could have kept it completely soft but I had to throw in some stronger colours...just because it has to be messed up for me to like it.   Anyway, it was fun and the pattern will be available in a Quilters Companion issue some time soon!  Buy the magazine and avoid the math!

On another level sometimes I find an inspirational quilt like this...
Here is the credit trail....barged into Marg's class one day and picked up one of her books, leafed through the pages and saw this quilt.  Spent a few minutes in stun mode staring at what I was seeing.  Brain went into action as I envisioned how to make it.  Full of GREEDY anticipation, I went home and started cutting Kaffe's Marquee Stripes.  Not too hard a quilt to make but could I make it like I saw it? NO!  Had to make changes as I went along for a variety of reasons...it became as you might have seen, this...
The mood is completely different and the structure is changed by the sashing.  Would you immediately put the two together, maybe, maybe not but I'd say this version is mine.  The collision of the homespun's I had in my stash and the stripes and the photo was a nova moment where the drums of my mind beat with the excitement of creating something new.

Speaking of drums, on my favorite radio station, JJJ, there is a segment called Like A Version.  Each week an artist  performs a cover version of another artist's song.   I am always amazed by how my heart and mind play tug of war with this concept.  My heart says, "I LOVE this song."  while my mind says, "WHAT THE?"  The process of  recognition and discovering is an engaging one.   My book, due out in April 2012 explores this concept in quilts. I think it is important that our quilts are a reflection of who we are as makers and of the influences we choose to adopt into our own style.  By the nature of the process we are combining technique, colour and pattern to create something new...which by the way is ART. 

Recently, I have been involved in discussions about original creative inspiration and the blurring lines of origin. As an avid blogger I have grown a bit weary of the struggle of my urgent need to share the process of creative spirit and the fear that once put out there it is gone.  Do any of you feel that way? 

I think it might be time to give creative credit where it is due.  Not in a bad way but in an involving, truthful manner. The revelation of where you start shows how you made it your own.  Remember that no one can make what you make...no one can make all the important decisions along the way that you make.  In the end, your work is your own and you will always know that...or not.  If you see photos or words on this blog or others please respect the maker and consider the source.  To be "inpsired" is to be prompted to act or make...not to copy.  Creative respect is important. Rest assured that if you sing your song your way you'll enjoy it more. k

 

 

 

Comments

[Leah]

Oh I love your interpretation of the striped hourglasses. None of us live or quilt in a vacuum, and I love seeing where others find their starting points.

[Lynette]

You are amazing - how I wish I was able to attend your classes.

[audrey]

i really enjoyed your post! definitely something i've been thinking about for awhile. (and your quilt is absolutely lovely)

[LeeAnn]

A great new quilt! I love the ways you find to bring a uniquely edgy feel to your quilts. Never too pretty or too sweet. That is what I most love about your style!

[Barb Schaum]

I definitely am inspired by your work--just love your fabric colors---looking forward to your next book--would just love to take a class with you

[Juanita]

I love the quilts and love seeing your starting points. I, too, think that it is most enjoyable to create our own quilts, to not copy, but to be inspired by and quilt to our own beat. Thanks for always inspiring me and challenging me 'in my own mind' to make it my own!
Can't wait for the book!

[Susannah]

Fantastic post- both visually and intellectually!

[Meredithe]

Love your new "pretty quilt"! It still looks decidedly you tho' with some quirky colours in there - just gorgeous!! Thanks for doing the maths - I'll be keeping an eye out for that in future editions of Quilters' Companion.

[LoriD]

What an awesome quilt and I love your interpretation!!
I agree that quilters need to share what prompted them and give the original quilter credit.

[Vivian]

I think the thing I have enjoyed most about quilting is the "process" part. I love seeing how I get from "inspiration" to "perspiration" to "finish", especially if there are detours or issues to be resolved along the way that change the direction of how a project was expected to go.

[cardygirl]

Inspiration is how we develop our tastes and forge our evolving styles...without it we would be sewing squares together...or maybe not even that! Seeing how we can personalise a design and add our own stamp keeps everyone inspired...love what you have done and love the inspiration too!

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