Unity and Wonder

Many people set goals at the beginning of a new year. Unity, Wonder, Enchantment, and Belonging are concepts that guide me as I set about making new art quilts. I Wish/Want to make 10 medium to large art pieces this year, showing our cosmic connections, and containing narrative figures and abstract backgrounds.

Wish/Want is the first step of a goal-setting template developed by Gabriele Oettingen. The other components after Wish/Want are Outcome, Obstacles, and a Plan for overcoming obstacles.: WOOP

So far I am on track with a series I call Unity and Wonder. I will probably complete the second quilt this coming week, and I am excited to share the first one in the series now. It is called Touch. Because of it’s large size, I had to utilize my ping pong table for the fusing step.

Touch, 47 X 43, 2026

The color in the full image seen above is not as accurate as the detail images seen below.

Touch detail of little girl and horse

Touch detail of horse and background

Touch detail of circles, flowers, and quilt stitching.

Each new piece in the series will have it’s own challenges. I will need to find reference photos that suggest narratives about connection. Combining figures and abstract elements has been a goal of mine for years, but more recently I have worked in one or the other style exclusively, so combining them successfully will be both new and fun! Also: Obstacles will crop up, some avoidable (with discipline) and some not. So many things compete for our time! I write my representatives, curate art shows, clean up the garden, teach, practice music, cook meals, and visit family. But I also try to work 2 -5 hours each day in my studio. As this Unity and Wonder project unfolds, I will look at each opportunity and challlenge with a clear eye to the whole of what I want to achieve this year.

The piece now in progress, which I plan to share in my next blog, doesn’t have a title yet. It is based on the photo below which has pleasing oval shapes and colors, and great light and shadows. Please share your title ideas.

Reference photo

At the end of each blog I share a recipe or food suggestion. I like to have cooked broccoli on hand to put in salads or add to vegetable sautes. You may not have heard that broccoli releases more nutrients when you “Chop and Stop” - that is, when you chop it and then let it sit for a while before cooking. Look it up for an explaination of the science. The “Chop and Stop” approach is recommended for the whole family of cruciferous vegetables, including brussels sprouts, cauliflower and cabbage.

Wash the broccoli, cut it into bite-size bits, and put in a glass bowl. Add 3 T. water and cover. Let it sit for 30 - 90 minutes. Microwave it for 5 minutes and let it sit for another 5 minutes. Drain. It’s delicious hot or cold. I learned this cooking method from Zoe Science and Nutrition interviews.

For a terrific salad, combine cooked broccoli, avocado, chopped bell pepper, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and cubed jack cheese. Top with raisins and roasted seeds.