The Tapestry of Life

A couple of months ago, I wrote a poem in celebration of the artistic endeavours of the many wonderful crafters and artists across the globe. I thought, after the last few days of wonderful activity, that it was particularly relevant, so I am posting it here, and dedicate it to all those who participated in the One World – One Heart event, and especially to Lisa who initiated it and worked so hard to organise it.

The Tapestry of Life.

Creative vision stretched to the limit;
expanded, embroidered, tweaked or stitched.
Richness of content, skilfully manipulated
with loving expression in seamless candour.
 
Human vision showing strength and diversity
Painting the soul and etching the pain.
Drawing on experience to mould silent messages.
Sculpting innovation, unmasking the arcane.
 
Euphoric joy portrayed so effectively
with deliberate strokes and quill unrestrained.
A myriad of colours, washes and templates
artistically quilted into everyday life.
 
How difficult to express point of view, inner eye;
to convey the uncharted, or patterns intrinsic
to the gossamer existence, the fabric of life,
in a material web of silken deceit.
 
How skilful to communicate with the world in a flash.
Capture moments in time, leave an image of truth.
Render the imperfections, enhance and transform,
Yet draw the naïve and sublimate their vision.
 
A voice, quietly spoken, undemanding but firm,
creates freedom, releases the treasures from within.
Innate creativity, explores tangible palettes
to produce art from the darkness of a virgin soul.
 
Ingenuity, originality, tinted with love
embellishing  the prosaic, the rubber-stamped umber.
Enriching and cleansing, uplifting and inspiring.
Artistry, the window to a passionate muse.
 
Society’s values, pollacked and poetical;
concealed, yet apparent in a magical jigsaw
of colours, textures, materials and shapes
stippled with love, a lasting impression.
 
Artistic expression, whatever the form,
is a universal gift. It is ready to use.
Communicating, negotiating, peacefully painting
a safe world, a sanctuary.
Humanity wise up!

© DF 2007

FANTASTIC!

Well, now that I have finished my draw, I can take time out to revel in my own winnings. I won two giveaways. I am so excited about them.

The first is a georgeous pair of earrings from Angela at funkycatstudio.com I think Angela was worried because I was giving away earrings, but I live for earrings, and it’s always wonderful to have some made by someone else, just as it is great to buy them from a shop. These are the earrings. I love them, and can’t wait to wear them. they are exactly what I would have chosen for myself! (And I’m not just saying that!)

Then I was lucky to have a second win, this time  from Antonelli’s website…http://www.quilling.blogspot.com/. Now this was particuarly amazing because it is down to Antonelli’s site that I became aware of the One World – One Heart event. I was looking for some information about quilling, something I love to see, but have never tried. I Googled ‘quilling’ and found her wonderful site, which explains what quilling is and how to get started with some of the basic shapes. There are free patterns too. I am dying to have a go! Anyway, having been made aware of the contest, I decided to participate and whilst I was entering all the draws, I kept wishing I could remember where I had first seen the information about it. When I won my beautiful giveawy on Antonelli’s blog, I suddenly realised. This was where it had all started. This is the lady I have to blame for all the fun and excitement of the last few days. As a thank you to her, I am going to send her a reciprocal gift. This is my Santa giveaway, made by Antonelli, and yes…Quilled! I am very excited.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Angela and Antonelli. Both blogs will be added to my blogroll, as will quite a few of the blogs of other participants.

 

I still have some cards to finish making for the second prize winner, but I should have them done very soon. I am now looking forward to reading all these blogs and seeing all the creative things other people do. There is such a wealth of talent. Aren’t we so lucky to have a tool that enables us to contact people thousands of miles away and share our lives with them? Whatever the disadvantages of the internet, there are overwhelming advantages too. If only people would appreciate it and not abuse it!

I have enjoyed this experience so much that I am going to have a weekly giveaway, so watch this space for more info!

****Winners!!****

Ok…I gave up with the paper version…it took pages and pages of paper, (and I had only printed half at that point!!), and whilst I was cutting, I thought…’I've got to fold them all too! I’ll be here all afternoon!’. So I decided to use the Random Number Generator, a nifty little device which I found on http://www.violetsareblue.net/ The generator is here. Much quicker! So…da dum! Here are the winners.

Prize No1 – Three Gift Cards – goes to This Girl Remembers thisgirlremembers.wordpress.com

Prize No.2 – Three gift cards – goes to Sharon at   http://schutt.net/sharon/

Prize No.3 – A set of three birthday cards – goes to Becky at artofzinkibaru.blogspot.com

Prize No. 4 – Two pairs of Earrings – goes to Angie at quillysilly@yahoo.com

Prize No.5 – A set of Toppers – goes to Linda (Craftygallinda)

***Congratulations to you all***

If you read this before I get to email you, please send your address via a comment at the bottom of this post. Comments are moderated, so I will not publish any personal details, names addresses, email etc, and will only make the comment visible after editing, if there is anything else left!! I will, however try and contact you all by email.

This has been fantastic fun Lisa, thank you for organising it. It is such a good idea, and the fun continues now as we explore each others’ blogs and make new friends. I can’t wait until next year!!

Congratulations to all the winners across the event, commisserations to those who didn’t win prizes, but I suspect that most of us were in this for other reasons. Anyway, I will certainly be organising other giveaways on this blog, so keep in touch. I look forward to seeing you all again.

Hugs to everyone,

Susie.