There are times in life when you're feeling "off" (especially when you have issues with anxiety) and you don't go out much..... it's the solice you need to just get your thoughts and your breath under control. Sadly there are times some friends cannot understand this and feel you are doing something wrong or slighting them or that it's easy to just "not feel that way". Well I am here to tell you I don't feel this way on purpose nor do I feel this way to annoy someone. What I need at these times is love, understanding, support.....a little nurture goes a long way. You know what I mean? I don't need to be mollycoddled.....I don't need someone to stroke my head ....... I just need unconditional friendship. Especially from those who have dealt with this themselves so know it isn't always like this. SO why I am I even talking about this.......
It is because ART becomes my saving grace - I am doing something that brings me a great deal of joy and inner peace with paint all over my clothes and music is playing - or even an old black and white film on Turner Classic Movies. I lose myself in it and find I smile for no reason...that's a good thing in times like this. Joy is also found in making something that will go to someone else that will bring THEM joy. In fact giving joy to another is very, very good medicine.
My friend BB at Somepinkflowers and I are also Facebook friends (we've been blogger friends for some years now as well). I had posted a picture of an apron I wanted to makeon FB..........she liked it.........I said I'd make one for her. I don't think she thought I was serious at first, but I definitely was. An apron for doing art that you can get paint and gesso and whatever on it - instead of ones clothes. I also knew she needed a bit of joy sent her way so the apron was to have two purposes......protect her clothes and send her a hug she could wear.
This was the pattern (one I've had for about 10 yrs but hadn't made)
When I cut it out and pinned it I ended up not liking how it looked....it's rather baggy and well.........I wanted to change how it went on. So I did a bit of trial and error.
This is the finished apron being sent cross country........keep in mind this dress form I made is not to scale - height or proportion to anyone.
The criss cross in the back is actually more at the upper back, it looks loose and low due to the dress form.
One thing I decided was in order to infuse a real sense of the joy and warm friendship I wanted to send her....I wasn't going to use the sewing machine. I wanted it to be all by hand. And even though I painted on it I EXPECT it to get splashes of paint etc on it. That will authenticate its purpose. And OF COURSE it had to have some pink flowers on it!
Now I am going to make myself one.........
Remember...........just calling a friend or even emailing them....to say "I am thinking of you today, how are you feeling?" carries SO MUCH impact on a persons life.
And also remember this............
You are beautiful, you are exceptional, you are amazing, you are important!
