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Zen Zone

I think working on this quilt I made from thrifted clothing fabric is helping change the way I think about textiles. When I first started putting it together it definitely seemed like a deliberate recycling project, as I was making something new from something old and unwanted. Yet as I hand quilted it I began to appreciate the fabrics for their colors and textures. I've never used fabrics like these to make a quilt. It's very comforting to know that what is often thrown away can be turned into something new and beautiful, but I don't often think about the opportunities that provides for me to learn more about my art.

The embroidery I'm doing now is simple, and yet transformative. I keep stitching circles as I think about how we can all find ways to reuse discarded materials to practice making as well as finding inspiration.

When you go to a Goodwill in my area, 95% of the store is taken up by racks of unwanted clothing. All those possibilities are waiting for someone to discover them and reuse them. I wish more artists would, as this project has been a real eye-opening experience for me.

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