Change

Change is constant.  

At times imperceptible at other times dramatic. I've made a concious effort to observe change in the past few weeks. The most dramatic change has been my mother's eye sight. An operation has done away with glasses and transformed the quality of her life. We are all so grateful for the advances in medical science and a competent doctor who could bring about this positive change.

While in post operative care my mum and I decided to explore the art form of folded book sculptures and transformed a couple of old Reader's Digest magazines.    

We need to welcome change and look for the positives it brings with it. Not always possible I know.
I've made a list of changes around me.
We changed the flooring in two rooms of our apartment
I've enjoyed the changing seasons with the beautiful display of flowering trees, trees like the peepal have shed all their leaves and the tender pale green leaves will make an appearance soon.
Mum's eyesight improved. It's like a miracle. Simply amazing
A neighbour has adopted a small muddy space outside my bedroom window and plans to create a little garden with her daughter. The little flowering plants in pots  have already brightened up the space.
My routine has changed to accommodate the needs of my aging parents and the requirements of post operative care.  
Cuttings of geraniums have sprouted new leaves on the stem and with each passing day are growing larger. The geraniums and spider plants are going to be a part of the big move my husband and I  are making next month when we go to live in the hills.
Enormous change is imminent, momentum is gathering.
These are just some of the changes I'm aware of, it's right there in my face but the wheels of change are forever turning imperceptible changes which will be noticed perhaps at a later date.
Change has taught me patience and made me more aware of how I use time. I've grown more sensitive to the needs and abilities of people who are aging. It's teaching me efficiency and to multi task better.
How do you see change? What has it taught you?

Have a good weekend.
If you're wondering if this blog has changed from being a fiber and embroidery blog to one that focuses on paper fear not change is at hand there's a fiber book and other fiber projects which are in the works and will be revealed in the coming weeks.      

April TIF is now complete

I've completed my TIF piece for April. Here's a detail of the tree which symbolises an urgent need to change in order to avert a global climate crisis.

I hope Blogger will oblige and permit you to view an enlarged version of the image belowwhen you click on it. Some of the text is not clearly visible. In orange is http://www.climatecrisis.net/ and below that in brown is Earth Day- April 22.

Here are both the pages of the April TIF.

I'm happy to report that all the tussar silk, sequins, beads and embroidery thread came from my stash of craft things The base fabric for the piece itself is a laundry bag from a hotel, I've been recycling these laundry bags and using them as the base for all my TIF pieces. That's an attempt to walk the talk - reduce, reuse and recycle.

Progress on the April TIF

The tree which is in full bloom symbolizes change.We need to make changes and more educated choices to reverse global warming and the climate crisis.

Have to start work on the page on the left which will have more text. The tree made of tussar silk applique and sequins. All these are from my stash. I haven't had to go out and buy a thing thus far.
Detail of the foliage and flowers on the tree.The colours are loosely based on the palette for this month.

I think I'll have the pages for April completed by the end of the month.

April - Take It Further Challenge

Around the time Sharon announced the challenge -"How do you see change? That is the challenge topic this month", and colour palette for April I watched the Oscar winning movie An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore.A bit heavy on facts and figures but they are required I guess to drive home the point that there is a climate crisis which has dire consequences for all of us but there is a little ray of hope which is heavily dependant on the need to change.

I think there will be a tussle in most people's attitude to change as far as climate crisis is concerned but I think there are so many areas where small changes can be made in our lives without actually affecting the quality of our lives.We really need to do all we can to make those changes.

Along with the credits for the movie An Inconvient Truth, lines of text appear on the screen which actually spoke to me more than the movie itself and I'm going to be incorporating it into my TIF piece for April. Here are some of those lines which I wrote down

"Are you ready to change the way you live? The Climate Crisis can be solved.
You can reduce your carbon emissions.
Buy energy efficient appliances - lightbulbs.
Recycle
When you can, walk or ride a bicycle
When you can, use light rail and mass transit
Switch to renewable sources of energy
Plant trees, lots of trees
If you believe in prayer , pray that people will find the strenght to change.
In the words of the old African proverb: When you pray,move your feet.
Learn as much as you can about the climate crisis. Then put your knowledge into action."

I've made concious decisions in a bid to reduce consumption of resources in an attempt to slow and reduce the climate crisis
I buy food and fruit which are locally produced and which are in season.
Shut off all appliances when not in use such as computer, television etc and never use the standby option.
Try and remember to carry a shopping bag with me so I won't have to bring more plastic shopping bags home. ( I need to do a better job of this one)
To buy stuff only if its necessary, find ways to recycle or help the process of recycling like separating my garbage. R's mantra which I like to remember when I have to decide whether I should buy something or not - there are things which are nice to have and those which you need to have.
Living on the ground floor is not at all bad in summer with the fan on, so each year when summer rolls around R's idea of an air conditioner in our bedroom is vetoed, 10 years is a good record I think!
We replaced our car recently and opted for one that's fuel efficient over those which make a statement and give you power and less kilometers to the litre of petrol.
I'm sure I can do more and must educate myself.

Now to the pages for the April - TIF
On the left hand page I'm going to have bits of text and on the right are the beginnings of a tree which is my symbol for change.

As in previous months I'm going back to my stash of stuff and using what I have.

On one of my web wanderings I came across The Story of Stuff . Take a look and if you, like me sees Global warming and the Climate crisis as a situation which needs to be reversed/ changed for generations to come I promise you, you won't be disappointed and watch An Inconvenient Truth as well.