*That's how my mother used to describe something that was over the top. It's the perfect description of my last three weeks -- from the wedding shower trip to Edmonton, to securing a venue for the debut of my installation, Mark on the Body, to the whirlwind trip to Stratford, ON and the Opening of My Corner of the World's twin exhibits, to the day at Ailsa Craig with the art of the Latvian quilters and weavers, to two days of stitching with Monika Kinner-Whalen -- her "From Sketch to Stitch" class -- at Fibre Potpourri, held at Olds College, Olds, Alberta.
Each event, taken separately, was delightful, fun, and interesting. Each was a blessing. Each was full of surprise, colour, fabulous food, and friendly faces.
There were many hugs and some tears and lots more laughter.
Therein lies the rub...or at least, the challenge. It's tough to articulate, but as much as I tried to find a way to decompress, each event was so full and rich that I couldn't fully process it before moving into the next one.
I didn't know where to put it all -- especially the attention I'd received about Mark on the Body, and at the Opening, which spilled over into the Fibre Potpourri weekend. Suddenly I was being recognized, even sought out -- to talk about myself and my work -- an experience hitherto totally foreign to me, and completely against my upbringing. My mother loved us and was proud of us, I'm sure, but spent much of her parenting time drilling into us that we had to put others before ourselves at all times and in all places, lest "your halo pinch your ears".
By Monday evening of this week, I was ready to explode -- and I did!
Blessedly, I was alone, and it was dark and rainy, which suited my mood down to the ground. I can even tell you what set me off. I was gathering packages of yarn to put in the car for the Annual Yard Sale at my church. They began to slip and slide and eventually I dropped one on my way to the car (in the garage).
That's it.
Just that little thing.
But it was enough to bring out of me yells, screams, rants, raves. I picked up the errant package, stuffed everything into the back seat of the car, and beetled back into the house -- where I continued my hissy fit for a good long time...
Until, at last, a bit out of breath, I was empty.
Empty of anger, empty of fear (of success). Rid of those over-loaded emotions.
I went to bed. And Tuesday was a new day.
Now, for you, Gentle Readers, a few of my favourite photos from the MCOTW exhibits. (If you want to see them all, visit the SAQA website for the slideshows or better yet, try to see the exhibit when/if it travels near you in the next two years.)
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| My colleague, Jaynie Himsl of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, with her piece, Poplar Point |
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| Looking Down - Janet Scruggs, Calgary, Alberta |
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| Time Passes Over the Earth - Judy Martin, Manitoulin Island, Ontario |
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| Tradition is Growing on Me - Hilary Rice, Stirling, Ontario |
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| You've Got Mail - Susan Tilsley Manley - Westville, Nova Scotia Concerning the gradual demise of the rural Post Office in Canada |
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| Barbara Schneider - Illinois, USA Line Dance, Tree Ring Patterns,Var. 13 |
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| Me - showing off Jenny Lyon's Prairie Afternoon Born and raised on the US grasslands, Jenny now lives in California |
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| Me - showing off Gwyned Trefethen's Deconstructed Sunrise #3 I didn't realize the size of it when I was following Gywned's process on her blog! Gwyned resides in Wisconsin, USA |
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| Laura Wasilowski - Illinois, USA Blue Chair in the Library with a Candlestick |
Before I head out to mow the back lawn and plant my tomatoes...I'll leave you with this question: have you ever had an experience (maybe more than once) such as I described? If so...what did you do? How did you respond?
Okay; that's three questions...But I'm curious. Any fear of success in any of you, Gentle Readers?
Linking this up to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Friday...and wishing you a wonderful weekend!
