I always ask her, what have you created lately? She said, "Oh here are a few pairs of socks I've knitted!" (She also knitted the blanket they are laying on! Again, Eldra didn't know how to knit when I met her. She decided she wanted to learn...SO SHE DID!)
"Here are the last two quilts I've made....
She then shared the story about this quilt with me.
What a great lesson! I asked her if she would like to share it with all of you. She said, "yes" and jotted down her story. I hope you are inspired by Eldra's story....
I always tell my students, “You must take risks, loosen up, and be willing to fail. If not, you will never really know what you’re capable of writing.” I say this with perfect confidence because I’ve been writing essays for a long time and I’m perfectly willing to push myself and often I’m perplexed when they let their fear of failure inhibit them.
But recently, I had a failure in a different arena that re-taught me my own lesson and I’m so happy for my failure because not only did it allow me to empathize more with my students’ fears, it allowed me to pick myself up and start again. The very message I send out daily in class.
I’ve discovered a Swedish designer, Gudren Sjӧden. Her work is colorful, bohemian, ethnic, and so beautiful. I decided that I wanted to try to make a dress that would reflect her style. Off I went to my fabrics. I chose from what I had and soon I had created a Big Fat Flop of a dress!
Wishing you many new inspiration,
Barb & Betsey