weaving a new work that also will have embroidery on it

Mirjam,

I hardly ever have anything to say to you, but today it came to me: If I lived anywhere near you, I would show up on your doorstep and beg you to take me as an apprentice.

Thank you Elizabeth Lizard Gumbo for this beautiful compliment. I enjoy sharing my experience and my creative ideas with anyone wanting to create. Please `say to me ` what you create ,,, mirjam

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I don't create anything, Mirjam. I'm just a craftsman and a fixer and an arranger/interpreter of other stuff. I am not an artist. Most days, I'm okay with that. I think.

Oh, my, I think I may have misspoken. I didn't mean interpreted like writing an analytic paper on the meaning of something (I have my own opinions on that activity). For example:

I play the piano. When I was 14 or 15, I learned "Clair de Lune" (by deBussy). My mother always insisted that I was playing it wrong. Well,

*I* didn't know what was wrong with it. I played all the notes, I followed all the tempo and volume markings, I didn't make mistakes. So...why was I playing it wrong?

Then one day about 10 years later, I heard someone play it (no orchestra, just piano) and it hit me...I really *had been* playing it wrong all that time. Yes, I was technically correct, but I wasn't INTERPRETING it correctly and imbuing it with the appropriate emotion.

Of course, I was 15 then. 15-year-old angst doesn't translate to deBussy too well.

Another example: I'm in the middle of refurbishing a table my husband loves that I really DON'T love so that it A) fits in with our decor and B) drives me less nuts.

So anyway, that's what I mean about interpreting stuff. Taking an existing thing, stripping it down, and rebuilding it while putting my own spin on it.

My artistry is in words, Mirjam. Since I can't make a living by my words, I must do something else creative to take the edge off my drag of an occupation and also provide a little bit of income.

Off the subject a bit, I was just out on your site, Elizabeth - popping bubbles. What should I see but one of my favorite little tiny "welcomes"! I have a stitched collection of little houses - each more dear to me than the last. I am referring to the little round one in your Portfolio. I stitched that one (in a magazine) every so many years ago on 26 ct (1 over 1) to get it to fit into a tiny frame I had salvaged somewhere. How fun to see it again!

Whether one follows a pattern or creates that design for the pattern, the juices begin to flow. And no matter than you recreate a piece like that old table top, or build from scratch. The end result is always something new, for we are illuminated souls and cannot but help inserting some element of ourselves into whatever our art may be.

Deb

Oh, wasn't that the funnest little project?

Well, that's true. The design I'm working on now is a collaboration between an "unusual" artist and me, and I'm hoping to be able to release it on July 4.

As usual, I didn't do the art. I just...interpreted it into cross stitch. (That's what I mean, Mirjam.)

No no You haven`t misspoken , my mind wandered off with that term , I knew you meant the `other` creative kind of interpreting ,,,,,

So are you still playing the piano ????

I don`t agree with your mother i think in every age everyone interprets things in their own level and there is no Wrong interpretation of THAT kind in younger ages... just having different amounts of feelings ,,,,

You could say that is essentially the essence of Creativity !!!!

So you are double blessed !!!! mirjam

As Written in former letter i knew that Elizabeth ,,,, And i enjoy it when people look at something and come out with their Own Version with their own added ideas ,,, One of our Local newspapers , from time to time show Poetry translation of the SAME poem , by different translators ,,,,, it is remarkable ,,,,, mirjam

It came only now to my computer , but i have already answered it through an other letter ,,,, i wish you joy in your own chosen way. mirjam