Begin Anywhere

The beginning is the most important part of the work.  - Plato

Plato speaks to me.  I understand what he means.  If you don't begin, then there is no work.  Beginning is key.  Go into the studio and do something; do anything.  

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  -Lao-Tsu

When I've been procrastinating and paying attention to the ridiculous things, like reorganizing my bedroom closet, the linen closet, and the pantry - Really? YES! - then beginning is, indeed, the most important part of the work. 

But once I've begun?  Once I've begun, there are all those other most important parts of the work!  I know, I know - a superlative applies to just one thing.  There can be only one most beautiful girl in the world.  So, allow me to rephrase it: There are many aspects which are of the utmost importance. How's that?

What are those aspects? There are the obvious elements - choosing the right pieces of cloth, or thread, or buttons, and so forth.  That almost goes without saying.  A crucial aspect of the work involves being mindful, being with the piece, caring about the piece.  I have to feel the soul of the piece in order for it to work.  If it has no soul, then it is not complete.  And that's the other element that is as important as beginning:  ending.  And by this, I mean properly ending.  There is no such thing as "good enough."  It has to be right.   When it is right, it is perfect.  

Dre & Adeline with Charlie - A Particular Kind of Perfection

My new mantra, replacing Waste Not * Want Not, is Begin Anywhere.  Adeline introduced me to the phrase (it's attributed to John Cage) and I love it! Waste Not * Want Not  is an old lady scolding.  Begin Anywhere  is freedom and encouragement and no judgment.  And that's exactly what I need.  Maybe you do too.


Lately, when someone asks me for my card, and even sometimes when they don't, I hand them one of these. 

*  BEGIN ANYWHERE  *

A Valentine Kiss From Cupid - or Klimt - or Dougie


Today I was greeted by a fairly large package on the kitchen table, wrapped in pages from yesterday's New York Times, and sporting a bright red envelope with my name on it. Hmmm ... it's Valentine's Day! I picked it up - rather, I tried to pick it up - but since I am walking with a cane these days (more about that some other time), it was way too heavy for me to carry. Dougie to the rescue. We headed to the family room where I would open this mystery package.


I confess, I was a little scared to open it. Dougie tends to be the extravagant one, while I am the worrier who thinks about things like paying the bills. I had a feeling this was going to be one of those gifts that caused me to worry!  I opened it and found I was looking at a large cardboard suitcase of sorts, imprinted with an intriguing piece of art by Gustav Klimt. Inside this case was a book - rather, a BOOK - like none I have ever seen. I spent about two seconds debating whether I was going to worry about the expense before I decided to give Cupid his due.


Wow! Gustav Klimt: The Complete Paintings, by Tobias Natter; produced by Taschen. This is a stunning, magnificent book! In fact, it is more like a museum; a 676-page, twenty pound museum!

Of course I haven't started any serious reading yet, but I can tell you of some highlights:

- fascinating images of early work,
- images which chronicle his experimentation with what became his iconic use of squares and swirls and triangles and gold,
- an extensive section on the Stocklet Frieze, which is an incredible mosaic built inside a Viennese villa, complete with amazing four-page wide fold outs and separate full size posters,
- a photo catalog of the complete list of Klimt's paintings
- 231 letters, cards, and other documents - all known Klimt correspondence - is included (good luck reading his handwriting),
- and, the women! The beautiful, rich, avant-garde women ... shown here in paintings as well as photographs. I am enamored of these women.


I must say, this is the most spectacular book I have ever held in my hands.  I'm planning on having a lot of fun with these images, not the least of which will be incorporating some of their elements into my little quilts.  When you think of all the many circles and squares that I've obsessively sewn over the years, you can probably understand why I am so excited by Klimt's work. Always have been, but my knowledge was so limited!  Now I'm going to become a Klimt Connoisseur, instead of just a Gustav Groupie.



CUPID