I have made a lot of progress on my quilt and am learning so much along the way about the process of designing a quilt as well as the mechanics. I’m almost finished…all that’s left is to bind the outside. I was up way late last night sewing away, and when I drove the sewing machine needle through my left thumb, I decided to call it a night. Luckily my injury did not necessitate a trip to the emergency room, just a bandaid. I’ll post a finished shot of my quilt after I finish it and it’s ready to hang.
My entry is a self portrait of sorts and the subject is one I have been thinking about for a long time. I do not actually consider myself a kitchen goddess. Part of the description of the show reads, “Recently society has had a nostalgic rebirth, with longing for family dinner hour, home-cooked meals and the woman who can ‘have it all’, with a family, job and flawless house. This exhibit is a collection of symbolic respresentations of the Kitchen Goddess from the American past through present day.”
I’m not sure about any other women out there in the world, but I don’t long for a flawless, perfect house. I do want to be fulfilled and to keep my family close. There was a time that when I was newly married that I was “playing house”. I was interested in grocery shopping, preparing wonderful meals everynight, looking good when I woke up in the morning, having a designer showcase house with 3 kids in tow. But, life doesn’t exactly turn out the way we envision.
I have one child and have never managed to get pregnant again, I’m still married to the same guy, but it’s not easy, I do have a dog and cat to supplement my family, my house is a mess and I don’t relish cooking, shopping or cleaning. My favorite meal is Chinese take out preferably eaten with my family. So, for my entry, I chose to represent my family with me in the center eating take out! That’s my idea of a kitchen goddess…one who is wise enough to enjoy what she has and to relegate chores she detests.
Tags: art quilt, exhibition, kitchen goddess
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That is absolutely fantastic! You go Cynthia! I just love the whole mindset of this. The TRUE modern woman. Love it!
I completely join with you in the take-out chinese, that’s my fav too.
Oh I LOVE it! I relate, and I love it. I’m a newlywed with 3 fabulous step kids and an energetic lab, and I’ve definitely felt shameful for NOT being able to do it all - for having a messy house, for ordering a pizza so I don’t have to wash a pot, and for the lack of things my kitchen goddess grandmother seemed to do with ease (of course, “ease” had nothing to do with that spotless kitchen and all the homecooked meals!). This piece tells me to accept and celebrate who I really am AS I AM. I think this offers a wonderful statement for women of all ages. I think I need to go to my blog now and post a link to this! I know many women that would appreciate it as much as me! Hope your thumb feels better soon!
- Jessica
This is so gonna get noticed at the show. Good job. I wish you much luck.
This is so cool, Cynthia! I am right there with you on the take out. My husband is actually the cook in our house, so when it’s my turn, we go out or order take out!
This quilt is wonderful! I can’t put into words how impressed I am by your work on this one! Portraits in fabric, amazing!
Cynthia, you have made a beautiful quilt of what you want to convey as what represents your family and what I like the most is the closeness with your family, which is what is important and it does not necessarily come from a home cooked meal.
Thanks Blurr…my favorite is actually Thai, but I’m the only one in my family who really loves it so I settle for Chinese. Either way, it still beats cooking!
Thanks for the link back Jessica! I’ve really been thinking a lot about women and all of our roles lately. I should really post a photo of an old Better Homes and Garden my Mom gave me from the ’50s on how to have a wonderful home. It’s very funny to read today.
Thanks Janet, but first it has to get in the show. I sent my entry in the 11th hour last evening. All entries are due by Monday. It’s juried, so I’ll find out sometime in November whether it gets in or not. To tell you the truth, I hesitated, but then I thought what’s the worst the jurors can say? No. I can live with that.
Hi Paula, thanks for your kind words. I’ve been working small so long that it was refreshing to work on a larger scale. I can fit so much more in.
Hi Mary! I was reading somewhere about aging, and it occured to me that at age 40 I am actually middle aged. It broke down various stages saying that as a young adult we are enthusiastic with all the possibilites, as we approach middle age, some people have a crisis because we realized that we didn’t accomplish all that we set out to. Finally in the latter stages of life, we have more contentment because we let go of the disappointment and enjoy what we have. I’m not sure all that’s true, but I am trying to remind myself of what I do have and in the end that’s what really matters to me. By the way, I don’t feel old and at 40, I know I still have a lot of living left in me!
I LOVE it, the theme, your post, the work itself. I love thai food too
I agree with the sentiment behind the piece very much.
aww gee Cyn your quilt is exquisite and I absolutely love it!! The thoughts in this post are very thought provoking and I don’t know any woman who is a ‘kitchen goddess’ only in some unrealistic man’s mind maybe LOL!
Thanks Jafabrit and Lyn! I really enjoyed coming up with the idea and making this.