I imagine most everyone knows the story of The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery . He wrote it in the United States during a 2 year self-imposed exile from occupied France. In 1944, a year after its publication, he disappeared over the Mediterranean while flying a reconnaissance mission for the French.
I found this piece as a finished canvas and made it into a pillow with old fringe. I love the face and symbolism. It had been tossed into a pile of old unwanted needlepoint pieces, the projects that are completed, but never find another use in anyone’s home or heart. I was drawn to it immediately primarily because of my love for this book.
I go on a lot of walks particularly when I am training to climb a mountain as I am planning to do with my husband in September. We will average many miles in a week, so we both have been downloading audio books in our ipods to keep our brains alert and fed with stimulating “food”. Today I started listening to Carson McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, a classic I have wanted to read for years. Another reason I was drawn to it was the fact that it was one of Isak Dinesen’s favorite novels. (She wrote Out of Africa and many wonderful pieces of fiction).
As I was listening, it occurred to me that perhaps when we create a story out of fabric or a quilt, is this a creation from visual memory, something we have seen from an art book or a book on art quilts or fabric collage or craft? When do we create from the stories in our heads or our hearts or our memories, imagined or real? Listening to stories we create a world unique to our ears since we all interpret this in different ways according to our personal history. So when I looked back at this piece titled The Little Prince, what interpretation was formed that was unique to the creator of this needlepoint? We all know the story, but what was the personal message versus the one we all know? I think it is there if we dig deeper into the colors, the expression, the eyes that draw you in. I am searching for a story in my head and one in my heart that needs expression, a voice, a medium that speaks its own melodic language. Will it come through another voice or will it be the one formed form another dream I had while trying to interpret the one that I think I already know? What will inform this story and make it more real than the one I think I know in that over rationalized way?
I always wonder about the story behind why it was abandoned or set aside. It’s interesting how most of us want to make sense of things, find meaning. Human nature I’m sure.
The Little Prince is a wonderful book. Out of Africa is too.
I guess I am a little compulsive about finding meaning, creating a reason, finding a story to imprint in my mind so I won’t forget. Maybe it comes more prevalent as one ages.
while I took my morning walk, I was thinking about your future hike and wondering about what training goes into surviving successfully from a long hike. I saw (I think it was in Sunset) descriptions of different hikes. There was a couple that crossed the Pyrrenes. That sound extremely hard but the one about hiking through Ireland, where you would go from inn to inn, sounded like it would be more suitable for me.
What preparation do you need to do, strength wise, clothes and shoes and food wise?
Pat,
There is a lot of preparation for a major hike, but of course in degrees according to the mountain’s altitude and difficulty. MT Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states, so the hike has to be taken seriously. There is lots of physical training for several months and then stamina and perseverance during the climb and then exhilaration at the summit (it you make it!). You should try something that fits your goal the first time. It is addictive!
What a beautiful pillow! I am thrilled that a forgotten needlepoint which probably took at least weeks(and or more likely months or years) to finish has found a second life with someone who appreciates it and loves it. I was out with my friend Emily and we were discussing pieces which we have worked on that sit waiting to be framed or quilted and why we do that to the poor pieces and we kind of stopped on the idea that it is the embroidery or piecing that makes the project fun and the rest of it is work. Between that discussion and your delight at your finished pillow you’ve inspired me to get framing! Thank you again for inspiring me.
Debra Ann,
I guess I should tell you this is just one finished piece. I have many, as you, that sit idle waiting to be completed. It happens to all of us who love to create and have more ideas than time.