Out of the Blue

Once I came up with the final concept for this quilt, I struggled with the decision to share the meaning behind it.  If you've been following my blog you'll know this is 'Plan B', but as I worked on it, a reoccurring theme kept coming up.  As I researched the text covering this quilt, which relates to all things blue, from the various colour names to facts about the colour blue, one theme kept coming to the forefront...that of depression.  And so I decided to embrace it and really focus on what that means to me.

As such the quilt, like depression, is messy.  It doesn't have square edges and it doesn't lie flat.  The text itself is depicted as sort of a 'blah, blah, blah' droning on in an endless, flat fashion.  In the midst of the quilt is a deep, black hole, and from it there are lots of people struggling to escape...Out of the Blue.  Those numbers are important, because although depression is a dark and lonely place, the prevalence of people suffering depression is staggering.  And, while you are in that deep, dark place, you are unable to see that you are not alone, in large part because of the silence that still surrounds this disorder.  The quilt hangs from a rough piece of driftwood that has somewhat harsh, broken ends.

So, yes...I'm putting it out there.  To quote a friend, I'm putting on my big girl panties and I sharing this art quilt and the meaning behind it because the message needs to be shared.  As Clara Hughes says as the spokesperson for Bell's National campaign, LET'S TALK!

I've included a bit of information from the Depression Hurts website:

During their lifetime about 1 in 10 people in Canada will experience an episode of major depressive disorder (the diagnosis given to those suffering from depression) ⁵ 

Unfortunately many people, unaware of how common depression is, avoid seeking treatment because they worry what others will think of them. They feel like they’re the only ones. Depression is in fact a widespread medical condition:^6,7

• Depression is among the leading causes of disability worldwide⁶

Pockets of Awareness

My blogging friend, Kit Lang, alerted me to a wonderful cause that Melanie Testa has started:

Do you know about Melanie Testa's campaign to raise awareness for women who choose to not have reconstructive surgery or wear prosthesis after having a mastectomy? She talks about it HERE.   Essentially, she wants us (yes, you too!) to provide her with pockets - one or two or 20 - however many you feel moved to make; pockets that are functional or not, made out of paper or knitted or quilted, or ... the sky's the limit! 

If Melanie can collect 1000 pockets by the week of Oct. 22nd, she has a journalist who will do a story to raise further awareness for this issue.

Although I have fortunately not been touched by this issue, either personally or by having a family member or close friend affected by breast cancer, I am close to many people who have or are dealing with various other forms of cancer.  Further, through my own personal struggles with depression and anxiety issues, I know how important it is to recognize that Life is beautiful and we need to be able to celebrate our survival, no matter what form it takes.

I have made this pair of intentionally 'imperfect' pockets to send to Melanie to support her cause and the greater need for the world to accept us the way we are and to celebrate our individuality!

I hope you will consider joining in this worthy cause.  Remember, your pockets can be made of anything so no matter what your skills and talents, you can do this!  Wouldn't this be a great activity to do with your kids, or for those of you who are teachers, what about doing it with your students???