Wednesday, November 3, 2010

I'm Still Standing


I just finished this little wall-hanging last night.  It's about 25 x 35".

I am a survivor (tho I wonder about that part sometimes) of spousal abuse.  Abuse comes in many forms ... physical, verbal, emotional, mental, sexual ... I've seen them all over a span of 13 years.  I'm currently (finally) getting some help ... I go to weekly group meetings at BWSS - Battered Women's Support Services, and counseling for PTSD at the outpatient psychiatry clinic at VGH.  I've had jaw surgery to fix a problem he caused, and now I'm on anti-depressants and sleep meds to try to get the nightmares under control ... I'm really looking forward to the day they stop.  
My local quilt guild has asked me a few times to teach a class on hand-quilting ... this is why I've had to say no so far, I'm just not ready.

This quilt is my self-portrait.  It's a funky looking tree with one single leaf showing, and it's holding on for dear life.  The other leaves are there, just quilted in the background waiting to come out when they're ready. 
I named it "I'm Still Standing" and it'll hang in my sewing room to remind me to keep pushing onward.