Totems Challenge

Our latest challenge was presented by Sheryl Schleicher and was due at the September meeting.  The theme of the challenge is Totems.  Each person was to select an animal that had traits that represented her or had traits she wished to have. 

This is a collage of the work members brought to the annual retreat:

And the individual quilts:

Lettie Blackburn chose the loon.

For those with a Loon totem,
imagination and dreaming abilities are powerful.
Images and visions will be very lifelike
and you must separate the real from the unreal.
Loon will help you see the truth.

The Loon awakens the imagination
and reminds us that all hopes, dreams and wishes
can become realities.

Dianna Callahan identified with a meerkat. Her piece is called "The Sentinel" and represents the vigilance the members of a meerkat clan exhibit to keep each other safe.

Donna Olson's totem was no surprise.  She chose a crow - or it chose her! 

Donna completed two 12 x 12s for the challenge.

Cathy Jeffery's totem is an owl.

Carol Bormann tells us "the giraffe has the ability to know the future and understand the past while walking in the present moment. It teaches us how to increase our perceptions by viewing life from all angles. Developing these characteristics is taking me a lifetime."

Roberta Ranney identified with the lynx - the keeper of secrets and mystical knowledge.

You know the secrets
So very well,
The Dreamtime and the magic,
But you'll never tell.

May I learn to hold my tongue,
Observe like the Sphinx,
Powerful, yet silent,
The medicine of Lynx.

Lily Kerns found a book of prayers about various animals and strongly identified with the goat.  According to the prayer, the goat needs freedom and a little giddiness of heart.

Emmie Seaman says "I chose the Flamingo because it is heart healing, psychic,

a people person and flirtatious.  Since a totem can be more than one I made the second quilt with the flamingo nestled in a poppy as it is my favorite flower and my garden is a riot of red poppies every Spring."

Sheryl Schleicher chose a horse as her totem.  Her work is expressed entirely in fine quilting.

Diane Steffen portrayed her new dog Louie.  Louie is a min pin who has captured her heart.

The dog totem is a great spirit booster and symbol of the small becoming great. Study the quality of the breed of dog that has entered your life. Is it hunter, protector, companion, or playful? Each quality gives insight into the quality needed for your own life. People with this totem have a great spirit and ability to love as best friends.

Merrilee Tieche was inspired by the jaguar. 

"Jaguar enhances spiritual and psychic vision with a keen sense of awareness, pinpointing strong intuitional abilities. Jaguar shows how to embrace the gifts of the Spirit with composure, tenacity, fortitude with a complete integration of lessons learned and applying them in daily life. Are you integrating ideas and thoughts like you should? Jaguar will aid in this transition of self-actualization. He shows how to move silently, stealthily knowing when and how to react, shows empowerment, teaches how to maneuver and understand things unseen. He cuts through the illusion of separation and shows how the hurtful lessons of the past can be transformed into a higher clarity of purpose with a higher sense of self and connectedness. Jaguar's wisdom will show clarity in the chaos in the soul process of integration and shifting perspectives with balance and grace. "

Maureen Ashlock chose the horse as her totem and provided this information:

"Majestic"

The Horse Totem

Freedom and Power

Grace and Strength

Joy and Perseverance

Creativity and Expression

The next challenge is from Roberta Ranney.  She asks that we produce a work inspired by a song written by her husband called Peaceful Waters.  The work will be due at the October meeting of UT.