SPRING IN MY GARDEN
Patch
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Creator
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Suraiya
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Story
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SPRING IN MY GARDEN
My maternal grandmother, Nani, was unquestionably an institution in her own right. Her ability to skillfully manage an entire household, while maintaining meaningful relationships with friends and family is something I can only aspire towards. She was an incredible chef; an impeccable dressmaker for all her loved ones; an exquisite crocheter and knitter; an amazing sitar player; a strategic budgeteer for she was never not present for any occasion (happy or tragic).... and the list goes on. However, amongst all her innumerable talents the one closest to her heart, was her skill for gardening. She was truly gifted.*
Her garden was in perpetual spring. Not because of the weather - as we had all four seasons - but due to Nani’s ability to maintain it that way. She loved gardening. My siblings and I have been extremely fortunate to have spent our childhood years in her garden. The immaculate flower beds were not only arranged in terms of colour and flower size, but also according to height - ensuring unhindered visibility of every flower. Beyond doubt it was magical and standing within it felt ethereal. It was a live painting that we were a part of, and experienced every day!*
The flowers on this patchwork are taken from scraps of clothing belonging to women across four generations - my grandma, my mother, my sister and I, and my daughter. This collage of flowers pays homage to the garden that gave us life and nourished our creative pursuits. It is also a celebration of generational creativity.
*An excerpt: The first two paragraphs are from a previously written piece for a quilting project that I made in memory of my grandmother.
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Rights Holder
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Suraiya
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Rights
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All rights reserved.
