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Patch by Christine
For this quilt project, the quilt square that I made uses a fabric with an ambigram printed on it that when viewed from one way says Save Me and when flipped upside down says I’m Fine. The origin of this ambigram is a depression and suicide prevention campaign by an organization called the Samaritans of Singapore to highlight to subtlety of depression and how people will sometimes use the words I’m fine to mask their true feelings. This ambigram gained recognition when a young girl named Bekah Miles got it as a tattoo on her leg and posted it on social media. The tattoo read I’m Fine to those looking at her but from her vantage point viewing it upside down read Save Me. This girl’s poignant social media post sparked a nationwide conversation on depression. (https://www.facebook.com/remiles14/posts/10207864868406352) I actually did not see that campaign or the subsequent social media post. I came upon this powerful ambigram through my favorite musical group BTS. BTS have 2 songs; Save Me from their album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever and I’m Fine from Love Yourself: Answer. These 2 songs so perfectly capture the essence of this campaign. BTS are able to lyrically capture this complex dynamic of calling out for help in Save Me and then bringing the listener to realize that you are the only one that can truly save yourself. I’m Fine offers the perspective that as long as you are breathing then there is hope. The lyrics are not about denying pain, it’s about acknowledging it and pushing past it –through lyrical juxtaposing moments of despair with vows of fine-ness, the song exposes the common defense mechanism of presenting a façade of strength when one is anything but fine. This ambigram and these songs have had a significant impact on me and the way I think about my own struggles and outlook. The music gave me tools I didn’t even realize I needed to help pull myself up and out of negative thinking. It has also made me more aware and more alert to look beyond the surface of what others say to me which has been impactful in my practice as a nurse. I hope by using this fabric and through this quilt project, I can add my own creative contribution to raising awareness to this campaign.
Patch by Christine
For this quilt project, the quilt square that I made uses a fabric with an ambigram printed on it that when viewed from one way says Save Me and when flipped upside down says I’m Fine. The origin of this ambigram is a depression and suicide prevention campaign by an organization called the Samaritans of Singapore to highlight to subtlety of depression and how people will sometimes use the words I’m fine to mask their true feelings. This ambigram gained recognition when a young girl named Bekah Miles got it as a tattoo on her leg and posted it on social media. The tattoo read I’m Fine to those looking at her but from her vantage point viewing it upside down read Save Me. This girl’s poignant social media post sparked a nationwide conversation on depression. (https://www.facebook.com/remiles14/posts/10207864868406352) I actually did not see that campaign or the subsequent social media post. I came upon this powerful ambigram through my favorite musical group BTS. BTS have 2 songs; Save Me from their album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever and I’m Fine from Love Yourself: Answer. These 2 songs so perfectly capture the essence of this campaign. BTS are able to lyrically capture this complex dynamic of calling out for help in Save Me and then bringing the listener to realize that you are the only one that can truly save yourself. I’m Fine offers the perspective that as long as you are breathing then there is hope. The lyrics are not about denying pain, it’s about acknowledging it and pushing past it –through lyrical juxtaposing moments of despair with vows of fine-ness, the song exposes the common defense mechanism of presenting a façade of strength when one is anything but fine. This ambigram and these songs have had a significant impact on me and the way I think about my own struggles and outlook. The music gave me tools I didn’t even realize I needed to help pull myself up and out of negative thinking. It has also made me more aware and more alert to look beyond the surface of what others say to me which has been impactful in my practice as a nurse. I hope by using this fabric and through this quilt project, I can add my own creative contribution to raising awareness to this campaign.
Patch by Stephen
In 2023, I began to come to terms with my loss of passion for working in the music industry. It was devastating; music had been a part of me for so much of my life. I lived and breathed music, and the thought of it not being in my life anymore hurt. In February 2024, a composer friend of mine, Dani Howard, released her first album consisting of several of her compositions performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Listening to this album was a healing experience for me. It was Dani’s brilliant writing and gorgeous music that allowed me to realize that although I wouldn’t be working in the music industry again, I could still enjoy the music I have always loved. The swatch I handknit for this project uses the bubble stitch, which is inspired by the bubbly, light-hearted nature of both Dani and her music. The primary colors used in the swatch are blue, gold, and silver, each representing various pieces on the album: gold for the Trombone Concerto, silver for Argentum (the Latin word for silver), and blue for the magical coolness that many of her pieces exhibit. I’m very grateful to Dani and the healing that her music has granted me, and I am honored to have the chance to commemorate that experience.