Sep 1, 2016

Bricolage



Bricolage ( /ˌbrkɵˈlɑːʒ/ or /ˌbrɪkɵˈlɑːʒ/) is a term used in several disciplines, among them the visual arts, to refer to the construction or creation of a work from a diverse range of things that happen to be available, or a work created by such a process.


The term is borrowed from the French word bricolage, from the verb bricoler, the core meaning in French being, "fiddle, tinker" and, by extension, "to make creative and resourceful use of whatever materials are at hand (regardless of their original purpose)".


I am most definitely French, well..half French..and I am most definitely a fiddler, tinker, and love to make creative and resourceful use of just about anything I find, am given, or come up with from the sum of any parts.



I started blogging in October of 2006. I felt a strong need to connect online with the creative community that had recently gone wild and was an incredible amount of fun as we all shared through blogging, quilting, crafting, sewing, and making art of all kinds.



 It was a vibrant period in the blogging and community quilting worlds and the friendships that immediately sprung up were such a gift and such a blessing.


Bit by bit over the past decade, blogging has changed a lot! Many have left and moved on to fame and fortune, others to facebook and instagram. And many like myself do their best to keep up with all of the many changes. We've moved on to new ways and forms of quilting ..maybe art quilting, maybe modern, perhaps liberated quilting or making new things in different ways with some of the same old pieces but for a new purpose in our lives...

I continue to sew together all of the varied pieces of my life. To still do all of the things that my family and I love to do.

For home...






and family...in both Oregon and Alaska ...




So, yes...I am busy in a lot of diverse and mentally, physically, and even  creatively spiritual ways!


Spending time with loved ones...my husband, three grown kids and their partners, my beloved grandbabies and pets and all of our families and extended family....




Getting together with my grown children and their partners, spending as much time as I am able to with my two precious and greatly loved grandchildren, visiting my brother who is still staying with family up in Portland as he grieves the loss of his wife and faces additional surgery of his own,




and doing all of the spiritually meaningful care giving and all of the charitable quilting, blanket making, and helping others that is my true nature in life.


Bits and pieces of our lives, no matter how simple...or how complex...all stitched together with love.



So, if you don't see me here...


or piling up my projects here...

or here.....


or even here....


or oh yes, here...



It's because I am here/there/and everywhere.....in my real "dreamtime" of life....and maybe not in this virtual one. I will still be doing the things that mean the very most and make the biggest difference..in my life..... and the lives of those I love!

 













We all need to dim the lights a bit, practice our deep breathing, calm the pace of our lives, go within to the core, the center, the calming focus of our lives.


We access that inner flow, enter the presence of peace and harmony. in the simplest of ways, with the simplest of things....yet continue to manifest the creative impulse ....


.....and yet still share and communicate with others.....

 ......as I do.....

With Love

and

With my heart and with my hands

So, you may not have seen me as much online, but I'm still here...cleaning up,  clearing out, updating and adding in my constantly growing collection if new projects that I'm working on .

But my primary focus is, and needs to be on my own ever growing and changing family. My Oregon family and my extended Alaskan one...some who are in Oregon visiting now and more arriving soon!

But I'm here every day...sending caring energies in all the ways I can...enjoy 10 years worth  of my bloghing, my sewing, my quilting and crafting.


Love,
Michele


Michele Bilyeu Creates With Heart and Hands as she shares her imaginative, magical, and healing journey from Alaska to Oregon. Creating, designing, sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting... from my heart and with my hands



11 comments:

stitchinpenny said...

Sounds like your real life needs you and hopefully you will bring love and joy to all you touch.

Michele Bilyeu said...

Blessings in abundance to you and yours, Penny!

Susan said...

Your blog is one of the few to which I still subscribe because you talk about real life, not just about all your "finishes", "goals" and what you do inspires me. I am just not into Facebook, Instagram and all the other social media stuff. I have been a "slow" quilter, creator/crafter since I started. Thanks for being you and sharing that with us.

Michele Bilyeu said...

Thank you, Susan. This means more to me that you could ever know.Take care and know how much I appreciate you.

Joyce said...

My favorite blog! I am always pleased to see a post from you. Your topics and style are always fresh and meaningful!

Michele Bilyeu said...

Oh, Joyce! Bless your heart. You are so very dear!

Mary said...

What a beautiful and meaningful post, even if it does make me a little sad. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, pictures and inspiration.

Michele Bilyeu said...

Bless your heart Mary. I truly appreciate your stopping by and taking the time to leave such a nice comment.That means so very, very much.

Celia said...

Bricolage, a completely new word to me! Hope you are not in Portland this weekend, the temps are rising there and here to the 100's. I really loved seeing your work spaces, love your posts too.

Michele Bilyeu said...

Celia, not in Portland this weekend. Just missed the environmental issues with the train's 11 oil tankers on fire and exploding! Still hot though, down here in Salem. Chickens are getting ice water ;-)

quiltmom anna said...

My dear Michele, I do miss blogging - sometimes I think that I might go back to it- however these days life is filled with looking for a new house and decluttering our current home in the hopes of selling it. The school year was very busy and I have not quilted very much- lost my Mojo somewhere and still trying to find it - for now I am trying to do a little bit at a time to find some inner balance.. Thanks for always providing inspiration to others. I am watching the Sister Show stuff coming together and I always think of you at this time. Hugs dear lady,
Anna