My Favorite Book Is... - Linda Bardes - "Science of Mind"

January 31 Challenge --

Favorite Book--Science of Mind

Exquisite Beauty

I have read so many wonderful books that I could not choose one as my favorite book.
However the book that has impacted my life the most is the Science of Mind by Ernest Holmes so I choose to interpret it into this challenge's art quilt.

Science of Mind is a philosophy, a way of life and for many a religion. The principles and tools that make up this book literally enabled me to save my own life during a time where every day I would search to find reasons to want to stay alive.  Some mornings I simply could find nothing positive but simply went forward on trust that my life would be better.  Eventually I did not have to go through daily mental gymnastics but found a measure of comfort and happiness that has increased and expanded over the years and continued to grow, allowing me to lay claim my creative depths and express them. 

This group has challenged me, pushed me, and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone.  So THANK YOU to all of you!  

When I found out the challenge topic and knew what I wanted to express the first thing that came to mind was. . . a mind, a brain. I looked for some of that interfacing that shrinks when wet creating a lot of texture to the fabric attached to it but was unable to find it so I cut out a couple of pieces of batting in the shape I wanted, stitched them together for a firmer foundation and began to gather up the white fabric with little stitches.  

This fabric and the satin base came from a wedding dress someone gave me last year that I instantly deconstructed.  This is the lining. 

A lot of Science of Mind is pretty cerebral and has to consciously be overlaid and integrated with love, compassion, and joy otherwise life is pretty serious. The heart represents lightness.  I attached iron-on batting to the back of the red fabric for stability. Then using the satin stitch on my new sewing machine I sewed it to the satin fabric foundation I had made into a flat pillow and quilted with straight stitches.  When I turned it all right side out the bottom was a bit out of shape but I liked that element of surprise because it represents to me that no matter how I continue to evolve there are surprises every day that keep it fresh and new and challenging.







I added the seven aspects of God, as represented by the silk ribbons: Life, Law, Love, Peace, Power, Beauty and Joy. They tied the whole quilt together.  I titled it Exquisite Beauty because for me that is another name for the Creative Power with many names.

Recently one of my daughters was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. My prayers and my affirmations for her consisted mainly of knowing that she was surrounded by Exquisite Beauty; that she was Exquisite Beauty-- and that in the light of this beauty anything that did not support it could not exist.  Last week she was told that she would not need chemotherapy, that there is no sign of the cancer anywhere in her body.  That is Exquisite Beauty!!!!

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