Wednesday 1 May 2019

I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining....


When it came to picking a theme to put into the challenge list I chose "Raindrops keep falling on my head!"  It  is one of my favourite songs that always manages to give me a bit of a lift and puts a smile on my face like Three Little Birds by Bob Marley or Jason Mraz "I'm Yours".

Still this was a bit of a head scratcher as to what to make.  I had to have a think about it and remembered the reason I chose the song as a theme in the first place. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head is a song by B.J Thomas that was used as the theme song for Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid.  I remember the scene where they were cycling trying not to fall off the bike and the music playing over it as they wobbled around the yard.  I used to watch Westerns with my Dad.  We loved them and had no problem re-watching movies and staying up til 4am on New Year's Eve watching Once Upon a Time in the West, or the Big Country, Magnificent Seven, High Noon, The Searchers...

Seeing as the song is so personal I thought I might do a self portrait in thread.  Originally I thought about a collage of different fabrics but couldn't find enough of what I wanted.  So in the end I went for a cartoon style with sketch stitching.

"Raindrops keep falling on my head,
Just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed,
Nothing seems to fit.
Those raindrops keep falling on my head,
They keep falling."

So that's me sitting up in bed with my feet sticking out (I'm 5ft tall so that's the ironic bit!).  Gordon is snoring his head off beside me. Charly our 12 year old Jack Russell has a habit of hiding away on our bed when she can so not having enough room for her on the bed, I have her framed on the wall (artistic licence!)  I'm trying to do the healthy thing of getting up early for a morning routine but I have a habit of hitting the snooze button so there's the alarm going off and me happily ignoring it!

"So I just did me some talking to the sun,
I said I didn't like the way he got things done,
Sleeping on the job,
Those raindrops are falling on my head,
They keep falling!"

So there is a bit of smiling sleepy sun about to wake up.  Clouds in the distance with their silver linings and of course after every sun shower there is a rainbow! 

"But there's one thing I know,
The blues they send to greet me,
Won't defeat me,
It won't be long,
Til Happiness steps up to greet me"

It's been a difficult time lately with managing workload, voluntary committee work finally coming to an end after 3 1/2 years and I had a bad back for much of last year.  So I found myself worn out, feeling stressed and wired with too much going on.  It's been a healthy, take a step back, prioritise and let some things go moment for me.  I'm loving Spotify and happy cheerful music gets me through the housework and cleaning the kitchen and I'm coming back to myself again and making again so I thought a portrait (is it a portrait if it is only the back of my head?), with me talking to the sun, enjoying the morning, with the rain clouds billowing away into the distance summed all that up.

"Raindrops keep falling on my head,
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red,
Crying's not for me,
Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining
Because I'm free...

Nothing's worrying me."

I didn't quite get it finished so it's unbound, but somehow that feels right too. In a week that had Avengers: Endgame, Game of Thrones: The Long Night (aka Battle of Winterfell), new home heating boiler installed, Birthday lunch for a friend, Storm Hannah blowing down a fence in the garden and a busy work week, I'm forgiving myself for that! 


17 comments:

  1. What a fun interpretation! Love your feet sticking out of the bed (I'm short too, so I get the humor.) I kept trying to think of something other than the song while pondering the theme, but it ended up playing a role anyway, which was okay. It was a good challenge.

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    1. Being vertically challenged I'm a good climber so even putting the choccy biscuits on the top shelf in the kitchen doesn't deter me though it really should!

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  2. Ruth, what a delightful interpretation. Your explanation of each element and stanza beautifully enhances the whole thing. And, I am glad to hear you are starting to get some mojo back.
    Smiles. Maureen
    P.S. Extra points for the adorable doggie portrait!

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    1. Thanks Maureen. I couldn't resist putting at least one of the dogs up on the wall. The Bassets thankfully don't make it up the stairs without being heard but Charly always seems to manage to disappear up there so I had fun including her.

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  3. Thank you for suggesting this theme Ruth, I loved it and I love your very personal interpretation of it too! It is always fascinating to see how differently everyone responds to these themes and this one has proved to be no different. You have managed to pack so much into this little quilt that it deserves several looks to appreciate it properly :)

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    1. Thanks Fiona. I'm inspired by your 3D take on it. I would never have thought of that!

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  4. This is lovely, Ruth - so inventive! Your details are great and I wanted to take time to check them all out. I especially love the Charly portrait! And the nail polish on your toes! :-) I'm glad that you have a rainbow and are feeling the sun beginning to come out!

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    1. Thanks a million Catherine. I had fun with this though they thought I was a bit mad at home when they saw it sketched out!

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  5. After reading the description of your week, I think you need to make a companion piece showing yourself rushing around fulfilling all of your responsibilities too! :) I am glad you could give yourself a peaceful morning, even if it's only in art and not in real life.
    It was interesting to read how the lyrics blended in with your visual elements!

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    1. Thanks! A day in the life ... could be a fun theme for the next round of ideas! Wouldn't it be interesting to see what everyone does in a day?

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  6. You manage to capture all the elements in the song. I really like the stitching for your hair and the toenails, attention to detail. You do like your resting happily and that is your reward for all your hard work.

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    1. Thanks, those kind of mornings really are the best when you wake up rested and not having to rush about chasing time.

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  7. I think this is brilliant, Ruth. It's a wonderful picture, beautifully executed, and I love the way you've illustrated the whole song in relation to elements of your life and included so many visual details :)

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    1. Thanks Janine, I have had that song stuck in my head all week working on it so ideas just kept popping. I had to play George Ezra while tidying the kitchen last night to hear something different!

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  8. How detailed and fun. Having each stanza of the song written to describe each part of your project.

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    1. Thanks Nancy, I think it really is a positive message in the song despite the title!

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  9. When I looked down these quilts I could tell straight away which was yours Ruth !

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