Borderline 16'' by 16''
This piece is informed from specific cases of abuse, as told and experienced by me, my friends, and family. Mental illness can often be a factor in cases of abuse and is common among those who have Borderline Personality Disorder. When making this piece I was specifically thinking about BPD and its role in the abusive situation my family member is dealing with. With BPD things are very unpredictible and fragile; a person with this illness can switch from black to white and back again and you don't know "which person" you will be dealing with on any given day."At least 50% of all domestic abuse and violence against men is associated with woman who have a Borderline Personality disorder." from Oregoncouseling.org
BPD is not a part of all abuse cases, but mental illness can increase the likelihood that someone will either perpetrate or experience abuse. People do not choose to have a mental illness but when diagnosed with one they CAN choose to follow or not follow their treatment plan. There are plenty of kind and gentle people working to keep their illness (BPD or other) under control so that they don't harm themselves and/or others.Here is a good resource for friends and family of someone with mental health problems. If you think your friend or family member is in need of community mental health services you can find help in your area.
A healthy relationship is one that is free from fear and force.
If you have a friend or family member who is experiencing abuse here are some things you can do to help. The most important thing to remember is that the choice to leave or not is theirs. You can't make them leave a bad situation but you can be supportive and helpful in their choice. They will need someone they can count on when/if they do decide to end or leave the abusive relationship.
Borderline - domestic abuse quilt series #5
Domestic Violence knows no boundaries when it comes to race/gender/sexuality/age/
Remember, domestic abuse affects ten million people in the US every year. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, please know that the folks at the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1 800 799 SAFE or thehotline.org) are ready to listen and support you, as well as refer you to a local program or organization. If you observe someone being abused, you can also call the hotline. A good samaritan call can save a life!
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All of the quilts in the Domestic Abuse series so far can be viewed here.
We spent the day in Ann Arbor seeing the sights at the U of M Museum of Art and
the Natural History Museum.
It was a great way to beat the heat.
I started following 
Go buy a pack of index cards and join the fun!You can see more ICAD pictures 
This week in Art Club we painted with tissue paper. The technique is really fun and easy. All you need is some heavy paper that can take getting wet, tissue paper that will bleed (
Next, spray the project with water. Make sure that all of the tissue is wet and touching the paper (the color will only transfer where the tissue touches the paper).The last step requires patience. - Let dry. As the tissue dries the color will bleed onto the paper below. Anywhere that the tissue colors overlap will give a blend of color that is sort of magical to watch.After the project is dry it is time to remove the tissue paper. If you remove the tissue too soon, the paper underneath may get damaged or torn.
We plan to use these papers to make covers for books that the students will take home at the end of the year. I have sewn blank papers (copy paper folded in half) together for the middle section of the book. The covers will be mat board covered in our tissue painted papers. I think we will use black duct tape for the spine.Before I do any more on the books I need to make some graduation announcements and senior recital invitations for M. There is never a dull moment here on the farm.
