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Barbara O'Steen - October

Barbara O'Steen - October

The Web of Life

A fighter, the spider,
Crafting his intricate web.
Tenacious, he spins
Circle after arduous circle,
Chancing that neither wind nor rain,
Nor human intervention
Will destroy in seconds
What he has labored hours to create.

So like the optimistic spider,
We spin our lives,
Toiling day after day
On projects, stroke by stroke,
Chapter upon chapter,
Giving birth to new life;
Hopeful that out of chaos
Will come order, purpose.

Building sometimes on tenuous soil,
On shaky ground,
Knowing the risks,
Yet putting aside our doubts and fears,
Believing that we shall survive
Yet another day, another storm,
Another mishap, another illness
To celebrate the Web of Life.

— Jeanne Rowe

Artist Statement: The fall leaves of a neighbor's cherry tree inspired me to bring them inside…and spiders are so active in October.

Materials & Techniques: Hand-dyed cotton fabrics, rayon quilting thread, cotton embroidery floss. Machine applique and quilting; hand embroidery.

Size: 18"W x 23"H



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