Perfectly imperfect

I recently learned from a fellow quilter about the concept of Wabi-Sabi.  It is a Japanese concept - centuries in the making that is often described as the appreciation of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete". (hmmm remind you of something?) 

Like many expressions and definitions over time - the meaning of wabi-sabi has evolved and has many explanations.  Looking up the definitions from many sources led me down a rabbit hole from which I thought I might never return.  For me there was no clear understanding of the concept except that it meant “perfectly imperfect” - which leads me to tell you a story that you may have written yourself.

Last week a seasoned quilter brought me her quilt top to add backing and batting to - and then to quilt.  She was extremely unhappy with the quilt - and told me to “do whatever” with the quilt.  “I just want it out of my house”.

It’s not the first time I have heard this.  So many of my quilting friends are often unhappy with the quilts that they create.  I don’t often see the errors that they point out right away - simply because I know that the quilt is still a work in progress and the look will change once it is quilted.
I often invite the creator to step back about 3 feet from the quilt top - close their eyes - imagine that they are receiving a gift -  and after a moment I ask them to open their eyes again.  Now, I ask - “what do you see?”

It’s usually an enlightening moment when they can see their unique handmade item in a new light - if only for a second or two.  
As any quilter knows - there is much joy in creating a near perfect corner. And when the colours look perfect together - or a quilt turns out perfectly squared - the satisfaction and sense of achievement rival the feeling of the taste of your first coffee or tea of the day - or the incredible yumm of a much needed chocolate.

But I am going to challenge you on this.  A perfect corner really means nothing in the scope of life.  The beauty in life is loving and accepting the imperfections - in everything.

In our fast paced world now often directed by artificial intelligence and machine made items - imperfection can be beauty.  There is nothing more beautiful than something that is handmade.  Any imperfection could never be recreated in the same way. The expression, “I couldn’t do that again even if I tried” leads to artistic expression and is unique in its own right.  Seeking perfection in what we do can be debilitating and leads to unfinished projects and procrastination.  When we become critical and unhappy with a project it is time to close our eyes and look for the beauty in the creation.  Wabi Sabi.

In the end - my seasoned quilter friend picked up her quilt after I had custom quilted it.  I used wool batting - as it has more loft - and that helped with the look of the imperfect corner and not so straight seams. When she saw it - she nearly bubbled over with excitement (is that even possible?) and exclaimed - “It’s beautiful!”

The funniest part of this story is that she could not see what I saw.  Imperfections in the quilting I had done jumped off the fabric and slapped me in the face.  All I could see was my imperfect quilting.  Looking at her quilt though, she saw the wabi sabi.

No machine could have created what we created together.  And both of our work - as imperfect as it was - created a thing of beauty that is invaluable in a world full of artificial intelligence and mass produced items.
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So go on….and pull out that unfinished item you have stashed away and add a few finishing touches to it.  Our creations - much like us - are a work in progress.  Appreciate its and your beauty.  Perfectly imperfect.  Wabi sabi.

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