This painting is called The Man In The Blue Shirt Stares Into The Aqua Cave.

Such a long titled because I painted this piece three months ago and didn't know what it was.

Usually, when I finish one of these abstract pieces, I turn it around, look at all angles and something pops out. This one didn't.

Well, last night I was sitting in front of the TV eating a bowl of popcorn and happened to look over at this painting which was propped against a house plant sitting the window.

​All of a sudden, I saw the little man in the red shirt and guess what? He was staring into the aqua colored cave.

That's it. That's the post.

​Happy creating!

Post Script:
Another revelation. Look closely at the painting. Now I see an old woman with a curved back wearing a red top and a yellow skirt standing behind the little man in the red shirt sitting and staring into the aqua colored cave.

I wonder what they see? Is the old woman whispering something? Did she lead the man to the cave? Will the man embark, journey into the unknown?

These are the things that fill my mind.

With fabric shops closed during the pandemic, I began looking for alternative sources for fabric. Purchasing fabric online is always an option but there’s something about the feel of fabric that’s missing on the computer screen.

Goodwill proved a great find. I was amazed about the exceptional fabric used in men’s dress shirts, lovely cottons and linen. And the colors! There were the regular dress whites and plaid work shirts. But the pastels really got my creative juices flowing, pink, lilac, baby blues.

I knew I wanted to highlight the pastel, a quilted wall hanging that would embrace a man’s gentle side. As I began cutting the fabric, I couldn’t help notice the tags – all not made in America. For some reason, this made me laugh. All this negative political stuff going on and America can’t even sew her own clothes. What a farce. Really put things into perspective. Hence, the quilt’s title, Not Made In America.

I cut and machine pieced squares, half square triangles, and strips from the men’s shirt fabric and one woman’s blouse. For the border I used purple batik. The quilt back is a mixture of shirts, the batik and other fabric from my stash. The quilt measures approximately 41 ½” and 50” give or take. My quilts are never perfect. Not Made In America is machine pieced and stippled, hand stitched hem, polyester batting.

Not Made In America, 2020, cathleen margaret

​Companion Piece to Not Made In America, ​canvas, acrylics, oils, permanent marker; 30" x 24"

Happy quilting and other wonderful, creative things.