It's far too nice a day to get any work done. I hope it's that kind of a day for you, too.
Blue cross beginning
Preliminary Pinning ::
The two squares at the bottom were part of a linen jacket my mother-in-law bought for me while we were on an outing at Canon Beach, in Oregon. The leafy pattern was mostly blue but I discharged much of the color, with bleach. Even though this piece is starting out looking brown, I think of it as being blue.
Starting Stitches ::
As I started stitching the cross pieces, I wondered if this will become another exploration of crosses, a shape I want to investigate this year. Then, during that dialogue one has while stitching, before the meditative peace settles in, the word cross flew across my brain and attached itself to the word blue. And that's how it became Blue Cross. I kind of hope I'll come up with a more beautiful name for it, but I'm not terribly good at naming. One of the best names for my work was a piece called Nostalgia, but Jude Hill came up with that; she's very good with words. Maybe she'll stop by and give me an idea for this one. Or, if you have any suggestions, please do tell me!
Treasured Textiles
I've been gathering some of my favorite pieces of fabric ... the ones I tend not to use because they are so special, they beg to be saved. What??? How much sense does that make? If they're so special, then why on earth would I not use them? If I make a pot of soup, I use the best ingredients I can find. Shouldn't the same logic hold true for my textile art? It is time to start letting these special textile "ingredients" become part of something bigger than themselves.
It's a reminder of how important it is, in all areas of life, to use the "good" stuff: the good china, the special silverware, the delicate silk sweater, and, yes, the irreplaceable scraps of vintage textiles.
Here's what I think I'll do: I'll save small scraps from each larger piece and use the scraps to create a little book of special textile samples. Maybe I'll make two books; one for me and one for you. But for the most part, I hope I'll feel free enough and generous enough to allow these lovelies to fly out into the world and create pleasure for others, rather than just me.
Whatever I make with them, I hope I do them justice.
Tiny Treasures
I'm going to fill these boxes with treasures of one sort or another. Some will have pincushions and buttons and they will be little sewing boxes. Others will have a variety of tiny treasures, harvested from my stuff-which-can't-be-thrown-away, and they will be miniature Cabinets of Curiosities.
Pouch From the Past
I made this little pouch ten or so years ago and gave it to Chris Durante, as a thank you for the beautiful job he did framing my work for a show. It is about ten inches long by five inches wide, is made from recycled wool sweaters, and adorned with some very special antique buttons. I just borrowed it from Chris because I had forgotten to photograph it. So, voila, here it is! It holds nice memories.
“Whenever I think of the past, it brings back so many memories.”
BLOOD MOON (detail)
Blood Moon
I'm pleased to say that Blood Moon is finished. It needs only to go to the framer and then it will be really, truly complete. I'm in wonderment over how long it took me to travel from start to almost done to finish. I would never have made it at all, had I not had the benefit of Jude Hill's awesome examples and generous teachings.
BLOOD MOON (2016) :: a little quilt of cottons, 6.5" x 6.75"
I think next I will make objects ... dolls, critters, little boxes ... we'll see. And jewelry, new jewelry ideas are a poppin' in my head and I love it. .
"I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring."
UPDATE: It seems that Liz Ackert is on the same wavelength today, moon dancing over at her blog: I'm Going to Texas. Her blog is always worth visiting.