Happy New Year!
When I went in for a knee replacement in October I left two pieces of cloth hanging on my design wall with the intention of inspiring me to get started again with my art-making. One piece was already designed and pin-basted to be stitched. The other was simply a painted metallic thread cotton tablecloth remnant in need of divine inspiration.
About 3 weeks ago I began to think more about the design for the painted cloth. This is for an invitational exhibit with a theme which I kept in mind while painting the many layers. And yet I wanted to create something that aligned somewhat with my usual work. After said exhibit is down I want to be able to show this work along with other work of mine.
I had an idea in mind but after weeks of observing the cloth on the wall it was just not ringing my bell! So instead of using whole cloth, I began to cut it and arranged the new geometrics on top of tulle netting so they would appear to float. This complicated the construction process immeasurably which I chose to look at it as a challenge and not as defeat. After two attempts to align the tulle on the batt behind the cloth I had a design epiphany and changed course again! And I love it! It is simultaneously different yet similar to my other work.
Now that the design part is done, this too is pin-basted to stitch. What I learned in the past two weeks is it is going to take me a while to do that. These babies will not be my usual afternoon stitching project. It may take me several days to stitch each one.
My husband commented on the irony that the sewing machine pedal is a tighter spring than the car accelerator. Who knew?!
This image is a preview. The entire piece will go up on my website when it is complete. There’s my next challenge: to get down 13 stairs to photograph it! By the time I finish the stitching I should be up for it. Making progress…
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