tah-dah!

ode to handcraft heritage

Finally I found time to photograph the latest addition to the Defining Moments collaborative series. This is titled Handcraft Heritage and celebrates the long line of women, from whom I descended, who did handwork. I also incorporated my own handwork, a handwoven silk scarf I wove for my mother and some Nuno felting.

It was rather liberating to include the felt, particularly as heart on what I believe was my father’s christening dress. I designed this felt in a class which turned out to be pretty much a disaster for me, as I could not follow well the lack of direction I was given!  Yet I loved this piece of cloth anyway, with it’s wonkiness and ribbons ruining throughout. It gave me great joy to incorporate it in this piece.

Also included are remnants of my mother’s hand-pieced, hand-quilted log cabin belt, my grandmother’s cross stitch from the percale pillowcases she stitched for her grandchildren every Christmas; as well as her crocheted doilies, for the furniture. There are sections of great Aunt Lucy’s handwoven shawl, with metallic threads.

Great Aunt Lucy was really the weaver in the family. She was prolific, and followed directions well, unlike some people we could mention. My weaving was fun, colorful and quirky. I disliked and never fully adapted to pattern reading. I just liked this color and that texture, threw them together, wove some cloth, finishing with seldom enough to make a complete garment; which eventually led me into patchwork and the rest as they say is history.

detail, nuno felting

My initial plan was to make one big piece with various components of handwork. It took new sets of eyes in my studio to see this piece was complete with just these parts. I am not certain at this point if there will be another or whether I will just incorporate the remaining components into other works as variety.

The other thing I am unsure about at this point is what order this piece will be in the series. It is the 4th out of 25 to be completed, but because it incorporates my own handwork I am thinking it might appear farther down the road.  So for now, it bears no number.

mom’s hand-pieced log cabin

The next one is sandwiched and ready to stitch, so time to start planning #5…or is it six?! The ideas are ripe. I just need to put the wheels in motion.