Becoming the Sea

 This painting by Anselm Kiefer drew me in. I can't stop thinking about it. This size (approximately 31' x 29') was was so grand. There were 4 other paintings, but honestly,  I don't remember them. 

As I sat beading on my somewhat small piece, I realized that it was the color palette from the painting that is stuck in my head! 

The exhibit will be at the SLAM until January 25th. I told my son that I must go back. He agreed. All I need to see is this painting,  before it returns home to Europe.

Sunshine on a rainy day

 I can hear rain gently hitting the roof. Very calming after a full weekend at my son's in St Louis. I think if I decided to move somewhere, St Louis would be a good place for me.  So much inspiration this weekend!

This morning, I am quietly working on some beading, on "Light".

Veil

 I bought this dress at a thrift store with the intention to cut it up, dye, and add to one of my textile collages. 

It takes the dye well! This piece was dyed with prochem's "mustard" - one of my favorites. Some beads and lovely threads will enhance and give this project a good start

The Veil 👰‍♂

 So my niece is getting married in October.  Next year. She asked me a few years ago to create her wedding veil. Of course I said yes. Then she showed me what she wants. An embroidered garden. I still said yes. We've been collecting components since she asked. Lace from Copenhagen, beads from Prague, lace from her gram's wedding dress... Now I must get to work. Only 387 days away!

I set up a vision board in the corner of the dining room:

Next up, start stitching and set some deadlines.  

Daylight

 I can't stay focused. So, I project jump. That's where my brain is right now. Husband in the hospital. Out of hospital.  Back in... Yesterday he had emergency gallbladder removal surgery.  I won't go into the gory details, but thank you God for a fabulous surgeon. 

I had been trying to work on "Light" for some time, adding beads. This is hard to do without a table in the hospital room! I also wasn't happy with the size and edges. It needs something. Then I was talking to a friend and she gave me a couple of canvases that were in her stash. I think we are on to something! 

I have pulled more wool to add to the top and started adding some shards and larger beads. Not sure what to do with the canvas. Paint? Papers? It will let me know...

"Child"

 I spent some time starting the free motion quilting on "Child". The fabric on the back was my father's baby blanket! Why was it given to me? Why did I keep it all these years? Hoarder or collector? 😅

I wanted to quilt it with a lot of stitching to help stabilize and give it strength to sew on some rather heavy pieces of glass. As I started in the center, I realized that the pattern could be abstract building blocks. Now I am thinking of other childhood toys that could be stitched. The piece is evolving 

Cyanotype days

 The sun has been cooperating. 

I was interested in how the small white clematis would print in this sampler piece. (Bottom right corner). I must do another before the flowers are gone. It will be fun to add dainty stitches this winter.