City on a Hilltop

 Finishing "City on a Hilltop".  I was inspired to stitch the edge using beads after going to an art opening this past weekend. 

The striped fabric background was inspired by a cup cozy from a hotel stay!

The canvas is relatively easy to stitch thru. This will wrap up my 12 Good Shepherd collage pieces for an upcoming gallery exhibit, unless I can find some extra time to keep creating!

Washi

 I am a fan of washi tape. A friend asked how I organize. Quick answer is in bowls by color.  Some are by theme (floral, words, travel), but color always wins for me. Beads, threads, fabrics, and paints are organized by color. My clothes are by color.  I ❤️ color.

"Child"

 I can't locate my son's baby spoon, but did find the id bracelet they used for me at the hospital!

Two thoughts - i guess that 67 years ago the notion of chocking hazards wasn't a thing and the device to secure looks like a lead fishing weight.

They either didn't have enough letters, or this is a secret code!  Maybe the person making the bracelet couldn't spell Nelson.

Play

 The sun was brilliant the day after so much rain. I just had to play!

I tried using a hibiscus flower. The veiling didn't show as much as I thought it would. Maybe leave it out longer next time?

Rose leaves always a winner:

I used a piece of yellow fabric that I had used solar fast, and considered it a fail. Nice to see that the cyanotype worked well and didn't turn green:

I don't know what this weed is, but it grows in the cracks on my driveway. It pulled up easily after all the rain this past week. It will be fun to stitch later this winter.

One more rose leaf. I used sepia solar fast on a very textured fabric. My brush had not been cleaned out after using cyanotype, hence the great color!

Last Supper

 

Against my better judgements, I am glueing the tiles around the edge of the canvas before adding the trim boards. I won't be in town for a week and want this piece to move forward. It shouldn't be too difficult to screw the boards into place - I am concerned about tiles popping off while handling.  

"Child"

 I have spent some time arranging and rearranging collage pieces. I have a vision of building up more pieces in the center, but stitching components in place must begin. I must be done before I leave on my next trip. I will let it sit on the table for a day or two, then jump in and stitch everything place.

This was my mother's baby spoon! My first thought was to use my son's,  but I can't find it. It will show up, eventually. 

Veil - Stitching begins

 I am approaching the veil project like the 100 day project. Do a small part everyday and watch the progress.  Today is Day 1:

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.

NZ Blanks

 I am leaving next month for an adventure in New Zealand! I am working on creating "blanks" for journal stitching while on my trip. It's nice to have fabric stitched, rather than pinned, to pick up and work on each day.