"People tend to focus on the here and now.....

.......The problem is that, once global warming is something that most people can feel in the course of their daily lives, it will be too late to prevent much larger, potentially catastrophic changes."

Quote on Global Warming by

-- Elizabeth Kolbert

Look at this spectacular piece I received from my dearest friend Carolyn (Love Stitching Red). (Be sure to click on all pictures to see beautiful details.)

We decided at the beginning of the summer to do a little art exchange. This gorgeous piece is from her Global Warming series which I absolutely fell in love with the first time I saw her working on a piece for it - quite a long time ago.

I so wish you could see this in person - some of you just might the next time you come over - because words cannot describe its ethereal spirit. It is so bold a full of color and texture, yet so delicate and sheer - it makes for an absolutely delicious feast for the eyes that can only be fully appreciated in person.

Carolyn sent me a description of this piece and I am going to share it with you because I know you are going to want to know more about it.....

"My piece for you is part of my “Global Warming” series of work. It iis a subject close to my heart and a theme I like to come back to every now again, to raise awareness in an approachable way.

The background piece is very delicate hand made felt, made with Cornish fleece with fine wool tops and metallic fibres. The holes are intentional. They represent the holes in our ozone layer which is the main cause of global warming

The central stitched piece was made on a calico backing with layers and layers of fabrics such as silk, felt, cotton, metallic fabrics and heat distressed chiffons. I distressed the chiffons before stitching them to the base. I like the idea that the distressed fabrics symbolize the distressed state of our planet

I added some hand stitches - French knots, fly stitches and beads in groups here and there - really just where I felt like working in little groups .

The colours are my representation of global warming.

The red denotes solar energy, the sun, heat, the hot element of global warming that is melting the ice caps and causing distress to our planet
The white represents ice, the polar ice caps, melting ice, slush turning to water.

The blue represents water, the consequence of melting ice , rising sea levels and the possible threat to all aspects of our planet....."

It is so special to me and I will treasure it. Like Carolyn, Global Warming is a subject close to my heart, as well - and her depiction of it in her work is really so touching and inspiring to me. She articulates so well what I aspire to do. I have spent hours examining this piece and it's symbolism - every stitch, every fiber, every placement - and will assuredly spend more.

In addition to this magnificent piece of art, Carolyn also gifted me with some absolutely beautiful fibers in "our" favorite shades of blue. My heart stopped when I saw them. She also tucked inside some sparkly beads she made from what looks to be Angelina Fibers - something I've never thought of when making beads. They are so pretty.

Thank you so much dear friend for such a wonderful gift of yourself. I am now taking upon myself -- the task to find the perfect mounting for it. I do believe, as we discussed - white is the only option for this. So - I have put this on my list of priorities and will share a picture with you once I have found the perfect companion.

In the meantime, it sits so gingerly atop the drawing table in my studio so I can admire it - and so it will be safe - until it is securely placed within a frame. If you don't know already, Carolyn has two of the most amazing blogs LOVE STITCHING RED & CAROLYN SAXBY MIXED MEDIA AND ART that I visit each and every day for fear of missing something. Her art is beautiful and inspiring - but more so is her spirit - which clearly shines through in every piece she creates, every photograph she takes and every word she writes.

Make this a special day and steal away an hour, a half hour, a few minutes - whatever you can - just for you. Do something to make YOU happy.