a personal symbols cloth…

taking advantage of a bit of downtime

 to work quietly on this during our long trip to Iowa.

it is coming along.

slowly.

a few tiny leaves added 

via a breath of autumnal inspiration from Spirit Cloth.

a careful addition of  treasured 

eco dyed bits from last summer

is a possibility.

a bit of tweaking here, and there,

bringing up memories from 

the last year.

focused on mending  

broken heart from last August,

and reminiscing over

a magical journey

past.

…wondering if things can 

ever - be the same.

A work in progress - yet it makes me happy to look at it, to hold it.

I think perhaps a "drop of jupiter,"  or the addition of a bit of "desperado" may be in order -  embroidered in white, fading into the background - adding depth and texture - might be nice.

Yes.  I do think so.

Hearts....l

In progress.

Personal Symbols cloth.....

A good day to spend some time on this.

A bit of slow cloth stitching....

Here is a little hand painted sunflower I did a while ago as part of a  larger cloth.  I cut this piece off to make a little needle book.

I've added some seed stitching to the front and ....

stitched some leaf veins on the back.

I rather like this so far.

Stitching a Personal Story...

a full moon...

a midnight snow....













and a snow covered subalpine fir.










Stitching memories of Montana,,,,
and you.

A Personal Story Cloth...

 I'm still working on my personal symbol/story cloth.  I pick it up every now and again when the mood strikes me.  It is coming along....

....slowly.

After working with so much color all week, it's nice to pick up something more peaceful.

A Little Needle Book...

has been a recent focus over the past month or so. I had  a nice little piece cotton that I batik waxed and dyed  over the summer that I have been coveting and have finally put to use.





I layered it over  a piece of hand dyed and frayed indigo - using that double layer for the cover.

For the needle pages, I used some beautiful boiled teal and dusty blue wool.  Inside the front cover is a little pocket with a ceramic blue button.  The pocket will hold my small scissors.

The cover button is some kind of stone. I found it when I was visiting Asheville for a workshop a few months ago.  It is really beautiful with all of its imperfections.

In contemplating personal symbols for Jude's workshop, I realize that leaves hold a deep personal meaning for me.  They are in all of my work.  Even here.

I don't very often make things for myself, but I do just love this.
Final thought: Early this morning while I was outside quietly taking in the beauty accompanying the emergence of Spring - Gizmo was basking in the early morning sun and rolling in the dew.

A glorious day in North Carolina.

A Slow Cloth....

......of personal symbols is what I have been working on in Jude Hill's Whispering White workshop.

A discussion has been ongoing about the character and meaning of white and how personal that can be. As a girl growing up in Ohio with parents of a country upbringing and European roots, white cloth had significant meaning and place in my family - and really, still does.

I have quite a collection of natural bleached and bleached cloth -  from which I tore up some strips and created a woven base.  I have decided for my first cloth, I would explore the use of personal symbols.  Something I've been thinking about lately,  

So for now, I will play with this idea of personal symbols, sketching some things out, maybe cutting out some shapes, stitching them out, and then making the decision as to whether I will keep this woven base as one unit - or, in the alternative, cutting it up into six or nine pieces, and layering the individual sections on to frayed pieces of light linen or lawn cloth and work on them as individual units.  

Something to consider.

Enough about white.

Let's go get dirty!

Big, Wet, Fluffy Snowflakes in Raleigh...

Such a beautiful sight.

Millions and Millions
of Big, Wet, Fluffy Flakes...
Slowly, Silently, Gently,
Falling into Place.













I have the house to myself today - so it's quiet.
I can sit. I can watch.
Undisturbed.

Perhaps a little hand stitching is
in order.  Taking inspiration from
the soft, neutral colors of
the outdoor landscape,
I will work a bit on
my slow cloth today.

Maybe some snow frisbee.

A little later.







All the makings of
a perfect day.

Weaving a Cloth...

I  had a little time today so I decided to work on my first cloth weaving project for Jude's Cloth 2 Cloth Workshop.  I spent about 1/2 hour tearing up strips of neutrals - canvas, linen, sheers, cottons, silks and some commercial cottons. 

The first cloth I wove was a neutral cloth.  I laid the strips out so nicely, tacking each one at each end with pins - in an effort to keep them nice and tidy.  I then began weaving - back and forth, back and forth until I completed about a 13x13 inch square.  Then - it hit me. 

What an IDIOT.  I tacked the weaving down on my paded grid ironing surface - BUT I FORGOT TO PUT A PIECE OF BACKING DOWN FIRST.  Geeeze.  Not the end of the world - but way to make things more difficult for myself (a habit I have.)

I laid a muslin square over top of the woven piece and commenced to hand tack it. Problem solved.  Over the next  few days, I am going to make a few more of these so I'm ready to whatever comes next and have a few choices as far as foundation cloth colors, textures, etc.  

NOTE TO SELF:  Next time - don't forget  to lay the base down FIRST - THEN weave on top of that. 

Two Different Kinds of "Stitches..."

While sitting with Gizmo the few days he was in dire straights - I found it hard to read or watch tv. Instead, I worked on the applique blocks for the wall hanging I've been playing around with.  I found the repetition of the stitching (without having to put too much thought into it) calming and very "zen" like.  I got the entire thing  pieced together (even the borders) and now I'm going to work on doing some serious embellishing with fibers and floss - maybe a few beads. 

                                                                      There's a little rabbit that goes on the bottom. I've cut him out of wool flannel and I'm going to blanket stitch him down.  I've never really worked on a "traditional" piece like this before - it's really kind of fun. 

I had so many things "in the works" when Gizmo got sick and time just stopped.  It is nice to be finishing up some things that I've promised out.

Here's an "initial" bag that I made for Sal's sweet little girlfriend, Lindsay.  She picked out the fabrics and asked if I could make it with her initial "L" on it.  I made a little pocket inside for her phone and camera.  It came out cute. 

On thing Gizmo's recent "mishap"  reminded me of - was the importance of PATIENCE. 

 Those who know me know I'm not a very patient person when it comes to accomplishing things.  I begin tasks with one thing in mind - to get them DONE.  Sadly,  I find that holds true even in my stitching - and while I have such a high regard and admiration for "slow cloth" - doing anything "slowly" used to just about KILL ME. But the last few weeks have demanded me to slow down and "wait."  And you know what.... it didn't kill me.  

 It has been nice slowing down and taking my time with these projects - remembering that the joy of things is found in the JOURNEY and not just in the DESTINATION. 

So let's just sit back and enjoy the ride.

XO

UPDATE: Gizmo has returned to his blanket -

in my studio - right by my side. He gets his tummy staples out next Monday. 

Our Harley Davidson Trip....

through Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming was a blast. Am having trouble getting slideshow to load on blogger. You can click HERE to take a quick peek at the highlights which I placed on our company's blog for now. (There's a couple of good recipes on there too, if you're interested!)

Slow Cloth.....

patience....So - What's everybody working on? I've been getting up at the crack of dawn lately and, drawing from Jude as inspiration, I have been doing some hand stitching every morning prior to my exercise regime (yep, that's right - I'm STILL exercising ALMOST every day - 60-90 minutes per day). I'm working on 9 patches made strictly with aqua, teal, forest green, jade, navy and white homespuns -- so wonderful to look at and touch. I do love homespun fabrics. Once I get all the blocks together I plan on doing random stitching with heavier flosses and threads and just waiting to see where this takes me - one day at a time -- "Slow Cloth" process.

Slowly, very slowly.

Painting Textiles with Metallic Paint...

...one of my favorite things to do! Particularly when I've been focusing on hand sewing the past few days -- it was refreshing to put on the overalls, put the hair up in a pony tail -- and get out the sponges and stuff brushes.

I'm actually making progress on my hand-stitched piecing (oh -- see -- there I go again "progress" -- always thinking, focusing, obsessing about "progress." Note to self: "process NOT progress -- remember that!" Um, I'm actually "enjoying" the process (there, that's better) and am really getting the hang of it. I will post those pictures later.

Anyway - here are the results of my painting session today -- some cotton duck and canvas that I cut up, treated with textile medium, sponge painted, crinkled, and then "removed" medium by pressing down with stamps and texture plates for added interest. I photographed these outside (I dry these types of projects in the sun because the sun also helps to "heat set" the paint. It was difficult getting their "true" colors to show - because the luminosity of the metallic paint causes reflection and glare -so these pictures do not do the colors justice.

I'm thinking the leaf piece (which is metallic olive, gold, copper, nickel and brass) is going to make its way somehow into my giveaway surprise -- and the others I will probably cut up and use elsewhere. I have a basket in my studio that I throw these pieces into and then when the urge (or the project) dictates - I grope through the basket. It's great having a bunch of stuff already painted and/or dyed that you can just go in and grab when you need it -- rather than having to paint it right then and there. That's why "painting days" are very necessary. Don't you agree???

Ahhhh Take a Deep Breath.....

Summer is almost here. And while Summer is my least favorite season of the year -- it's onset is still a signal to take a deep breath and s l o w down.

I've always had a problem with that -- slowing down. I try to - I really do -- but my brain is always on fast forward -- always thinking about what needs to be done later, tonight, tomorrow, next week, by the end of the month, etc., etc. I even spend my leisure time -- trying to "finish" that book, complete that project, wrap up that painting, etc. Reaching the finish line -- is always on the brain and of the utmost importance.

You miss a lot -- with that mindset. You really do. There is great joy to be found in the moment, as well as in the smallest of details that tend to accompany those moments. Those lovely little details that often get missed -- when one is in a hurry. And while I've been pretty good at teaching my kids to appreciate the moment and drink in the details, I really need to heed my own advice.

This leads me to my real topic -- S L O W cloth. Have you heard of it? Probably. It's a hot topic right now in the fiber art community. And, to tell the truth I've been admiring thinking a lot about "slow cloth" -- what it stands for, what it means, what it symbolizes. Actually, I' ve been thinking about it for quite some time.

If you're not familiar with the "slow cloth" movement or concept and would like to know more, here are some places to get a good education on the subject. But keep in mind -- the concept of Slow Cloth is very personal and means something different to every artist. I have found that it is a concept that evolves with YOU.

Take some time and read the article written by Elaine Lipson that discusses in detail -- Ten Qualities of Slow Cloth. Once you've read this, you will certainly want to experience slow cloth first hand and you can do that at the oh so appropriately named (consequently my absolute favorite place to spend time) Spiritcloth where Jude has the instinctual ability to intertwine fiber and words into a visual and spiritual journey. Make sure to thoroughly explore Jude's site -- particularly the visual journey, breadcrumbs, textile studies, etc. links on the right-hand side.

And NOW, as I find myself faced with the onset of summer, I look forward to the "quality" not quantity of my time. I intend to take that deep breath and slow way down. It is my intention to STOP -- and enjoy every breeze, every song, every giggle and every stitch.

Enjoy the Moment!!