Heaven's Keys

5"x61/2", hand cut stencils, painted cloth, machine stitching, beads...assorted glass and colored beads.

One of my suggested explorations was 'Maps of Heaven' and this little effort is about the keys to heaven as an entrance to maps and such. This is my third piece in exploring and I rather like this one. I enjoyed the mix of colors, and sewing the beads. The top four red ones are strung on thin wire to denote a way to hang this cloth piece but I will frame this in a shadow box frame.  I have a ton of saved keys going all the way back to first cars and houses...I even have a key to my office in San Francisco waaay back. 

Summer is here for sure...cool in the morning and sunny and warm in the afternoon. The prices on motels and such have doubled because it is the 'season'. Restaurants are crowded and the beaches are covered in umbrellas! My son will visit in July...its all good!

Sample Amulet 2

Sample amulet, small 5"x51/2", painted cloth, painted paper, assorted beads, stamped, stenciled, machine and hand stitched.
Exploring new directions following my list of six suggestions (Facebook June 4th) and along the way I believe I have found a creative expression in making amulets. In the ancient world there was a thin line between magic and medicine and calling on a "scorpion charmer" was common. This charmer would among other duties, create amulets for a patient for protection?! Ideas are developing but my best way is to plunge in and try this or that...this piece went several directions and I stopped at this point. I had fun stitching beads 'using up' small amounts of leftover glass and plastic beads.

"Star Code"

11"x16", cotton rust resist, stencil cut out collage, gray quilted paper and gray flour resist cloth. Hand and machine stitching, copper glass beads and light topaz cube glass beads. The lavender embroidery thread was the last bit from my mothers sewing basket ... 30+ years old.

This is the gate that speaks of the ancient and modern take on the "stuff" of the Universe. What is foretold in our very bones and studied by both astrophysicist and the biochemist ... "the history of humanity the history of the Universe is the same and we are made of the same.. I embedded what seemed like to me, a genetic code as an ancient banner ... helping to lead to the solution to the  riddle of all riddles.

Beading Along

I'm not really very good at beading but I like the trying part. I also like the variety of beads. I especially like the glass beads as I just bought small tubes of red, green and gold. My fingers are no longer nimble and my eyes strain to thread the needle even with the help of a magnifying light. I enjoy the slow adding, building process and here I have used a combo of turquoise and the green glass beads on hand stamped cloth. .Sometimes I think while I'm beading that I have stepped into the ancient world when someone beaded beautiful ritual robes ... my fantasy for sure!!

One of Three

The misshapen square measures approx. 6"x6", embroidery, glass beads on painted loose weaved fabric attached to 10"x10" purple cotton cloth.
Slow going in these days leading up to Winter Solstice. I have three squares I'm combining and this is just the first. The color is a bit off as the threads are a light gray and lavender and here it looks white. My plan is to combine these in a long rather narrow east to west shape. I've dreamed of fringe and added fabrics but not sure at all how it will play itself out. I have my latest archeology magazine, a few study books and I've a brand new notebook so I'm ready for anything that might show up! Also have a few gift cards and coupons for art supply and fabric store so at anytime I can make a run for more stuff! With that said I'm prepared( if the work takes a serious turn) ... with a foot and hand massage appointment ... I've got it covered!
Happy Holiday fun!