Moon Entrance

9"x14" tea stained fabric, crochet piece, silver leaf, embroidery and machine stitching, digital photo on cloth.
Time in the studio has been limited and there have been so many stops and starts. This small piece has had many directions and several 'lost days'. I used a digital transfer of a loved sketch of phases of the moon. Last resort was taking this to my sewing machine and let some free stitching create these precious views. I'm loving the variations of mottled stain on these different fabrics...very little control and plenty of surprises. The rest of July and into August will be slow paced which I think is good for an artist of my age...a gathering of myself and unfolding ideas and looking for tattered beauty.

Hope Regained

15"x27", tea stained cloth, machine stitching, assorted embroidery, trim from a scarf, beads and equations written in ink.
This is the biblical story that tells of the wandering in the desert where hope and faith in finding water might be lost. The answered prayer is discovering an oasis where it offers the abundance of 12 springs becoming a grateful and joyful celebration!
 I developed this piece as an ancient map, a traveling scroll placing location and distance to each spring. One being a spring covered in yellow flowers, another reflecting morning stars and one with vines surrounding a fish pond...12 in all!

First becomes Last

"First Becomes Last", 12"x14", assorted tea stained cloth, hand and embroidery stitching, muslin backing.
Mixed feelings about this one. I feel I've accomplished an old rather found piece due to the tea staining and the whimsy of the rolled up night sky gives me some magic. I'm pleased with the all over stitching as well as learning some new ways...feather stitch! I had stitched the beginning squares and rectangles together rather than machine and again I enjoyed slowing down and taking on a slow process of stitching. The title represents my first effort in this oasis series and the fact it just may become more of a sampler rather than the ancient journey in the desert. I had hoped to roll it up like a scroll in a faux leather paper but color and size just didn't work out. It's all a back and forth unfolding and I don't always get my way!
Not sure who stops by to visit or if all this personal explanation is even being read but it helps me clarify in a journal/sharing way. I realize the less wordy sites are more popular...post the photo with less and less words...answer with less and less words. I posted to Facebook from my phone for the first time and needed to keep it short because of the tiny keyboard...we are all in a hurry!!