November 21, 2013

Glimpse of the Divine Outside

I am working on Gridlock up in my studio and stitching my Glimpses of the Divine cloth while sitting in my chair in the living room, where I remind myself of Edith Bunker.

I took Glimpses for a walk into the yard today since it is the only good light around at 4'ish. This is a corner created as Part Two of what I extorted out of Himself to get me to stay here in the shadow of the Evil Neighbor (who was just sentenced to 10 years in prison so I wasn't completely crazy).
It has a stone table that would be a perfect altar for sacrificing virgins (definitely a shortage of those around here). The chairs are made from old fishing boats, imported from somewhere in Micronesia by Elizabeth Gilbert, who owns a store not too far from here when she is not Eating, Praying, or Loving.
 Himself threw the paint on...couldn't you just frame the close up?

Speaking of close ups, I took some detailed photos of the cloth while it was waiting outside for a virgin. I already tucked tiny pieces of hand-dyed golden cotton in the interstitial spaces and basted them in. The process felt free and unencumbered and I am happy with how they look. In close ups, they too seem like little paintings.


Add caption
But I rushed into stitching around some of them and I am not happy at all. Yeah, the close ups are cute...



 ...But I just can't seem to make the mark that expresses the feeling inside of me. I struggle with this over and over again, the inability to get the topstitching to talk. I am spoiled: because I can make words just dance off the ends of my fingertips, I expect to do the same with a needle and thread. Or perhaps because I wrote professionally for so many years, I am familiar with the process and tolerant of its hills and valleys?  Or perhaps I can hide behind the fact that the "delete" key does not leave a trail, the way the black marker in the picture just above does?

Anyway, I have signed myself for a class next June called, funny enough, Human Marks.It is taught by Canadian fiber artist Dorothy Caldwell in a small art retreat setting run by another formidable fiber artist, Nancy Crow. I am already looking forward to a day's drive to rural Ohio and settling in for a week with a small group of what Anne of Green Gables calls "kindred spirits." Nancy hires a chef to cook lunch and dinner and you stay in local inns or hotels.

I probably would drive to the Yukon if I could get two meals a day served to me. Speaking of serving meals, Clutch is not pleased with all these photoshoots and blogging so I am outta here.



11 comments:

  1. an absolutely delightful post. i immediately looked at the workshop and spent a few minutes pretending i could actually make it happen. love her work. so happy for you that you get to attend. take good notes!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Patricia! I will definitely be Lois Lane on a scoop when I am there.

    ReplyDelete
  3. what lovely details and Clutch certainly lets you know how he feels!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that he does,although his repetoire is pretty limited (let's eat Or let's play with my Ball")

      Delete
  4. I love what you are sewing by hand. I found you by chance and I will look at more posts in your blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. wow, how great that you took the time to comment, too! I will make my way over to your blog too!

      Delete
  5. all i can say about the work shop is
    WOW
    just
    WOW
    june is too far away....................................................................................................

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And the supply list includes not only basic threads and fabric, but a bottle of india ink, a candle, and incense!!,

      Delete
    2. i will want to know each tiny detail of this. i am counting on you to
      "take me there".....
      GLAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Delete
  6. I met Dorothy Caldwell last week at Harrogate England. She was there with an exhibition on her artwork. She was lovely & Im so envious of you doing a workshop with her. I bet you have a fabulous experience.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have heard from folks at Quilting by the Lake (where she is also teaching next summer and NY is closer to the UK than Ohio!) that she is the gentlest of souls.That is always a good thing in a teacher.

      Delete