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2010 Gifts for my Family. From Top Left to right: A Call to Gather, Two Rabbits Gambolling in Summer Flowers, Last Berries in Summer (x2), Sunday Evening, Two Angels with Goodnight Wishes, Two Bears Floating, Crossing Paths Homeward.

I have been very busy over the last week or so (thanks for noticing Nan) writing final papers for my study as well as finishing these storycloths. Well, I haven't quite finished them but as I will not be able to post now until the New Year I wanted to put them up to show. As you can see I have finished the second bear cloth as well as made changes to the original Last Berries in Summer. I was not happy with the colors and depth of tone and it took quite a bit of work for me to be relatively content. In fact, the bears have now become one of my favourites. It probably helps that I have completed all the final surface stitching on this pair. Oh, that was a really satisfying process. I can't wait now to work further on some of the others pictured. I am also very glad that I persevered with changing aspects of the bearcloths because I very nearly gave up. But, as perhaps you might agree, they convey a sort of charm now. The other newy is the rabbit storycloth. It is called Two Rabbits Gambolling in Summer Flowers. To my mind, it is full of fun and  happy Summer-y movement. One other positive alteration is in the bottom cloth, Crossing Paths Homeward. You may recall that I was not happy with the original darker moon. I think the new moon is much more in keeping with the subtle tones of watery twilight.

I want to express the depth of satisfaction that making these cloths over the past few weeks has given me. I began working on small cloth, following examples and hints in Janet Bolton's Patchwork Folk Art, when I realised I needed some clear structure with which to begin to find my own voice in cloth. I am so glad I did. I would never have thought I would find satisfaction in this sort of design work. I have always had a propensity for just letting anything and everything roll out of me. I have enjoyed this so much that I will continue in this way for the moment. Next year I hope to take some of judes Whispering Classes and it will be interesting to see what happens with my creative journey then. I love jude's work, and derive immense enjoyment from reading, and interacting with, her blog.

So, in appreciation at this time of the year it is appropriate to say thanks to the chief sources of my inspiration, my Mum, who sent me Janet's book, Janet Bolton and jude, as well as my blogging friends with without whom my storycloth world would be significantly less rich.

At close of needle last night after stitching for hours, I pinned all my gift cloths up ready for the photo this morning. Now I will take them down to pack for Christmas.

Wishng you all a peaceful holiday stitching season, Gilly

Anyone for Smocking?

Surprise Gift

I received an early morning phone call the other day - well it seemed early as I was still under warm covers and reading with a cup of tea at hand - from a wonderful quilting woman who was very kind to me when I first arrived to live here in Canada. She said she remembered that I once had mentioned I used to enjoy smocking when my children were young. Apparently she had received some goods that someone wanted to pass on to new owners and among them was a 'Sally Stanley Smocking Pleater' and a pile of books (I have only pictured half of them!). Well, as soon as she saw it she said she thought of me and was just phoning to see if I'd like them. Yes, yes, yes! What a wonderful morning surprise for me and, well, of course I could not ignore such serendipity! So now I have a beautifully maintained smocking pleater and many books redolent with their previous owner's fervour - handwritten notes and a very warm cloth-oriented spirit attached. I feel very blessed. I am also conscious of a sense of stewardship and privelege. I do not know who they belonged to yet I feel a sweet connection with her. I'm not sure when I will begin smocking again, however I feel confident that I will.

At close of weekend needle I have been trying different border fabrics for the rabbit small cloth. I am debating whether I have made the base cloth too long for the rabbit or even for two rabbits. We shall see! I have also nearly completed the second bear small cloth. Christmas is drawing nearer and it feels great to have a little pile of storycloths ready.

Happy stitching wishes, Gilly

Two Angels with Goodnight Wishes

Two Angels with Goodnight Wishes

This is Two Angels with Goodnight Wishes, another duo to form part of the package of gifts for my family. It is taken directly from Janet Bolton. I have changed her design a bit to suit my needs. I am finding that following her designs closely is a really good way to learn about color, highlight stitches and overall composition. Janet, to me, is a genius of understated design. These measure six inches by three inches each and belong as a pair. I would like to make variations of this for all my family members.  I would also love to have these in my own bedroom. It seems so reassuring to go to sleep with the thought of angels delivering good sleeping wishes outside my window. Lovely thought.

At close of weekend needle I have laid out another Janet Bolton design - a rabbit. I also dyed a selection fabrics in brown onion skin, these are just rinsing now. There was one piece of cloth that had a streak of rust on it and combined with the onion skin has turned a lovely licorice colour. It may become part of a rabbit.

Happy stitching wishes, Gilly.

Questions of Identity

Crowned

I made this a few months ago, one of three storycloths about women in contemporary consumerist society. It is titled Crowned, an exploration of identity: cosmetic surgery, the expectations women struggle to live up to, the masks we wear, how difficult it is to know who we really are, how a smile sometimes betrays us, how we are tossed about by the way we think others perceive us, how difficult it is to be objective about ourselves, others, the world.

It is interesting for me to look back on this and to see how my self-understanding has developed. This cloth was in response to young white women in western society where 'choice' is a term commonly used. For example if a question is posed: 'What do you think about the fact that it is increasingly common for young (and older) women to undergo cosmetic surgery as a pretty much 'normal' experience?' A typical response is "Well, that is their CHOICE'. Yes, on one level it is, but what external pressures are there that make women feel they need to change their bodily appearance? Women 'voluntarily' undergo surgery so they can try (and always, always, of course always fail) to meet the expectations of a consumerist, capitalistic, patriarchal society. A society which on a broad scale does not care if you look like a Barbie Doll - all that is really important are the dollars exchanged.

Excuse my soap box -  the outright oppressive manipulation of women's self esteem by capitalist ideology makes me angry. (On another note - let alone the cross-cultural oppression that goes hand in hand with capitalism.)

So - it is interesting for me to see how, over a few months, my thoughts on this matter have consolidated and have now led to a public post. I do not critique women's individual choices because it is very important that we do have choice, rather I critique the values of consumerist society.

At close of needle I muse on my small orderly cloths and how they reconcile with this political storycloth, and how they both emanate from the one being - me. Perhaps the face above reflects this also? There is more to this story.

Happy stitching, Gilly

A Call to Gather

A Call to Gather

This is A Call to Gather. It is 9 inches by 4 inches. It has different feel to last week's Two Bears Floating. It has a cooler, more subtle light, which it should as it is dusk whereas Two Bears Floating is in the middle of the day. I could not stop myself from finishing this. Each week I look forward to the next storycloth that seems to come from somewhere inside me. I feel these elephants are on their way to a burial ground. Apparently elephants are able to discern bones of elephants from among bones of other animals. They are such amazing, magnificent animals. I wanted to keep them unadorned but could not resist adding some hint of exotica by way of fabric bits. I am finding it a little easier to manage tiny bits of fabric. I surprise myself by enjoying more and more many hours of fiddling with colours and shapes and designs before making final decisions.

At close of needle I am wondering how this deepening love of making storycloth is informing my own identity as Gilly. I feel I am changing, becoming deeper, stiller, calmer, with a bubbling joy far inside. It feels great.

Happy stitching, Gilly

Two Bears Floating

Two Bears Floating

Two Bears Floating was a dream to create. It is the simplest  design I have made yet. It was such an enjoyable process. The colours are as clear as crystal and the tonings worked well, I think. (You can tell I am pretty happy)!

I am getting better at eliminating clutter.  I feel that each time I begin a storycloth I am more more confident trying out, arranging and re-arranging. I can 'hear' myself thinking what I want the focus to be, what color and type of fabric, what effect I'd like to create. For example, the two sets of horizontal stitches at centre bottom took some working  through. I didn't want any markers that took away the effect of free-floating, yet I wanted some little grounding point, formalised so it suggests human dwelling. I also wanted to pull the two pieces of cloth together, to provide an achievable 'bridge' between the two bears who seem to be floating inevitably away from each other. This is also why I added the birds at centre top - just a little, but I think strong, tie between the two floating bears. Marks that make the hope that the bears will get back together, more certain, if that makes sense.

They are each six inches by three inches and together form this week's storycloth. Any honest feedback is appreciated. Really appreciated.

At close of weekend needle I had begun the backing cloth for my next cloth. A wintery one I think.

Happy stitching everyone, Gilly

Fabric Store versus Op-Shop

Washed and ironed store snippets.

I decided to experience buying cloth from a fabric store instead of limiting myself to op-shop purchases. I enjoy op-shop buys because there is such a good chance of finding interesting and unique fabrics. The down side is the bulk of items to deal with and store once I bring them home. As a result of my visit to a fabric store I found some great advantages in buying fabric thus. It was easier to find exact shades I was after, if I was attracted to a small design aspect I only needed to buy a small yardage, and the cost was not high when only buying a fragment. Overall though, I loved assembling the little pile of color and design. I could look at this little pile happily for the rest of my life. This pleasure reminds me of the immense satisfaction I derive from organising stationary items in drawer or on a desk. Fabric store shopping doesn't replace the thrill of the really great op-shop finds but it certainly does enhance the range of fabrics from which to choose just the right one for the task at hand. Plus it was really good fun - better than choosing a cheese from a Paris 'fromagerie'. That is saying something! I did learn that when washing these fabrics I need to put them in a little bag to minimise the huge tangled mess I had. Any tips regarding this?

At close of needle I had nearly finished my second bear cloth. I will post it soon. I am pretty happy with it. The two together do make a stronger composition just as Janet Bolton comments in her book, Patchwork Folk Art.

Happy stitching all, Gilly

Tangled mess after washing.