Hearts Multiplying

I played a bit more with this, adding ragged edges, more silk fibres and introducing it to silk gauze and velvets: But then another heart insisted on nestling here:

And was joined by one more and a bit of silk organza ruffle on the edge. The silks are dry felted in, with a machine.

And here is the back of what has become a journal cover - my shibori rabbit moon.

Today I was finishing putting Easter decorations about and I saw this table runner I made two years ago but realized I had never quilted. So I echoed the flowers with pink and purple variegated thread and I like how the back, which is made from identical fabric, ended up with what remind me of stitched shadows, intersecting the flowers.

Incubation

Each year at this time, I reflect on the past year and feel into what I want for the next one. I wonder about what is growing in the darkness that I cannot yet see and notice what I am pulled toward or pushing away from.

Last year I largely delved into handstitch. Here's a yarn and thread tree I was stitching into felt just before Christmas - I would like to explore further with felt:

Other then for some piecing, my machine has sat idle. So it was good to make a journal gift and realize how rusty I've gotten since not regularly using free motion stitch.

I will soon be using my machine alot, at the Mark Making course I will be starting next week. But I will also be handstitching in the Contemporary Woven Boro class in mid January - so it is going to be a very busy learning time ahead! And I have other areas of focus I'd love to explore, too - so I will continue to sit with the possibilities over the last days of 2010.

It was raining at the beach, today. I like the peacefulness of the neutral palette.

I've covered my journal for the upcoming textile art course I am taking with this cotton that I had previously monoprinted with leftover thickened dye when I did some deconstructed screenprinting. No neutrals, there!

And here is a video of the surprise I found while at the beach:

Any corners cut lead to problems down the road

Phew! The last gift is done. I find myself being a very cautious sewer given that my Pfaff is so unpredictable. I carefully weigh choices such as changing the bobbin thread because last time I did I spent about an hour before the machine finally ran normally. So while I decided to 'risk' metallic thread on top because it really was what would look best, I kept the light blue bobbin thread that was already in from a previous project. With a regularly functioning machine I would have used the same metallic in the bobbin. I also chose a straight stitch instead of anything fancy because I've encountered problems there as well, and conveniently, the fabric that I chose doesn't fray so needs no satin edging and since it is also stretchy, I could make the cover in one piece instead of the usual three. Any timesaving is much appreciated because inevitably something does go wrong and make the project take longer. This time was no exception. When I pinned the inner flaps, I forgot that to have the metallic thread show on the cover's outside, I would need to flip it so that the pins and inner flaps were on the underside and not visable to me as I sewed. Somehow, one of the flaps curled back on itself when I sewed it -unsightly. I picked it out and resewed and it happened again! At that point I considered leaving it and telling my sister who is receiving the gift that it serves as a reminder not to be too attached to perfection - a sentiment I think she would appreciate. But I did unpick and resew with the help of a little glue stick to make sure it didn't happen again. In my experience, cutting corners does not work - yet I seem to be a slow learner in that regard. Next time I would also do the regular three pieces for the cover and use a stabilizer to back them, as I prefer a straight edge for the book as opposed to the slightly floppy edges. All of this is a reminder to me that I need a reliable machine.

Finished felt journal and planning

One thing I love about felt is how both sides end up looking interesting and it's often hard to choose. I should have taken a photo of the underside, which was more muted - next time. I've cut the felt piece down from it's original size after the wet felting, added yarn, commercial wool felt, roving and ribbon - glueing it to the journal. Many of the journal covers I make are transferable to other journals the same size - but I like the wavy edged, looser look that is glued on, too.

I'm also continuing to explore what I want to focus on and accomplish in the year ahead. I don't want too many specific goals as I want to keep my learning fun and leave room for what wants to arise organically. Also, I like being realistic - I simply can't work on fibre 8 hours a day everyday in the middle of family life and keep the lower stress life I prefer. So I choose flexibility and self-compassion - as in - I commit to work on something fibre-related most days - and that could be as basic as reading about a technique. I am amazed to look back to 2 years ago when I first got a sewing machine and began spending time most days on art. I made a cloth doll and I remember feeling quite guilty at all the time I was spending making her. Wow - has my attitude ever changed! Fibre art has really become my work and my love. I'll post a photo of my doll soon.

Journal covers

Today I didn't get into the studio until after dinner. Some days there are other areas of life that need tending and I think maintaining a balance is important. When I was getting my master's degree, I came up with an anacronym I use regularly to remind myself about balance: PRICES. And I do pay a price if I do too much of one thing at the expense of others. Physical (diet, exercise, health), Relational, Intellectual, Creative, Expression and Spiritual. If I ever feel stuck I run through these areas and check out which one needs addressing.

But back to what I created today. I collaged lace, satin, silk, ribbon and another fabric I don't know the name of onto a wool journal cover I'm making for my niece. Yes - that's right, I'm still making a few 'Christmas' presents because family is visiting next weekend and I took advantage of the extended time period to prepare gifts after the actual day. I also used my embellishing machine to attach roving to chiffon and then I wet felted it and now it's drying. This will become a second journal cover. I keep thinking about weaving strips of felt together and then sewing them down - and - I have a new book 'Uniquely Felt' by Christine White that I might look in for inspiration.