Raven and Sparrow

Paint and wax

I have drawn my pattern on two blanks and left the third one to be waxed without the drawing. The second drawing was much lighter than the first one, which speaks to the absorbent qualities of the soft linen. I'll need more markers if I use them on the big cloth. Starting with the lighter drawing I painted the stems and centers of the flowers with fabric paint. I investigated Inktense pencils and blocks by watching every YouTube video I could find, but decided to stick with my paints because I was more confident about my ability to keep my strokes simple and fresh. Unless you are very accomplished Inktense needs a lot of blending and stroking and I thought I would be likely to overwork my colors. At first the paint spread horribly, so I kept it dry, but didn't like that effect. Using textile medium (learned about from those videos...thank you YouTube) helped me control the values better, although this first effort is clumsy. I'll do better on the next one. My vision at this point is white/pink spires of flowers with gray dragonflies against a teal blue background. I am waxing over the paint, first by drawing over each line with my little metal tjanting and then filling in with a larger one. (The foxgloves on the left have been done.)  I don't know what will happen with the wax over paint. It might be unnecessary because the acrylic paint will shed the dyes anyway, or removing the wax might compromise the quality of the paint. It might be better to use dye only, but I think the paint will produce a crisper outline. I'll let you know. 

Pillow tests

My efforts to dye my embroidery floss looked great at first, and even now, out in the sunlight they look good, but held up to the Lisa's autumn runner they look wrong...steely blue instead of grayish grape. I have put them back into mordant and plan to add a tiny bit of cochineal to the skeins to see if I can get closer to the color I want. If I don't, I'll just go with what I have, but I feel a little stubborn about trying for the color I imagine. We'll see. My stubbornness will evaporate if it gets too hard.

While I stitch away on Lisa's Autumn, I am also trying to figure out what to do with Summer. I'm not sure how to translate my giant photos of foxglove and dragonflies into patterns on cloth (paint, wax, silk screen?). I need to get some gray into the design because of the color of the dishes, but I don't want too much because gray doesn't seem summery. After checking in with Grace's blog (windthread.typepad.com) it occurred to me that I could just draw the pattern on with permanent marker in the color I want, like Grace draws in what she wants on her cloth. Unfortunately I'm daunted by the effort to draw on the size of cloth I am contemplating. There are too many things I don't know about how it will work. I need to do some tests, but testing for me has always been frustrating. I have spent many hours in the past testing for color or pattern, and then when I go to the full cloth, it looks entirely different. I might as well have not bothered to test at all. Also, I have trouble taking tests seriously. Still, there is too much unknown here to just leap onto my large white linen square. I fuss and fiddle, and then remember the Pillow Project. You recall the Pillow Project, right? .....my idea to use tests to produce some replacements for my tatty couch pillows? Yeah, me neither, until just now. By making something with a purpose I can short-circuit my tendency to half-ass my tests and work through whatever problems present themselves, as each pillow will be a mini-project unto itself. I may find that my ideas will work, or maybe come up with a new possibility, and if I fail completely I at least won't have wasted too much time or fabric.

Anyway, I have made three linen blanks a little bigger than 18 inches square and today drew a fragment of my pattern onto one, using a Faber-Castell Pitt pen in Warm Gray III. (I wanted to stay with the full-sized pattern, not shrinking it down because I am using a smaller cloth.) It was hard. The linen is absorbent and the pen bled more than I thought it would. I was hoping I could get a calligraphic feel to my strokes, but I'm not sure I succeeded with that. Still, the pattern is coherent, so I will go on. I plan to make another one by drawing and then try one using wax, my usual method.

The pursuit of happiness

Its not like I don't have anything to do here in the aftermath of Christmas, but I always experience this interlude as a release from the incessant demands of December. There is so much to be accomplished in what never seems to be enough time that all personal projects go on hold for the duration, and that creates a kernel of resentment. No matter how lackadaisical I have been through the fall in pursuing my work, having to set it aside feels like an affront and the feeling is stronger when the work has been stymied as mine has been for a while. So now the knot is releasing and my imagination eagerly returns to its former channels. This very eagerness is a special gift of this time. It is a renewal and re-dedication, a confirmation that I am still interested in what I am doing. I am prompted anew to  improve and elevate my efforts. I think about what is trite and expected about my projects and search for ways to deepen them. I go back over the decisions I have made and question them, trying to figure out where the snags and hold-ups are and how to smooth them out.

Lisa's table has been stalled for while now. I thought I had a good solution for her summer cloth, but my drawings and doodles haven't produced anything with enough energy to take further. I thought maybe the pillow project would spark something but so far that hasn't happened. I need a new idea or a turn to an old one that will push me to take action and actually bring what is in my head into being. Perhaps the forced hiatus of Christmas will be the fertilizer my project needs.

Stepping back a little from my specific work, I am reminded of the importance of imagination. Living in the moment is an attitude to be cultivated, but the projection of possibility into the future is essential to hope and hope creates meaning. Imagining something new illuminates a previously untried path which may lead (one hopes) to something of value. Even though that value can't be accurately assessed from the start, its pursuit grounds and endows life with purpose and I think we need that to be happy. 

Silver, or rather gold, lining

When my studio flooded last year my expensive bolt of silk/linen was standing in the water. I thought it was well enough wrapped in plastic to protect it, but when I unrolled it I saw that I was wrong. The discoloration goes all the way through. At first I was sad, but now I am intrigued with the possibilities it offers. I am using it for a pillow project and hope it will add some depth to an old design.

I have waxed the pattern of maple leaves onto the 19" square and will dip it in...what? I'm thinking madder, but madder gets through the wax more than any other dye. Maybe I will paint it on and see what happens. In theory this pillow will be a Christmas present, but I don't know if I have time, really. All my processes take a while.

In the meantime, I have been piecing the low contrast checkerboard that called to me from my scrap pile. I started with discreet 2" squares thinking I would add other fabrics in, but when I got into it I just kept on with same two colors. I don't know now if this is just a background for something more interesting or if it would be a good big pillow as it is behind more active smaller pillows. 

I'm finding Christmas to be a little cloud on my horizon right now. I'm not feeling inspired about gifts. I am looking forward to having my boys and girls here to celebrate, so presumably I'll get into the spirit soon.