Fabric Gift!

I haven’t been feeling very motivated to start a new fabric painting recently but thanks to an artist friend in South Carolina, I am now! She sent me a wonderful package of embroidered, printed, and woven tablecloths and this one really has my imagination going! I am very thankful for the surprise gifts!

Work in Progress: Dates in a Life Walking Project 2024

 

Three months are complete on my painting documenting my steps each day in 2024. I can't believe we're a quarter of the way through the year already! March usually feels long because there aren't any weekday holidays and the weather shifts back and forth between winter to spring. There were also some days with a lot of heavy rain which limited my walking. I was able to walk over 10,000 or more steps seven times (see the red icons) with all but one on the weekends. I'm glad there's sunlight after work so I can walk if I was too busy during the day.

New Work: Not Aligned

 

There was a time we were on the same page with the desire to go together in the same direction. But stories change, feelings change, and people change, so much so that they will never be in alignment again.

The “holes” of a small construction fence pattern were monoprinted on an upcycled antique linen embroidery. Machine sewn stitches follow the grid of the fence pattern, with color painted inside sections of the grid on alternate rows from the “holes”. The outer edges of the fabric are painted as well. The space in the center, between the shift in alignment, and radiating outward symbolizes a wound that was slow to heal, but did.

Not Aligned is a mixed media painting that measures 44” x 41.5”.

Work in Progress: Dates in a Life Walking Project 2024

February came and went very quickly! Now I've got two months done on my painting documenting my steps each day in 2024. The weather was mostly cold but sometimes springlike. We had very little snow. I did a pretty good job walking everyday, though only 10,000 steps or more 3 times (see the red icons) on the weekends. March should be easier due to warmer temperatures and more sunlight at night.

More New Work in Progress

 

Last Sunday I thought I was finished with the painting but after looking at it hanging on the wall and photographing and looking at it on my computer, I started playing around in photoshop and decided it needed more, which I hope to do today. 

I had been feeling stuck but then I saw a new Sanford Biggers quilt on Instagram. While it is totally unrelated to my work, except for it being fabric, an idea popped in my head. Thank you Mr. Biggers for the inspiration!

More New Work in Progress

Yesterday I had a few minutes to paint between the intentionally misaligned rows of the machine stitched monoprinted grid pattern from a construction fence on the repurposed linen tablecloth. And, I was finally able take my sewing machine to the hospital for a tuneup. I’m going to miss her over the next few weeks.

After the paint was dry I decided it was too orange, so this morning I painted red over it (you can see the left side has been painted over and the right side isn't yet). I think I'll be much happier with the updated color when the paint is dry.

More New Work in Progress

I finally finished machine stitching the monoprinted grid pattern from a construction fence on the repurposed linen tablecloth. Next I’ll start adding paint to the center space that goes between the intentionally misaligned rows. I also hope to take my sewing machine to the hospital for a tuneup next weekend.