So, what to do? I had a small piece of textured fabric that I had stitched, gathered, then dyed with indigo. When it dried and the stitches were snipped out there was a pattern of concentric arcs in sort of a light yellow or ivory against the light blue. I sandwiched it and did some hand stitching in the arcs one evening, liking the result. Of course, I forgot to photograph any of the process steps, so you'll just have to use your imagination. The next day I decided that it was rather boring, so stenciled some green ferns in transparent paint across it. This was a great improvement. Once the paint dried, I quilted around the ferns with the machine. I cut the 7 x 11 piece for SAQA and had a larger piece left. Then I stitched the edges of both rectangles with one of the fancy machine stitches, and I was done
This is the one I'll send to SAQA. Not trying for anything dramatic in this small scale. Just a quiet, contemplative day among the ferns.
You have to look hard to see the hand stitching in this photo, but it's a nice effect.
While I was working on these I had a call from a newspaper reporter asking if I'd be willing to be interviewed as their "Local Artist of the Month." Well, sure, so he sent me the questions and requested a photo in the studio. I've completed the questionnaire and had my friends who are painting the house take a photo for me--so here's the latest.
Anyway, that's all the artsy stuff for now. During the next two days I have to get ready for the big Christmas Parade and Santa's Workshop. Apparently I'm driving a golf cart in the parade to represent First Book-Eagle Lake. Maybe a trial run tomorrow--I've never even ridden in one, but I don't think they go very fast, so maybe I won't run over anybody. A new take on "Grandma got run over by a reindeer"--Grandma flattened Santa with a golf cart . . . .it could become legendary.