When in doubt, do everything

This has been a lifelong policy for me, not always a wise one, but usually ending in a lot of fun.

The current "do everything" involves two pieces of needlepoint and a newly warped tapestry and a photograph and newly dyed threads from a canvas.

To explain:  the fish, Jane Sweeney's design,

has a fish motif separately stitched, to be appliqued to the bigger canvas which represents water and sand, so the excess threads of its canvas are removed to enable it to move in on the water area.  Then there will be a bit of trapunto stuffing to make the fish 3D.

However, once I'd removed the white threads, I figured it would be good to save them, and dye them for future use in a tapestry, possibly the one you see further down.  I used one package of Hawaiian Punch, one of Lemon Lime, Koolaid, if you're interested in the techy details of the dye job.  Done in the microwave in a ziplock bag, resting in a container.

Meanwhile, this pillow is going on apace, also thanks to Jane, and you see her sample pictured left, different color scheme from the one I chose.

Then up in the studio, I've warped up a new tapestry, very fine (for me) warp, on which I'll reproduce the photo image you see slid behind the front of the warp.  This won't stay there, just put there to show the intent.

  The photo image is my own, tricky stuff from way back when I used a film camera -- close up of a junction box or something, down the street, double printed, then I turned them up in relation to each other to make an abstraction.  I did a lot of this a few years ago, and exhibited them, all photographs, no photoshop, no fancy lighting or footwork, just pix, two prints of each, moved in relation to each other, all taken within 200 yards of my house, my time being very limited for leaving HP alone.  This turned out to be a great art adventure, though, all restraints forgotten as I explored.  I sometimes think of this as the Emily Dickinson approach to art!   a.k.a. world travel not included.


Writing this has given me an idea for another small tapestry, with my hands in the image. Must find that photo set and get that warped up, too.