Tag: Stitch: Dyed thread

The heart of the matter

~ Liz A ~ 14 Comments

It is Thanksgiving Day so I am beside myself … loving the sweet simplicity of a day devoted to fun, food and family …

There hasn’t been much time for stitching, but I’ve done a bit on rust-stained muslin from years ago that keeps rising to the top of my scrap basket. It has always made me think of sunrise, so I finally took the plunge …

backing it with a fine madder-dyed cotton gifted by Mo, stitched with a silk/cotton thread given by Jude to Deb, who worked such magic that I am beside myself with wonder …

and as I stitched discontinuous backstitch in the center and Jude’s split backstitch around the edge, I turned it this way and that …

finding at last the heart that has waited so patiently to be found.

Wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to one and all, wherever you may be. May you, too, find your heart’s content.

I get by with a little help from my friends

~ Liz A ~ 14 Comments

In the wake of epic fires in Australia, Barry Smith posted today about his latest project to spread peace. Inspired, I penned a soon-to-be-stitched response on my current work in progress …

Also this past week, Dee Mallon posted about putting her Deb Lacativa threads in a box (note: Deb is currently having a sale). Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, I didn’t hesitate to imitate …

And how wonderful that the box was part of a welcome to the neighborhood gift from our across-the-street neighbors (along with an apple pie that is long-since gone).

Last, but not least, Fiona Dempster sent some treasures she and Barry made over at Deckled Edge Press, which are now residing on the nifty seating-cum-display-shelf in our breakfast nook …

Oh wait, there’s one more thing. My former neighbor, Connie Akers transported me to the monthly FASA (Fiber Artists of San Antonio) meeting, where we heard Jody Alexander give a phenomenal talk about Boro. I am fortunate to have two of Jody’s books in my collection (KEEP and The Boro Aesthetic), but there’s nothing like seeing (and touching) cloth up close …

There is so much inspiration to be found in this circle of Kindred Spirits … a very good thing during good times and bad.

A new point of view

~ Liz A ~ 18 Comments

The houses are so close together in our new neighborhood that thirty of them would fit on our five acres in San Marcos. This now is the view from my stitching chair …

There are no prairie grasses here, but for the first time ever in my 63 years, there are also no trees in the backyard. And so, because this window looks south, I will be able to watch the sun and the moon as they trace their arcs across the sky. I can’t wait for next Tuesday’s full moon (with fingers crossed that the clouds clear off in the meantime).

Most of the boxes are now unpacked and we are slowly choosing where to hang the artwork we have accumulated over our 45 years together …

But best of all, there is now time and space in which to stitch some windfall lichen-dyed muslin patches with Deb Lacativa’s magical thread …

Life is so very good.