On naming what it is that I do (updated)

April 21, 2022May 23, 2022 ~ Liz A ~ 34 Comments

I’ve been challenged in the past when it comes to describing what it is that I do. Sometimes it’s been easier to say what I don’t do, as in needlework or quilting or collage, none of which exactly fit.

But now I think I may have it: I am a maker of cloth assemblages. And so, to seal the deal, I tried writing something to describe that, which is currently in draft form here.

It’s a work in progress and I’ve yet to give it a test drive “in real life.” But it feels right.

So here’s my most recent cloth assemblage, both sides of the pillow cover I am calling Analogous Red …

seen here in its final pre-construction form, lest I forget what the other side looked like …

This Kawandi-style cloth assemblage holds the gifted dyework of artisans Malka Dubrawsky at Stitch in Dye, Connie Akers, Deb Lacativa, Tina Zaffiro, Tierney Barden, and Ulrike Bogdan, some bought, others gifted, by Mo, Connie, Tina, Deb, and Sue (I’m sure I’m leaving someone out, so these lists will probably grow). There are bits of repurposed clothing from forays to the Village Store in Wimberley and various Goodwill stores in Austin. Also, some of my trials of lichen, pecan, prairie tea, and Inktense dyeing. And snips of no-longer-wearable clothing from my closet and Don’s. There’s even a peace piece from a much-too-tight headband I impulsively bought in the Austin airport seven or eight years ago.

Speaking of which, here’s a 1.5” bit that was commissioned by Don for his current assemblage-in-progress after he spotted the peace sign on my pillow cover …

Ain’t we got fun?

The week that was

December 18, 2021 ~ Liz A ~ 25 Comments

I wrote a whole post about how I was quilting E’s coverlet and then, uncharacteristically, left it in draft mode. Because I guess I knew the linen/harem cloth backing wasn’t going to work …

So I started yet another post titled She’s Come Undone, for the lyrics that kept running through my head as I ripped out two days worth of quilting. No music though … I had to Google the lyrics to come up with the Guess Who song of that title, which now refuses to leave my internal radio. Which is to say, I’m not linking it here.

So I unpinned the backing and pondered what to do. I had some white flannel leftover from the Remember 2016 project and some double weave gauze leftover from P’s coverlet …

And both were just the right size, so who am I to argue with the universe? The gauze is now sandwiched between the pieced top and the flannel and I’m stitching them together with a combination of DMC #8 and #12 white perle cotton …

Meanwhile, nothing new (yet) on the art blog as this latest assemblage by Don is still a work in progress (click to see full images) …

And yes, with temperatures in the 80s, it continues to be summer in Texas, so we’re still getting tomatoes. However, temperatures are supposed to get into the 30s over the next few nights … then back up to 80 degrees on Christmas Eve.

50 degree temperature swings? Yep, everything’s bigger in Texas … including, unfortunately, the headlines 🙄