In my last post I shared a picture of the piece I'd recently started using the leftover fabric trimmings from the flat-felled seams in one of my jackets.  I have just completed that piece.  It took a path I never would have expected when I started it.  Not that I ever have any set expectations for what any piece will look like in the end, but I don't think I ever imagined anything like my final result.

As I mentioned, the theme of this work changed a bit as well.  When I started, it was simply a joyful piece.  I was feeling a lot of joy due to having Sonja and her family living near again.  But despite all my happiness on the home front, the current political climate and the venom from the Trump administration was getting me down.  (And still is.)  Again my artwork was functioning as a pep talk to myself--hence the title "Fighting the Blues."  I am reminding myself not to lose hope.

 Finally having a chance to send a progress update on the big move.  It's been a hectic time, not quite so much for me but certainly for Sonja.  Such a myriad of details to be worked out in settling in to a new home, a new job, putting your child in daycare for the first time, getting a second car...on and on it goes.  She hasn't had much time for art, but she now at least has a designated space for it.  (Though Tyler has designated it his playroom too.) 

Sonja's begun to get her studio organized and I am happy to report that she and I are going to have our first "Just Us Art Night" tonight.  We are going to meet at the library that's at about the halfway point between our houses.  The library has a nice little "cafe" area with some comfy chairs and tables.  We'll bring our tea and stitching for a bit of relaxation and sharing.  We hope to do this on a regular basis now - it's been too long.

"My Heart Took Flight" is finished.  Now I'm putting my energy and joyful feelings into this new work.  I don't have a plan for it but I'm having fun and using up scraps.  (I've been doing flat-felled seams in my new unlined jackets which generated all these colorful strings of fabric.  They seemed too pretty to waste so I drizzled them over a plain black fabric, covered it all with a fine blue tulle, and began stitching.)  This is what I'll be bringing to stitch on tonight.