Cross-Generational Art--Part 2

As I mentioned in my last post, my daughter Sonja has had a huge influence on my development as an artist.  Sometimes that influence comes in unexpected ways.  A few of my latest projects have come about because of gifts she has given me of her son Tyler's artworks. 

For my birthday this past June, she gave me four 8" x 10" rectangles of fabric that Tyler had painted on.

I set them aside in order to work on more pressing things.  Though I was working on other projects, the fabrics were not forgotten.  I was mentally trying out various ideas for how to use them for something special.  As you can see, Tyler is very exuberant in his art and Sonja continues to encourage him.  From time to time she sends us some of his drawings.  Lately he has been working hard on circles.

Perhaps about a month ago I finally had one of those "Aha" moments when I realized what I wanted to do with my Tyler fabric.  The first thing I decided was that I could combine his fabric paintings and his drawings.  I printed copies of his art on 8-1/2" x 11" paper so the designs would fit on my fabric.  Then I used my marking transfer paper from my sewing projects and traced the designs onto my fabric pieces. 

I love to have hand-stitching projects to work on evenings when I am watching TV.  So my next step was to chain stitch over the lines of the designs.  I chose colors to match what Tyler had used.  I used some of my Stef Francis hand-dyed perle cotton which has such lovely gradations in the colors.

It was so much fun.  Sometime into this process I finally decided that I would make these embroideries into pillow covers so that they could be enjoyed day-in and day-out.  I am working on my third right now.  Here are the first two I have finished.

It makes me so happy to feel that Sonja, Tyler and I have collaborated on these even though we are miles apart.