Evolution of Ann's Latest Artwork

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.

Fighting the Blues

I call this one "Fighting the Blues."  Not only did the looks of the piece evolve in unexpected ways, but the theme evolved as well.  Here's what happened.

I brought the dark blue piece to our "just us" art night at the library.  (Sonja and I are meeting weekly for stitching and conversation.  I had done about as much stitching as I thought it needed, but it didn't really feel like a finished piece.  Still it wasn't suggesting anything specific that it needed.  I asked Sonja for suggestions.  She said one idea would be to cut it apart and put it back together in a new way or adding in some additional fabrics.

I liked the idea of doing that but couldn't find fabrics in my stash that I thought would work as additions.  What I did pull out was another of my recent experiments.

This is another piece created with the trimmings from those flat-felled seams.  In this one I sandwiched the the strips between two pieces of sheer fabric and then machine stitched over it all to hold the layers together.  In the side shown here, the sheer I used was already composed of two layers with strings of white novelty yarn between them.  The other side is just a plain white sheer which leaves the colored strips more visible.

The colors of the two fabrics coordinated.  So I ended up cutting apart the dark blue one and layering it over the white one, leaving spaces so the back fabric shows through.  The dark pieces were appliqued down with  blanket stitches using Stef Francis hand-dyed silk perle thread.

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.