Posted Stitches

Hi Bev.

October was a a wild month that came and went and I’m still stitching and will be through the weekend. It didn’t help that I’ve been particularly indecisive as far as subjects and fabric choices. As I suspected would happen, I’ve been completely overwhelmed by the freedom we’ve had to choose are own fabric. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, I’ve changed my theme a “myths of marriage” instead of Greek mythology. (I’ll explain later.) I’m a little nervous about it, but I think it will be interesting to see if I can pull it off. Wish me luck and happy stitching!

Cheers,

Jennifer

P.S. As a newspaper feature writer, I wasn’t involved with any of the election night news coverage. But I did wear my “Craft the Vote” apron to the polls that day, and I brought an embroidery project to work on while I waited to vote. This worked out well, because I ended up meeting a woman who makes hooked rugs. I smell a craft column coming on.

It’s the middle of the afternoon here in Melbourne, and nearly midnight in the Eastern U.S. I’m glued to the computer to keep tabs on your election results. I keep hitting that ‘refresh’ button on the BBC’s vote counter to see how things are stacking up. As a journalist, this must be a wild and woolly week, elections being what they are. I hope you get some stitching time soon.

A few nights ago I sat down late - it was almost midnight here - to paint a Green Man. It was a wild a windy night; perfect for an elemental spirit, and when I went to hang the dripping wet square out on the line in the dark, it glowed.

I’m still stitching on leaves and bark, bugs and buds, but I wanted to let you know that my Jack o’ the Green is on the way, soon to be revealed.

Bev

I don’t think a day goes by when I don’t think about or plan out a part of this Myths and Legends challenge. It’s such a great topic, and I want to do so many images to explore myths and their place in modern life.

But I’ve decided. I’m making a Green Man.

Green Man carvings - and they are nearly always men - are often found on churches in England. When we lived in Oxfordshire, we used to look for them every time we visited a country church. They’re often at the top of pillars or perched in a corner, looking down on the church nave through the mask of foliage and leaves that sprout from their mouths, sometimes from their nose and ears as well.

Green Men can be disconcerting and they can be surreal, they often invoke shadows of the power of the ancient religions from the time before Christianity came to Northern Europe. Wood spirits, folk deities, ancient gods and spirits, they are associated with Pan, Herne the Hunter, Jack in the Green and the Old Man of the Woods. Some say the Green Man is a source behind the Robin Hood legends and Peter Pan, even early images of Father Christmas.

It’s an ancient myth - as old as the hills - that strikes a chord with me for the basic love of the earth and the seasons, and the quiet power of the forest; sometimes benign, sometimes dangerous, always powerful.

A quick search for good material about Green Men gives me three interesting articles:

An Introduction to the Green Man

The Mystery of the Green Man

Wikipedia entry for the Green Man

Life is busy at the moment, but I’m going to enjoy creating my own version of this ancient symbol. Stand by for reports: Wednesday afternoon is open for crafty business, and I’ll start my Green Man then.

Bev

Hi Bev.

I’ve been researching this month’s Myths & Legends theme and have been pulled back to the Greek mythology that captivated me as young girl. I love the the stories of the gods and their powers. I had forgotten that Athena was the goddess of crafts and domestic arts because it seems she was more widely regarded a guardian of those in battle and the goddess of wisdom. It rocks that there’s a goddess of craft! I think she will be appearing in my next quilt. Now I just have to figure out how.

How did it get to be Oct. 19 already?!

Cheers,

Jennifer

“Myths define enemies and aliens and in conjuring them up they say who we are and what we want, they tell stories to impose structure and order. Like fiction, they can tell the truth even when they’re making it all up.”

- Marina Warner, Managing Monsters: the Reith Lectures 1994

Doodling some houses last night, and these ones look like they might come from a myth or a folk tale:

Sort of Swiss-German, with Regency British touches around the doors. Hmmm. An architect I am not.

Bev

Hi!

This month, I’m reading on the theme, for inspiration. Myths and legends, folk and fairytales. I could read all month and not set a stitch. (Never fear, I’ll start sewing soon!)

Historian Michael Wood takes the premise that some myths might have a kernel of fact buried in their centre. He’s explored these themes for years: Was there a king of Britain called Arthur? Who was Alexander the Great? Did the Trojan War really happen? I’m a big fan of his eclectic approach to archaeology and ancient history, chasing any echoes of ancient literary references in the real world.

If you ever get a chance to see his TV programs, have a go! They are fascinating and a thankful antidote to those cheap ‘torches and swords’ re-enactment ‘history’ programs we get all the time (gack.) This particular book and program, In Search of Myths and Heroes, looks for evidence of Arthur, Jason and the Golden Fleece, the Queen of Sheba and the kingdom of Shangri-La.

Printmaking has caught my eye recently, due to the effect of my recent screenprinting class at ThreadDen, which was wonderful! And there’s been a bit of a stencil-along going around in the Aussie and online crafty scene - as you know from last month’s quilt. I got some easy-cut lino blocks, tools, and a basic printmaking book for my birthday this week, and I am now all set to go!

When I came along for the ride on this challenge, little did I know that it was going to turn into an exploration of applying paint and ink to fabric. But that’s what’s happened.

So, what’s sketching? So far, I drew random images that remind me of myths: red apples, flowering trees, a white stag, mistletoe and a harp. Green will feature. I think I’m a celt at heart.(smile)

Bev

Hi Jennifer,

It seems I’m still thinking of ways that I could stitch the last theme, and the next one is upon me.

This month’s theme is Myths and Legends.

It’s such a rich area that I am almost paralysed by a wealth of possibilities.

There are legends, tales and epics: King Arthur, Robin Hood, the Fisher King and Beowulf. The great myths of religion. Symbols and signs: the crafty fox, the regal lion, the mighty bear. Fairy tales and children’s stories, and tales told to teach, to moralise and to express a rough justice.

Stories to explain the stars, to bring back the sun, to heal and help, protect and give power, and promote a rich harvest.

How will I choose from a whirl of ghost ships and fairy godmothers, witches, wild men, talking foxes and dancing shoes?

For the moment, I am reading. King Arthur, kids’ literature, and Touch Magic - three books with rich tales to tell, and somehow an image will emerge that I will start to stitch.

Bev

Hi Bev.

It’s been days since our live reveal on Skype and I finally made time to photograph my quilt today. September’s challenge ended with a quilted butterfly doing a yoga pose. I’m not really sure how to explain this exactly. I had other plans, but this is what came out when I started working this piece. Do you love it when the unexpected happens?
I Iove butterflies and regard them as a symbol of life. They’re beautiful and delicate and graceful. I like yoga, too, but have difficultly fitting it into my schedule. And since my yoga class attendance is rather sporadic, I haven’t progressed much farther than the tree pose that the butterfly is doing above.

This is my rendition of balance. And I’m happy to report that I used pieces from all the fabric you sent. In fact, I’m sure that my commitment to try to use only your fabric lad me to the butterfly design. I knew I could use all those prints on the wings. Thanks for the inspiration.

Your balance quilt turned out fabulous! Way to use those paints and beads! You go, sister! Now we’re off to create October’s “Myths & Legends” quilt. The adventure continues…

Cheers!

Jennifer

P.S. I still need to post about the new method I tried out on this quilt. I didn’t forget. I’m just pressed for time.

Hi Jennifer,

We’re finished! Here is the finished quilt for the Balance theme:

This month, I decided to create my own version of a circus poster. In the middle, there’s a woman who is walking a fine balance on the tightrope. She’s got so many things in balance: her life, her career, her family and her artistic and intellectual thoughts and ideas.

Some days it feels like I’m in the middle of my own circus (wild animals and all!), and this quilt gave me a chance to smile about it all, while making something colourful and with a bit of bling.

Here’s one of the many posters that inspired me - this one, for the figure of the woman:

1890s circus poster. Originally posted at the Circus Museum of the Netherlands.

The quilt includes a stencilled design, lots of beads, embroidery, drawing, fused applique’ letters and prairie points around the edge. It’s quilted onto cotton batting, and the back was left plain this month.

Bev