Thursday 27 August 2015

More Woodland Graffiti


Think this is my favourite so far.


Don't have a name for it yet.


 From the First to this one
the stitching has become even denser.


As I stitched I was thinking of the holes
in dead standing trees
put there by the shy
Pileated Woodpeckers
and others.


All on a cotton cloth
left in our tannin rich stream for a few days.
Obviously wrapped around a bit of rust too.
Love those stains
travelling from top to bottom.
All quite accidental
Love not having control
Love surprises.

Right now stream is completely dried up
If it weren't
I would be out there sinking more bundles.
The pale colours that result are just what I need
for this series of stitchings.

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Early Morning Fog


The only moisture we have had for weeks
is in our early morning fog.


We can't see much beyond the end of our noses
as we walk the dyke
and then we go home soaked through
just from fog.


Even the osprey can't see the water
from their messy nest above the Basin.

Tuesday 25 August 2015

Woodland Graffitti


We live surrounded by Acadian Woodland


Where trees somehow manage to grow
out of rock-filled soil


Where the summertime foliage
hides not only trees
but camouflages
deer who could be just paces away from you.


and where streams abound.

Monday 24 August 2015

Colour and Value


Thought I would carry on stitching the rusted cloth.
Wanted to try different colours and values.


It reminded me of the days I used to say
that value is more important than colour.
The new week looks pretty insipid
until you get to the cream on black!


Reddish Brown thread looks okay close up
but disappears at a distance.


Hardly notice the change in browns and beiges.


And of course the cream just popped out at me on the black.


Perhaps I have become a person of contrasts rather than
all the subtle colourings I seem to lean towards!
Oh, yes, but then it could just be that fading eyesight
of my senior years needs high contrast!


Thursday 13 August 2015

First Graffitti


Think I will call this one
Edge of the Woods.
I decided to leave a strip unstitched
and once I did that
the piece reminded me of 
The edge of the Acadian Forests in these parts
that look completely impenetrable
from the outside!


My inspiration or starting point
came from this sketchbook page
based on a photograph of tree bark.
It was way back in 2012 that I shared
this potential starting point.
So as you can see
sometimes
it takes me quite a while to get down to things!


But of course I never really follow a sketch.


Just like graffiti


I follow wherever my needle and thoughts
take me.

Wednesday 12 August 2015

Observations at Sunrise


As we walk the dyke
My attention is usually on the water
For some reason I look left and up
and low and behold
not one but two eagles
are atop this tree
watching us go by.


The other one took wing
Just as I got them
Into focus!


Love this shape
As a stream wends it's way
at low tide.


Important in years gone by
Now just sticks jutting
Out of sticky mud.

Tuesday 11 August 2015

Dye Stuff


There are great waves of Queen Anne's Lace
down on the dyke.


But am not sure if I want the colours they produce this time
around.
Should freeze some for the future.


Every day I gather the spent lilly blooms.


Perhaps I will explore what marks they will
add to some silk I am planning for
my black walnut dye bath.


And perhaps I will mordant this lovely
discoloured sheet of copper.


Tansy flowers are also now in bloom
Should freeze some of them too.


Monday 10 August 2015

Rusted Scratchings


I have been stitching, stitching, stitching
a new series I think I will call
Graffiti.
Also been working on the finishing touches
on my latest journal scrolls
to include them in a new show.


Busy times
But still making time to stitch
graffiti for my scratchings.


I am working with a fine woollen thread.


Will write about them soon.