While I was looking at napkin rings and cuffs on Flickr, I saw this beautiful forest poetry cuff by Cathy Cullis, and it gave me the clue I needed for the final element in my hospitality piece. I loved the combination of fabric and text, and the frayed ‘wabi sabi’ quality, which echoes with my ‘imperfect’ theme. A cuff, writ large, could be a table runner. With that thought my objects suddenly turned into an installation.
I had the fabrics (and had already used most of them in the woven napkin rings).
I had the words, collected in my theme book. And I had – just – the time.
Piece, piece, piece and stitch, stitch, stitch.
A day later – much later – and I had a table runner. The fabrics are all my own hand dyed indigo shibori pieces from various workshops long past. (Now I need to dye some more!). The text includes words from the Bible and quotations from Christine D Pohl’s Making Room and Jennifer Kavanagh’s The O of Home. I had puzzled about how to attribute these if I’d stitched them on a napkin; in this format it was easy, with a label on the back of the work.
So this is it, the culmination of all the work and experimenting and agonising and learning. The photos were taken in a bit of a hurry and a bad light before it all went into the package to catch the post (you have to get to the sorting office by mid-morning here, as the mail goes on the plane to Glasgow at lunchtime). When it comes back from my tutor I’ll take some better pictures and put them on Flickr.
There isn’t really anything I would change about it, a few small technical things maybe. I don’t think I’m really cut out for distance learning but I’m glad I stuck with the course and managed to finish with something I like. I couldn’t have got through this last week without the large amounts of encouragement and coffee provided by Alan, he was wonderful. I’m off for a walk by the sea now, and the next big thing is Woolfest – I can’t wait. I’ll be there both days and would love to say hello to any blogging friends who are going.
Hooray! Well done for finishing! See you at Woolfest!
A very big well done! It looks fantastic, I hope you are proud. You might even have spurred me on to do some work tonight!!!! Are you planning on getting it marked? Enjoy woolfest – I am jealous!
Oh that is lovely! poetry and prose make these more significant and thoughtful
Well done on completing. Distance Learning is difficult, but well done you.
this is very inspiring! i’m weorking with words too, weaving and or stitching them.
not cut for distance learning? you’ve shown me the way! i need to clear some stuff first, but will try the oca course.
Your project is wonderful and I enjoyed following your design process along the way. Bet you breathed a sigh of relief to get it finished. Fingers crossed for you for a great result! Have a fabulous time at Woolfest. Must try and make it there next year.
I think I will sign up for the sketchbook thing too.
Penny
Your runner is absolutely stunning!! Your fabrics ar eyummy!! Wish that I could join you for a dye day. I am trying to find some indigo dyeing classe near me here in the states. I love what you ahve done. I am so thrilled to have found your blog thru the Fabulous Jacky!! Isn’t it funny how we meet people who used to live near but we don’t find them till they are much farther away!!! I love your blog and I will be back often!!