It’s been nearly a year since I last updated this blog, and what a difficult year it’s been! Me and my family somewhat suddenly moved away from my beloved West Virginia, leaving behind my weaving studio and the Lucy Quarrier Weavers. So I haven’t been able to weave (though stay tuned for exciting weaving updates over the next few weeks!) In the stress and chaos of moving, I haven’t had much opportunity for crafting or writing in general.
But, I miss writing this blog, and so I’m jumping back in with a throwback post to a project I did years ago. This piece was my first ever free-hand embroidery project, to date my only work in that medium, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out! This piece of art was inspired by my Grandma Sylvia (of blessed memory), and was originally meant to be a 60th birthday present for my dad, though of course it was several years late by the time I actually finished it –and my current WIP is dad’s 70th birthday present, already quite belated!
This was a belated gift even by my standards because the execution was a challenge. I’d originally intended this project to be counted cross stitch, because that’s a medium I was more familiar with. But the design proved too complicated and after 2 failed attempts I gave up on cross stitch and decided to attempt free hand embroidery.
I got my hands on an old school manual with some embroidery stitch instructions (purchased from the used book section at the wonderful local bookstore in downtown Charleston, Taylor Books– did I mention I miss West Virginia?). Caitlin helped me sketch the initial design into the muslin, and then I used that pattern as a kind of sampler, experimenting with 6 different embroidery techniques to achieve the various textures of the waves and sky and sailboat. The words are in my Grandma’s handwriting, which I enlarged with a photocopier then traced directly onto the muslin to embroider.
The inspiration for this piece is a quote from Grandma Sylvia, “all the seas you’ll ever sail, my son, lap the shores of home” though I have no idea where she got it. (Maybe she made it up? My Google wizardry has failed to solve this mystery). Anyway, my dad has always loved the ocean and we used to go sailing together when I was a kid, so the design felt a fitting way to tie together our 3 generations.
It’s been over 12 years since my Grandma’s passing; if she were still alive she would have turned 103 years old last month! I am especially reminded of my Grandma this week, and the deep and abiding love she had for her younger siblings and all her nieces and nephews, as my extended Solomon family mourns another loss.
Anyway, it’s been a hard year, and as I try to settle into our new home in Maryland DC suburbs, I am determined to get back into making my art– and sharing it with all of you! Over the next few weeks I plan to post updates about several works-in-progress, hopefully at least one new finished piece, and maybe even start something new!
- Featured Project: Sailboat Memories
- Medium: embroidery
- Pattern: original
- Material: off- white muslin cloth & embroidery floss
- Started 2012ish, completed summer 2019
#Showcase #Throwback #Embroidery
The Owl Weaver 
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