A lot of catching up to do……

Hello out there in blogland!  I’m finally emerging from my year-long cocoon imposed by grief, mourning, renewal and reinvention.  I’m relieved and happy to report that I’ve survived the sudden and heartbreaking loss of my dear partner/housemate/friend/lover last February (2013) and am forging a “Life After Gil” for myself.  I am forever indebted to the crew of friends and family – far and wide, old and new – who have unfailingly offered their support and helpful advice, not to mention their patience and loving care to me as I slogged through new terrain. 

During mourning and grief and trying to fill the huge vacuum left in my home, as well as endless hours in every day that were formerly taken up by a gratifying and loving relationship – some of the best times of my life, certainly the most contented – I found working in the studio to be my release and my my savior.

I worked unintentionally, talking to myself, talking to Gil, talking to the universe and trying to listen to its reply.  I returned to the fiber and quilting exercises that have always provided a sense of personal satisfaction – cutting, piecing, stitching, quilting.  I was not in a colorful mood.  I began to piece together backgrounds composed of various natural cotton cloth:  gauze, muslin, canvas, Osnaburg, anything off white or natural I found in my stash.  It came together nicely.  I quilted it with natural (ecru) size 12 cotton thread, straight stitch echo quilting done by free motion – lots of it and in a somewhat random textural technique.  By the time that was finished, I had decided I needed to devise something out of black Kona cotton, which I fused and cut into the long skinny strips that allowed me to arrange them on the neutral quilted background.  Arches reminiscent of oriental temples emerged.  I named the piece ‘PASSAGES’ and framed it with quilted black on two sides.  Here is the result.

I quite liked this new style I’d invented for myself which reminded me of Chinese brush work or calligraphy.  

This one is named, aptly, COMING AROUND.

Coincidentally, after these pieces were completed, a Chinese Calligraphy class was offered in my area and I have begun to paint with brushes and sumo ink on rice paper.  Pure ecstasy!  I will be posting more about this in the future. and I will be showing more work and talking about the artist community I’ve discovered in my own backyard and how it has changed me and expanded my artistic horizons   AND, I have more new work to unveil!

Thanks for looking!  Your comments always noted and appreciated.