i have struggled with time again this week. perhaps i am simply unused to actually having so much time on my hands and am lulled into complacency? perhaps it has been the dull, drizzly weather that has moved in, heralding the immanent arrival of winter? whatever the reason, i decided today that i was definitely in need of minding my time better, so i picked up some cloth and thread and set myself to work.
dia de los muertos is quickly approaching so i thought i might start with a calavera. i wanted something with a bit of chaos and thought some free-motion machine embroidery might serve admirably as my foundation. i started with a nice variegated thread of black, ox-blood, and tan. then added a couple of black and white flowers for eyes that i plucked from a salvaged cotton skirt. this all laid down nicely on a salvaged linen background.
this calavera is far from finished. it's time now to start adding color and hand-stitching (i've been thinking a lot lately about combining machine and hand stitches). but first, i must delve deeply into my stash and find some other fabrics to compliment and layer with...and rummage through my thread baskets and drawers...
meanwhile, i was inspired by these cookies today. i may just have to try my hand at some of these!
namaste'
I love this! I have made little altars in the past to celebrate dia de los Muertos.
ReplyDeleteCookies are always a good thing :)
Hi, Joe. This is cool. I have been thinking about the combination of machine and hand stitching. Well, actually I seem to be doing it more and more. I like what you're doing. I'll have to ruminate on it for a bit.
ReplyDeletebest, nadia