Wet work

 I think I do my best work in the pool. Really, what's the worst that could happen? There's cloth and water.

And no shortage of Good Help.

I made this post with my phone and could hardly see what I was doing it was so bright out there. I need one of those little hats with an umbrella attached.

This is the first time that I've used my own Dirty Thread to do text and I'm tickled at how the color transitions worked out for this size text.

Liz works so much smaller than I do.

I split the six-ply in half, then I double the three strands. I guess you'd call this a split chain.

To give lines clear definition, I usually wrap chains with two or three strands of the same thread, but not this time. Don't want to interfere with the shading on the letters.

spongey

I keep looking at it wondering why I can't see the end of it.

Since when have I ever worked that way?

What's making me try?

It's really early.
I know better, so, pins and basting only.

No more nailing stuff down when it's in this cloudy state. It's hard on the cloth and hard on my patience.

Holding back disintegration with a thin line. Futile?

sunday stitch

Caught just enough morning light to confirm that I was happy with what I was working on last night in not-nearly-enough light and didn't have to tear the whole project apart. It happens.



Whenever I use elements that have a finished edge, I like to nail them down with some invisible stitching well inside that edge, once I'm sure of where they need to be. That way, I can tuck things under that edge. I drag these projects around with me like a toddler does a blankie so, at this stage, my stitching is all about construction.

This piece is already feeling not big enough. I have more of the dark linen background, but I need a good sized piece of black polar fleece to built the whole thing on - adding on as design demands.

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I stumbled back through the archives to find a few old tricks, ways of making the cloth and the thread see sense, work together in more than just a construction manner. 

I love the little berry on a plate and the line going to and from nowhere but with such purpose.

The nightside

Getting up at crack of dawn with the ping of a photo message (below) is not a bad way to start the day. I seized it for a change, instead of pretending that the week owed me a Saturday in a mumu.

There was NO half&half for my coffee!  A provisioning mission was necessary, so real clothing was required.

Home with a ton of stuff, (most of which has to be cooked by some fool) by 9ish.

Then, the studio time I promised myself delivered some much-needed serenity.
 I missed the brief window of first light on the stitching chair, so I took up the darkside cloths again. Mostly sturdy linen and some delicate lawn cotton, they needed ironing.

This time, they had something to say. Even before I chose all the players, the title came: "Raised Beds in Hell".  First in the "Night Gardener" series. I'm off to baste for a while.

sunrise at Brisco Airfield by CCL

  Later - just a sketch. this one is going to be hard to get good pictures of, at least with my cell phone.