brain daze

Now what? Pundit (2) is done. Maybe. (except for the sleeve and the label) It leaves me with the feeling that I'm still missing something. Might be a brain freeze, I always get this way after finishing a piece...or maybe it's not finished? I've got that itchy feeling that its not right, not sure it accomplished my goals. I love the way this guy has dominated my studio over the past several weeks. You can ever have too much acid green, right? Maybe it really does have to be a series before I get it right. 

I need to turn it away from me for awhile in order to come at the decision with a little more objectivity. 

Pundit, detail

Pundit, back side.

practice piece gets a new job

Yesterday Jim decided to insulate the pantry a little more (seeing as how cool and dark is best). Trouble was there is a window in that space (very nice for light, not so good for cool and dark). So we decided to block the window with insulation and a storm window (which was pretty dang ugly). So here is our solution.

I have a quilt that never went anywhere. It was a huge piece that over the years has been sliced and diced into many smaller pieces (a laptop case, a purse, an experimental quilt that I am working on called fractured and the UFO drawer lining) I use it to practice stitching too.

Jim cut a piece of insulation board to fit the space. I cut a piece of the practice quilt to size and made a big pillowcase out of it with some stretchy double knit fabric. The piece wrapped tightly around the board when I pulled it on.

Jim removed the storm window, placed the insulated quilt between the storm and the window and then closed it up. Not sure what the R value might be but it sure did solve the light problem.

Now we have a decorative back entrance (which will ultimately fade and change with time) and a nice snug pantry.

a little bit of wrinkle

Adding the line around the face (very slowly, stitch by stitch) gives the composition a little more spark. And yes, I did wash and dry this puppy. The puckers are not as puckery in this photo. Some areas show it better. I like the extra texture. I may need to get a new camera to show this type of detail.

final steps

Getting closer to the end run on this one. After many an hour pulling out my hair (and stitches) because of machine problems and tension issues with my thread, I can happily announce that Pundit is on the road to finality. Here I am adding hand stitches to further emphasize the spewing nature of this loudmouth. I also want to add another line of stitching at the seam between the face and the background (you may be able to see the line that is there already...I just want it darker) After that I'll need to face the edges. Then it goes into the washer for a little surprise shaking up. I am hoping it puckers up and becomes a little distorted. Working with white fabric is challenging, I may need to find a source for a solid white cotton that is denser than Kona brand. Though I like the clarity it gives to the composition, I don't like the transparency at the seams.

Wish I had said that

The curators for the Design Museum Holon in Israel have mounted a grand exhibition devoted to Craft called GATHERING - From Domestic Craft to Contemporary Process.

Listen to this:

"We are an unstitched society suffering from a lasting socio-economic crisis that has made us ferociously protective and egocentric. It is time for mending and gathering, thus restoring the fabric of society: picking up the pieces and bringing them together in a patchwork of possibilities; a quilt of substance, able to absorb shock and fear." - Lidewij Edelkoort

If, in my efforts to create art, I can touch this nerve, this truth, I will have accomplished my goal.

Edelkoort explains the show’s context: “We are an unstitched society suffering from a lasting socio-economic crisis that has made us ferociously protective and egocentric. It is time for mending and gathering, thus restoring the fabric of society: picking up the pieces and bringing them together in a patchwork of possibilities; a quilt of substance, able to absorb shock and fear.

More Information:

http://artdaily.com/news/71480/Design-Museum-Holon-opens-new-exhibition--Gathering--From-Domestic-Craft-to-Contemporary-Process--#.U9kYh6i7nIq[/url]