Framed
These are all framed and wired for hanging. A big sense of accomplishment.
The four below were bordered with cloth I bought in South Africa in 2019. Why were we in South Africa? A family wedding. It seems like a long way to go and it was. I bought quite a bit of this special cloth called shweshwe from a shop in Cape Town. I wrote more about it here. The prints and colors are very vibrant and make great borders.
PS. The captions are the titles of each piece. The titles are all adapted from The Poetics of Space, by Gaston Bachelard.
The next one has a border of cloth I bought in India. I was there for six weeks in 2015, studying tangka painting and Buddhism. The fabric shops in India are amazing. We had Indian-style clothing made by seamstresses. The fit did not suit me, too tight, except for a pair of pants that I love. They are almost worn out as the cotton is very thin. At the time, I was not retired yet. If I knew I would love working with this cloth so much after retirement, I would have brought home more.
The border on the next one is fabric gifted by a friend. It is buttery yellow with a metallic gold layer printed on it, which does not show up in the photo. I really like it and use it in everything. I’ll probably run out soon.
The next three have borders from remnants I bought locally.
And finally, two with borders from fabrics I’ve saved for a long time. First a chintz that I bought because I liked it so much. I had a vague idea of curtains or a hanging of some kind, but I never realized anything from it. I had it laid out on my dresser for awhile, just to look at. Fanciful birds and twining flowers. Recently, I decided to cut the cloth up for patchwork and I’ve enjoyed using it.
This last fabric was intended for a blouse. I cut out the pattern pieces and was ready to go. Then I stopped sewing garments abruptly. I don’t remember why I never made that blouse. I still like the fabric and was excited when I found these pieces and realized I had enough to make borders.
When I started out to make these borders sometime in January, my intention was to avoid buying any new fabric. I was doubtful I could find enough in large enough strips that was suitable for framing the pieces. I’m pleased that it worked out and glad this part is done!
These are fabulous! They make me think of houses from fairy tales (fables?). What playful constructions of color and so well set off by the borders.
Thank you! I really enjoyed making them. I felt like I was “playing house.”
Love the colors and playfulness of each house .. the randomness of each one is just so wonderful. Maybe randomness is not the right word but they are truly amazing. Thank you so very much for taking the time to share them here.
You’re welcome! it was mostly play, but some work too.
Oh, this is just great!! You have a fantastic eye, for each border goes so well with the houses themselves. And then, to add the titles…inspired and adapted by The Poetics of Space, by Gaston Bachelard are just right. Each one expands the story of the house. Beautifully done! ??
I was questioning the fabric choices for the borders, so I’m glad to hear you like them. I wanted “cosmic” titles, and this book was the perfect inspiration.
the houses, the borders, the titles ALL such a WONDERLAND WORLD …..
Thank You!!!!! so much for this pre VIEW……i look forward so much to them in the Gallery this is so Great
they each are like the first page….the doorway into adult picture books….as if each has a story waiting to tell itSelf to Us…..just LOVE
the feeling of Them……………..
I love your idea of “first page” – yes, these houses hold stories.
and here i am, back again, needing to re See……having sat and loved the idea of Stories……
i am realizing that there is so much i don’t know about you, your life, all that is You…..and am hoping hope against hope that you
will also tell us that you are a writer . i imagine these being some kind of Town, village, something…..
in each, different kinds of “people” who experience life in different ways….maybe don’t even speak the same languages….but
somehow woven together in this Town of Yellow Houses
At one point, I had them all stitched together at the corners as if to form a village. (This blog post shows this phase: https://www.gemtactics.net/wordpress/2020/12/homes-for-the-holidays/) I lived with that for awhile and then decided to really embroider each one. The added detail made them frameworthy separately, I think. They are going to the gallery Friday and they’ll hang them sometime soon. Maybe not all together, depends on available space.
Time and time again, I have come back but could not find the words I wanted to express on how I felt seeing your golden houses. This morning, the words came because I saw them not only with my eyes but with my heart and memory.: I marvel at what I find beyond the creativity, the wonderful colors and composition but it is Childhood Within that has called to me, each and every time. I am not sure why I am so drawn to this particular special house and then I realized that it so strongly evokes memories from my childhood. As a child, I often drew my home with lots of plants and greenery. My home was small but huge in love and love of the land. I learned the joy of digging in the dirt, with my patient Dad, who taught me how to garden. Every day he would collect a few herbs and flowers from the garden and present them to my Mom who lovingly placed them on our kitchen table. They both had brought their love of the land to American from Spain. In looking .in looking at your wonderful Childhood Within, I saw that image in my minds eye and heart. How truly wonderful to be able to sense all of this from your work…
Thank you, Marti! I had my hopes that people would respond to the houses with personal memories and feelings, and you proved it’s possible.
thank you for seeing these yuwels of houses , they are full of live i can feel the love in them and the world/the life around
greetz to you
Thank you, Maria! I’m glad they express life and love for you. Kind greetings from Maine!