Couldn’t wait till it was done to take a photograph (the light was fading fast, no photographs on this boat after 6 p.m. as the solar-powered fluorescent lights make everything look sick and dying) so you can still see where I’ve drawn the design with white Chinagraph. But I have, since snapping this, completed the faux doily.
It’s asymmetrical because, as usual, I penciled the design in as I went. I thought that would make me hate it but, no, it’s actually given the design a really quirky, handmade, folk-art look that I have fallen in love with.
Like many of the things I make, I have absolutely no idea what to do with this embroidery. Someone on stitchin’ fingers, a month ago, asked about my (still unfinished) crewel-tapestry-inspired embroidery, “What is the piece’s destination?” That flummoxed me for a bit. Destination? *shrug* I dunno. Since when does beauty have to have a purpose or destination? I just like doing it. John Ruskin was the one who said
“Remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless: peacocks and lilies, for instance.”
Think I’ll just keep it around, maybe hoop and hang it, stare at it until I get tired of it. Then, who knows? Sell it? Give it away? I have been known to make rather sad and underwhelming potholders of embroideries that took me years to finish. (Don’t worry, I won’t do that anymore! When you’re 20 you really believe you’re going to live forever!) The piece, itself, will let me know when it has chosen its ‘destination’. A creative work may enter the world through your life, but then it takes on a life of its own. Kind of like children…”the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.” (Kahlil Gibran)
Such a beautiful piece… I love that folk art style, too.
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Love your piece!
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This is fantastic!! Love blue and white together.
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Thank you, Andrea!
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Ah this is the one you were stitching away at in the Dr’s office that day we bumped into each other. It looks gorgeous, but your work always does.
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Yes, Miss Herro Kitteh, this is it, finally done. Now I can tell Doctor Tonga that I am ready to mend his socks for him…
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*is laughing* … do his socks really need mending ??? BTW can you do a repair job on my couch … a certain unmentionable cat put a rip in it for me … let me know, happy to pay.
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Yeah, he saw me stitching and told me excitedly that he’s got some socks that need mending. “I’m not stitching socks! Go buy another pair, you can afford it!” and he ducks back into his office, giggling. I need to see the couch before I can say yes or no. It may be beyond my needle skills. 🙂
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this is one of my favorite finds of the last year! love, love it!! just wish i could do it….
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Oh, Donna, give it a try! It’s just concentric circles filled in with shapes of leaves, crescents, flowers. Seriously, it wasn’t that hard. Of course you can do it! Thank you for visiting and leaving me a lovely comment!
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So beautiful!! I love the combination of the colors.
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Thank you! Yes, this turquoise-y blue really worked behind the white. Lovely of you to comment!
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What talent!!! Love the colors and if it ever needs a home…
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absolutely love it! I much prefer things that are stitched from the heart than from a pattern. Super prettiest thing I’ve ever seen : )
~Monika
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Thanks, Monika, and so do I! I can always see the difference when I loved doing the work, as opposed to hated it but finished it anyway. CAn’t be the super prettiest, but I’m thrilled it’s among them. xx Nat
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So nice! Inspiring!
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That is GORGEOUS!
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oh.. so beautiful!!:)
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I saw this via feeling stitchy – I’m so glad that they shared it, it’s beautiful and so inspiring!! Really glad to have found your site – will be keeping a look out for future projects 🙂
Much love,
Kim
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I’m over from Feeling Stitchy and just had to tell you how wonderful your art is. The Ruskin quote is right on and didn’t he have an eye for art? I’m enlightened and inspired by you and your work. Thank you for sharing it with all of us “out here.”
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Bravo!
The design is excellent and in those colours reminds me of an lslamic mosaic tile.
The Khalil Gibram poem you have quoted is one of my favorites! Spot on!
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It’s beautiful. Thank you for the quote. Someone I know always says to me about crafts “what are you going to do with it?” Next time I’ll think of the quote from John Ruskin. Your embroidery is lovely.
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gorgeous! I like the idea of hoop-and-hanging it. Or, you know… shipping it to a random stranger such as myself… 😉
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That’s beautiful and it’s imperfection is part of it’s beauty. I like it that the piece will choose it’s own destination, too.
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Hi! This is such a lovely one…you really ‘draw’ magic with your thread! So, how’s your plan to Malaysia – Langkawi? All the best!
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Ooh, pretty! 😀 If you ever get tired of looking at it, you know where to find me. 😀
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Ha ha, yes, I’ll keep you in mind:D
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