first iteration
As promised, here is the visual record of ‘Blue Valentine’. I’m still calling it a valentine even though over the course of its making it became a family portrait — including a memorializing (of a sort) of Jack’s passing. First post was here.
Morning light reveals quilting
I brought the small quilt on our recent camping trip, and when I wasn’t reading, “Freedom” by Jonathan Franzen, I was stitching in and around hearts. Recall, the guys were gone for two days on a hiking adventure up Mt. Washington.
Ammonoosuc Trail Head
reading companion and the best book I’ve read yet this year (and I have read some really good books!!)
made heart blue; added red threads; birds did not make it; used one of the many woven strip rectangles I have lying around; appliqued pieced scraps or just scraps
added lots of quilting; once windows extended to the right, I saw a roof in the red; dog stitched/ripped out; couched baker’s twine around big heart; covered red ‘extension’ threads; where some fabric intersections were unruly, let myself apply whip stitch heavily
added blue X’s (kisses) on disintegrating dog shape; filled out roof and filled in windows
gave dog form again — for a while
added window to heart
created ‘matching’ roof on left (which gave large heart appearance of having wings); added MORE windows; red ‘base’ to structure is distorted blanket stitch atop chain stitch
added more windows; scraped away some of the ecru silk to reveal red ribbing — getting to idea of revealing scars or wounds, or merely showing underlying structure
added two more small hearts so that there is one for each of us (including Jack) — changing piece from Valentine to Family Portrait. I like the downward dip of the lower edge. Bamboo skewer is a temporary hanger
This Morning Glory showed up the day Jack declined and has been blooming every morning since he died. It’s one of those reseeds that come and surprise and re-instill a sense of the glory and power of nature. Because of the timing, I can’t help but consider it a tribute to our Jack.
beauty in the ‘burbs – five-pronged star is sacred to the Goddess, by the way
Love the quilt and all the work that has gone into it.
thanks, debbie!
thank you for all the details of the progression, this is such a magic cloth and love your morning glory (it’s classified as a weed here!)
Thanks, Mo. A weed?!!! Really??!!
A beautifully symbolic quilt! We have some white morning glories growing across the street in a field. Not sure where they originated. They are beautiful!
Isn’t it nice when you don’t know how something beautiful arrived?
Magical!
the morning glory is in perfect blue affirmation
Maybe the morning glory is jack giving you comfort!
I love the blueness of it all, and that little window in the heart.
thanks all… the blueness appealed to me as well, Cindy, and it is a flower of comfort and affirmation and magic!
just loved sharing the journey of the quilt; have read same book, what a trip that was! an excellent read.
wow, to the morning glory, i try and grow them here every year, alas none of the seeds transpired into plants 2013, but I can admire and enjoy yours
I wish morning glories grew better here. I tried one year but they never did much. Not enough heat. Now bindweed, ugh! They may look a lot alike but I’d be more than happy to not have it grow here.
As I was looking at your Blue Valentine I was thinking you have a gift for gathering bits and pieces together…
I love your Blue Valentine and the way you work with cloth. I will be bookmarking your page! =-) I didn’t see a link for following?
Hi, Dee. Your Blue Valentine is lovely and definitely speaks with your voice. You’ve made Jack come alive in your stories and your artwork.
best, nadia