Solved!
As mentioned, I was at school at UMass during the Blizzard of ‘78. Turns out Amherst received less than 7 inches of snowfall which, in those days of normal winters, was beneath notice. And without the internet or a TV and not being a newspaper reader, the huge amounts of snow along the coast didn’t really register.
Mystery solved!
I found a print with spiders. It adds a nice ick factor.
Do you pile the pieces up on the surface and then top stitch them down- (hand or machine?). I have always admired the pieces you make this way. I am tempted to try but really don’t have the fabric to make it WORK……keep showing me the images though– makes my DAY!!!!
I’ve been using pin boards. One inch insulation topped with black or white felt. It’s always tricky going from the unstitched composition to one that’s stitched. I often feel like a lose something.
The turtle quilt was stitched to black felt — no batting or backing. I’m gonna do that with this one too.
I used to design on table tops. That works too. I like the pin boards though because I can walk away and casually look at what’s happening. That kind of half attention can be useful.
You have a staggering variety of cloth! But I truly could not stomach working to the theme. It’s enough that I have to rework my NO KINGS BANNER. The 8647 on the backside is too flippant. IMPEACH even feels weak.
Ages ago, I went to a fiber retreat. Elizabeth Barton (my dyeing guru) supplied 4×8 foot sheets of two-inch thick styrofoam for us to use as vertical design boards. We would line up our works in progress, walk out, and come back in to discuss. It was revelatory. When I got home, Jim installed two full sheets in the studio, one vertical and one horizontal. I joked that I needed a bigger studio. Working “lap small” has never been as satisfying as Going to the Wall.
The subject matter is gut wrenching. First time I’ve gone down to the fabric bins and asked, “now what looks violent? Really violent?”
Pin boards are the best. Mine are freestanding so I can move them around. Were once part of a craft show booth.
Funny bc I remember that storm, though now I’m realizing that it must have been 77 bc we got back to back snow days and Billy was at our house for those snow days so it couldn’t have been 78.
I’m mailing you some fabric that may work into your Epstrump quilt.
Thank you! I’m really curious now.
Looking at the 2nd photo, is it part of your Epstrump quilt because I saw a red chili pepper form in the upper right hand corner. As you know, chili peppers are symbols of New Mexico, on many license plates, etc. so of course this is Eps. His notorious, monstrous Zorro Ranch, is about 30 miles south of Santa Fe…On Feb 18th, of this year, a re-investigation has started titled Epstein Truth Commission which begs this question: Couldn’t they get to the truth in 2018 when New Mexico was asked by New York federal prosecutors to investigate the ranch?
Goo questions. Why wasn’t anyone anywhere held accountable (except Maxwell)? I’m not sure I’m gonna be able to incorporate the woven strips in this one.
Dee~ So much darkness and yet what pops is the sweetness of the swinging and bonneted children. I used to use a similar spider fabric for the Story/Song quilt in my classroom and others. Makes the easy connection to The Itsy Bitsy Spider 🙂
The fabric in its entirety is cute. Lots of animals. Maybe you gave it to me?
Always amazing to see a fabric in my own stash in your work…….like the prize in the Cracker Jack Box.
I love it when that happens!