Sunday Art

I finished the placemats I started this summer. I had read a blog about a Japanese theme of having an emotional and artistic attachment to things in your daily life. I thought I would begin with something I see everyday. The fabric beneath my breakfast and dinner. I had been using commercial placemats forever. But these placemats would be artistic expressions. Blue with dots for me and yellow for G. No matter what happens, or where we eat, or what we eat; these placemats will be a reminder, a memory, of all the meals, all the days we have used them.

I used fabrics that resonated with me. Fabric I had painted mixed with fabrics I loved to use. I took bits and pieces and layed them on batting, moving, adding, subtracting until I had a design that made me smile. And then I used invisible thread to zigzag the strips and squares down. Last night I sewed the binding on and left them on the table in anticipation for our first (of many) meals with these pieces of art.

G loves the color of yellow and I used pieces of fabric that spoke to a sunny yellow feeling with some memories of summer flowers. The little label in the center has more meaning now than it did when I added it. Battle tested. At 62, you would think we were past that, but no, we are still being tested. G was surprised this morning when he sat down to his early morning breakfast (in the dark, it was so early).

Today it is very cold and windy. The walk with the dog will require lots of bundling up. And after --- well, I plan to return to the studio to stitch my chairs. I am quite excited by how they are looking so far.

Today's Sunday Soup is going to be Carrot, Orange, Ginger for G. Something bright and cheerful on a cold winter day with some simple yeast bread. I have a free pattern from Spool for a Blue Bird which I may turn into a Robin. A bit of handstitching later today in felted wools. I'm not sure how to attach the wire or wood legs to the little body, but I will make the bird first.

Art rule #3- Set short and long term goals. (Rule #2 was having enough equipment and supplies)- I've sort of been stuck on rule #2 for about 8 years now, time to move to #3.