Stitch by stitch.

It's time for me to dive back into fabric and textures. I have two art quilt shows coming up with the Caprock Art Quilters so it is time to dig out those ongoing projects and actually finish them. I've also become interested in a movement in fiber arts called Slow Cloth. Turns out I have been doing slow cloth for awhile but didn't know it. In a fast, mass manufactured world it is a way to reclaim craft and authenticity, patience, and beauty in both the creation of fabric and the embellishing of it. It's amazing what richness can be created with a simple needle and thread, two of the most low tech of all materials. Slow cloth also honors centuries of women's skills, often denigrated or taken for granted. It honors the practicality of making do, making clothes last, recycling old clothes into quilts, upcycling shabby and worn out garments with embroidery, applique, and quilting. It respects the time and patience of handwork and learned skills passed down through generations. I love the feel of cloth in my hand, the needle piercing the weave, the small bits of fabric joining into a larger pattern. But even slow cloth is too slow when you are on a deadline so I am doing moderately paced cloth, soon to turn into hurry up and get it done cloth. I will document my finished pieces before they are hung but here is a small sample, a close-up, a tease. Also my brightest, boldest piece, a new, finished wall hanging called "Passage".