I picked up these three cute little wooden mice at the thrift shop today. I don't much like real mice but I couldn't pass these ones. They could even end up in a wall hanging.
I tried one of Nellie's Birds this afternoon. I am looking on this one as a prototype. It needs to be stuffed better and I didn't have the right wire for the legs. After they were sewn in, I found the covered wire but by then I decided to just push on and finish it, saving the wire for the next one.
I got the bright idea this morning to make a wall hanging representing depression. The little colored cross in the middle represents the light at the end of the tunnel. It seemed too bright so I used one of my machine embroidery stitches to darken it. After a couple of hours I had to stop and make a bright bird because it was just too depressing working on this one. I will finish it though because I quite like the way it is going.
12 comments:
I have one of those little wooden mice. Have had it for about 40 years, so long, in fact, that I can't remember where I got it. It's cute, tho.
Cute mice! Your bird looks like a gussied up old lady bird trying to recapture her youth with too many bright "feather weaves". Her scrawny wire legs add to the effect.
As for your depression piece, I do not see that as a cross, but hands on a clock, which makes me think of eternity rather than depression.
I used to have mice like that. Wonder what happened to them. Have they got leather ears and tails?
PS: Your bird will appear in the "Bird" Picassa album when another bird's picture gets sent to me and I post about them.
Joyce-I think you have hit on a great subject matter for your quilts. Those colors are dark, you can't see into them, and they are heavy-all things that I personally associate with depression. I just read something yesterday about symbols,images, and personal meaning. Everybody sees something a little different and all interpretations are valid. If the cross were brighter, for me anyway, it would really standout as something hopeful.
Ohhhhhh I love dark quilts. Its a great time to play with the idea that all value is relative. What might seem like all just dark fabric in any other quilt is really dark, darker, darkest fabric in this kind of project. Plus little flashes of light are so meaningful.
Hi Joyce, I have given you a blog award. I find all sorts of inspiration here and wanted to you to know. Keep the award for yourself or pass it on to others. Chris @ Dyecandy
Oooh...so much depth to that quilt already. I can't wait to see more!
And those mice?! Way too lifelike for me! lol But they are cute, I have to admit. ;-)
The bird is definitely funky! I like it lots.......Nellie's description is great!
Your depression quilt is right on the money! You don't strike me as a person who has struggled with depression, but I can tell you that when I'm climbing back out of that deep dark hole, you are describing exactly how I feel! Can't wait to see what you do with it!
xo
I found your depression piece quite recognizable. That vortex of darkness, & being sucked into it.. the light needs to be quite dim. I think it is very very good.
Those mice remind me of little mice that came on bottles of wine or something. Very cute. And so are the birds! They bring back wonderful memories as well! The "depression" piece is very interesting. Very deep and so many emotions in it. Am looking forward to seeing how it evolves
i thought the depression one was a clock too... and when i saw the mice - i thought three blind mice! lol
xo
carm
Post a Comment