Unexpected Detours in the Rocks Series
It’s the end of the week again, which means it’s time for another blog post — and this week I’m continuing the thread from last week’s reflections on working in a series. Sometimes, when you spend a long time immersed in a theme, something unexpected bubbles up from underneath. That’s exactly what happened with my rocks, pebbles, and stones.
While I was filming the videos and taking all the photos for the project I’ve been preparing (yes, the one that’s now officially traveling across the Atlantic — more on that story later!), a quiet little series within the series began forming on its own. Ideas kept nudging me while the camera was rolling, little side-paths that insisted on being explored. In between takes or at the end of a long day, I’d find myself stitching another variation, trying out a new idea. Before I knew it, I had a handful of new rock-inspired pieces that didn’t exist when I started.
On of those ideas came to me around 2:00 a.m. when – of course – I couldn’t sleep. It just popped! And then because I was so excited … yup, you guessed right, I really couldn’t go back to sleep. I thought of a book I used to have about making pillows for different seasons, but instead of making different pillows, all you had to do was make “pillow bands” with different designs that you could slip in and out of the pillow to change the decor. And this idea turned into a long, narrow band made of four rock, linen for the rest of the band, and as a finishing touch, blanket stitch around the binding. What do you think? I called it “Something to Hold on to.”
Here is another piece that made the series grow: two columns of three embellished rocks joined with a centre strip where I stitched 7 real rocks. It’s called “I See you in the Water.”
The next one is from a few years back and I can’t remember if I ever showed it. I used two of the rock blocks, added some extra fabric to the right side and – I was trying different things to do on a larger piece – I drew some “rock-like” shapes as rings, painted them with metallic light gold, silver and a light pink. I also tried some couching by machine on it – similar shapes as the rocks. I really like this one. I think I should follow up and make a larger piece. What do you think? It’s called “Pause and Drift.”
And one more. I do a bit of research (I love my research) before starting new work, and I look at a lot of rock images. I even have a “rock idea book” – in keeping with my idea books – where I keep images of rocks I’ve taken, rock work done by other artists and things I find online that catch my attention. I also work on ideas, collages, etc. to get ready to work on a new piece on cloth. That research brought me to finding people who make rock sculptures on beaches and as landscaping. One of those images was of a spiral worked out of rocks on a beach. It was beautiful, so I created my own, on fabric. It is simple – sewn on a piece of vintage linen. It had a lovely crochet edge that I kept. I added black borders as it’s going to be mounted on a canvas board. This one is called “Stillness.”
As you can see, I was busy. While filming was going on, some stuff was put on the back burner. Now, I can move on for a bit and catch up on paperwork (ughh!), administrative stuff (double ughh!), send information I owe to places that need it and all that.
It feels good to share this little fork in the road – this unexpected family of pieces that emerged when I wasn’t even looking. I’m curious to see how they’ll weave into my larger body of work as the year unfolds.
I’m off to work on something or other. Thanks for reading. And until I write again, keep warm – the cold temperatures have arrived!
Ana
PS: I will be teaching two classes at AQS in Daytona Beach Florida at the end of February – and will have a booth with lots of new goodies and hand-dyed fabrics, kits and more with Wonderfil Threads – as one of their Wonderfil Designers (very exciting!). If you are in the area, come and say hi!
