Trees: After Joyce Kilmer

Trees

Joyce Kilmer - 1886-1918

 I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

March Trees (c) 2019

Did you learn this poem in school?  

I did -- and though I don't remember exactly when, I'm thinking it's got to have been close to sixty years ago now.  (How did my childhood become that long ago?!  Sheesh!)

But I digress.

I just know that for as long as I can remember, I've loved trees, walking in woods, sitting in a sunny grove...And when I create my landscapes, there are often trees included -- even if they're in the background.  

Now then.  This year's SAQA Benefit Auction begins a month from today -- and every year members are asked to create a "Dream Collection" and share it online.  Last year, I wrote about the pieces I'd purchase "If Money Were No Object" -- work contributed by some of the 'big names' in the studio art quilt genre.  This year...I was taken by the pieces with a focus on trees -- hence the poem, the memories and these pieces, which I think show trees in an assortment of shapes, sizes, colours and settings.  I hope you enjoy it!

Mel Beach - Dancing Leaves of Joy

Annette Boncek - Finding Peace in Nature

Libby Cerullo - Sisters

Ethelda Ellis Erasmus - Bluebells in Corrig Wood

Ann Flaherty - Cathedrale Naturelle

Cat Larrea - Solitude

Annie Smith - Moment of Serenity

Gay Young - Treescape

What about you?  To preview all the Benefit Auction contributions and to create your own "Dream Collection" -- maybe even make note so you can put in a bid!  -- visit the Auction Preview HERE. 

Branching Out

In my last post, I hinted that I'd be returning to the studio this week to begin new art work -- and I've done just that.  😊

Those of you who've followed my work for some time will know how fond I am of the sky and the trees in this part of Alberta.  A couple of years ago I did a piece entitled When I Look Up in the Spring, which was bought by my dear friend Jenny from a SAQA Benefit Auction:

When I Look Up in the Spring (C) 2018

Ever since then, I've wanted to make something else like this...because I keep looking up at the trees around here, tiny top branches silhouetted against the sky.

Like this one (from my last post):

Then there's this one:

Well now...hmmmmmm...

I began with the second photo, sampling with a piece of synthetic fabric that I hand-dyed. Polyester or poly-cottons (this was an old sheet so I suspect it was the latter) dye much lighter than 100% cottons do.

I decided to trace the branches out on Sulky Tear-away interfacing (light, thin), sandwich it and quilt it -- using free-motion, and Superior Thread's King Tut -- colour #979 ("Obsidian") in the needle.  I used a light-weight white backing, with Superior's "So Fine" in the bobbin.

NOTE: The tear-away worked very well...but tearing it away from tiny branches is a bit of a pain!

I was happy with the thread painting...but how to create the hoare frost??  I had 3 choices: two different threads...and paint:

In the end -- as you can probably tell -- I chose the paint (Seta Color 'Opaque' in a lovely opalescent or pearly white).

Lest you wonder, I auditioned the thread with hand-stitching.  For one thing, I don't do bobbin work because I find working upside-down unsettling -- and the thread on the left (YLI's "Candlelight" metallic yarn in "Rainbow") was too thick to go in the top (needle).  The thread in the centre (Sulky Metallic 142-7021) could have done so...but it was too thin to give the effect I wanted.   Using a very fine brush, the paint worked out very well!

Here's how the piece looks with a bit of a "frame" around it:

I've auditioned some very tiny beads -- Mill Hill's Petite Glass Beads -- in a browny-red (colour #42012) to create the berries for the full effect of the photo.

Then I wondered...what if I combined the branches from the second photo with a deeper blue sky (sort of like in the top photo)?

Why not just trace out that top photo and interpret it?   Well...I'm impatient, and the tracing takes work!  😉  Plus I think that top photo would look better as a larger piece and I haven't the fabric on hand for the sky; I'd have to dye it...or see if I could find something commercially that would work.

So I did this -- BUT instead of tracing the design onto tear-away stabilizer (tearing it away was no picnic the first time 'round!), I printed it out directly onto my fabric, using the 'freezer paper method' and my HP inkjet printer.  I stitched it this time with the same thread BUT I used 'regular' stitches with my Pfaff Performance 5.2, which has a built-in walking foot:

And yes...I like it.  Here it is..."framed"...with some "regular-sized" Mill Hill glass beads just resting on the surface for the moment...

Now...the question for you, gentle readers is...to bead or not to bead?

NOTE: the first piece will have beads.  That's a done deal.  But the second piece?  Should it be beaded too?  Or should there simply be hoare frost?

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment...recognizing full well that I'll do what the piece wants, one way or the other!

NOTE TOO: Finished size of each piece is 4" x 6" inside the mat -- matted to 6" x 8" by the folks in charge of the SAQA 2020 Spotlight Auction...or by me...whichever one goes and whichever one stays...

And in other news...this week I've...

• Finished the socks commissioned for a gift;
• Signed the contract with the City of Lacombe for "Featured Artist" at the Art Show & Sale in April; and
• Switched out my art exhibit at the Alix Public Library -- installing the six remaining pieces from "Inspired by Scotland".

Dear Nina-Marie is in what she describes as "a mess" this week...so be sure to stop by Off the Wall Friday and give her some love.  I'm linking there now...and wish you all a good week!

(We're in the Deep Freeze up here... minus twenties with wind chills near the minus forties -- and that's Celsius! -- so stay safe, stay cozy, keep calm and craft on!)

1499/65

I was hoping to coordinate my "65" (birthday) with "1500" (blog posts)...but it didn't work out that way, and I'm out of time.

I work tomorrow at The Shop.  I finish packing for Scotland on Sunday a.m.  I drive to Edmonton avec le chat (that's "with the cat", Miss Pooks) on Sunday afternoon...and fly to Glasgow (via Amsterdam) Monday evening.

No time.

Or, rather, what little time there is will pass too quickly to be captured in a "#1500" blog post.

So -- it shall wait till my safe return (God willing)...and perhaps be better for it.  By then I might have actually figured out a way to celebrate it!

Tonight?

Trio - (C) - 2012

In the hour-and-a-half that's left, I'll mark the end of my 65th year with a poem from one of my favourites...Mary Oliver. 

Here in Mirror, all the streets end in trees.  Most streets are gravel.  It is "Aspelund" (Aspen Land).  My art is shaped by trees.  Much of my work depends upon trees.  They shape me, they hold my attention, they shade and comfort me.

So...this gift from Ms. Oliver to me...and back to you.






When I am Among the Trees

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness,
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myelf,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world,
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves,
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."


And to hear it read aloud, the loveliest way to read poetry...

Please "read" and savour and walk among those trees nearest you.

Celebrate their lives and yours...till we meet again.

P. S. Linking this to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday".  This week she's talking about 'focal point'.  Artwork -- or at least, a piece thereof -- might have one.  Lives have one too...or two, or three, or four...sometimes vying for dominance, but ideally one at a time.  Wishing you all a smooth and easy journey to discovering YOUR 'focal point' -- that place in which you can rest a bit, knowing (for the time being) your Purpose in Life, or adjusting and adapting to What Lies Ahead, or simply loving Those Around You, and/or The One Who Created You to Start With.  Thanks again, Gentle Readers...I love you all!

Beneath the Layers...

I'm still here...although I confess I've feel as though I've been away from home and studio far more than not in these past two months!

Since my last post I've been to Quilt Canada down in Lethbridge -- about 4 1/2 or 5 hours' drive south and slightly west of here -- for four days.  Almost immediately upon my return I worked three days in the shop (rather than my usual two), filling in for my part-time colleague who was off attending the university graduation of one of her daughters.

This past Saturday I spent the day in Stettler, Alberta inside The Cabinet of Curiosities, an art gallery, art supply and framing shop, showing several of my pieces at the annual Art Walk.  The rainy weather put a damper on the turn-out, though, so although I had some lovely inquiries, they were few and far between.  The best I can say about the day was that I got quite a bit of handwork done.  All my pieces are finished as to facings and sleeves, and I made great progress on my June Sock for the Socks-from-Stash challenge.

In between I've been catching up on correspondence, doing Rep work for SAQA and -- at long last -- working out my piece for the Master Class for June.  The theme is (wait for it)..."Layers".

Since the topic was announced I've been pondering trees, layered as the are around here in stands of aspen and/or evergreens...

I began the exercises with stencils bought recently from Joggles. com.  One is of tree trunks alone, and one, of a tree, which I traced without the leaves.

I enlarged the traced trunks, extracted a piece of the branches, traced it separately, enlarged that, and layered it over the trunks, thus, as assigned:

For the second, I traced the tree (leafless) several times, layering one tracing on the another:

I did a third sketch, placing the traced tree over a completely different sketch -- a landscape of prairie.  As it has been rejected out of hand by both myself and EB, I'll not include it here.  :-)

However, here's her feedback on the other two:

First, on the tree trunks:

This one is very interesting...nice stencils  I"m not quite sure  how the horizontal bits related but they make a good contrast to the vertical structures..if you can might be worthily printing the same image sideways over the original image...I think the white trunks and branches looked really good against the deep blue back ground...and the square format is very "in" right now - looks good!!

I had to remind her that the "horizontal bits" were there at her instruction. :-)  Once I identified the source of the "bits" she had more to say...

Identifying the origin
of the "horizontal bits"

Okay!!! thanks...I see it now..I'm away from home on a small lap top and sometimes it's hard to get a really good look at these things.  Looking at that detail what might be rather fun would be to take just the skinny branches, enlarge and overlay them - in the same orientation.  I do like the overall idea.

About the cluster of trees, EB wrote:

 This one would work well with cropping...try cropping right down to the edges of the branches and the trunk....I really like the way the branches overlap and interact.  I'd make this the one to work from.

As a result, I've gone with the tree cluster.  First, I cropped the sketch as she suggested:

I rather like the effect.  Then I played with layers on a batik background, thinking that I might in the end paint at least one of the trees.

I used painted fusible web (Wonder Under) for the top left tree, layering over it a tree cut from a brown sheer fabric (drapery), and then a white paper tree (the paper layer from the WU).  I originally thought I'd just stitch the third tree in a high-contrast thread; now, seeing how low value the whole piece is at present, I might go with fabric (as yet to be selected):

Original photo of layered trees

Same photo - "auto-enhanced" in photo editor (not PhotoShop)

Grey-scale of the original photo
You can see how the middle tree disappears...

I've sent these off to EB, acknowledging the challenges of the fabrics selected, and my thoughts about alterations.

And so...I await her feedback...and link up to WIP Wednesday on The Needle and Thread Network, which I've not visited in weeks.  Come along and let's see what's up there, eh?

And maybe Friday, if the rain stops, I'll get into the garden, where the peonies are in bud and the roses await...

"Never Alone" Rose

Quick Update -- I Quilted It!

Okay, so I did what I said I'd do: I went into the sewdio and quilted the darned thing.  Then I trimmed it to 15 1/2" square (for now):

I tried to put swirls in the sky for cloud movement, and long, tree-like shapes in the rest of it.

Sky detail

Land detail

I think it's calling for a bit of hand stitch before it's finished.

Oh, and a title would be a good idea too.

Somehow, "Playing With Trees" isn't quite right!  ;-)

WIP for a Wintry Wednesday

I'm not fooled by the clear, clean blue sky and the bright sunshine; it's -25 C out there, with a wind chill to -33 C.  I've been out once already this morning -- walked downtown (about 5 blocks) for my hair appointment -- and that's it for today!

It's okay; I have plenty to do inside.  Before the WIPs, though, a "finish" of sorts: the February Block of the Month for the "Four by Four" semi-kitted pieced series I'm working on this year:

"Four by Four" in February: Propeller

"Propeller" seems an odd title for a block in a kit with a Christmas fabric/colour scheme, but there you are.  The background came with the pattern; the rest of the fabrics I collected to go with it -- or not.  The gold was a late discovery (Saturday!) in my stash.  :-)

As for WIPs...not much in the way of photos this week.  I'm still working away on the sheepie sampler for my friend B; I've finished the gusset and am well down the foot on my daughter's sock; I've finished a hat for the charity tree -- except to sew it up at the top, sew in the ends and add buttons; and I've finished a cowl as a birthday gift for my friend C. "Mark on the Body" marches on.   None of these things have had photos taken of them -- at least, not recently.

I am, however, in the last week of Pamela Allen's class, "About Contrast".  This week we can work on whatever we like, using the principles we've studied, as long as we explain our intent with the piece in question.

Typically, I'm still playing with trees.  Here's what I wrote when I posted to the Yahoo group earlier this morning, referring back to the piece about which I posted HERE:

Worked some on my "Lesson 3/Lesson 4" piece yesterday.  As I didn't have enough of the background fabric to enlarge the piece altogether, I decided to cut the building down to size (as it were) and add more trees.  Of course, it's full of fiddly bits now so I was darned if I was going to take it apart to spray baste/fuse everything. So I pinned it.  I am going to stitch the silly thing and see what happens.

My intent with this piece?  No clue!  There is some colour contrast and some size contrast but frankly, not much of either.  You will notice that to re-size the building, I left part of it off (from the inspirational photo) and I've switched the locations of the trees around and added one that's fallen down.  This was the only way I could make the piece "fit" for me, reflect my style and the subject matter I like to work with (trees, old buildings, prairie landscape).  

I don't have much imagination when it comes to creating scenes and I don't like making still life pieces (though I admire those done by others).  I get my inspiration either in photos of the natural world around my home, or by being given whole pictures (visions of a sort) that come to me holus-bolus and dictate how they are to be made.  Go figure.

So here are a few photos of the WIP.  One is a full photo, and two are detail shots. I tried to make the bare trees have some sort of dimensionality by the use of fabric that implies colour/shape.  The piece is still about 18" square but will be trimmed once it is quilted, to about 15" square, I think.

A couple of trees "up close"

Building detail

Linking in to WIP Wednesday over at The Needle and Thread Network...and then going into the sewdio to stitch things down.  That oughta keep me warm, eh?