This wee piece made its debut at the Canadian Embroiderer's Guild London Textile Showcase this past weekend. It is 12" x 12".
The guild collaborated with the Writer's Group at the Ailsa Craig Arts Centre. Their writers created poems and our guild members were tasked with making a 12" x 12" or 12" x 16" textile creation to respond to the poem.
I received the work of Jennifer Dobinson. The image that immediately leapt into my mind was a lone, windswept pine on an outcropping on a lake. Her words carry as much power as the wind itself.
This piece is a quilt-as-you-go technique using partial and angled pieces, and the tree is fused. The edge reflects the ragged impact of wind as well - finished only with multiple passes of close zig-zag stitches. A few additional lines of stitching were added with my walking foot for texture.
The Ailsa Craig Arts Centre will have these creations on display in May and June.
We were to keep our creations under wrap until the Textile Showcase. Immediately after, I reached out to Jennifer to express my appreciation for her inspirational poem. She is a lovely human and talented artist!
Wind
You swing through the forest tree tops in great waves and run skipping over the wheat fields.
You are the ripples on a quiet pond and the fury of tidal waves on a stormy ocean.
You’re elusive on a close humid heavy day and I seek the relief of your cooling breath.
You lift the autumn leaves in swirling dance and whistle through the tall reeds.
You turn my breath into frosty fog and carve the snow into sculptures.
You remind me that not everything needs to be seen to be believed.
By Jennifer Dobinson
