I've been working off and on (mostly off) this 12 x 12 inch painted, hand-stitched, quilted, beaded piece for almost 5 years now. I put it away for long periods of time then get it out and stitch and bead like crazy for a few days then put it away again. I've decided to take a pledge to work on it for at least a half hour every day until it's done! I figure by posting it up on my blog I will have to stick to my resolution because I have witnesses.
It recounts the true story how one day my grandmother locked my dad in the chicken coop "by mistake." She said she didn't realize he was in there and laughed every time she told the story. My father, on the other hand, believed that she did it to punish him and suffered from claustrophobia for the rest of his life.
I started making this around the time that I learned that he had stomach cancer, thinking it might help him see some humour in that childhood memory; letting him see that memories of him would be carried on. He died not long after I'd started it, though. Maybe that has had something to do with me not working on it consistently.
But I think it's time to get down to business and keep regularly pecking away at it.
Aint nobody here but us chickens.
All cooped up.
You're darn straight there are witnesses ! And we will peck your heels if you don't keep going with this !
ReplyDeleteDear Us Chickens:
ReplyDeleteUh-oh! what have I done? Squawk!!
Those chickens are brilliant!
ReplyDeleteHi Patricia,
ReplyDeleteI drew the picture directly onto the fabric so it was very spontaneous. The chickens just burst onto the scene. My dad had some sort of fascination with chickens, so I made sure to put them up front. Glad you enjoy them!
This is amazing work...the beadwork takes such patience...I love the mix of colors and the great story...a lot of heart is in this piece.
ReplyDeleteOkay now we are your witnesses!
Blue Sky,
ReplyDeleteYou certainly got it right about beadwork taking patience. This project has cured me of any fantasies I might have held about beading things. The results are satisfying, though, so that keeps me going. The instructor who demonstrated this technique beaded her pieces to within a centimetre of their lives, her motto being, "There's no such thing as too busy." To each her own--beading will not be mine...once I get this baby put to bed.
Thank you for the encouragement!