Small Projects and Big Changes

On February 7th, 2022 I moved in with my grandmother to take care of her at the family farm. I am happy to do it, and grateful for a day job that allows me to set up just about anywhere with an internet connection. Aside from all of the big changes that come with suddenly being a fulltime caretaker- this also meant I had to leave the studio behind for now. My studio mate is still there and we still split rent- but I’ve had to bring only the essentials with me to the farm . I’m here for the forseeable future so, just have to make it work.

That being said there’s plenty works-in-progress and larger projects to keep me busy in my down time. Some will get their own post once I have decent pictures- I’m still not in a very good habit of taking process photos.

My project lineup is currently as follows:

The Hoopoe: Needs lining embroidered by the end of the fall
The Mourning Dove: Needs a second round of letters mailed out
The Phoenix: Due End of June 2022
Magyar Cloak: Reward Project for 2022- due by the time it gets cold
Ocean Wrap Dress: Needs lined and finished
Bookish Dress: Due in September for the Bookish event, custom gown for a client

Whew, that’s not even including all the little things I let myself be distracted with.

Crane Photos

I have been promising people actual photos of this massive undertaking so here you have it. I finished it during the lockdown-a bird of omens and prosperity- I can’t figure out if that’s a sign for something or not.

Hoopoe Update

AAAAND we’re back. The Lining is ready for embroidery, I have spent tens of hours just writing it all out on the map. Transferring it will be interesting. Maybe I’ll be building a light table this spring. Thanks to my GCAC grant I was able to really get what I wanted and purchased true indigo dyed fabric from as close to Attar’s home as I could get. The color is reminiscent of the cover of my Peter Sis Conference of the Birds and it will be embroidered in gold. I had to rinse and dry the fabric several time before applying the interfacing and it still transferred to my hands. You just wont be able to wear white under this cloak I suppose.

Crow in the Snow

My good friend Tim and I took advantage of the snow the other week. I shoved the crow into a backpack and we went on a little hike. The Crow is by far my favorite and I always feel present when I wear her. Even in such freezing temperature, that silk lining did its work, I barely felt it.

Surgery and Hiatus

I am a loose bag of bones people. Shake me hard enough and my joints would all just rattle apart. A few weeks ago my left shoulder was dislocated. Almost ten years to the day of my right being dislocated and for similar, un-exciting reasons. I was mobile for a bit but it became apparent that surgery was really the only way forward and I didn’t want to risk missing my window in case the hospitals close elective surgeries in Ohio again. Even though this is necessary for me to be any sort of properly healthy, it isn’t life threatening. SO as you can imagine that will mean absolutely no sewing for quite a while. Three months at least. And while that is frustrating- this is ultimately a net positive. I was able to get all but the last 3 rows of the hoopoe’s outer layer complete the night before surgery after pulling a twelve hour day and I’m pretty happy with that. When I am back in the saddle you can bet I’ll be starting that embroidery. See you on the other side.

*I had to redo a lot of my blog so the dates are going to look really strange. but I am not willing to spend hours figuring it out on squarespace.

In this sling for four months post op. Grumpy octopus and grumpy McLane

In this sling for four months post op. Grumpy octopus and grumpy McLane