Jordyn's Elephant Cloth

This is what I did during the month of January titled, Circus of Js. The inspiration hit on the eve of the Epiphany with a deadline of January 24th. A companion book was made to go with it and the whole long story of it all is posted on my other Blog, All Norah'S Art.

Just a little daunted by the fact it took me five years to make Tim's Cloth, I was so inspired that I dropped everything and pushed myself. Within days, I'm about to be a first-time Great Grand Mother. 

Josh and Ashley are adding baby Jordyn to the blended family of Joshua, Jalynn, Jazzlyn, Jaclynn, and Jasyk.

And Me, soon-to-be a Great Grand Mother and with the help of nine elephants and their trunks added:

• Jibber and Jabber the chatter bugs
• Jupiter the star gazer
• Jar the milk spiller
• Jelly and Jambo the peanut butter spreaders
• Juggle the milk shaker
• Jogger the memory keeper
• Joy the smile bringer

The whole story in the book includes others. For example there is Jingle and Jangle the bell ringers, Jumper the runner, Jitter the dancer, Jape the joker, Juju the adventure dreamer and Jetty the wall maker. It's a good book made especially for Jordyn the magic maker.
 

One of my favorite pictures reminds me of the dark hours of the early morning when I'm fresh and enjoying the solitude.

The nine patch under Js cloth was my mother's; however, I think it was probably made by one of my grand mothers over 60 years ago.

 Click on the book to read the story.

Elephant blanket I made for Ashley 26 years ago.

The Finish

Dear Timothy,

Your cloth is finished!

I was trying my best to finish by the end of August. So I guess going over two days is good enough. I did my best. 

Your cloth turned out quiet large. As a matter of fact I had a hard time getting photos of the whole cloth. Turns out the only place that worked was in the Garden Palace on the parlor floor around noon.

Green Moons Forest

Around the big green moon

Dragoneosorus

dra-gone-o-so-rus

On the Back

Corners

Timothy, as with many of my big projects, at the very end and when all is finished and done, I am left without words for a few days. However, I will share here one revelation that merely came to me while trying to get final photos. 

It is about the dueling dragons. It is simple and only you and I will understand. I now recognize their symbolic presence on the backside. They came quietly from the dye pot and when they did, we both knew what they were. But who were they? They are us. You and me. Timothy and Nana. The dueling dragons. 

A Garden Path

Dear Timothy,

I left a narrow section between the log cabin and the fence border with several thoughts in mind about a connection. When the time came, well I'll just say that sometimes what is in my mind and what shows up in real life makes no connection. 

So I was back to square one, so to speak. Until out of the clear blue I remembered a left over piece of fabric that just might be so perfect.  And it was. 

I added a garden path around the log cabin. A garden path with leaves and flowers falling over it. I added a little bit of me and my love of flowers on the backside. And instead of a straight stitch quilting I am enhancing the leaf and floral design with simple embroidery stitching. 

Here it is. Five years ago I made myself and a dear friend an art apron with this gifted fabric. The textile design is very unique and I loved it so much that I really didn't think I could ever think of anything special enough to use the left over piece. It thrills me to add this garden path to the backside of your cloth. It feels just right and the perfect connection.  

Crazy Blue Circle Bird

Dear Timothy,

December a year ago when I stitched that crazy blue circle on this component, I never  thought it was a bird. 

Then, recently while stitching the circle that is not a moon it occurred to me that this section of your cloth is "The Jungle". Now, I don't really know what the difference in a forest and a jungle is but in my mind, I think the jungle is so full of growth that birds and beasts are not as visible and maybe even more abstract. Anyway, that is how they will be in your jungle.

Timothy, what I want you to remember is, things today may be something totally different a year and a half down the road.  

Making Connections

Dear Timothy,

This is a favorite lettle section of the Autumn side of the moon. I have been stitching like a crazy fool. Mostly because stitching allows me to escape into my own brain and leave "stuff" outside. However, I have also been on a mission to finish the stitching of The Green Moons Forest square.

Which I have done and for the record, it is now 47 inches square and ready to receive the next part of the story.

The black connecting border is in place and I have been auditioning some of the early components that I thought would come next.  The problem is I may have changed my mind and so I will stop for a while and just be in the "thinking" mode about that. 

You know Tim, sometimes making connections can be hard.  All I can tell you about that is, when in doubt, give it a lot of thought. 

Mythological Flying Bird

Autum Moon

Dear Timothy,

This is the lost moon. But this is not the lost cloud.  When I went looking for a different cloud, do you believe I found this perfectly mythological flying bird?  I found his head first. It was just as plain as day. Then I found the body. Then the glorious tail. I really don't think the person who designed this bit of fabric knew there was such wonderful beast and birds on it.  I guess the thing I want to tell you is, keep your eyes and heart open. And give your imagination a place to go. 

As you can see, I had to remove one of the trees. And then I sat and stitched. And stitched. I was so excited to see him.

And one more thing.  Do you remember that I told you nothing every happens before it is time?  Well, this lost moon is surely evidence of that. Otherwise, I would have never found this bird.  

Green Moons

Summer Moon

Dear Timothy,

You've heard about The Man in the Moon, an imaginary human face that some can see in the moon.  Well, the Summer moon in the Green Moons Forest is most certainly not a man.  I think this two headed beast will need a name.  And I'm giving that some thought.

Spring Moon

I finished stitching on the Spring Moon and clouds.  Oh, and guess what Timothy?  I found the missing moon.  I guess at the moment that I hid it from myself, it was a good place to put it. But I did accidentally find it the other day when starting a new project.  The lost moon will become the Autumn Moon and the cloud was still attached to it.  But guess what Tim, the cloud looks a whole lot like the beast breath in the Summer Moon. I'm puzzled about that.   

The Beast With Spots

Dear Timothy,
Last Wednesday, I took a day off and met up with Aunt Paula, Aunt Sue, and cousin Diane.  Sue and Paula are Granny's girls and she taught them to quilt too. Sue is Diane's Mother.  Paula lives in Oklahoma and was down for a visit.  Diane is learning to quilt so Paula is giving her a lesson on "The Texas Star" quilt.  Sue is holding a section that she has started. 

They are into what I call a contemporary method of traditional quilting.  

I'm not sure that they "get" my kind  of cloth making.  But they do really like this one that I'm making for you. While I was there I started adding the spots to The Beast. 

I guess you could say now, The Beast is no longer a burden to me. I like him now and with a few more stitches, he will be done.

Do you think I got carried away with his spots?  

Feathers

Blue Jay Feathers

Today, I'm mailing my three blue jay feathers to Jude for her Magic Feather Project.

I'm always thrilled to find feathers and when I found two blue jay feathers in my garden, I felt like I had received a present for the hours I had just spent working there.  I saw their magic and was inspired to interpret them in stitch on a fabric remnant from a dress I made myself about 30 years ago. 
The fabric scrap reminds me of the ground that I found the feathers on.  I really like that this little cloth has a connection to Tim's cloth where I used the same fabric scrap.  You know I will be adding some magic blue jay feathers too.