Last Jungle Corner

Dear Timothy,

At last! I have added the Summer Jungle. This is as big as it will get. I haven't measured it but I can tell you that it covers the top of my king size bed. 

I've been spending a lot of time stitching this side. As you know, I do enjoy stitching in the cold of winter. And I have made a lot of progress. I have been trying to stitch some every day because I'm really anxious to finish this. I have hopes. A little every day will do it.  

Summer Jungle

Last Jungle Corner

Fall Jungle

Dear Timothy,
It was time to switch back to the front side. Since I didn't have components ready to connect, I'm adding this third side of the Jungle, the Fall side, a bit different. 

I started by attaching the base which by the way is from the underskirt of the Jesus Bed that you slept in as a tiny new boy. I really like the inclusion of it here even though it will be unseen as the piece in the middle that holds it all together. 

Then, I basted one of the sample fabrics in place before ripping the strips. I really enjoy the weaving of cloth. 

Corner Connection

Tim, just so you know, the new black and white piece added is from my friend, Susie's blouse. She was about to discard it as worn out but I knew I could give it new life. 

Timothy, I hope we have found new life together this week. You have my heart.

Winter Jungle Connection

Dear Timothy,

It is true. I haven't stitched for 5 months. There were so many things going on during the summer and the fact is I have too many excuses to tell. 

The winter jungle was ready to make the connection to the story line and Green Moon Forest and that is what I did yesterday. 

After making the connection, I finished weaving the first Jungle corner.

And would you believe, there are jungle birds circling in the corner. 

Tim, I'm sure you know that sometimes birds circling means something below has died.  But that is not true in this case. 

Stitch Stitch Stitch Circles

Oh Dear Timothy,

I just needed to stitch and stitch and stitch. And so I did. In the jungle for the Winter side of the Green Moon Forest.  

It's Not A Moon

Dear Timothy,
I did make the connection with the early components that was planned in the beginning. I thought I would be able to make great progress if I would just quilt stitch these added components. I told myself that nothing else need be added. But I became bored with just straight stitching. So your cloth has been just waiting for me.

Timothy, don't be confused that the added circle is another moon. It is not. 

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. 

The Storyline

Dear Timothy,
Maybe you think I haven't been stitching. I have. I have been focusing on finishing all the stitching in the big center Green Moons Forest square. I am anxious to make the next connection using some of the first components that started this story.

I didn't realize until I laid the pieces together that the forest needed a ground.  So, I'm adding a border around the piece before conjoining the components.

I'm always amazed how doing one little thing inspires the next thing. Makes me think that all the options are  written down in order somewhere just waiting for my discovery. But I have to discover them in a certain order. It's like walking down a path.  The path splits into two paths. A fork in the road as they say. It depends on which path you take as to what you will find.  You should remember that.

I am excited about the black border. It is going to look really cool but more than that, I think it will become the story line.  That is the inspiration that was waiting for my discovery. 

Tim, you always need to know how thing are put together and what makes them work.  Well, just so you know, this is how I'm going to make the connection.

Green Moons Forest

Green Moons Forest                                                                           

The components of the center section are connected. It is now approximately 45" square. Too big to photograph. It is tacked above a wide door frame.

I have a lot of inspiration for embellishments and stitching. Mainly because of the name of this section, "Green Moons Forest".

I will be taking a little break from the cloth.
Company coming!!!!

Forest Components

 The forest grew over the weekend.  I made the connection.

 And also made another tree corner component, stitched it and connected it too. 

And then I made these beast with Inktense. I'm unsure at this point if I will add them to the cloth or not. I've become bored with stitching for now and will fold it up for  a while. 

Maybe. That's how I deal with the edge of a decision. 

Back away.

I ordered some Harem Cloth as recommended by Jude to use as backing cloth behind my woven components; however, I've not yet decided if I like it for the backing cloth. It is true, it stitches like butter. That I like about it. But I found it hard to rip and get same sizes. It doesn't hold its shape as well as I would like. And for my purpose, it is a little too thin. I'm using the backing cloth as the middle of the sandwich between the design layer and backing layer. 

To use or not to use.

Another decision to back away from. 

I keep wanting a good black cotton fabric and find none in my stash so yesterday, I found just what I wanted at Walmart. There was a very small amount on the bolt and it was priced at $2.68. But I was charged $3.44.  I questioned the cost but accepted her explanation. 

Now I don't know why.

Weaving A Connection

I acquired more scraps. Well actually, I ask for them from a dear friend because I knew she was all done with them.  Thank you Terri.  The 1960's-70's wild and crazy prints were gifted to her and she made a beautiful quilt with them. When she showed me the quilt, I ask about the leftovers.  You can do that with dear friends. 

I selected a few and ran them through the dye pot just to take the edge of of them so they would incorporate into Tim's quilt. 

Here is the first tree corner component.  I have woven some of the new scraps with old one and I find this is a great way to introduce new fabric to the quilt so that it looks cohesive. 

I decided to go ahead and conjoin a forest component with this new corner because in the past, I have had a plan for a component and then forget the plan.  I love the connections.  Today, I stitch.

Layering and Conjoining Method

This past week, I enjoyed a visit from my brother and family who live in Arizona.  Saturday we invited a whole bunch of family for dinner so they all had a chance to visit with Mark.  We had a great time and my Aunt Sue and Aunt Irene came.  Sue is Granny's daughter and Irene is Granny's daughter-in-law.  I enjoyed showing and telling them about Tim's Quilt.  They both have made many quilts but nothing anywhere similar to this cloth I am working on.

So, just touching the cloth again after a few months made me want to do a little stitching.  Well, that and the fact that I am quietly involved with Jude Hill's Magic Diaries class.  I liked the slow format that she planned for the class and thought I could focus on the continuance of Tim's quilt.

Sunday evening, I picked up these two forest components for the ring of trees and finished the raw edge applique stitching.  Then I conjoined the two.  I'm showing my method of layering the two edges and then stitching to conjoin.  

Four Seasons

Fall trees ready to stitch.

Spring trees ready to conjoin.

Pencil line in before stitching.

Summer trees conjoined.

Winter Trees

For the most part, I played all day Saturday with fabric and planing the four sides of the forest. I expected to stitch just a little while and then move on to something else. Instead, I stayed in the chair zone stitching Sunday and Monday.

Another Connection

Another Connection.

Actually, I made this connection of the first and third component during my Monday holiday. I left my toes for perspective but this is approximately 28+ X 14+.  All the grand kids were here but I didn't tell any of them what I was doing.  Tim usually ask and is always very interested but he was busy fishing and playing games on the computer with his cousins.  This cloth will be Tim's.

I find stitching in the evenings very relaxing.  Just as I find my best time to paint is in the mornings.  That is pretty cool but I do have a hard time balancing them in my head.  You know?  The push and pull and up and down of balance that is mostly constant in my thoughts.  It is a struggle inside which obviously  has an effect on the outside. I guess.

The Mystery Of It

Connect, merge, integrate, fuse, unite, blend, complete.  I really like the mystery of it all after it happens. Like, wondering which came first and last and in between.  I'm showing so I can remember.