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| You are my Happy! |
When the theme of friendship was first posted I knew that I would do an illustration of my best friend and husband of forty years, Bob. We met the first day of college and became great friends a year and a half before we started dating, and have been together ever since. I decided I wanted to get the look and feel of an athletic letter jacket as we were young when this friendship started, yet I wanted to depict him as he looks now, young at heart. I did a combination of a thread painting, sewn down strips of raw silk, and the heart is a piece of marbled cotton fabric. ( I took a three day workshop in June learning how to marble on silk and cotton and this fabric was created by me in that workshop taught by Karen Tunnell.)
I started with a photograph, and did a simple illustration of it and transferred it to my fabric. Then I inked on the fabric with Tsukineko Inks, mapping out where the lettering would go. I appliqued on the heart with machine applique and started to thread paint. I didn't plan what else would be on this just kept adding as I was sewing and memories would crop up as that is the way our life has been. No grand plan just doing what seems right at the time for both of us. Sweet Pea and Butter Cup refer to our daughters Rebecca and Taryn and they are without a doubt the best thing created from our enduring friendship and marriage. The heart with initials was taken from our the wedding invitations that we silk screened together in college. I will post some details below so you can see it in more detail. Lots of sewing on this little one and lots of back and forth between thread painting and inking of thread and fabric.
Lois, what a true artist you are! And how perfect, to capture your beloved husband in a quilt about friendship. It makes me wish that I had had the same notion, as my friendship with my husband of 55 years has been the defining friendship of my life! Your thread
ReplyDeletepainting is so lovely. Every time I see it, I am itching to get a Sweet Sixteen, as I believe that it was that purchase that has taken your work to a wonderful new level!
I do NOT mean to imply, however, that I could ever reach your levels of artistry!
DeleteOMG! I am in awe of how much thread you must have used! Looks like two miles :)
ReplyDeleteThe work is great and you get a nice depth of color with the thread painting too.
You are right the Sweet Sixteen changed my life! This group is full of artistry and inspires all of us to experiment and grow. Artistry and risk and experimentation is what we are all about! Plus it's great fun!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLois, this is fabulous!! I wish I were so gifted!! I thought of my husband, but didn't dare to attempt such a feat. Your depiction is so wonderfully crafted.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, Lois! This is fabulous!!! I am just in awe regarding your artistic rendering of your husband and your life together. You MUST enter this one in a show! Simply outstanding!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing quilt on so many levels! I agree with Carolyn that you should enter this in show. I am just mesmerized by your thread painting, I know that even if I had a Sweet Sixteen, my thread painting would not look like yours.
ReplyDeleteOh My! That is fabulous. Such incredible detail in such a small quilt! I hope your husband loves it as much as we do. He is a lucky man.
ReplyDeleteLois. Your quilt is amazing. It looks just like Bob. You are really enjoying your sweet sixteen.
ReplyDeleteThis one made me cry. I had not read the story yet but I know I'm married to my best friend and wish that every woman could be. It is beautiful, I don't know what a sweet sixteen is but regardless of how you made it the love shines through. It is just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic on so many levels. You are so beyond being a " paint finger" this quilt is definitely a tribute to a deep friendship. I love the way the elements combine to tell the story and how Bob remains the center focus as my eye is lead all through the composition, and all the wonderful texture and layers there are to soak in - bravo
ReplyDeleteLois, your quilt captured what I think is the essence of our "Friendship" theme. I felt like we were able to journey back 40 years with you, Bob and your daughters, and appreciate what true friendships are all about. Thank you for sharing yours and Bob's story through your amazing quilt !
ReplyDeleteI have a needlepointed picture that hangs in my and Randy's bedroom that says," Happiness is being married to your best friend." Randy and I count our blessings for this to be true of us as I am sure you and Bob do.
ReplyDeleteLois, this is exceptionally good! Can't wait to see more from YOU!
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