Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Lois' CONTRAST- Noni's Grapes of Piania


My grandfather, my Noni, picked grapes in Tuscany and made his own wine. My grandmother, my Nona, told stories of stomping on the grapes with her friends in her youth. They lived in a stone house that was built around the year 900 that still stands high on a mountain top. Their wine cellar was a tiny space under this ancient family home. Old casks were used to store each year's wine production. My mother was born in this house and the family stories of the fall wine production are a part of my heritage. 

 We recently visited a winery, and  what a contrast. The two story high gleaming stainless steel vats, and the miles of high tech piping all connected to some sort of computerized control system certainly produced great wine, but for me lacked the romance. 

I recently visited a mom and pop farm in PEI Canada, where a small family was making felting equipment , spinning yarns and combing  roving. The wool came from the animals on their farm, just outside the door of their small shop.  Intrigued by their needle felting supplies, I had to give it a go. So with a book, and some of their hand made roving I returned to Atlanta. The contrast between the city of Atlanta and the pastoral Prince Edward Island caused me to think about how differently so many things are made. 

Somehow these contrasts resulted in my making  my first needle felted piece.  combined with of course some thread painting!


13 comments:

  1. Fellow Mavens: I urge you to "click to enlarge" this quilt! The felting is so incredibly lovely. Lois, the entire composition is, truly, a work of art. But too, I must say that the "back story" of your quilt was so important. I loved learning more about your heritage! To me, the sharing of our personal stories is as important in our group as is the posting of our quilts!

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  2. Lois, this is soooo gorgeous! And your first attempt at needle felting!! I am so jealous of your talent!!!

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  3. You did a wonderful job with the needle felting. I love the twisted roving at the top. So perfect for the grape vines. I've used my neighbors roving from her sheep and just love the texture it gives.

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  4. OOOHH! Needle felting, such fun. It looks great and your story is touching.

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  5. Lois, I look forward to your quilts because you are always trying something new. What a wonderful family history you have! The way you depicted Noni's grapes through felting is oh so special. Lovely!

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  6. What an amazing work of art ! I loved reading your story, and journeying with you as your shared memories of your family history. As always, your work is stunning, and this time you took us into a new media.... felting ! The contrast of ancient times and current technology was extremely well documented in your story of how things "used to be" as compared with "how thing are done today!" Gorgeous !

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  7. Lois, I wish I could feel this piece - I want to stroke those grapes! Fantastic job at needle felting - it is hard to believe it is only your first attempt - great color blending and dimension

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  8. The lady who babysat for us when my son was a baby went by Nona. Mystery solved, she was a first generation American having moved here from Italy. what a lovely quilt and I agree with Alice, I don't usually know what you are talking about technique wise, I really like the personal stories. You don't know who you really are unless you know where you came from and what a wonderful heritage.

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  9. Texture, texture, texture. What a contrast to our usual smooth flat fabrics. This a beautiful!!

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  10. Opps! Meant to say, "This IS beautiful!"

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  11. As someone who has recently "discovered" wet felting, I love how you have "painted" with the wool roving. I have not tried any needle felting yet, but after seeing your quilt, may have to!

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  12. I love felting! The added texture and the excitement of layered colors adds so much to fabric! Thanks for your beautiful rendition of grapes along with the story of your family. What a rich heritage.

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  13. This is just beautiful! What a lovely story and your color blending is excellent. With the twisted roving, felting, and quilting it is a stand out!

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