Lisa Call

 
The postcard for my show opening next week. The image on the postcard is of Markings #7, which measures 64" x 72".
 

(you can click on the images for a larger view where the text is larger and more readable).

Finishing Touches

I decided to take a couple days off work to finish up last minute details for the show. I deliver the artwork on monday and thought completing the last few pieces I want to include would be fun. Although taking some time off work was the real goal. What a luxury to take off work and hang out in my studio.

So as it’s snowing outside I’m happily at work in my studio stitching lines back and forth on Markings #22 and listening to the new Kinsey Millhone Mystery - T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton. I’ve been reading this series for years and am always happy when a new one comes along.

 
Happy Valentines Day everyone. Chocolate for everyone!

Markings #10 In Progress - stitched section ©2007

 
One of my goals for this year states:

I complete the 17 major pieces started prior to 2007 that are still unfinished: Structures #47, Structures #48, Structures #49, Structures #50, Structures #65, Markings #4, Markings #5, Markings #6, Markings #7, Markings #8, Markings #9, Markings #10, Markings #14, Portals #1, Portals #2, Circles #1, Circles #2.

When I revisted my goals mid year, which I failed to write about, I changed this to completing the 13 pieces in the Structures and Markings series. This week I’m very likely to complete this goal. Markings #10, the last to be completed, has about 14 more hours to go.

Completing this work mostly involved hours and hours of sewing parallel lines of stitching into the work to create the texture I love. To me my work isn’t completed just because the design is done and all the shapes have been sewn into a composition. It looks too flat, too untidy, less interesting. Plus it doesn’t store well as the fabric gets all wrinkled:
 

Markings #10 In Progress - Prior to Stitching ©2007

 
I have to added dense stitching or it just doesn’t feel right. After creating a fabric composition I layer it with cotton batting and a second layer of fabric for the back. I baste these 3 layers together and then spend hours adding stitched lines to the work to add texture.

This goal has been a good fit given the difficult year I’ve had, spending teh majority of my studio time in this meditative process of sewing lines back and forth. There are some artistic decisions to be made but much of this work is done on autopilot. A wonderful time to contemplate the events in my life and try to make sense of it all. Or listen to music or books on tape.

I had to take a quick break as I ran out of one of my green threads and I’m waiting for the local quilt store to open. It’s a rare occurrence for me to run out of thread given my rather detailed thread inventory system but Markings #10 is a large piece (probably 7 feet x 8 feet) and I forgot just how much thread is needed for such a beast.

Time to brave the first snow of the season an go get my thread and some more books on tape at the library.