Stitched Textile Pictures: Barn Series

Back in April I began a new series of stitched barn textile pictures. Not surprising that I decided to focus on barns... anyone familiar with my work knows how much they inspire me. But I seem to especially turn to them in times of trouble. As I walk or drive past them, I've always felt that they whisper to me their own stories of happy memories, along with times of struggle, hardship and survival. They truly are like friends to me, and help me feel like I am not alone as I make my way through this life.

As for the stitched barns below, each one is made from vintage grain sack material, and bits of antique fabric salvaged from an old quilt too far gone to repair. Some also have bits of vintage book cloth, as well. All have been machine and hand stitched. Once finished, each one is then mounted, via hand stitch, to a piece of 140 lb. watercolor paper. 

The first batch of 8 have already sold and I just listed the second batch of 8 today in my Etsy shop. Below are all 16 in full, along with some detail shots, too.

PS. I hope everyone is hanging in there and doing ok. These are difficult times for our country. Again, anyone who is familiar with me, knows that I am aghast at our current administration. Stay safe and well. And VOTE! xo

Barn no. 1

SOLD

Barn no. 1 - Detail

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Barn no. 2

SOLD

Barn no. 2 - Detail

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Barn no. 3

SOLD

Barn no. 3 - Detail

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Barn no. 4 

SOLD

Barn no. 4 - Detail

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Barn no. 5

(with eleanor)

(some are really small!)

SOLD

Barn no. 5 - Detail

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Barn no. 6

SOLD

Barn no. 6 - Detail

~~~

Barn no. 7

SOLD

Barn no. 7 - Detail

~~~

Barn no. 8

SOLD

Barn no. 8 - Detail

~~~

Barn no. 9

SOLD

~~~

Barn no. 9 - Detail

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Barn no. 10

SOLD

Barn no. 10 - Detail

~~~

Barn no. 11

SOLD

Barn no. 11 - Detail

~~~

Barn no. 12

SOLD

Barn no. 12 - Detail

~~~

Barn no. 13

Barn no. 13 - Detail

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Barn no 14

Sold

Barn no. 14 - Detail

~~~

Barn no. 15

SOLD

Barn no. 15 - Detail

~~~

Barn no. 16

SOLD

Barn no. 16 - Detail

Faded Memories

This blog post immediately feels inadequate to me. How do I post something without acknowledging what we are collectively going through right now? And yet, anything I say feels so insignificant in the face of it all.

I wish I had wise words, comforting words, words that maybe could make you laugh for a second and momentarily forget the pain, the fear, the sadness, the confusion... but I don't.

The only thing I have is my compassion for whatever it is that you are going through...

If you are a medical worker on the front lines, risking your own life to save the lives of others, sincerely I say, God bless you and protect you. You are doing an amazing job.

If you are one of the many workers, such as my husband, who is still called in to work and you find yourself in an environment that puts you at risk and seems to undervalue the service you provide, sincerely I say, God bless you and protect you. You are doing an amazing job.

If you have been laid off from your job, and are not sure if your job will ever exist again, such as myself, finding yourself in an odd state of limbo where one day blends into the next and you feel unproductive despite having more time on your hands then you ever had before, sincerely I say, God bless you and protect you. You are doing an amazing job.

If you are a parent of young children, possibly juggling work from home along with childcare, homeschooling, housework and meal prep, and increasingly find yourself understanding why some species eat their young, sincerely I say, God bless you and protect you. You are doing an amazing job.

xoxo

The rest of this post is me just showing you some pics of the piece I recently completed. It's a small piece, (14" x 16.5") started months ago... one that I would just pick up here and there and add a bit of stitch before putting down again, and now it's finished...

"Faded Memories"

Made from vintage grain sack fabrics and bits of book cloth gleaned from the covers of vintage books that I have had in my possession for 30 plus years... It was time for them to be repurposed...

Some small holes in the cloth gave me a place to mend...

Machine and hand stitched,

And patched together...

And that's all I got.

Stay safe. Stay well. 

xo