Crossing Boarders
A collaborative project
Welcome to this week's Sunday Stitch 👋🤠.
What an eventful time I'm having! I have to mention my new "Stitchalong" paid subscriber publication, where I've been making short videos sharing a bit my techniques and process. A fun, new adventure for me but I'm not going to talk about that today.
I'm also busy getting my few pieces together for the "Listen to the Land Speak" exhibition in August. I have my 2 stitched books, my scroll, my "Odd Ball" collection & my Sacred Tree. I don't know if the curator will choose all of my pieces but I have enjoyed putting them together. Even if it has been a little stressful on occasion, deadlines and all that. 🥺
Today however I wanted to revisit a collaborative project I did awhile back with my friend Dagmar from Czechia. We met on line through one of those FB stitching groups. Dagmar doesn't speak English & I don't speak Czech but with the help of online translation we chatted. Dagmar would describe herself as a hobbiest. She makes lots of very well made stuff and I especially liked her use of repurposed materials, and of course denim.
I could wax lyrical about our friendship but I'm trying to keep this reasonably brief.
Anyway the long & the short of it I suggested we try a collaboration. I stitched a piece on a 6" hoop & sent it to Dagmar & she did the same, with the idea we would finish each other's off or rather add our own bit to each other's piece. I hope that makes sense!
We both ended up with a piece & I really loved doing the project & I was very happy with the result. As a bit of a follow up, Dagmar ended up hosting my wee friend Seamus & took him all round her area & up to the border with Poland.
I find working away in my studio each day can be isolating. That's not a bad thing at all, I love my own company, but I find sharing a creative project with another artist is a fascinating way of communicating. It was an essential part of my process in music but there is less opportunity within my stitching and it provides a new perspective to explore.
I have just finished off a 7 patch commission, all inspired by dogs! That was another first for me & all being well I might be able to post about that next week.
So that's the story like. My Sunday Stitch all wrapped up & delivered.
Before you ask, we are not experiencing any kind of heatwave here, it's a bit chilly & wet this morning. A typical Irish summer!
Hopefully we'll have blue skies again sometime this week. 👋🤠
As I looked at your piece, it resembled a Mayan Symbol. The city that I grew up in is very multi cultural, a mix of Portuguese, South American, and Carribean Peoples. I have a very good friend from this city who is Mayan Indian and he showed me a symbol quite like this one that you stitched that is a "portal" of sorts in their culture. Both pieces are beautiful.
What a great way to share your love of your crafts together. The world is definitely getting smaller. Boundaries are non-existent!❤️