Tuesday, March 07, 2017

prayer flag for Canada

 I finished this today
 in time for International Women's Day
 for Canada
a prayer for women,
for our grand daughters
the old hankies were embroidered with circles and edged with red thread, and then buttonholed to a linen backing cloth
 the backing cloth was then removed, revealing the inner - ness
 I washed it and hung it on the line
then I blocked it by pinning it to the wall
stretching and smoothing with my hands instead of ironing
and noticed that some of the threads were bleeding.

that's ok

24 comments:

Tina said...

A beautiful tribute, will you quilt this?

Judy Martin said...

I don't think so Tina.

I like that it can be affected by a breeze.
I like that you can see both sides of the embroidery.
x

Unknown said...

Perfect!

Unknown said...

The bleeding adds yet another dimension and a very poignant one, given the context. It's a beautiful piece, Judy.

Peggy said...

I love this beautiful prayer flag and I love too that it bled. It reminds me of a womansong with the lyrics: deep is the ocean, deep is the sea, the water is as dark as blood that flows (flowed) from me. XO

Lynn Holland said...

It looks so fabulous in the breeze on the washing line and the whole meaning of it is so thought provoking

Ms. said...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://youtu.be/J3ukRUZV6Ks

Ms. said...

One more time
"Something About the Women"
by Holly Near
https://youtu.be/J3ukRUZV6Ks

Anonymous said...

deeply moving and so wonderfully beautiful

Aara said...

Thank you!

Liz A said...

A moving tribute ... on so many levels. Thank you so much for sharing its becoming here.

Nifty Quilts said...

It's beautiful and moving. The bleeding only adds to the compassionate quality of the piece and thoughts of womens struggles.

Kathy -MIQuilter said...

It has so much meaning. I love it hanging in the breeze.
The piece is perfect!

Vivian said...

It's beautiful Judy, bleeding and all. By the way, I found a copy of Quilt National 2011. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. It makes me happy to own it.

Mo Crow said...

red crossing white, so poignantly visceral & healing, I love how you do this!

Martine said...

It looks like a red tent..............like it very much......

Linda said...

Perfect..

Vicky aka Stichr said...

beautiful.

henrietta (aka ani aka zani) said...

Quite a loaded piece. It has the aspect of church vestments. A central cross figure composed of mandala like elements, the wholeness of self. Perhaps even a shroud. The cutting away of the backing cloth, though not entirely understood, has something of a scarification to it, especially with the scissors. And then there is red. If blue is for the soul as Matisse thought then red acts on passion. It's use is to command the viewers attention. Other the white it's were the eye goes. Crushed insect bodies, pulverized earth/rock or mashed roots it is a life source. And the action of your handling the cloth to make it take form, reshaping completes the journey of the red thread first knotted and pulled. A umbilical cord.

henrietta (aka ani aka zani) said...

Sacrifice not scarification but both might work.

Judy Martin said...

I only removed the cloth that lined the hankies so as to allow them to remain a single layer of cloth, and still shine sheerly.

The cross shape is very human - one can imagine that the heart is at the centre where the horizontal and verticals meet.

Red and white is one of my most favourite classical colour-ways, because it can read almost any way the viewer wants it to - nearly every emotion can be stirred.
x

Grace Martin said...

Wonderful on so many levels

Threadpainter said...

Just stunning, Judy !
LOve that you 'ironed' by hand (I often do with my water-soluble pieces, once washed and blocked ... works wonderfully;))
Like the bleeding, too ... a statement.

April said...

wow mom

we bleed together