GONE RUSTIC STUDIO and GALLERY

marking time

When I started this textile artwork I had no idea how it would turn out. I just wanted to do some slow stitching!

the places i’ve been by rita summers

I also thought it would be good to use up some of my less interesting pieces of eco dyed fabric, and the many scraps left over from other projects. After years of making textile art I know that even the most boring materials can be transformed with embroidery, layering and so on.

the places i’ve been by rita summers

Just looking at them isn’t enough. I have to ‘play’, arranging and rearranging until I’m happy. With no preconceived ideas, the unexpected happens!

the places i’ve been by rita summers

After I’d organised the layers to my satisfaction (no trimming) I pinned them down and started stitching. I added appliqué, quilting, couching, seed and cross stitching over the next several days, mostly at my gallery in between customers.

the places i’ve been by rita summers

the places i’ve been by rita summers

the places i’ve been by rita summers

the places i’ve been by rita summers

Since I wasn’t sure what to do next I hung it up and left it alone for 24 hours. And the ideas came!

I stitched some letters. I thought about journeys (a recurring theme in my work), the passing of time, the milestones in my life.

the places i’ve been by rita summers

the places i’ve been by rita summers

the places i’ve been by rita summers

To express these thoughts visually I stitched tally marks in red. I left a thread hanging after I reached 100, to signify the future, the unknown, the unfinished.

the places i’ve been by rita summers

the places i’ve been by rita summers

the places i’ve been by rita summers

the places i’ve been by rita summers

Next, I quilted some diagonal lines to represent pathways. Masking tape keeps me straight - removable and reusable.

the places I’ve been by rita summers

the places I’ve been by rita summers

the places I’ve been by rita summers

the places I’ve been by rita summers

It was then I knew I had finished!

the places I’ve been by rita summers


10 comments

  • WOW! You continue to be an inspiration Rita. Thank you for all you share.

    Franki Kohler
  • Thank you for this. Your work has always been such an inspiration for me. So lovely to see your process.

    Life images bi jill
  • Rita, love love love what you have done- the colors, textures, and stitching look like they were meant to be together!!

    Colleen
  • thanks for your posts Margaret, I look forward to my daily dose. the whole trainstitching thing is intriguing, I love it!
    judex

    jude fleming
  • Thanks so much for your comments everyone! You have really encouraged me and I really really appreciate your taking the time to post your thoughts about my work here 🌸💕😊

    Rita Summers

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