Sunday, January 31, 2016

Waiting = stitching

For over 10 years now, it's been a habit of mine to hand stitch during times of waiting - on trips when someone else is driving, on flights, during quiet moments in the morning, watching tv and, most consistently, since my little urchins started taking various lessons after school.


My bag nearly always contained a roll of black cotton and a pouch of brightly colored threads. The stitching was intuitive while varing direction, stitch length and contrasts. The action itself gave me joy, a sense of contentment. It came as a great surprise toward the closing of 2015 to find myself no longer enamored with this work. It had become a chore and ended up being undone most often than not.

One morning during that week between Christmas and New Year's, as usual I found myself downstairs before the house woke, wanting to hand stitch, but being a bit reticent to do so. My old way was not working and I knew it, but what next? Try stitching on white cotton? On my rusted cottons? Or on that pad of St Armand Canal black denim paper that I'd bought in Santa Fe? Hmmm...now there's an idea.

2016 waiting = stitching #1

I began with +'s by punching holes in the back for the rows

 2016 waiting = stitching #2

and then proceeded with this one. It was too much like what had come before and left me frustrated.

2016 waiting = stitching #3

This luscious paper wanted to be different. Wanted me to stitch in a new way. Wanted me to embrace the chaos that I felt around and inside me. So on the third piece, I punched holes and then more holes on the back 

 2016 waiting = stitching #4

before beginning to stitch...all the while promising myself to stitch only through the holes already punched,
 
  2016 waiting = stitching #5

to not look at the front and decide that another was needed just here...or right there. Just let go and accept what exists.

 2016 waiting = stitching #6
Acceptance = a sense of freedom  = many ideas on where to go from here.

2016 waiting = stitching #7 in progress from back

I'm enjoying this new waiting = stitching series very much and am trying to take it slow and let the process guide me and grow organically rather than to rush and get ahead of myself. 

By the way, if anyone knows where more pads of St Armand Canal paper in black denim (9 inches by 10 inches) can be purchased, would you mind dropping me a note? I'd be very grateful for the info. 

28 comments:

  1. st armand is in montreal so why not go visit? you could check online to see if they sell direct. or try the japanese paper place. i have a bunch of st armand, but no black--i suggest buying several of big sheets, much cheaper. i will go look at my tiny stash (you might also like iowa case paper in black from talas)

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    1. I'd love a trip to Montreal. Don't see it happening any time soon though. The pad I bought has 60 pages. From what I've found online, the pad is still less than an appropriate number of full sheets that would yield the same size pieces when cropped. Does that make sense? I may just have to be patient and order from Artisan in Santa Fe. I'll take a look at Iowa Case Paper. Thanks Velma!

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  2. To Velma's comment...it sounds like you really can go to the Mill and purchase directly. And by the look of the other Canal sheets (as well as Farmer's Waste and more)...yes, you should definitely make the trip. There's a school vacation coming up, right? LOL!! http://www.st-armand.com/English/E02h-Canal.php

    They also list the pads of Black Denim too.http://www.st-armand.com/English/E02i-Pads.php

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    1. Ha! Have wanted to visit Montreal for years. Not sure I can talk John into it just so I can buy paper though...

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    2. I wonder if Sandra Brownlee might offer a recommendation, since it's sourced in Canada? With an 8-week lead time, perhaps it's related to a production cycle. There's nothing like a good treasure hunt, is there?

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  3. Beautiful transition! (And I SO understand the place of something moving from peaceful and pleasurable to "a chore left undone".)

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  4. Velma & Pam - I've been on St Armand's web site numerous times and have emailed them twice to no avail. Seems they don't sale to individuals...at least as far as I can tell. I can order more from Artisan in Santa Fe, but it will take 8 weeks for them to get the pads. I've looked online and found vendors who sell the pads, but not in black denim (or denim black).

    Perhaps a trip to Montreal is the call...

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  5. I can't help with the paper query - and anyway nothing in the UK is likely to be of help at all ... but the stitching is just lovely ... all of it, past and present.
    Here, I like the stitching into random holes and from the back, with some stitches crossing over each other, some large and some small. It gives such a sense of dynamism. I especially like the way the stitching in #5 and particularly number #6 is beginning to break randomly from the confines of the square.
    Definitely something to think about ...!

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    1. Many thanks Margaret! It's been an interesting experience so far - sometimes when working from the back, I'll see where the next stitch will go, but once back to the front the stitch changes its mind and goes elsewhere. Never a dull moment!

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  6. If you can wait until August, I'll be in Santa Fe and can pick up pads for you from Artisan. And, by the way, in all the years I've been visiting SF, I've not heard of Artisan!! Can't wait to get over there in August and check it out. That city is a celebration of what's possible with fiber and never fails to inspire me in infinite ways.

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    1. Artisan is a delight of an art supply store. I fairly drooled all the way through. Thanks for your kind offer - I'll be back in October myself and will likely pick up more then. Enjoy!

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  7. Beautiful post - both your story & your work - I love this new practice/series! Not to mention the thinking behind it... Enjoy!
    I see there are sheets of what I believe is the same paper available to purchase online here:
    http://www.fineartstore.com/p-3683-saint-armand-canal-paper.aspx
    They are larger, but you could use your handy-dandy X-Acto knife to trim to size - and maybe even end up experimenting with new sizes. Or a book!!
    Have fun...

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    1. Thank you Lisa! A book, you say? Hmmm...that thought just might get me to order a few sheets of black denim after all. My problem is one of accounting and impatience. To order enough sheets to yield the same number of pages as the pad once they're cropped is, basically, twice what the pad cost. Artisan quoted 8 weeks (here's where the impatience comes in...) and, well, I'd hoped to have the pads sooner. Let's see, wait 8 weeks or wait until my next visit to Santa Fe in October and hope there are some in stock. 8 weeks it is! Enjoy!

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    2. jennifer, yes, you should just take that man of yours and go to montreal for a little break...or take the girls because the mill is so cool. i went to my stash and found ONE 9 x 12 sheet of the black. have you tried sourcing using stores in ottawa? there are several art supply stores and they might stock the pads. (and if i could remember their names i would add them, but i don't)

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    3. As enticing as a trip to Montreal to visit the mill is, I actually got brave enough to call St Armand yesterday. When the person answered with "Bonjour", I could at least respond in kind, but then my 5 years of French betrayed me and fled and I couldn't even think how to ask if the kind lady spoke English...in French, that is. Thankfully she did and I placed a tentative order. Seems their black denim paper is extremely popular right now. Someone is to call back to finalize the order. Woohoo! I'll have more Canal paper pads. Now...to plan a trip to Montreal... Enjoy!

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  8. Sorry to hear of the paper sourcing troubles - not fun when you want it now! I love where the stitching is going - they will be startling gorgeous! Continue to enjoy...

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    1. I hope I haven't sounded like spoiled little brat who wants everything now, NOW, NOW!!! My excitement for this project has me wanting to hoard a year's worth of this wonderful paper. But really, what is a year's worth? Realistically...probably only 2 more pads worth. Then again... Enjoy!

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  9. Loving your chaotic stitching and the inner conversation that you share here.

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  10. Wonderful! Sometimes the whole "waiting" aspect of my life drives me batty. So this really resonates withme- how you've taken that "waiting" time and made it your own time.

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    1. How many brain cells do you think waiting kills? Oh! And which kills more - waiting or drugs/alcohol? You can probably guess which gets my vote. Ha!

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  11. oh my what beauty you create - both on fabric and paper - delightful!

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  12. Hi Jennifer, I just stumbled on your blog and love what I've seen so far! I'm looking forward to seeing more of the marks you make on fabric and paper. So lovely!

    You may be able to purchase the paper through this site: http://www.fineartstore.com/p-3684-saint-armand-handmade-color-paper.aspx.
    Anita

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