At a crossroads...of the rusty kind

How do you know when it's time to let go?

How do you know for certain that it is time to move on?

These are a few of the questions that I've been pondering of late - 

most recently this morning as most all of my rusted cottons and organzas 

were transferred from 3 work drawers into 1 storage bin.

Discharged cottons

as well as a few that were eco printed found their way into a second bin.

When visions of pieces yearning to be created flit through my mind, these days they are not of the rusty kind.

So...how do you know when it's time to let go? And just what form does letting go take?

Do I put the bins in the basement where out of sight will equal out of mind, but where they will be accessible if some future day finds me dreaming rusty dreams again?

Or, and this is a bit scary even though it is what my brain says makes the most sense, do I truly let go and offer the lot for sale as yardage? Fat quarters or bags of...bags of what exactly? Bags of rusted cottons? Would it be priced by the piece or pound? Would anyone even want it?

In truth, I feel as if I already have moved on...to tea bags and other scrumptious papers. Did I just answer my own question? Probably. But will I listen to myself? Hmm...

I could really use your help on this one. What do you do with old materials when you move on?

Thanks in advance!

2 = 9 + 1

Last week found me doing a bit of art math. 

The 3 largest below became 15. 

Yesterday, the smaller two, desiring to get in on the fun,

found themselves on my cutting board.

That's where 2 

became 9 + 1.

3 = 15

Start with 3 pieces that measure 6" x 64". 

Set them aside and forget about them

until they begin to whisper their discontent. 

Listen to their pleas

 for transformation.

Let them guide you in turning

3 into 15.

Art math - when does 1 = 4 = 5?

Start with 1 very long piece that is intended to become accordion book 5.

Hang it in the studio for viewing and pondering.

Get really close so its whispers of what it truly wants to become are clearly heard.

 Listen. Agree.  

Take it down from its lofty perch. 

Lay it on your worktable...back side up...and

just do it.

 Cut it into 4 equal lengths measuring approximately 64".

Give them a lofty perch again and stand back to listen to their whispers.

Of contentment? Of dismay? Of not-quite-there-ness?

Listen to one who yearns to be more.

So...it is possible for 1 = 4 = 5.

Don't you just love art math?

(sorry for the poor lighting...it's darker on that end of the studio)

Accordion or scroll?

The official vote so far is 2 either way, 3 scroll...4 if my vote counts. What do you think?

In the studio

Accordion book 4...

or scroll?

Wabi sabi

What is wabi sabi?

Wikipedia defines it as a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete"... Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, asperity (roughness or irregularity), simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes.

The words that jump out and grab me in this definition are:

imperfect, incomplete, asymmetry, simplicity and intimacy

Wondering where this is going? Well...an idea had been floating around as to how to start book 4. Last week, when starting book 3, I decided that the fabric for the next book would not be whole, but would be cut up and reassembled willy nilly so that the pattern was broken.

With that idea in mind, I mentioned it to Pam when we skyped on Thursday. Also said something about concentrating on the treatment of where 2 pieces of fabric are joined. Once our conversation was over, a glance at the clock showed 1.5 hours before the little urchins would be home.

So...with 1.5 hours in the studio, an idea that just wouldn't let go and whispering just do it to myself, I did it.

Fabrics were set on my worktable

and a bin of scraps was opened.

I'd close my eyes and select a piece, from here or there,

of rusted and/or monoprinted cotton,

 pin it together,

go sit at the sewing machine

and stitch the layers together

with dark gray thread

along the short side.

Wabi sabi

In the studio

Working on accordion book 3.

Enjoying the sun streaming through the windows

as I monoprint

 and stitch

and wonder what comes next.

What if...

Last week an idea flitted through my mind....

what if I took one of my large rust beauties and

cut it into 5 inch strips and

 what if I stitched on it 

mostly length-wise

 with a only a few vertical lines?

 Today I wondered what if bees wax were painted on it?

[Thank you Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch for the suggestion of encaustics! This is my version of it.]

 The marks left on the newsprint after ironing to remove the excess wax were fascinating

 and had me wondering if the paper could used as well.

  And then it was time for a few photos.