This has been a great few days to forged our ideas as much as the heavens. First there was Halloween on October thirty first. I do know, Halloween doesn’t often call to mind a celestial theme—it’s extra for costumes and sweet, and warding off evil spirits. Nonetheless, it’s origin is an historical celebration of Celtic tradition held on the halfway level between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice. It’s one of many celestial impressed methods to interrupt up the 12 months into celebrations each six weeks or so—all primarily based on the flip of the earth and the change of the seasons.
This time of 12 months at northern latitudes, together with right here in Maine, every single day we lose a couple of minutes of daylight. The standard of the daylight adjustments as nicely, angling in low and casting longer shadows because the earth cycles across the solar. Autumn is shifting by means of and winter gained’t be far behind.
Since you’ll be able to’t change celestial mechanics, it appears finest to embrace every season because it comes, to take pleasure in what makes every distinctive. Even when it implies that in a single fell swoop, resulting from daylight financial savings time, we’ll lose an hour of sunshine within the night. So for us right here in Harpswell, the solar shall be setting at 4:30pm tomorrow. Although with darker skies earlier within the night, we’re invited to stargaze—inspired by the darkish, Tom arrange his telescope final evening and aimed it at Jupiter and three of its circling moons, then targeted on the faint glow of the Andromeda Galaxy. These stars and planets had been all the simpler to see due to the added darkish of a brand new moon.
And that new moon now cycles me again to presenting our latest Cloth Collage End Line put up—heavenly our bodies to feast our eyes on—similar to Sue Wilson’s “Cosmic Cool” moon (element picture above). A giant thanks to all who’ve submitted the next items of celestial artwork and the accompanying tales that have interaction our creativity.
Should you too have a completed cloth collage quilt and story that you simply wish to share in a End Line, please click on on the submit button beneath for more information.
Studying assets referred to on this put up embrace: my web site, Serendipity Quilts, my patterns, weblog (typically), YouTube movies, Spiral eWorkshop, Sea Turtle eWorkshop, Cloth Collage On-line Grasp Class, Fly on the Wall: Susan Carlson Studio Watch, and Patreon.
The suns and moons in right now’s put up are primarily based on my Solar Portrait and Moon Portrait patterns, out there for obtain from my web site.
And… if you happen to might use one thing entertaining and heartwarming and seasonal to look at, could I like to recommend the film, “Coco.” It’s about just a little boy, his music, and his household, all set on the Day of the Lifeless (right now, November 2nd). An animated story about this vacation that honors and welcomes the spirits of the deceased—although it may be loved any time of the 12 months, like I do. 🙂
Erika Schögl
From Erika Schögl of Austria:
Though these two wallhangings weren’t my first expertise in cloth collage, the method continues to be very difficult for me and I’m working slowly with many breaks. The purpose is to get higher in selecting cloth values and obtain a better inventive stage for additional portrait tasks.
Sue Wilson
From Sue Wilson of Pittsboro, NC:
The Moon Portrait, Cosmic Cool, is my eleventh (and ultimate) Face accomplished this 12 months [2023]. Didn’t make it to 12, however I’ve realized a lot, and am very excited to be on this path. Come February, I’ll be a “Fly on the Wall” as Susan shares enjoyable with cloth collaged fish!
I had enjoyable experimenting with the cool colours on this quilt. I particularly love the impact of the brilliant inexperienced and the contact of purple on the left facet. I preferred the concept of suggesting the total moon… at all times there, even after we see solely the crescent. I’m very proud of the cool creamy spiral print used for the moon floor in that space, pieced to load the area with spirals.
Whereas engaged on the moon out of context I preferred utilizing a light-weight yellow-green cloth for the halo across the moon rays. Nonetheless, after I auditioned it towards the darkish universe background, I didn’t like the way in which the sunshine halo made it look as if the total moon prolonged past the moon rays. Changing the halo with darkish blue made the rays pop.
I pieced the background (all from one cloth) as a result of the chosen cloth had a regularity to it that was too “sq.”. I used two colours of tulle as the ultimate overlay: darkish blue over the evening sky and creamy off-white over the moon and rays.
Within the quilting, I used a variegated thread (creamy with blue and inexperienced) over the moon; darkish blue over the evening sky. That is the primary time I’ve wrapped and glued a quilt edge. It was type of messy!
Carolyn Mathieu
From Carolyn Mathieu of Stephens Metropolis, Virginia:
That is my second cloth collage submission primarily based upon “Serendipity Quilts”! After I shared “Non secular Leo” again in November 2022, I knew that Leo wanted a buddy!…On to web page 49 and the MOON portrait! I didn’t must put the e-book below my pillow at bedtime like the primary time, however discover myself studying and re-reading the textual content to soak up as a lot as doable. Most difficult for me, is selecting the colour palette and cloth blends. I seek advice from my stash and buy batiks that add stream and vitality. I strive one thing, WALK AWAY and go it many occasions and sure experiment with materials…until EUREKA….that’s it! Most IMPORTANT are the POSTS supplied on Thursday and Saturday! They’re inspiring and I devour them. They feed the artistic soul. THANK YOU SO MUCH SUSAN AND TOM!
Barb Blake
From Barb Blake from Colorado:
This venture has been a technique to paint with cloth, and to repurpose scraps….I find it irresistible! Her identify, Madrone, comes from a e-book that I really like-The Fifth Sacred Factor- by Starhawk. Madrone was a healer in a futuristic sci-fi novel. I believe that our world wants some therapeutic ❤️????