As this piece was so roughly embroidered, I felt that I needed to cover it somehow. I remembered that I had some fine net-like fabric (organza?) and tried this. I like the effect. It mists over the image making it tantalisingly out of focus – just the way early memories are. To finish the piece off, I put a ‘frame’ of edging tape around it. This will probably now be sewn into the fabric book that I am in the process of making.
I feel as if this project is reconstructing memories, both in the way I’m going about it, and in the way memories drift back. Just in the act of hand-sewing today, I remembered going with my Mum to jumble sales and the excitement of finding clothes to cut up into fabrics for sewing projects. I hardly ever see jumble sales any more. It’s such a shame; it was great being able to pick up a sack full of stuff for about £1.50.
I like the effect – very reminiscent of the effect of time on the clarity of some memories.
Thank you, Ryan. That’s exactly what I hoped to achieve.
Hi carole,
It’s been fascinating watching you produce the same image using different techniques and materials. It has really made me think about how the medium used affects the way that I experience an image. It’s not something that I’ve really thought about before.
Memories came flooding back for me when I saw this latest version of your image. When I was a baby my pram, a navy blue Silver Cross one like the one in your image, had braid like this all around the inside edge of the hood. I can clearly remember how this looked from inside the pram, but more than that, I can remember exactly how the braid felt. I used to rub my finger across it. This is the earliest memory that I have. I am now wondering if perhaps you had a pram with the same sort of braid and this might have subconsciously led you to choose this to border your image? It’s an intriguing thought…
It is a real inspiration to watch your creativity flow onto your website Carole.
Best Wishes,
Benita.
Hi Benita,
I’ve gone all goosebumpy now! I actually have a picture of me in my pram, and it does have a similar type of braid around the hood. I would never have made that connection on my own. Thank you!
I’m astonished that you have such an early memory. One of the reasons that I’m exploring this project is that I don’t have any memories of the time before I started school. I find this quite frustrating – a whole five years that I don’t remember!
Thank you for dropping by – it’s nice to ‘hear’ your voice.
Kay — These are such neat and memorable pieces …! How different thread treatments affect the image — sort of like the variations one gets using watercolor pr pastel or pen alone. The image is charming and the work so ‘stitched’ with meaning .. I love them all .. and you couldn’t have picked a more special image to use in this way.
Kay — These are such neat and memorable pieces …! How different thread treatments affect the image — sort of like the variations one gets using watercolor pr pastel or pen alone. The image is charming and the work so ‘stitched’ with meaning .. I love them all .. and you couldn’t have picked a more special image to use in this way. I got another error message so I hope this reaches you!