Long Time no Stitch

 

Age won't spare anyone, though we may fight it on the surface; yet, the harmony between inner maturing and outer appearance needs to be kept if we don't want to risk becoming grotesque.
No news from needlework for a long time. This has two reasons. One is a weaker eye, even with the latest spectacles, I notice that light has become crucial for my work. Second is a progressive drying-out and soreness of my fingers which I fight with fanatic ointment cures, yet it will not work well enough to give back skill and resiliance. The sense of touch is reduced. It happened before, it went away; I hope so. I write instead, sometimes I paint. Just to tell you I'm still here, living a remote, quiet life, vaccinated, fearless and having my nightly battles with website software.

Kleines Korak-Tutorial

 

You find it in English: Here
 
Eine zentralasiatische Quilt-Technik

 

   

 

 

A New Beginning

Started quilting again. I continued using the Korak method which I'm addicted to. There was a long time when I did not feel able to carry on with my crafts, due to mental problems -- had to keep my head busy and not let my thoughts float.

Fabric art: I used small fabric bits to glue them on paper to create abstract pictures

 

Surprise

My design in One Kings Lane
By request from a customer, I learnt that my design "Pomegranate Blue" has been chosen for Lampshades and obviously have sold well. Yet, I will not continue offering my design in Spoonflower, due to a hell complicated tax form which I am not willing to sign nor able to understand, and I never sign what I don't understand.

I would rather offer my design on stoffn in Berlin. More Info coming soon.

Repairing a moth-eaten Wool Plaid

The work of insects can be discrete and quick. Now I chose matching colors from my crewel wool to weave small patches over the holes.

Oliver Hertel, ein Baumversteher

"Baumseelen" nennt mein Freund Oliver Hertel seine Schöpfungen, die im Holz das lebendige Wesen erkennen und für uns sichtbar machen. Er verwendet Holz von Bäumen, die irgendwo im Weg waren, gefällt wurden, gefällt werden mußten... und rettet so die Baumgeister, wenigstens sehe ich das darin.
Zur Zeit ist seine Situation kompliziert, denn das kleine Kunstzentrum, in dem er bislang gewohnt und gearbeitet hat, ist durch ein Bauprojekt in Gefahr.
Ich bewundere Olivers Kunst sehr und möchte mithelfen, dass die Wichtigkeit dieser Ateliers erkannt und die Künstler unterstützt werden.

Tree Souls -- my friend Oliver Hertel creates wooden sculptures which express the living spirit of trees and make them visible. He uses wood from trees that were "in the way" somewhere, were chopped down, had to be chopped down... and this way, he saves the souls of trees -- at least, this is what I see in his art.
At the moment, his situation is complicated, because the small art center in which he has lived and worked is endangered by a building project.
I adore Oliver's art and I want to help emphasize the importance of this studio and support the artists.

Cherub in Progress

Cherub No 2, unfinished. Water color, approx. letter format, fineliner sketch. Space-time warp has distorted the image of the face. Cherub is hard to understand by human categories.

Trees

Isn't it getting boring?

No, somehow I just can't stop.

Paint on Black -- as I Used to Do

"The Architects Say Goodbye"

White gouache on black paper

 

"Holy Stones"
Gouache and gold pen on black paper

  

 "Rituals Are Necessary"

White gouache on black paper

 

"Reconstruction of the Sun Temple"

 Watercolor and black pen

 

 "Holy place"

Watercolor

 "Eyes of Heaven"

Watercolor and black pen

Recently I have taken a liking for labyrithic structures. My pictures start as a kind of big zentangles. The rule is to cover the sheet with lines that create some kind of "streets" of similar width, so that the shapes interweave. I do not plan; as the rule of zentangles is to follow a feeling, not a plan, I kind of "knit" the patterns without much intention. 

Here is one piece before coloring. I use fine, non-soluable pens. If you like, feel free to download it in full resolution and print it for coloring fun of your own! And please don't hesitate to show me the result by posting a link in my comments!

 

Size: The larger 3 pieces on top are about 30x30 cm, the lower series a little smaller than letter format.

My Blog has Been Neglected

Shame on me -- I let my blog lie waste for such a long time.
My craft activities have been neglected, too. Have been writing in German, not much to say about that. I think I'll post some pictures instead...

Last Roses...
Die letzte Rose welkte noch nicht ganz

Still autumn, and then...
Das tiefe Gelb, das weiche Grau

... first snow on rose hips.
Der Wind ist nicht mehr lau

First ice on the pond.
Der reinen Wolken unverhofftes Blau

Some ducks...
... erhellt die Weiher und die bunten Pfade

Yet very quiet.

The hornbeam stands almost naked.

Rose hips and a thin layer of ice

Shorter days, colder nights
Und auch was übrig blieb von grünem leben
Verwinde leicht im herbstlichen gesicht

My sacred bosk

Another hornbeam's clothes