Art for an installation about women from our family

My aunt, Maria, is an artist and has come up with a plan for a piece of art that will highlight the women of our family.  Being as many of us are involved with textiles in one way or the other she has started circulating a letter to the women of our family requesting textile pieces we have made that will be included in her piece of art.  Her siblings got the first letters and she is working her way down through the layers of each generation to be in touch with as many as she has contact information for.  One of my aunts has already sent along her piece and it was shared with those of us she has email addresses for.  We have four generations in some of the legs in the family.  I am sharing here the piece I made to send to her.

After some brainstorming and a bit of a sketch here are the supplies I assembled.  

 * 6" square (4" to 6" was the guideline she provided) of white polka dots on navy fabric.  This layer represents space with its vast amount of stars. 

* 4" circle of pieced fabrics.  This layer represents the Earth.  It is made up of four scraps of fabric which represent each season by their colour.  I machine stitched the pieces together and then cut out my circle.  

*  white tulle which I overlaid over the seams in the Earth to have the seasons blend into each other visually.  

*  1.25" circle of yellow fleece which will be my Sun.

*  24  3/4" pink fabric circle die cuts  - all different - which represent all the women in our family.

*  stitched hearts represents the love they give - to themselves, each other and their families and community. 

*  red thread which represents our connection through our shared history.

*  silver thread which represents our connection to the Divine which is evident through out the Universe.

I started by layering my Earth onto my starry sky and placing the sun in the middle of it so it would overlap all the seasons.  I used variegated yellow embroidery thread to stitch my sun into place starting in the center and using running stitches in a spiral pattern until I got to the edges.  

Next, I laid several layers of tulle over the seams between my seasons and used the same variegated yellow floss to stitch rays going from the sun to the outside edge of the Earth which anchored all my layers.

Next, I used various colours  of pink floss to stitch hearts onto all of my little pink circle die cuts.  I started with a pattern I got from online that combined two scroll stitches to form a heart but I found they did not hold their shape very well.  It is possible that I did not properly execute the stitches but in the end I decided to just create two opposing curves and added a stab stitch to each one to hold it in place.  I did go back and add stab stitches to the ones with scroll stitches which worked well to keep them integral as well.  

Next I stitched all the little pink circles to the perimeter of the Earth with two rounds of running stitch which fills in a full line of stitching in pink floss.  They are all overlapped just a wee bit to indicate connection and our family ties.  They are all a bit different which reflects the reality of the women in our family.  

Next, I added the red thread intertwined through the hearts on the pink circles.  A red thread is often used as a symbol that indicates connection and a shared history which works well for this piece.  I hid the ends so that the thread appears to be integral.  The legend is that a red thread connects those who are bound to meet in life  - it twists and turns and tangles but never breaks.  The silver thread represents our connection with the Divine.  The Universe is completely imbued with the Divine and therefore the silver thread run through out my creation to reflect that connection.  I pinned the thread down in a spiral starting at the sun and spiraling outwards until it reaches space.  I then used coordinating floss to couch it in several places along its path which very nicely secures it to my creation.  

Here is a close up of the different sections that represent the seasons along with details of the circles and the red and silver threads. 

Next, I laid my creation upside down on a gray backer and added a layer of flannel as batting.  I stitched it all the way around leaving a gap so I could turn it inside out.  I poked out the corners and pressed it well then added a line of machine stitching about 1/8" from the edge.  Lastly, I added a row of seed beads all the way around using navy floss and blanket stitching.  It has been wonderful to be back to hand stitching and creating a fun project with so much meaning.  I am really looking forward to the completed art piece.  My aunt is a talented artist and will no doubt be able to realize the vision she has for this piece which will be a tribute to all of us!!

Therese