"Runs with Scissors" latest STAT project

"Runs with Scissors" 12" X 12"

The last STAT project (SEE MORE OF THEM HERE) was the study of the artist lois mailou jones and interpreting her style in fabric. I used this painting as my inspiration

Water Carriers

The color blocking and strong figures made me wonder what it would be like to freely cut pieces of silk and overlap them in a pleasing way.

There is an exuberance to her work, so I wanted my poodle to be running on the piece, looking behind him, kicking up his dog-heels, gleeful!

These are all small works but full of texture and details. I hope after reading this you go see some of my others. I am partial to Polynesian Poodle, If Monet had a poodle, Seurat but love all the ones I've made. Can't ask more of a piece of art than loving the finished product!!

I had a tiny scrap of black silk in my fusible scrap bin, and just started cutting a poodle shape. I credit the who cares if it works attitude for making it work! I didn't draw it, I didn't make a pattern, I got out scissors and started cutting.
In fact

that's how I cut the squares and rectangles of silk, with pinking sheers and not concerning myself with size or being exact.
I did a post on that earlier(here is one)
and (here is on on embroidery)

The most fun was doing the hand embroidery.

I approached it the same way as the rest of the piece... not worrying, running with scissors! Trying it!

Some people would hate the asymmetry and the uneven nature but I love it. I find it surprising and gleeful, balanced while being free formed.

Note there is hand stitching, embroidery, machine stitching... the scissors were painted with metallic gold and embellished with twisted bugle beads.

The binding was some slinky gold metallic sheer, that was so badly behaved that it began unraveling as I cut it!! I persevered and it got on but it is probably trying to unravel INSIDE the binding!!!
<=my fave spiral stitch on Bernina 

Did you notice the black crystal eye and nose?? It sparkles in person.

How about that texture in the silk weave?
Thick threads?

For a texture lover, this STAT project has been heavenly to work on. I am behind by one artist, Georgia O'Keefe.
That will make 12 little quilts. I plan to add in one or two more artist studies just for myself, for fun.
The last detail? painting a label with markers....

The binding strip was just too small, so I added in another color silk, and it looks great to me.

Unexpected.

Lessons learned:
>play with silks more often
>use more hand embroidery
>creating quickly pays off
>not everything needs a plan
>Beads are the icing on the cake but don't need to cover the piece.