Tilleke
Well, I’m pleased to say that last week is firmly behind me now. And after a weekend of doing absolutely nothing (or as close to it as a working Mum of two with a dog can get away with) I’m ready to tell you about my ‘tell your own story’ course at West Dean with Tilleke Scharwz.
Tilleke gave us lots of paper exercises and collages to do, some of which I found useful and some I didn’t. In truth, I actually found most inspiration in my sketchbook. Tilleke doesn’t work with a theme in mind, letting the work develop naturally as she stitches. But I found I couldn’t even start until I had a direction in mind. So after a tricky, frustrating day not really knowing which way to turn I eventually decided that if I needed a theme I should just get one and get on with it!
And as the biggest source of amusing quotes, pictures and vitality in my life are my boys I decided that’s the story my cloth should tell; of being their mother- and not just the good bits either.
Tilleke works on one cloth at a time (for as much as 6 months) so unsurprisingly I didn’t get that much stitching done to show you in the few days we had together. But, it’s lovely to know I have a cloth that is just for me, which doesn’t have to meet a brief or a deadline and that doesn’t need to have a clear pattern written for it either.
So, here is the dead baby bird Henry left on the kitchen table. A footballer to remind me of the seven kits I wash every week and the guilt trip note I found left on my pillow when I’d been for a rare night out.
My story of motherhood.
Monday, July 16th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
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July 16th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
It all adds up to a wonderful “whole”, doesn’t it- the good and bad parts and though I wouldn’t want to repeat some of our bad bits, they all weave together to make our story! Love what you have done so far and great for you to have something to stitch that is “no pressure”. Hope you are feeling more rested.x
July 16th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
I can’t help it, but I love the dead bird – the macabre side of motherhood!…I think this is the start of a wonderful freeform-ish work. Hope you continue to enjoy it.
July 19th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
I love this chronicle of motherhood. It’s so real and so beautiful. A good direction to be heading, I think.
July 19th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Sorry you had a bad week, the workshop sounds great. I love the idea of a cloth you can work on over time and build up with very personal memories.
July 22nd, 2012 at 11:04 am
mother hood is never dull..especially as you are a mother of sons[ like me] they never stop needing their mothers….lol…but
i just opened my mag her is australia and here you are with your lovely flowery quilt…gosh its a small world…but i love it…
just had to say hi..