Stitched Scrolls

Life is a journey. It is a scroll with a definite end and beginning, and we get to choose what fills it.

While planning what to make for a recycled arts holiday show this year, I realized how adrift I was feeling after going through my job transition. I couldn't seem to settle on an idea or get back into the groove of making art. To help get back on the creative path, I decided to simplify. I just needed to put some stitches in some fabric. Simple stitches.

These fabric scrolls use old thread spools and fabric scraps. The larger hanging scrolls use industrial wool loom bobbins that I bought at the local mill. The inspirational quotes are printed with a home printer directly onto cotton muslin and are stitched with very simple variations on the running stitch. I worked on them in the mornings while everyone was waking up, or at night while we were all winding down. The process reminds me of journaling, but with stitches instead of pen. You just make marks. And most importantly, you fight the urge to start over or take out stitches. It's the mistakes that make them real.

I encourage you to take a go at this type of project. The strips can be wound around spools, chopsticks, a dowel, metal bars - whatever! I would like to revisit this project in the future and maybe use large nails or railroad spikes in place of the spool. I like the contrast of soft and delicate with cold and rugged.

When I meet someone new, I am asked the same old question:

"So, what do you do?"

It is a hard question for me to answer.

When my son was born 15 years ago, I was absolutely committed to staying home with him. Living in an expensive city on the West coast, if I went back to work I would only have made enough to pay for childcare. That didn't make sense to me; especially given that I love being home and (usually) have tremendous amounts of patience.

When the kids were small, I could say I was a stay at home parent. But now they are in middle and high school and it really isn't a full time workload anymore. To say now that I am just a stay at home mom also seems a fallacy. I am many other things too.

When I first put more energy into my art practice, I had trouble telling people I was an artist. Especially in the beginning, that was a hard statement to make. I mean, being an artist implies making a living off of it, right? (this is false, but we'll discuss that later)

Obviously overthinking at this point - what am I now?

My life revolves around adding magic to my home by making things. Elaborate meals and baked goodies, gardens, various home improvement projects, decor - whatever adds a little more joy to the day-to-day for myself and my family. Until I took on a full time job last year and therefore had less time to devote to these things, I never realized the value I had been providing. Now I have left the workforce again and am fully embracing my role.

I am a house witch. And I'm good at it.

Other very talented fabric artists have also created projects like this and are wonderful for inspiration. I've included a resource list below so you can check out some easy ways to get started making your own marks.

• Sarah Homfray Embroidery Slow Stitch Sampler Project - a fantastic stitch along series that teaches really useful skills for the beginner and refreshers for the advanced

• RSN Stitchbank - For step by step instructions on a variety of stitches

• Artist inspiration: Jette Clover, I love the rugged piecing this artist uses. I actually discovered it after I made these scrolls and gives similar vibes. They use similar printed strips and simple stitching in their collages series and use color and form really effectively.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have bread in the oven and a pull-out drawer shelf to install. :)

Happy mark marking!

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