I started my day in my studio by finishing up the Not Going Back hankie that I began on Friday. Then I moved on to the last hankie I have with a crocheted Victorian woman in the corner.
For this one I used the fabric underneath it as inspiration. It’s another of the Old American prints with the image of Jefferson and a ship setting out to sea.
I positioned Jefferson in the top corner, a ghost through the hankie, my version of the ship sailing away. It’s flag with the words “Not Going Back”.
This next piece is another mended patch. Since the first time I saw it years ago (I don’t remember who gave it to me) the shape reminded me of a pubic triangle.
When my friend Alfreda saw the blue embroidery design on the linen she said it made her think of when she was a kid in school and had to learn embroidery. She hated doing it so brought it home and asked her mother to do it for her.
Her mother wouldn’t and Alfreda never finished it.
It reminded me of a time when embroidery and other needle work was mandatory for many women to learn. And how it was a burden for those who would rather be learning something else. And for those who wanted to learn, it was one of the few creative outlets they might have.
I sewed the mended patch into the middle of the design. It fit perfectly. The words We Are Not Going Back on the dotted line looks to me like the paper with the blue lines on it that I first learned to write letters and words on.
I started the piece above but by the time I got to the words, it was getting late and I was tired. I didn’t want to mess it up so I left it for tomorrow.
In the first bubble I’ll write “I’m not going back” and the woman across the table will respond with…”WE…are not going back.”
More tomorrow….
