An Old WIP Returns

A decade ago I was living in New Mexico. My career as a fiber artist was slowly taking off. I had been in local art shows in Taos and Santa Fe. Then in 2012 I blew up my life and escaped to Portland. It was an intense time. So much change was happening all at once. I was experiencing so many emotions, I suppose it was only natural that my works in progress went into hibernation. The years rolled by and I found myself back in college. Fiber art was officially on hold. More years passed. When Josh and I moved to Taiwan, I couldn’t bear to get rid of this WIP so I packed it up with some precious yarn and mailed it to my parents for safe keeping.

After this last move, my parents mailed some of my stored boxes back to me. I had forgotten all about this piece! Years ago, I had cut up a felted sweater and restitched it to make a canvas. The buildings and gray sky were needle felted on before my move to Oregon. Originally, this piece was inspired by my 2010 solo trip to New York City. That trip was magical, deeply spiritual and planted the seeds to my new life. Granola was with me in Taos when I started working on this art piece. It is so meaningful to have him hanging out with me as I return to it.

Ursula taking an interest in my fiber art, as usual.

As I work on it again, the meaning has deepened and evolved. I find myself thinking of Portland now and how my time there was incredibly transformative. The two cities combine in my work as I finish the needle felting the sky.

The embroidery and bead work has begun. For my art I try to use as much material from my stash as possible. These beads were from a thrifted necklace I took apart months ago. As I was sewing them down the name of this piece revealed itself: Begin Again.