14" x 14"

The story of "Moonshine"

I was visiting in Isla Mirada, Florida on November 2, 1998. Lucas, my grandson was talking and laughing as his bed time bath was in progress. Suddenly I looked toward the window and I saw the moon rising over the ocean. "Look at that!" I pointed and ran for my camera. That picture became the subject for this canvas collage which is part of a series of Ocean images.

Creating the canvas collage became a dilemma. They always are. The problem has been that I've looked for a "formula" to develop these pieces. I did create a formula for Moonshine but I haven't been able to repeat it (nor do I want to).

I've discovered that each piece must express in its own voice. Each voice is unique. This voice is similar to a launching pad. How would I launch Moonshine? The photo that had captured this moment was now giving me trouble.

In sharing this problem with my artist friend Marilyn, we tossed around options and I found my answer. We laugh when I tell Marilyn that she gave me the solution but she actually didn't. The solution arose from my perception of what we discussed in that conversation. Similarly, one can free associate and make a list of possible ideas and a solution will surface as the answer.

First I had the photo reproduced onto cotton fabric using photo transfer and keeping the size the same as the original. I liked the results so I made a few extras "just in case". Next I had the photo of Moonshine enlarged and color photocopied.

That enlargement became my inspiration, my launch pad. Seeing the clouds in enlargement gave enhanced detail to their shapes and colors. I used tracing paper to trace the cloud shapes. Using the paper tracings as patterns, I cut these shapes from quilting fabric and the extra photo transfer. All of these pieces were then positioned onto 18mesh needlepoint canvas and basted into position. I baste with a fine sharp needle and quilter's silk thread to protect the fabrics from "marks" when the basting is removed.

The clouds were then attached to the canvas by couching with silk, wool, metallic, cotton, overdyes, wherever I could get the best colors. When I chose my fibers, I keep in mind that I want the colors to flow, to create harmony in the midst of all of this diversity. This work requires me to work one step at a time. I no longer try to create an entire plan before stitching. Color was the glue to hold this piece together.

The water was stitched with four strands of Splendor silk, two shades of blue mixed at random to give shading. The stitches are long and short and also at random. The black "scribble" is couched boucle thread meant to suggest foliage or shadows on the water.

I enhanced the glittering shape of the emerging moon by couching with gold metallic. The moon shadows reflecting into the water were stitched by mixing gold Madeira filament with the Splendor silk.

The narrow outer border was tent stitched with the adjacent cloud colors and water colors allowing the scene to continue to flow freely.

Moonshine took eleven hours to plan and ninety hours to stitch. Most of this time was spent in pure joy as the scene unfolded.

>Click within the stitchings to see the detail images: