Layers of Meaning

Landscape Embellishments

When I have a spare moment, I have been playing with my Babylock Embellisher. This is not a sewing machine, but rather a needle felting machine that literally pummels the fibers together. My current favorite technique is to 'felt' silk fabric and silk thread scraps onto a stiffer dark wool background. The contrast of these colors and texture is so rich and enticing. An added plus, I find the rhythm of the felting to be a restful tmeditation. I am not wrestling with seams or edges, freeing my mind to wander over color and aesthetics.

The landscape pictured to the right (large image here) began as a fabric-crayon sketch on black twill. There are layers of silk, rayon, and silk fibers 'felted' on top of the sketch and then free motion embroidery. This is still a work in progress. Actual size is about 17" X 26".