Monday, November 08, 2010

Annamaria, Grave Rubbing Art Quilt....and a computer crash!


(Above: Annamaria, A Grave Rubbing Art Quilt. Crayon on silk rubbing, vintage linens, buttons, hand and free-motion machine embroidery. Click on image to enlarge.)

There was a horrible sound....like something small and metallic flying into a spinning fan. It was followed by the unmistakable smell of an electrical fire. The computer is now dead....well....not everything. The key board, printer, monitor, and the exterior box are fine. The "mother board" (whatever that is) and the "hard drive", however, were fried. Fortunately, we backed up just about everything a week ago. We've lived through a catastrophic computer failure before. We'll live through this one too. Besides, we have an older model upstairs and I have my laptop.


(Above: Annamaria, detail. Click on image to enlarge.)

In the meantime, I've finished Annamaria, a Grave Rubbing Art Quilt. It is the first time I've ever included the name and dates. It is also the first time the rubbing came from a relative's grave....well, not a "blood relative". Annamaria was my Aunt Margaret's sister. Aunt Margaret married my Dad's older brother, my Uncle Mathias....for whom my elder son is named. (They had no children.)


(Above: Annamaria, detail. Click on image to enlarge.)

The grave is in the little town of Udvari, Hungary....a place I visited with my Mom, Dad, and sister Wanda this past summer. I'll post the photo of the grave and the porcelain photo that appears above the chiseled letters in a week or so....after the new computer is in place.


(Above: Annamaria, reverse. Click on image to enlarge.)

I remembered to take a photo of the reverse. Some of these vintage linen pieces were given to me by Connie Akers in Texas.

I also remembered to shot a photo of the last quilt's reverse:

(Above: Deep in Dust, reverse. Click on image to enlarge.)

I'm also finishing up a few new In Box Series pieces.....but forgot to snap a photo of the first one before it made it into the frame.....so.....


...here's In Box LXXVIII....leaning up against a magazine rack inside our front door...the door to our business, Mouse House!


(Above: In Box LXXIX. Click on image to enlarge.)

I've got one more to solder and melt....then I'll post it. Inside my studio, I've begun making large faux-stained glass pieces again. The "In Box" series and the faux stained glass all go to the Grovewood Gallery in Asheville where I'm lucky enough to be represented! They've just added a new page on their website announcing my work as a finalist in the NICHE Awards!

(Above: In Box LXXIX, detail. Click on image to enlarge.)

4 comments:

iHanna said...

Susan, the grave embroidery is such an awesome idea and this one is so beautiful. I'm also extremely fascinated by the backside, you put a lot of work in those too, lvoe that!

Karen said...

Your grave rubbing Quilts really speak to me. I love what you are doing and you make each one so special.

Perpetua said...

The grave rubbings are Brilliant. They really are! The look just like a real rubbing. So impressive.

Lynn Cohen said...

So sorry for the loss of the computer...seems fitting to post a grave rubbing right after that annoncement. Love the old fashion look to it with embroidery and hankie on the back. Of course I love all your art...many styles...all excellently done.