In Box Experiment

(Above:  Steve with hand-stitched In Box CDLXI.)

I've been stitching pieces in my In Box Series for approximately two decades.  CDLXI is four hundred and sixty-one in Roman numerals.  Some are significantly larger.  Some are significantly smaller.  Most are created by free-motion machine stitching with only 100% cotton thread but some are hand-stitched with cotton floss. Over the years, I've been lucky enough to share my unique melting techniques through various workshops.  A frequent question concerns the black, recycled felt I've always used as the substrata for the layers of fuses polyester stretch velvet.  "Have you ever used another color?"  My answer has always been "No ... but go ahead and try that yourself."

 

(Above:  In Box CDLXI.  Layers of fused polyester stretch velvet on white recycled felt with hand embroidery and melting techniques. Unframed:  17" x 10 1/2"; framed:  23 3/8" x 18".)

 

I've used the black felt for a couple of important reasons.  First, it was FREE to me.  My black felt was once the protective covering for a kayak or canoe being shipped from a manufacturer to my friend's outdoor shop.  He didn't want to throw it away.  After all, it is a synthetic ... which will not decompose in a landfill.  I wanted it because it is a synthetic ... which will melt when exposed to the intense heat of my heat gun.  (Click here to see one a commissioned piece being melted.)  Second, my machine stitching has always been done using black thread, like an ink drawing of each motif.  Finally, black is a neutral and high in contrast with the colorful shapes ... but so is white!

Above:  Detail of In Box CDLXI.)

Last week I decided to try the experiment that I so often suggested to others ... use something other than black felt.  In my stash, I had white synthetic felt.  I also had a nice silver frame.  The frame is a leftover from my days as a custom picture framer and my shop that sold lots of beveled mirrors.  Before we retired and moved, more than one hundred mirrors were offered at 50% off.  Lots of them sold but others were moved and became the wall decor in our upstairs bathroom.  There were still more mirrors ... including one in a silver frame.  I decided to design my experiment to fit that frame ... in case the experiment worked!  Well ... it did work!  It worked so well that I'll be making more of these ... not in such a big, silver frame but something nice!