New work!

(Above:  On left is hand-stitched In Box CDLVI and on right is hand-stitched In Box CDLVII.  Both are layers of polyester stretch velvet fused together onto a piece of recycled, synthetic felt, densely hand-stitched with 100% cotton embroidery floss before being subjected to intense heat from an industrial heat gun.  Mounted on acid-free mat board. Custom framed:  19" x 15". $375 each. Click on any image to enlarge.)

Several weeks ago, Steve and I delivered my Lace Forest Installation to Fiberart International in Pittsburgh.  I stitched a small In Box series piece on the trip there and another on the trip back.  I blogged them shortly after our return.  Then, I prepared another two small In Box series pieces.  Why?  Well ... we returned to Pittsburgh for the opening weekend activities.  That's another trip north followed by miles going back south.  As result, here are the two newly finished pieces

 

(Above:  Detail of In Box CDLVI at an angle.)

I really enjoy stitching these piece while in the passenger seat.  There's really no serious planning involved.  I can grab any color of floss and just stitch, stitch, stitch ... still looking out of the window at the passing landscape.  In about two months, we will be going back to Pittsburgh to pick up The Lace Forest.  You can bet that I'll have another two of these ready to go ... but next time, I'll try a white felt background!

(Above:  Window CCXXIII.  Custom framed: 19 1/4: x 17 1/4".  Polyester stretch velvet fused to black, synthetic industrial felt with machine stitching and melting techniques. $275.)

Several people have asked whether I create one piece at a time.  I don't.  I'll have anywhere from two to ten in production on any given day.  Most days, there's at least one or two Found Object Mandalas in progress and at least two to four of these polyester stretch velvet pieces in the works.  Often, I've got an installation going too.  Before we left for Pittsburgh (the second time!), I didn't just create the foundations for the two, small, hand-stitched In Box series pieces shared in this post.  I constructed two Lancet Windows, two Large In Box pieces, two medium In Box pieces, and three Windows.  Right this moment, some of them are stitched and stapled to their stretcher bars waiting to be melted.  Others are constructed and waiting to be stitched. Window CCXXIII, however, was stitched, melted, mounted, photographed and framed.  In the coming days, more of these pieces will be finished.  Blog posts are coming!