My Milagros is completed.
I've been away at a resort with the bambinos… In between walks, swimming, games, bumper cars and lots of chats and baby cuddling, I was able to sew on the metal images.
So I decided to finish it when I got home….
Like the Milagros I saw in Mexico, the images are personal… they have more meaning for me as the maker than for the observer, but I had to make them interesting. They represent my exchange with the Mexican culture.
When you go into a Church you see pieces of paper and photos pinned or taped to the image of the Madonna and you wonder what poignant messages they hold.
I've used a variety of styles on the small dimensional images below.
I printed some of my textural images onto fabric and added a variety of other fabrics.
These consisted of preprinted fabric, dyed cheesecloth, couched tapestry wool and then the background is an old pressed metal tile printed on paper. I liked the look of the metal tile, so I added it to the back of the small milagros quilts.
The small quilts have thin cotton batting and stitched with a zig zag on the Janome 7700. I used an ordinary zig zag stitch and made it a little smaller than the pre set on the machine.
I used 100% cotton thread which allowed me to dye over it.
The edges of the pictures were dipped in dye to give them extra dimension. I don't have a lot of quilts hanging in my house but I like the naivety of this one, it's small, so I think I might make an exception for this one.
Pam, I love at this work and it evokes some odd emotions for me. I’m not sure if I am in an emotional state or what it is as it makes me quite teary. Those tears are not sadness but come from something deeply embedded. I’m not sure if it is the image of the Madonna, the wistful look of the young lady or the metal tile which reminds me of images from my childhood.
I find it interesting how your works of art always seems to connect with me and I think that is because we are not just looking at a piece of art on a wall but are invested in it through your willingness to invite us on your journey.
I wonder how others feel?
Well said, Chris. I totally agree.
I love how the zig zag stitches mute the pictures, while adding texure and that you added them instead of flowers.
Chris, your comments astound me. I think we probably like similar things.
You know as you work on a quilt there are strong emotions that weave their way in the stitching. This quilt is made for a special person.
He’s having to fight for his life now and it’s not an easy or road.
He has been to our house a lot working on our garden. He expressed a deep interest in my other Milagros… and so this is my token to him.
George our friend.
Pam, I just got the feeling there was something deeper in this quilt. It really spoke to me. I think it is spiritual and I’m sure that is the purpose of the milagros without actually understanding the Mexican culture.
I’m sure George will be most appreciative of this gift.
Chris, you’ve got it….!!!