Thursday, June 23, 2011

Oh My Gothic is so SQUARE!

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One of my  on-line collaborative groups, Oh My Gothic,  commenced the 2011-2012 season this month with 4 x 4 inch squares.   After eighteen or so months of  creating works in a 4 x 8 inch format aka "a SKINNY PAGE" I initially felt a little 'boxed in'!   So, it's no coincidence, that I've been experimenting with this size for the past couple of months.  I'm quite certain, I'm the only one in the world that knows this until now. If you don't like square, you'll want to unsubscribe from my blog now! :0)

The 'theme' for June and for Connie  was 'white with a touch of color' and what follows are a series of
 snapshots of how this very 'early' page  unfolded.

I occasionally will read poetry or look through old favorite art books to find inspiration. Do you?   Not always, but if I'm in the mood for some very quiet reflective time.  That's how this particular process went. 


With inspiration in mind and even though I was quite smitten by the lovely aging....I chose to spruce up this vintage photo below,   erasing the time worn smudges of years of wear and adding color and flowers.  If only I could photoshop my own face each morning...sigh...
 Above:  The MakeOver - Before and After (scattering of flowers by Tangie Baxter and Lorie Davison)

 At the same time, my  'internal dialogue' was focused on recalling  several recently read lines  from French poet Gerard de Narvel  ... as An Old Tune echoed in my mind....


"There is an air for which I would disown
Mozart's, Rossini's, Weber's melodies, -
A sweet sad air that languishes and sighs,
And keeps its secret charm for me alone.
Whene'er I hear that music vague and old,
Two hundred years are mist that rolls away;
The thirteenth Louis reigns, and I behold
A green land golden in the dying day.
An old red castle, strong with stony towers,
The windows gay with many coloured glass;
Wide plains, and rivers flowing among flowers,
That bathe the castle basement as they pass.
In antique weed, with dark eyes and gold hair,
A lady looks forth from her window high;
It may be that I knew and found her fair,
In some forgotten life, long time gone by. "


another s i g h - isn't the imagery incredibly rich???

Unfortunately, limited by size and space, I  chose to insert another one of  his magical quotes:

"A flower is a soul blooming out to nature"
- Gerard de Nerval






Next up, machine stitching, beading, into some soft pink wee  tatting I hand sewed on (how did they do that?) and my favorite tiny antique lace.








A few miniature buttons sewn on (and I mean mini - although these photos are large, this is a tiny 4 x 4 inch finished size)






Folowed by  finishing touches and  now ready to send off  to sit at a Canadian post office for ???? who knows how long?  (for readers from other countries Canada is in the midst of a postal strike)




Oh My Gothic - 4x4 Page Front and Back - An Old Tune, An Old Soul

Thanks for reading...





16 comments:

Sherry said...

You are always so inspiring!!! I love how this turned out. And yes being able to photoshop our own faces each morning! Thanks for that smile! xo

Catherine SIWCZAK said...

oh this is fabulous !

The Queens Table said...

Just love your fabric work and attention to details!

I often consider Photo-shop for self improvement.

"If only I could liquify myself in real life!"

layers said...

Hi Trudi, I am having a hard time getting around the blog world this summer with my Zen gardens crying for attention along with my studio painting and my home and family-- but I am glad to hear from you via the blog comments and am glad I stopped by to see all your exquisite fabric work and collage.. wonderful and inspiring as usual.

Connie said...

Trudi, simply gorgeous work! Love your post about it, the quote and your close up photos showing the beautiful details. Thank you!!

Healing Woman said...

I don't know how you worked this small but those two inchies are fabulous.

Caterina Giglio said...

this is wonderful Trudi! I love it and the finished stitchery is awesome!

Lorraine said...

Great fabric piece Trudi!

Karla said...

Wow! this is great! I always wandered how the antique/vintage pictures got revamped'!

Plus that fabric work is amazing!

Crosby Kenyon said...

Although I prefer the original photo to the photoshopped one, I really like the way the finished piece turned out.

Terri Kahrs said...

OMG, Trudi! How ever do you manage to pack all of that lusciousness and interest into such a small space??!?!?!? You've taken that beautiful poem to new creative heights with this piece! So sorry to hear that your PO is still on strike. Is her name "Patience"??? LOL!!! Hugs, Terri xoxox

PS Thank you, thank you for your sweet comment regarding Art Journaling. You made me blush with delight. Who knows??? Next . . . maybe an Etsy opening!!! LOL!!!

Barb said...

This is my first "visit" to your blog -- WOW! Luv your blog header and your wonderful art!
Barb in Texas

Linda Kunsman said...

Trudi your art is truly mesmerising-so much attention to the tiny details and layering!!! I love the poem too!

Shelley Whiting said...

I love how you reinvented the old photograph. You are very creative. Beautiful work.

marilyn said...

lovely!

Melissa said...

This is gorgeous! So many layers of texture!
Smiles-
Melissa