It began with finding this forgotten piece, I think it was the first thing I ever stitched in one of Jude's classes, Patchwork Beasts, back in 2009? Before that, there had been an article about her work in a magazine . . . I remember thinking, "This is Something!" and wanting to know more, and overcoming anxiety about the computer to figure out what a blog was, and how to find her. She offered her first workshop, but due to fears- of the computer, of not being enough, etc., I didn't sign up. But then the Beasts class came along. . . I emailed her, she encouraged me that I could, and this determined bird came into being. That is the first memory of knowing that I could be a part of the connection between cloth and story.
Holding these memories, I began again . . .
And the layers of story came pouring out . . . of the classes with Jude, the cloth community that came from them (Some of cloths here are from the cloth circle, the shimmering blue up top is Deb's, and the soft pink is Heike's).
Added to the mix were a few of the vintage Iowan scraps, and some of that starry blue sky that had wrapped around Blue and Moon as babies.
And there she was, carrying and creating even more story . . . rushing towards the colorful music coming from a party in her honor, but it doesn't matter, no worries. They will wait, and be gloriously happy to greet her fancy self- decked out in a necklace (like one of the dozens and dozens that hung on the sides of Great Aunt Peggy's mirror), and a bejeweled party hat.
How could they not adore a bird in frippery and a party hat?