I Met the Challenge by . . .
. . . finishing my postcard for the Wish Upon A Card project. Since my March post, I've had a variety of adventures along my journey to completing the card. A visit to the east coast led me to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. where the Flowers painting by William H. Johnson is housed – one of the inspiration pieces for my card. Dimension and texture were pronounced in this painting on plywood which is absent in any photo of the work. My personal challenge was to incorporate new (new to me) textural stitches into my fabric card. Armed with the Creative Stitches book by Sue Spargo, I managed four new stitches: the bullion and french knots along with the threaded and double threaded backstitches. Most of the handwork was completed while sitting on the beach of the Outer Banks of North Carolina incorporating relaxation and sunshine into each stitch.
While in D.C. I took the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes viewing of some of the quilts in the collection housed by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Photos are allowed but no flash photography. If you're in the area, a visit is worth the time but you'll need a reservation which must be made by contacting the Textile Collection of the Museum at 202-633-3825. To view most of the quilts in the Museum's collection, click here.
An unexpected treat while in the nation's capital – a special quilt exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts through April 27th. Workt by Hand – Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts was organized by the Brooklyn Museum with quilts dating from 1795 to 1995. An exceptional display of quilts that allowed the viewer to sit, view and appreciate the craft or is it a fine art? Find out more by clicking here.