This has been a good few days to cast our thoughts up to the heavens. First there was Halloween on October 31st. I know, Halloween doesn’t usually bring to mind a celestial theme—it’s more for costumes and candy, and fending off evil spirits. However, it’s origin is an ancient celebration of Celtic culture held at the midway point between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice. It’s one of the celestial inspired ways to break up the year into celebrations every six weeks or so—all based on the turn of the earth and the change of the seasons.
This time of year at northern latitudes, including here in Maine, every day we lose a few minutes of daylight. The quality of the sunlight changes as well, angling in low and casting longer shadows as the earth cycles around the sun. Autumn is moving through and winter won’t be far behind.
Since you can’t change celestial mechanics, it seems best to embrace each season as it comes, to enjoy what makes each unique. Even when it means that in one fell swoop, due to daylight savings time, we’ll lose an hour of sunshine in the evening. So for us here in Harpswell, the sun will be setting at 4:30pm tomorrow. Though with darker skies earlier in the evening, we are invited to stargaze—encouraged by the dark, Tom set up his telescope last night and aimed it at Jupiter and three of its circling moons, then focused on the faint glow of the Andromeda Galaxy. Those stars and planets were all the easier to see because of the added dark of a new moon.
And that new moon now cycles me back to presenting our newest Fabric Collage Finish Line post—heavenly bodies to feast our eyes on—such as Sue Wilson’s “Cosmic Cool” moon (detail photo above). A big thank you to all who have submitted the following pieces of celestial art and the accompanying stories that engage our creativity.
If you too have a finished fabric collage quilt and story that you would like to share in a Finish Line, please click on the submit button below for more info.
Submit Quilt for "Finish Line"
Learning resources referred to in this post include: my website, Serendipity Quilts, my patterns, blog (in general), YouTube videos, Spiral eWorkshop, Sea Turtle eWorkshop, Fabric Collage Online Master Class, Fly on the Wall: Susan Carlson Studio Watch, and Patreon.
The suns and moons in today’s post are based on my Sun Portrait and Moon Portrait patterns, available for download from my website.
And… if you could use something entertaining and heartwarming and seasonal to watch, may I recommend the movie, “Coco.” It’s about a little boy, his music, and his family, all set on the Day of the Dead (today, November 2nd). An animated tale about this holiday that honors and welcomes the spirits of the deceased—though it can be enjoyed any time of the year, like I do. 🙂
Erika Schögl
From Erika Schögl of Austria:
Although these two wallhangings were not my first experience in fabric collage, the process is still very challenging for me and I am working slowly with many breaks. The goal is to get better in choosing fabric values and achieve a higher artistic level for further portrait projects.
Sue Wilson
From Sue Wilson of Pittsboro, NC:
The Moon Portrait, Cosmic Cool, is my 11th (and final) Face completed this year [2023]. Didn’t make it to 12, but I have learned so much, and am very excited to be on this path. Come February, I’ll be a “Fly on the Wall” as Susan shares fun with fabric collaged fish!
I had fun experimenting with the cool colors in this quilt. I especially love the effect of the bright green and the touch of red on the left side. I liked the idea of suggesting the full moon… always there, even when we see only the crescent. I am very happy with the cool creamy spiral print used for the moon surface in that area, pieced to load the space with spirals.
While working on the moon out of context I liked using a light yellow-green fabric for the halo around the moon rays. However, when I auditioned it against the dark universe background, I didn’t like the way the light halo made it look as if the full moon extended beyond the moon rays. Replacing the halo with dark blue made the rays pop.
I pieced the background (all from one fabric) because the chosen fabric had a regularity to it that was too “square”. I used two colors of tulle as the final overlay: dark blue over the night sky and creamy off-white over the moon and rays.
In the quilting, I used a variegated thread (creamy with blue and green) over the moon; dark blue over the night sky. This is the first time I’ve wrapped and glued a quilt edge. It was sort of messy!
Carolyn Mathieu
From Carolyn Mathieu of Stephens City, Virginia:
This is my second fabric collage submission based upon “Serendipity Quilts”! When I shared “Spiritual Leo” back in November 2022, I knew that Leo needed a friend!…On to page 49 and the MOON portrait! I did not need to put the book under my pillow at bedtime like the first time, but find myself reading and re-reading the text to absorb as much as possible. Most challenging for me, is choosing the color palette and fabric blends. I refer to my stash and purchase batiks that add flow and energy. I try something, WALK AWAY and pass it many times and yes experiment with fabrics…till EUREKA….that’s it! Most IMPORTANT are the POSTS provided on Thursday and Saturday! They are inspiring and I devour them. They feed the creative soul. THANK YOU SO MUCH SUSAN AND TOM!
Barb Blake
From Barb Blake from Colorado:
This project has been a way to paint with fabric, and to repurpose scraps….I love it! Her name, Madrone, comes from a book that I love-The Fifth Sacred Thing- by Starhawk. Madrone was a healer in a futuristic sci-fi novel. I think that our world needs some healing ❤️????