This is my first post about WIPs and UFOs in my stash. I sat down and took some photos of small things the other day while organizing. I didn't get very far before camera battery ran out of juice. There will be no rhyme or reason to how these get presented.
Here is Santa's Beard - a limited edition kit designed by Twisted Threads. As this was the kit for 1998, I know that I purchased it in Colorado Springs - either at Ruth's Stitchery or the shop that open up on North Academy that I loved, but I believe is now closed. I don't see much activity on the Twisted Threads website. Has Ruth retired from designing? Does anyone know?
You can see that I have barely made a start on this. It's the over one on a fabric that I was not that fond of - R & R very stiff linen. I believe there is another one of these kits in my stash from 1997(?) unless I gave it away. I know I had two different years. Will I ever come back around to this piece? Maybe. I'm fairly certain that I could stitch this with amazing speed these days. Much faster stitcher than I was in 1998. I know I'm not ready to part with it, so I guess that means that I think I will return to it someday.
Here's a photo from the top of Renwick Gallery building. The Renwick was built for William Corcoran to hold his art collection of American and European works. Corcoran engaged the noted architect James Renwick Jr. (1818–1895), who had earlier designed the Smithsonian's Castle in Washington, D.C., and St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. It was constructed in late 1850s and was the city's first art museum. Corcoran's collection outgrew this building. And in the early 1960s it was nearly torn down until Jackie Kennedy championed its return to glory. It was turned over to the Smithsonian and is known as home of the contemporary craft.
We stopped by to visit on Wednesday and nearly froze our collective patooties off walking from the Metro stop at the Archives and back again. Saw the Staged Stories exhibit which closes on Sunday. The artist of note for us fiber people is Mark Newport, head of the fiber department at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, "who examines issues of masculinity through knitted superhero costumes that mix adolescent male subject matter with craft techniques usually associated with women." Not my words. But the stretched out unoccupied knitted superhero outfits are a hoot.
I love the permanent collection here - the salon always impresses me. And the rotating exhibit from the permanent collection has some truly amazing pieces. Always worth a stop here.
Finally - me and DH before we turned into popsicles posing in front of the White House.
3 comments:
Donna,
I stitched one of the Santa's Beard kits. Not this one, though. It probably was from 97. It was just the face, and the beard streamed off to the right. My mom (who collects Santas) has it hanging in her living room all year.
The National Building Museum is also one of my favorites.
RE: Hillside Samplings - several years ago her web address lapsed and was taken over by hackers. It was ugly.
You know my friend who keeps inviting you to see me in DC? She gives the best tour of the Renwick. She worked at the Corcoran and knows everything about him and this building. Hook up with her some time!
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