Mo'a Romig-Boyles

A Feather In His Cap

As you may have guessed, I have been on a vacation.  I went back home to Iceland and had two wonderful weeks there.  

When I came back I started another workshop with Jude of Spirit Cloth.  I love the community that has developed through these workshops.  I posted photos on the workshop forum of my latest piece that I call 'A Feather In His Cap'.

All the fabric in this piece was a gift.  I used the fabric to tell a story. The eyes and feather in the above piece were already  there...I just emphasised it with stitch.  The same thing with the animal below.  Many of my cloth mates called it a fox.

These feathers were also on the fabric, I added the stitches.

I got the idea to make this book by something Jude showed us in the workshop.

I asked my cloth mates, whether I should add words to this piece as I had a story in mind or whether I should let the viewer tell his or her own story.  Many replied with a story line, based on what they saw when they looked at the images inside the book.

One of the stories was written by Michelle.  It is an amazing story.  Michelle asked me if she could use some of my images on her blog, as she would like to share the story with her blog readers.

I agreed that the story should be shared and gave her permision to use my photos.

As you look at these photos, do you see a story?  If you do I would love to hear it. 

Here is the last photo.  Now go to Michelle's blog and read her story connected to this cloth. I know you will be as charmed as I was.

I have decided not to use words in this book. I love the stories that people have told themselves when they look at the images they see in this little cloth book.

Are you still here?  Go, go over to Michelle's and read her fabulous story.

White and a Touch of Pink

You may have noticed that I changed my banner again.  It has become a habit since I learned how to size a banner and to upload it to my blog.  Such fun to change with the seasons.

About a week ago Ken (my husband) went grocery shopping.  He took his camera with him and here are photos that he took of Star Magnolias and Magnolia Tulip Trees, that were in the parking lot of our local grocery store.

Happy Spring.

For Anni

One of the blogs I love to visit is Fabric Art that belongs to Anni from Denmark.
This morning I was catching up with her blog and saw this....which made me think of this photo that I took back in April.

This mushroom patch sprung up next to railroad ties...(one day to be replaced by a stone wall)...that are on one side of our patio.

Go and visit  Anni you she always had some of her wonderful art to share with us.

Painting Faces and Inspirational Blogs

One of the things I enjoy thoroughly is watching YouTube Face Painting videos.
Much to my delight Sharon of All Nora's Art has a series of five videos where she paints a face from start to finish, unedited. 
Sharon has always shared her techniques without holding back. I love visiting her blog to see what she is doing and how she is challenging her followers.
From time to time I dabble in painting faces on canvas...I don't think I would have done that without Sharon's encouragement.
It is not that I am new to face painting.  I have actually been painting dolls faces for over 30 years.  Some time ago I made large face pins for purses for a Knitting Store that used to be in our town...it is now closed and I miss it a lot.

In my early days of doll making I would mostly draw my faces with a brown pen and a little of paint for eyes, mouth and cheeks. 

This little lady is from the 80's. She was inspired by the poem Warning by Jenny Joseph that inspired the Red Hat Society.

WARNING
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit

This is my latest painting done on a 5x5 one and a half inch canvas.

I also get great inspiration from looking at dj pettitt's wonderful art. Someday I would love to take a class from her. 
Another favorite is Zorana. Her ladies always have such wonderfully expressive eyes.
There are many more inspiring face painting artist out there in wonderful bloglandia.  I will introduce you to them in a later post.

I call this painting Unna and Anna. Anna is my Mother's name.  Unna is my Mother's cousin...she lives in Iceland. Their Fathers were brothers and their Mothers sisters.  Because they are so related my Mother and her cousin look like sisters.
They have corresponded for 48 years.  Now that they are both older 85 and 86 they telephone each other.
I gave this painting to my Mother along with a full size photo that she can send to Unna.