I’ve had a day off from the studio providing me with a creative break. When getting back to my panel, I know what to do, even though it is still not my most favourite panel... Work now comes easy and finishing it is just a question of time and perseverance.
After I have washed out the stabilizer and start stretching the bark cloth and lace, I discover that accidentally I have left some gaps. I can decide whether to leave them or to fill them in while the material dries. I decide on filling the gaps. The tree adjacent ones I fill with a needlepoint stitch. I fondly remember the time when I used to make nothing but hand-sewn lace. What a lot of patience I had back then. I was nearly half my current age and, looking back, it seems that I had twice as much time on my hands back then. The only commitment was to me and to my art – no deadlines yet!
The second gap is mended better with a crochet chain, best resembling the machine sewn-lines of the finished (or in this case unfinished) lace. I used to love crocheting – haven’t done any for a long time...
The panel that has decided to remain ‘estranged’ from me draws closer when I put on the finishing touches. I want it to remain open and not curl up when hung. That means that I will have to insert a rod underneath the tapering strips that I have left at the panel top for attaching it to the strings that will hold the panel from the ceiling. An overlaid strip that acts as a sleeve needs incorporating into the panel. The piece of bark cloth which catches my fancy begs for some lace work before sewing it on. I can blend in its edges so they become part of the entire panel. I move the lace up the hanging areas. Making lace is such an organic process; on a good day it just grows out of my mind. Now that this problem panel is finished I could go on forever!
