In 2014 my quilting group, The Charm Club, got a behind the scenes look at some of the extraordinary artifacts in the Mathers collection. Our task was to pick a piece to inspire a quilt of our own design and making.
I almost got the job done except I created an embroidery instead of a quilt.
In the center of the image above is a photo of a 'bracelet' found in one of the collection drawers. It is made to imitate a watch. I had hoped to use the watch face in the clock tower of a tunnel embroidery.
The scale proved to be a problem so I ended up with a simplified traditional face but the inspiration was always in the back of my mind.
But the image that truly took my breath away was pulling back a curtain to peek inside a closet of Asian robes. The colors of all the silks hanging together was amazing.
I hope the layers of color in my village scene hold some of that same intense color.
For the exhibit at the Mathers I presented the tunnel book in a frame.
It will have a permanent home in my embroidery casket one day.
The exhibit is now open and on Saturday March 5, from 1-2:30 pm, myself and other members of the Charm Club will be at the museum to answer questions about our work.
Stop in to visit if you can!