Thursday, July 12, 2012

Ariadne's Thread

When I think of Myths, my thoughts immediately go to the Greeks (and Roman variants). Textiles are even featured large in two stories. Arachne was a weaver who wove stories of the loves and transgressions of the gods. Not surprisingly, the content of these texted angered jealous Athena who slashed Arachne's face and turned her into a spider.

I had an idea I really liked combining warp threads and crazy pieced lingerie fabrics. I was packing up our house though and preparing to drive across country for a month, so that concept was not terribly practical.

Instead, I focused on Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, who gave a ball of thread to Theseus so that he may find his way out of the Labyrinth after killing the Minotaur.

I chose a Greek Key pattern for it's obvious connection to Greek Myths and couched down silk yarn because I could do it by hand on the road. My background fabric reminded me of a rocky, mussel and seaweed covered, seaside as I imagine might have been near Minos' palace.

And this is where my piece stands. I still need to machine stitch in the negative areas for some contrast, and back and bind the piece. It might even need a bit of gold accents to pick up some of the gold threads in the silk yarn. But, I'm knee deep in unpacking now, and just didn't get to it.

12 comments:

Terry Grant said...

Well, it is beautiful already. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Gerrie said...

I agree with Terry. We can wait. But not too long.

Del said...

Clever idea - lovely stitching. Del

Brenda said...

The texture and movement in this piece is beguiling. There's something about that red yarn that just pulses with life!

June Calender said...

The simplicity and the labyrinth-like Greek key is perfect -- the sparkle of the sea is a very apt idea too because the Minoan ruins are very close to the sea. I'll be curious to see it competed.

Françoise said...

I'm looking forward to seeing it finished. The quilting will make the red yarn stand out even more.

Deborah Boschert said...

That silk yarn is beautiful. It seems to have so much texture and variety in color. I also love those long stitches you've used for the couching. Very dramatic. I really love our two very different interpretations of the labyrinth.

Nikki said...

So very rich in texture!

I think this may be the challenge where the myth is exposed that we all aren't perfect and meet every deadline. Enjoy finishing your quilt--may it be a pleasant break amid the chaos of unpacking.

Nikki said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Diane Perin said...

It IS fabulous already! I really love how the different texture and width of line works with this greek key shape. The hand stitching adds so much. As in Deborah's piece, I think there is a parallel here between the process of your move and travels, and the painstaking, stitch-by-stitch process of inching along a route that might feel circular at times.

Terri Stegmiller said...

Great idea for this theme. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

Karen Rips said...

I like where this is going, can't wait to see the finished product.