The "My Garden" Series, 1

Trying to decide what to include in my new Instragram account, I have been reflecting upon the body of work I have created for nearly thirty years. 

Fruits from My Garden" 1996, 25"x34.5"/64cmx87cm, machine pieced,
appliquéd, embroidered and quilted.

My first thought: I do not create my art to make a living. I create my art to live, which allows me to invest as much time as necessary on each piece (frequently months, often years). I am unable to assign a monetary value to any of my work because each one is priceless to me, each one is a part of me, an extension, an expression of my inner being and the environment I live in.

My second thought: I tend to work big although there are smaller pieces along the way as well. The larger format allows for an expansion of ideas that other materials, such as paper or canvas, cannot accommodate.

"Oranges from My Garden" 1996, 43"x38"/1m09x96cm, machine
appliquéd, pieced, embroidered, and quilted.

My third thought: I work in thematic series that extent over decades. It seems to me that now is a good time to consider these strands of thought and how they have developed.




The "My Garden" series began when we moved to a rural region outside of Tunis (now just another suburb) and we had a huge garden to create. 

Many artists have noted the intense light and colors of Tunisia, which influence my vision. 

"Geraniums From My Garden" 1998, 42"x52.5"/1m07x1m33, machine pieced, appliquéd and quilted.

And for a long time, my small Singer sewing machine was my best friend, as recorded in one of my journals.

Coming Up for Air

Yes, I know, I've been MIA. The citrus groves require attention and keep me physically fit. Retirement? What's that?  

The "little" people are visiting for the summer, but, funny thing, they are no longer "little." Lovely, and rapidly becoming adults, my granddaughters can now look me in the eye--how did this happen?










Sign on my desk:

A number of large master works cry out to be finished, with some urgency since each one may take several years to finish. Will my hands and eyes hold up long enough?...

And so, listening to the whispers swirling around my studio, I've been stitching. Finally, The Pomegranate Tree (My Garden Series) is finished. It began as a branch I sketched onto fabric in November 2011. One sketch led to another...

It grew into a large tree (75" x 64"/1m92 x 1m62) with a mix of hand and machine work in piecing, appliqué, embroidery, and quilting.

And this is why my favorite art materials are fabric and thread.

Ahhhhh, the wonders of my garden...

PS: I have just opened an Instagram account at NadiaMamelouk. The younger generation keeps telling me that nobody blogs anymore (sigh). Any thoughts? I'd like to hear your opinion.

My Day Job

My Day Job has taken over my life.
"And what is your Day Job?" you might ask.
Answer: Tree Climber. Yes, as I get younger and younger, I'm doing more and more "kids' stuff," making it hard for me to keep up with blogging. Here I am, perching in a lemon tree. This Day Job forces me to s-t-r-e-c-h, everyday.---->











However, I have managed some sketching.




And, some stitching on my utility quilt.











Thanks to Joanne Sharpe's on-line class, I've kept up with art journaling for February.










Lots of bright colors for this short month.











I've managed to keep track of my time.














It is Springtime in Tunisia. I enjoy the wonderful weather of this season. You'll find me perching in a tree!

Happy New Year!

The Christmas tree was beautiful.

And it was a white Christmas in upper state New York.















Yes, I experienced the Arctic Blast, 
but managed to do a bit of seasonal sketching--snowscapes and shopping.

I tried to catch up in "The Circus in D.C." journal--to no avail.

I worried a bit at the airport...would we be snowed in?

But, we arrived at JFK for the final boarding of the flight home...close call. It was -11 F. at JFK. That's -24 C. It was a l-o-n-g trip.


Although I miss the kids and grandkids, I've never been so happy to return to my dusty corner of the world, where it is pleasantly warm (in the 60°s F.) and green.



My old bed quilt greeted me cheerfully last night. It will take me into 2018. 

And may the New Year bring you many blessings 

and lots of creativity!

How Did This Happen???

I turned the page on my calendar and there it was, the first Christmas tree and reminder of the coming holiday season...How did this happen??? Seriously???It seems like just yesterday I was making my calendar for 2017...just yesterday...

After getting over the shock, I decided that I should at least end the year with a finish, a big finish. So I pulled out the Pomegranate Tree and realized there wasn't much left to do. I've been stitching a few weeds and cutting bias binding. The end is in sight.











And in the meantime, I've been covering the white lattice of my worn utility quilt with triangles and squares (needle-turn appliqué). This quilt whispers to me in the evening, cheering me up with its colors, reminding me that "slow and steady" is a good way to work.

Trying to Make Sense of It All, 3

The weather is beautiful so outdoor work fills my days. Once the sun sets, I pick up my needle...and frequently nod off. But, still, I'm making some progress on my old quilt. 

In the meantime, I'm still working on this journal that documents the mess in Washington, D.C.

However, you can imagine the difficulty of keeping up with such relentless news cycles.

The cast of characters rivals the Cirque du Soleil.

The words and expressions continue to intrigue me.

The problem: 

I don't see how all this can end well...

for anybody...

The Beach, 2: Memories of Summer

Two activities keep me attentive to the moment when I go to the beach--stitching and sketching. 

The landscapes and the colors under the Tunisian sun are enticing

And the gardens are bewitching.

People-watching entertains me. We see lots of Russian tourists basking in the sun for hours, as if they will never see it again once they return home (this may be true).

A child's drawing of women served as a background for a sun-bather. I liked the contrast.

Usually, I have to sketch rapidly ...and then I turn the page.











Contour sketches without looking too much at the paper fill my pages.












Quite possibly, palm trees are my favorite subject.

In the meantime...

I Just Wanna Stitch!

The weather is lovely and warm, not too hot--Autumn in Tunisia is so pleasant, my favorite season along with Spring.

Autumn means that it's time to get ready for winter, and the house needs winter-proofing. Shutters, doors, and wrought iron work all need coats of paint...lots to do outside.

However, as soon as the sun goes down, you will find me in Grandma's rocking chair, stitching until the wee hours on my aging bed/utility quilt. This quilt talks to me so much that I drape it over the rocking chair in the morning and, while I exercise and listen to the news, I enjoy the progress I made the night before. 

Yes, it sings to me--

I just wanna stitch!

  

The Beach, 1

Warm weather and a beach culture define life in Tunisia. Mr. M. grew up on lovely, sandy beaches while I grew up in the shadow of mountains and rain forests. However, I have adapted. 

Once in a while we spend a weekend at the beach 45 minutes away. While Mr. M. wades into the sea, I hit the swimming pool and then join him under a parasol. If I can find a comfortable chair or chaise-long in the shade, I can now enjoy the beach for hours...as long as I don't have to go into saltwater.


For this excursion, I took an old friend that I have been working on occasionally for 7 years. 

It has whispered to me over the years, but, it never said anything to me clearly. I have waited patiently.











And while I stitched for hours under a glaring sun, and listened and ruminated, it finally spoke to me in a loud voice.

It is now part of my series on the passage of time that shreds the fabric of life. It gave itself a simple name: "Her Sun Set".

Now that this piece has spoken, I can see where it is going--still many more holes to stitch under a Tunisian sun...