CURRENT DESPAIR

Sorry, this is so late.  I stupidly didn't think it through and was forced to start again but this did give me time to think and trial ideas.  Some things were a blessing in disguise - like 'wasting' all my fabric printing sheets.  This meant I had to print on card - which meant I could 'tear' them which is more effective.

This is a two-sided piece.  The front shows the incredible destruction of homes and the tearing apart of families.  The innocents.  The deaths and the upheavals.  I am disappointed in that the quilting I did to express bombs exploding on the top photos doesn't show up.  Another time I might consider stamping paint.  There are sniper bullets across the piece. 

The back has splatters of 'blood' left in the sand (actual sand glued to fabric and difficult to see).

I would like to say that I do not condone the events of Oct 7th but I am left with a sense of despair in that the mass killing of innocent civilians is not the answer.

The piece measures 20" x 22".  It is machine quilted.  Commercial fabrics.  Satin-stitch covered edges.

On the whole I am pleased with the result and thank you for your patience waiting for me.

Hilary 

 Le Cotentin et le Raz Blanchard or the Alderney Race

 When current was chosen as the challenge this time, I thought about using an idea for a block print that has been in my mind for quite a few years, but which I hadn't tried out. I cut six blocks, marking where I wanted my lines to start and end in the same place on each block on the top, bottom and sides.  I drew and cut different lines on each block, then printed them in a haphazard order, so that the pattern didn't repeat itself. I was pleased with the result, but wasn't sure how to use my printed fabric. Then we had a week’s holiday in the Cotentin (the part of Normandy that sticks out opposite the Channel Islands) in October. When we were at Goury, we could see Alderney on the horizon, and my husband told me about Le Raz Blanchard (in English the Alderney Race), which is one of the fastest currents in Europe. When the current and the wind are in opposite directions, sailing between the Channel Islands and the French coast is dangerous. I decided to base my quilt on this and the Cotentin. I wanted to keep it simple, just basing it on the sea current, the beach and sky: I used Markal paintstiks to represent Alderney on the horizon, though I am not sure whether my version is really Alderney-shaped! Whilst we were at Carteret, I found some lovely shells with holes in them, which I decided to include on my quilted beach. 

THE FRIENDLY FLOATEES by Beth

 

In 1992, a cargo ship carrying approximately 28,800 bath toys (mostly rubber ducks) lost a container over the side during a storm, spilling these yellow rubber ducks all out into the North Pacific Ocean. These so-called Friendly Floatees have been drifting ashore for the last 30 years, sometimes in surprising parts of the world - not just Alaska but Hawaii, Australia, Chile and Indonesia.

Today we know that there are as many as 11 major gyres - ocean currents across the world's oceans and all of them are potential vestibules for the world's trash. And if Friendly Floatees are an example for anything, it's that plastic trash endures for a very long time and that it is a global issue.

Roughly 2000 of these rubber ducks still circulate (wild and free) in the rotating ocean currents in the North Pacific Ocean. 

Me too, I'm afraid

 Silly me, because I had the idea, in all the chaos of getting craft group organised for church Christmas decorations, plus, plus, plus, I assumed it would work and didn't bother to think it through or do a couple of trials.  I have fallen flat on my face.  But I have picked myself up and my imagination is working overtime.  It has almost been a blessing in disguise.  Having lots of fun now, but it means you will have to bare with me while I work it out.  Forgive me.

Happy New Year everyone.  Hope it turns out to be a creative and productive year.

Hilary