I just finished a new piece and I am so excited about the possibilities for this.

I've been ready to stitch, and have even readied some fabric, but been overwhelmed by the white of the muslin. So I wondered what would happen if I prepared the pattern paper I use on my dolls in the same way I prepare fabric to embroider. I backed the paper with fusible interfacing and layered more paper with Wonder Under. (It is heat activated double sided tape basically, and so easy to use.) The patter paper was then much more fabric like, and I painted it like my dolls. I started sewing tiny eyes (of hooks and eyes, the closures on garments) on in rows, thinking I might make larger numbers. I didn't like the regularity of the rows, so I gave in and started to stitch them in randomly. I knew I wanted long stitches to pull at they eyes, so that was my next step. Then I played with layering color in the stitches. I did not use anything to stretch the paper as I stitched, so it has pulls that make the outside edges irregular. This is about 10x10 inches from edge to edge. I'm not sure about installation just yet, but here I used long embroidery needles in the top corners and then pulled the piece away from the wall.

And a detail. I love how it's weirdly scabby. The exhibition I have scheduled in June at Harford Community College is titled "Ligature" and I think developing more of these will work for that. A friend suggested large panels that one could walk through....I've got five dolls going I need to finish and then I will be ready to start. It has been a million years since I have done anything big!