Before I dive into the details of today's piece (this will be funnier in a few minutes), I want to share more about this month as I've decided July gets a theme. While I did feature of a week of French knots back in May, I haven't really done a full theme yet. One of the things I've learned in the first six months of this project is having planned days helps make the process easier. I can plan ahead, especially if something is more involved or involves me figuring out how to draw something.
A few months ago, I was texting with a friend and she shared something funny her son said about baby squid. At the time, I was already planning for some pieces themed around water and sea creatures, but the conversation made me think I should do an actual theme, not just a few pieces. Throughout the month of July, I'll be featuring various pieces related to water, specifically bodies of water, sea creatures, and mythical creatures like mermaids. Not every day will be within the theme; I want to leave some days open for current events, random occurrences and moods, and whatever else needs to be embroidered. I also have a tribute planned for someone next week, and it's not water themed, but will feature the color blue rather prominently so it's theme adjacent. And yes, there will be a piece about baby squid.
As a child of the Army, I grew up all over the US. One of the constants in the places we lived was proximity to bodies of water, whether it be lakes, rivers, oceans, or other random waterways. My brother pointed this out to me a few years ago, and I think about it a lot. I've even lived on two islands, so many of the themed pieces this month aren't just about water, but the memories associated with a particular body of water or place or event associated with water. This whole project is autobiographical, so we might as well dive (I did it again) into some memories for good measure.
My family is from Michigan originally, so the Great Lakes feature prominently in memories from summer vacations when I was younger. We moved away from Michigan when I was four, but we spent a few weeks back "home" every summer. I've dipped my feet in two of the Great Lakes (Superior and Michigan) and have seen all five from road trips around the region and while flying. I also have a fascination with shipwrecks, and the Great Lakes has a fascinating history of shipwrecks. I've even been to the Dossin Maritime Museum where you can see the Gothic Room and the anchor from the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Today's piece is my tribute to the Great Lakes. In school, we used the mnemonic device HOMES to remember the names of the Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior). For me, it's also a nod to the place I was born and where a lot my family still lives. If you've ever driven across the Mackinac Bridge, you've seen the beauty of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and maybe even a glimpse of Lake Superior. It's absolutely stunning, particularly on a clear, summer day. I used a bright blue for the lakes, and the gray border reminds me of what I always called "Michigan gray." It's the color of the sky during the winter. I hope you enjoy this month's theme!
Details:
Stitches: back stitch
Thread palette: DMC 710 (2 strands), 318 (3 strands)
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