August: Week 4 - Faded

And so August comes to a close. This was an unexpectedly fun month to work on. I enjoyed experimenting with the hot glue technique to make padded satin stitch and it was fun and freeing to try different ways of stitching each scar design. Like a scar healing, things sort of worked the way they needed to and each leg of the shorts came together in its own way. 

My scar is pretty faded today. It's visible, but has faded into the paleness of my leg. I can see it, but I doubt anyone who didn't know to look would see it at first. The skin is different on that part of my leg, and that's what I was trying to convey in the last design. I used three different spots of glue that I spread as thin as I could to add some additional texture. I stitched them in three different ways and the one on August 29 is the most successful. I finished this last design with a random assortment of back stitches as filler stitches. I ended up on using one color and I think that worked well for this last design.

I was looking for some photos to send to a former student of mine, and stumbled across some Polaroids from my senior (probably) year of college. I went to the beach with my roommates and I remember how much fun we had. This is the last time I ever wore a two piece bathing suit and probably one of the last times I wore shorts. My scar would have been somewhere between design three and four at that time, and I remember being so self-conscious about everything I wore back then. I also remember being bold and having a great time with my friends. 

Here's this the last recap for August:

August 20

August 21

August 23

August 23 - this is the completed version of the third scar.

August 24 - pre-stitching

August 24

August 25

August 26

August 27

August 28

August 29

August 30

August 31

September - Knots

I was originally going to use one of my favorite sweaters for September. It has pineapples on it and was one of the first items of clothing I bought in my 30s that felt completely right. It's showing its age, which is why it was in consideration for this project, but I decided it's not actually the right garment for this project. I'll make something out of it at some point in the future. 

I picked another sweater I really love to use instead. I haven't done a knit item yet, so here we go. I'm also going to use some of the thread I got at the upcycle craft store. 

Did I mention this piece is going to be entirely French knots? I'm very excited about it. It took me 14 years to learn how to properly do a French knot and I love them! I find them soothing. I have until tomorrow morning to decide if I want to draw a shape of some form or just see where the knots take me. I'm leaning toward seeing where the knots take me. Thoughts?

Look at all that space for French knots!!!!!

Other Projects and Inspirations

I started working on my first Coraline piece from the kit I bought earlier this year from Sublime Stitching. This particular piece is a gift for a friend. It's been fun working on it.

I also decided the WORM pattern didn't need the added sparkle of beads since I used glittery thread. I haven't hung it yet, but you can see the finished piece. 

I got to spend time with one of my friends last week while she was in town visiting with her family. We spent the day at the Natural History Museum and got to meet some butterflies, see my favorite spider in person, and explore the gems and fossils. Butterflies like me (apparently). 

It's Kevin the Goliath Birdeater! 

I took Metro a bunch last week and over the weekend and saw one of my favorite things on an older Metro car: the path light that looks like an exasperated face.

This dude has seen things. Since I can't help but add more projects to my list, I've decided to create him in thread and do a little series. I want to add thought bubbles - what would the sad Metro light face say?