Stitchery from Africa, made by Helen Lichull, found at a local thrift store, and now, on my studio wall.
No doubt, some of my most treasured inspirational textiles come from thrift stores. I admit to having a real problem staying out of my favorites -- Goodwill n DeZavala, Texas Thrift on Bandera, Boysville in Olmos Park, and the Animal Shelter thrift store in Boerne. So I do admit that my "rounds" can take up time. However, I do find treasures to justify the time -- and these most often end up as part of my narrative textile paintings. I rarely buy fabric for my work, almost everything other than the batting and the fusible web is recycled, upcycled or reclaimed fabric and textile pieces.
What does it take to use these finds? Fearless cutting. Not being afraid to reuse someone else's creative work -- it's hard sometimes, but I remind myself that that piece of stitching will have a new life in my work, transformed and rescued from the "rag bin." I admit to a longing to know each and every piece of reused fabric's past and story!
A few finds end up on the wall, like these two (assumably African) embroideries stitched I think by children. The perspective is wonky and wonderful (on the one with the farmer plowing particularly), the world view is simultaneously rural and modern, universal and individual. I put extensions on the borders of these two panels, then stretched them around wooden stretcher boards made by my neighbor Rick. Now they hang on the walls of the studio inspiring some new work!
Stitched by Acan Paska
Mexican embroidery from a dress, now a halo on a Hill Country angel
Mexican embroidered eagle from a Oaxacan pillow top, now part of a textile painting.