Monday, July 27, 2015

When the ranch is in peace, no other life is more perfect

 It was too hot this weekend to spend much quality time outside, so I stayed inside
and finally tackled a project I'd been putting off for five years.


The project began after I received this wall hanging by K.C. Willis. I loved it. It was me.
A thorough prowling-around on her website revealed that she sold kits so that one could
create a masterpiece of their own. Of course I ordered one, and it has been sitting in 
my closet ever since, waiting for the right inspiration, the right photo, the right quote,
and the right weekend with nothing better to do.

Sadly, it appears K.C. has sold her business and the kits are no longer available,
should you be inspired to make one, but it would be really easy
to pull together the materials yourself.

Anyway, my kit consisted of a half dozen pieces of vintage fabric and lace, 
all stained with tea or coffee to look sufficiently aged, some chunks of what might be
hand-crafted paper, a few sheets of photo transfer paper, and no instructions, 
which was half the fun of making this. I looked at alot of images of her work
for inspiration, then went on a scavenger hunt through my closets and garage,
looking for bits and baubles to make this piece my own.

 I knew there was a reason I'd been saving all my dead leather work gloves.



 Did you know I have a button fetish? I often replace the buttons on a brand-new shirt
with vintage silver buttons, just because. These buffalo nickel buttons came off 
a no longer brand-new shirt that was on its last days. I got the angel horse pin when Lyle died, 
and I figured I would see it more often on this wall hanging than in my jewelry box.



 More buttons from my collection.



 This ornament is from the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada.



 Remember the story of the hat band and tassle made from Lyle's mane?
The tassle has found a permanent home on the new wall hanging.
And all that fringe behind it? Lovingly cut from seven smelly, dirty, dead work gloves.



 The quote I used is from Charlie Goodnight, a Texas cattleman who drove his herds
through New Mexico after the Civil War. 
(Woodrow Call's character in Lonesome Dove in loosely based on Goodnight.)



The finished piece is about 24" wide by 18" high, and it now hangs in my bedroom.
I'm really happy with the way it turned out. It's me – dirty, smelly glove fringe and all.



38 comments:

  1. One more thing added to the list of things about you that impress me. Love it.

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  2. I can think of no better use for old gloves than art. It was a labor of love that wore them out. As for the vintage fabrics, sometimes, a person has to fake it. There are lots of YouTubes on collage quilting. I'm a paper book person, so I like ¨Quilted Memories¨ by Lesley Riley. Her book lays out projects for this type of collage making. I do hand prints of people I love or paw/hoof prints, if it isn't too hard to get the print!

    Your work is beautiful! The best part is that we know the meaning behind the elements and that makes it so much more special.

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  3. It's a masterpiece, honestly. Yours.

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  4. Impressed and enchanted. It IS you.

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  5. Absolutely lovely. Now you just need to make another one with Hank as the centerpiece :)

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  6. I love this. It's like a story on the wall. Well done, Carson.

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  7. This needs to be a series. Good job.

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  8. Everything about your wallhanging is very well done---and its you.

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  9. Great quote - love the hanging, As a quilter, it reminds me of a kind of ruggedly beautiful crazy quilt. I'm going to take inspiration from you and create my own.

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  10. This is beautiful...love the quote then seeing Lyle's tassel and the fringe, I teared up. I knew before I read that the lovely fringe were your ranch gloves.
    It'll look so cool in your room

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  11. Love the idea of you being able to look up at Lyle's pin and tassel from your bed. And then as your heart strings are played with that memory they get lighter as they see Alan and George up to their regular antics. What a great way to spend these TOO HOT days! Does your herd shelter in the shade of their barn on these super hot days?

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  12. You never cease to amaze. Absolutely wonderful! Aunt Jean

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  13. Wow, beautiful! You have quite an artistic streak. I'm amazed you know about Charlie Goodnight. My Dad ( today is his birthday, he's been gone about 15 years) was a rancher who loved reading history of cowboys and ranches, told me about Charlie Goodnight.

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  14. Good job. Nothing like a little down time after the Hank excitement over. Peace and quiet nourish the soul. As does art.

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  15. Northern AB gal7/27/15, 7:13 AM

    Love it!!

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  16. Your hanging is beautiful, well done with lots of memories.

    Laurie

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  17. Love it! Good job, Linda.

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  18. This is so wonderful. And I like you even more now that I know you have a button fetish!

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  19. I love the creativity, the design, each individual component, but most of all I love the story it tells. Jean B

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  20. It's absolutely beautiful. I had no idea you have a button fetish. :-)

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  21. I adore your handiwork, especially the work glove fringe. What a lovely story piece of art

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  22. That is an awesome piece! I am probably one of the most non-creative people you'd ever meet, so I am super impressed!!!

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  23. Dare I say, I like it better than the first one. The story behind each little detail makes it special. Very cool.

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  24. Authentic and wonderful, love it. and Yes, like Chaserider, I think as you are in the mood, it would be nice to have more: could see one for Winonna, one for Hank, Lucy, smooch, Johnny and even the girls (with a tarentula stitched on it!)

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  25. This is so sweet! You are quite the crafter. I love the glove fringe. Happy Monday!

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  26. So lovely. Knowing you, the herd, and your life on the ranch, this is very moving.

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  27. Very creative!!! I think your's is much better looking than the one that was purchased.
    If you have time to craft, you could start your own online business. Just saying!!!!
    Love from NC

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  28. Lucy and Hank are going to be jealous...

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  29. An American in Tokyo7/27/15, 5:50 PM

    Aww, I LOVE it!!! It is soooo wonderful!!! =D

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  30. Well done. Very well done.

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  31. Great job! Love the piece but how in the world you chose one picture when you have so many from which to select is a mystery!

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  32. It's absolutely perfect and so very personal. I love that you used our common donkey sanctuary ornament, too!

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  33. Great piece of art !! Excellent work!! 👌🏽

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