A FAVORITE SLOW STITCHER

Hazel's story cloth about 3" by 5" and her notecard above with another image of one of her story cloths

I was thrilled to be able to scoop up this brilliant story cloth 

by Hazel Monte of Handstories blog last month.

Her pieces speak to me so very strongly 

and I'm the lucky owner of several now.

Each one she makes are unique,

signed on the backside with their own special names.

the story cloth

So I've been thinking of how I can put them all together into a larger story cloth.

I think I have enough now to do that with.

I've been playing around with arrangements

and there are just so many ways to go.

a close-up

But honestly,

I feel I can't do them justice as Hazel would.

Hazel as you can see,

brings magic to scraps of cloth.

I know several of us send her remnants every now and then

plus she sources from old clothes that are dear to her,

and also supports other slow stitchers like Jude Hill

I'm wondering if I could commission Hazel to put them together for me?

Just a thought,

but a big one.

If you are new to her work let me give you some background.

Hazel hand dyes many of her pieces of cloth with natural dyestuffs.

I believe lately she has been playing with a vat of indigo.

She has an innate design ability that allows her to design as she stitches

which being a retired art instructor is a rare gift.

Most of us usually have to plan something out before we start, 

perhaps a rough sketch.

Rachel also has an uncanny skill with watercolor

and abstracting images that are purely delightful.

But what I find the most remarkable about Hazel's slow stitching

is the delicate quality of each piece she makes.

They are precious tiny gifts,

so small and lovely to hold in your hand,

so lightweight and soft.

A sensory experience for hand, eyes and hearts.

Her stitches are extremely tiny,

I really would love to watch her work one day to see how she moves her needle

and gets it to make that magic of hers.

And if you've never been to her blog site 

you will find that she is also a gifted story teller.

She is able to make you both laugh and cry.

I keep telling her she needs to write a book.

DISPLAYING ARTWORK

This tiny & stunning piece of hand stitching (4" by 4")

was done by one of my favorite Fiber Artists,

Hazel Montes of Handstories.

I purchased it from her shop about a year ago

 and finally figured out how I wanted to frame it out.

I have used this technique now a couple of times with Hazel's tiny Sailing Ships,

and love that you can hang them in a window to enjoy.

I also love the fact that I'm re-purposing 

these vintage crochet doilies.

Now I'm going to send this off to one of my all time favorite students 

whose coming to visit in August from her second semester abroad studying Architecture,

Karisma Dev. 

While with me for each of her 6 years at Whitney,

she studied all the Fiber and Sculptural Arts,

Beginning thru Special Studies 3-D Art,

as well as Beginning 2-D art. 

I know she will love and appreciate Hazel's handwork & design as much as I do.

If you have the time or interest,

insert Karisma's name into my search engine

 and you can see many of the pieces she created for me over the years.

She is also top in her class at Syracuse University

and I couldn't be more proud of her!

WITH HER HANDS AND HER HEART

Hazel Montes of Handstories blog fame 

stitches the most delicate and lovely stories onto tiny pieces of cloth.

These delicious works are no more than 3 inches by 3 inches

and come wrapped in their own lovely piece of indigo dyed cloth

encased in a handwritten note card that Hazel has printed her stitchery on.

Absolutely delightful to open and enjoy.

When I open one of these

(I have bought several over the past couple of years to teach with)

I gasp with awe at her fine stitching with the tiniest of thread.

She sells select works in her shop,

but you've got to be quick as they sell out extremely fast.

I have been trying to scoop up one of her trees for a couple of months now and I recently scored!

My 3-D student where in awe the other day when I brought in this piece to share with them.

They couldn't believe how small it was and how she manages to do such fine work.

Incredible Hazel,

we love you!

FOR YOU INNA

For the past three years I've purchased a piece of needle art from Handstories Hazel Monte

to give to one of my most hardworking 3-D students.

I adore Hazel's work and follow her blog religiously.

Her stitching and intuitive designs are remarkable and I love sharing her with my students.

This year I chose senior Inna Sikar.

I have adored Inna since the 7th grade Art Wheel class where her 

goodness & positivity shone brightly.

She brings joy to my classroom 

and the younger kids adore her because she is like a second mom to them.

She is one of the most giving, encouraging youngsters I've ever worked with.

She returned to me last year for the Beginning 2-D course where I got to know her even better.

One of the things that most impressed me last year 

and continues in the Beginning 3-D class she takes with me this year,

is her ability to read my mind and anticipate my every need during class.

Oftentimes when I go into Right Brain when I demonstrate I will forget my words,

 and she will remind and fill in for me which is so appreciated,

or when I need someone behind the checkout counter she will go back there and get out supplies without me asking her too.

She just gives and gives,

and is always so happy to help out.

She gives me all her effort on each assignment,

oftentimes turning in one of the best pieces in the class.

She also comes in after school to touch bases with me & check on me,

asking me if I had a rough or a good day.

And if it's been a rough one she sits and listens while I vent.

And then offers very real, uplifting advice,

so that I go home feeling her positivity & good heart.

So Inna,

I hope you know how much you are thought of,

how much you are appreciated,

and how much you are loved.

And as you sail off from here this June and make your way in the world,

know that you are taking a piece of my heart with you.

When you look at Hazel's piece,

 I hope you will remember how special you are,

and how very proud  of you I am

& how blessed I feel that you have passed thru my classroom & my life. 

xoxoxoxoxo

And I bet those three 8th grade boys that sit & surround you feel the same way

with all the sage advice you give them!

ha ha

SAILING ON

My dear friend Mary,

who I hope one day soon will be my son's mother-in-law,

suffered bravely thru Chemo this past summer,

and is now out of the woods.

 We are hoping and have our fingers crossed.

During that time I was so touched by the beauty and depth of the sailing ships that Fiber Artist Hazel Monte of Handstories blog fame was creating,

that I felt they would be a perfect gift for Mary to enjoy and be inspired by towards her healing.

Mary is also a quilting artist,

so I knew she would appreciate the delicate beauty that Hazel stitches into each and every piece.

I knew that if she was able to gaze at them,

touch them,

that perhaps they could help her to forget for a moment the terrible nausea she was suffering thru.

This first one reminded me of Mary's journey she was on,

the rocky seas,

yet the hope that the stars were there

guiding her towards a better place.

She just had to hang in there and she would get thru. 

In this second one the ship is gliding along thru peaceful seas,

finally out of the storm.

Where Mary has arrived and is now.

When I received the ships from Hazel,

she had wrapped them in the lighter blue piece of Shibori fabric,

and it seemed to make a really nice frame around each ship.

Ripping it in half and using Jude Hill's invisible tacking stitch 

I was able to attach them to the back of each ship.

I knew I wanted to mount them onto embroidery hoops to hang

 so I searched thru all my garage sale finds and came up with these two matching dollies.

Again,

using Jude Hill's invisible baste I tacked the mounts onto the crocheted pieces...

which I then stretched around the hoops and sewed each point down.

I was so pleased with how they turned out,

and Mary was delighted with her gift.

Just as I had hoped,

 she examined them and touched them for a good 15 minutes,

helping her to forget.

THE MOST PRECIOUS OF GIFTS...

comes with thoughtfulness and kindness,

 and a piece of herself.

Senior Hapshiba Kwon and

Fiber Artist Hazel Cindy Montes of Handstories blog fame 

have found each other via my blog,

and I feel have made a lifelong connection thru their love of stitching, 

fiber & the written word.

Hapshiba started following Hazel's blog 

after I bought two stitched art pieces from Hazel to share with my students.

I happened to mention to Hazel how much Hapshiba admired her delicate stitches 

on those sister ships.

Hazel was so moved by Hapshiba's reaction 

that she took it upon herself to make a special work for Hapshiba for a graduation gift.

Here we see Hapshiba as she opens her gift,

and the joy on her sweet face as she holds Hazel's stitched piece up for a picture.

Thank you Hazel for bringing so much joy into one of my all time favorite student's hearts.

It means the world to me.

SHIIPS SAILING MY WAY

I'm beyond excited to to receive these two precious works of art from

 Handstories blogger Hazel (Cindy) Monte.

They are in the mail as you see this post.

Hazel is one of my favorite fiber artists.

I adore her designs and her delicate way with stitch & thread.

One day I hope to meet her

and watch her work.

I plan on framing these as sister ships

and cannot wait to share them with my students,

especially Hapshiba  hee hee.