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building the cloth

i think it's going to be ok and even good.   when seen this way,  it works to , uhhhh,  begin saying something.

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and look out the livingroom window

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these are the Giant Sacaton grasses that are on the cloth, so i decided today was the day to begin working on them.

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the light today is odd and it's very difficult to get a true pic, but here, a little of how they look.  and in stitching them i realized even more fully that grasses will play an even larger part.  there still is the Mexican Feather Grass, the Blue Grama and the Side Oat Grama.  so, thinking.

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37 responses to “building the cloth”

  1. Michelle in NYC Avatar
    Michelle in NYC

    AH–GRACE–HOW TIMELY-I just came in from four hours labor in the local church garden, turned on and tuned in, instantly thought of you, and here you, and your wonderful, generous, multidimensional, spreading cloth are…laying out a whole lot of grass stitching work that should take you through Winter to Spring. The snow looks lovely from inside. How’s your heat? How’s your big heart? Looks like it’s as fine as your vision in cloth. Did you get my email with the lizard photograph?

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  2. serena Avatar
    serena

    oh grace these are fabulous! the grasses are just the most perfect addition.

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  3. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    LOVE getting replies from New York City…somehow that’s
    still a miracle to me, that you are there in New York where i visited once, and i am here in this little dirt
    place and we somehow share a day….
    YES…and i did answer you about the beautiful lizard and
    that great great book you were gifted…where????? hmmmm
    i guess back in the blog comments???? or seperate email?
    anyway, yes and i did appreciate you sending so much…
    Heat is ok. it is not so cold again…only in 20’s at
    night which is good enough. What on earth kind of growing are you doing now? do they have a cold frame?????
    xoxo

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  4. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    the big leaves and stems have been on cloth for a while?
    just today, the seed heads of the Sacaton.
    and yes…i am very happy with the realization of need for
    MORE grasses….
    Grasses are my family and where the lizards live.
    thanks for the word fabulous must mean you really
    like it…smile……

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  5. Ruby Slippers Avatar
    Ruby Slippers

    The grass is beautiful on the cloth, very light and airy. When I first looked at the picture I thought you’d laid a grass out on the cloth to see how it would look. When I clicked on the picture to see it close up – oh my! It’s sewing! You’ve captured its light gracefulness so well.

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  6. deanna7trees Avatar
    deanna7trees

    beautiful grass stitching.

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  7. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    Ruby, you know, these grasses are Something, here, in the
    desert. they are native and plant themselves. are
    “clump” grasses, so are very individual, but often in
    small communities of themselves. i just so love them
    and am thrilled beyond thrill when just one single tiny
    seed that a bird brought takes hold to live here.
    and OHHHHHHH, thank you for the compliment above, that
    it was real…this is the HIGHEST compliment there could
    be. Oh TraLa. THANK YOU!

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  8. jude Avatar
    jude

    i think in this cloth you have taken a big step toward something. something whole

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  9. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    thanks, deanna…it was easy stitching…just little
    straight lines here, there. no work to them, no thought.
    just small happy thread lines.

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  10. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    This grass is wonderful. Amazing stitches, so real, so right. Good to see this addition.

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  11. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    toward something….
    it’s the Cloth of the Next, i remember thinking.
    but i have no idea

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  12. Michelle in NYC Avatar
    Michelle in NYC

    No, no cold frame or growing–it’s been so warm here, much was still blooming–but, nonetheless, for weeks I’ve been cutting back. Today, I finished with that, had a helper and we planted Orange Tulips, True Blue Iris and some primula. Tuesday more mulch arrives to spread over all that’s there and keep it warm, as well as protect perennial plants from heaving up in a season likely to be freeze-thaw-freeze. I try to put new things in often (with whatever monies I can get from them)–there are three areas I care for. one is bushes and an old tree, the center is a perennial garden that must have a hundred variety now (It’s been building and changing for 20 some years)–no food, but I keep Rosemary, sages, and lavendar. Last is a back garden space around a monument with holly bushes hydrangea, poke weed, grasses, and pots. A whole lot too much for just me 8 months a year since the other gardener retired, but I’m not ready to give it up. It’s helpful in many ways.

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  13. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    i like bushes and an old tree.
    if possible, would be nice to see these on your blog????
    as i said…i am so fascinated with you being trotting
    about the City….

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  14. jude Avatar
    jude

    better that way.

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  15. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    good to me, too. we’ll see, after they are in place.

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  16. Jeannie Avatar
    Jeannie

    Beautiful grasses in you yard and on your cloth. I love how they bend and integrate the work. Beautiful!

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  17. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    Jeannie…thank you for Seeing them. they do bend and
    are also so strong.

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  18. margaret johnson Avatar
    margaret johnson

    OH grace, what beautiful images. Your cloth is coming on sew beautiflly, the stitched grasses are lovely. The photograph of the grasses through your , is just magic with the snow. The more I blew up the picture the more magical it looked. I am a lover of native grasses too, which are entirely different to yours ofcourse. Happy stitching, and much admiration for your lovely self, Marg. ox

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  19. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    aren’t they just SOMETHING? i wonder what yours are like.?
    am thinking maybe similar…here, Australia….there
    seems to be some connection.
    Much admiration for YOUR lovely self, g

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  20. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    oh your cloth..
    i have thought of you all day when i heard there was a storm headed your way.
    then came home from work and saw this.
    beautiful.. i can’t believe how much time it took. i have been away from my kimono for a couple of weeks. i will have a week off after wednesday and plan on stitching loads.
    i wish you a merry christmas.

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  21. Penny B Avatar
    Penny B

    Building a beautiful magical story that is so much a reflection of you.

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  22. Doris Avatar
    Doris

    The gras is as two graceful dancers on your cloth. it has a somehow elegant movement. I like it very much.

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  23. Eva Ucgatwork Avatar
    Eva Ucgatwork

    Hi Grace,
    there’s nothing like the desert….the grass, the lizard, the subtle colours…I really like your cloth.
    As I just commented on Jude’d blog, I’ve just bought a big piece of linen…and I am ready to start a big cloth (magic or not…) in a weeks time in England ( where my heart is…when it’s not in the southwestern parts of the States).
    I am going to take some photos and send them to you,
    eva

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  24. handstories Avatar
    handstories

    didn’t i leave a comment? well i wrote one in my head yesterday, anyway. i am losing all sense of time and space.
    these images are so beautiful & your grass stitching, so fragile & lovely. the whole of this thing & the watching you be with it…another beautiful image.

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  25. Deb G Avatar
    Deb G

    I am looking at these pictures today without my glasses…Being slightly out of focus helps me see the whole of it better. I love how the curves are pulling everything together.

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  26. Valerianna Avatar
    Valerianna

    The grass both outside and on the cloth is amazing. Tonight, just after mid-night, Grandmother Winter births the light….

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  27. Cristina Ortega Avatar
    Cristina Ortega

    Greetings Grace!
    swaying. this is what i felt gazing thoughtfully
    at your grass stitching. more perfect than
    anything i know at this moment.
    lovely golden grasses of the new mexico
    place.
    tis i, cristina

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  28. Yvonne Avatar
    Yvonne

    I love your stitched grasses – they have both a fragility and hardiness and the word that comes to mind is ‘tender’.

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  29. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    Linda…BIG storm tonight.
    am happy for your kimono

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  30. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    i am wondering if it’s all what i reflect off of…?????

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  31. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    more in the morning…i am really wanting to work on
    it. today was a work in town day and when i got home
    the storm came and made me watch it…
    but
    morning. oh sigh

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  32. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    Eva…i am anticipating this…England. you travel
    quite a lot, don’t you. that amazes me.

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  33. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    it’s picking up energy now….as i said above, i am
    all wanting to begin again in the morning…

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  34. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    maybe that’s what happens for me when i squint..i always
    see “better” that way…

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  35. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    and now it is THE DAY…moment by moment we lighten
    just the thought of it lightens me

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  36. grace Forrest Maestas Avatar
    grace Forrest Maestas

    i will photograph them more consciensously over these
    next months. they are truly amazing. with the snow
    and rain these couple weeks, the Mexican Feather Grasses
    are all !greening! up…
    i’ll see in the morning if i can catch that through
    the night’s snowfall…
    they and the hollyhocks just keep going…..

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  37. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    i always like the big storms but i don’t have to go out to fetch wood to stoke the fire. i will think of you when i wake up tonight with hot flashes. i will think of you in your little home with snow all around. i wish you a merry christmas. i wish you the best in the next year. wonder what it will bring. i am going to california on saturday. not near chico. i don’t think.. don’t know the geography well.
    next year will bring stitching and more for us. sounds like a good thing. will think of you this next week and will check as i can on the internet..
    love you you and peace and warmth and light.
    linda

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