CIRCLES OF MY LIFE: A FIBER ART CELEBRATION OF MY FIRST 75 YEARS
by Jane McLean, Belfast ME, December 2023
“Round every circle another can be drawn; there is no end in nature, but every end is a beginning.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
I am a storyteller and a writer. I wanted to tell the story of my life as a memoir in the tradition of the very moving When We Were the Kennedys by Monica Wood. I studied the memoir genre with Alison Wearing, but my writing vessel came up empty. Was there another way to tell my story, perhaps a visual representation, like Abbie Read’s deconstructed books in Library?
Sadly, our daughter-in-law passed away in 2022. She was a very talented fiber artist whose memory I wanted to honor. Could I commemorate my 75th birthday by creating a work in fabric, thread, and buttons instead of paper and pencil?
Circles of My Life tells my story in twenty twelve-inch circular panels arranged somewhat chronologically. Four panels depicting Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter guide the viewer along my journey. Using meaningful fabrics and personal embellishments, I loosely followed Rachaeldaisy’s ideas in her book Whizz Bang! Adventures with Folded Fabric Quilts to create scenes based on the traditional Folded Star and Pine Burr patchwork patterns.
When the fiber art is exhibited, please
Thank you for visiting my fiber art. I hope it inspires you to tell your story!
Jane McLean (it rhymes)
[email protected]
PinchPenny Threads
by Jane McLean, Belfast ME, December 2023
“Round every circle another can be drawn; there is no end in nature, but every end is a beginning.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
I am a storyteller and a writer. I wanted to tell the story of my life as a memoir in the tradition of the very moving When We Were the Kennedys by Monica Wood. I studied the memoir genre with Alison Wearing, but my writing vessel came up empty. Was there another way to tell my story, perhaps a visual representation, like Abbie Read’s deconstructed books in Library?
Sadly, our daughter-in-law passed away in 2022. She was a very talented fiber artist whose memory I wanted to honor. Could I commemorate my 75th birthday by creating a work in fabric, thread, and buttons instead of paper and pencil?
Circles of My Life tells my story in twenty twelve-inch circular panels arranged somewhat chronologically. Four panels depicting Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter guide the viewer along my journey. Using meaningful fabrics and personal embellishments, I loosely followed Rachaeldaisy’s ideas in her book Whizz Bang! Adventures with Folded Fabric Quilts to create scenes based on the traditional Folded Star and Pine Burr patchwork patterns.
When the fiber art is exhibited, please
- DO NOT TOUCH the panels--the fiber art pieces are fragile
- DO EXPLORE the panel labeled OK TO TOUCH
- DO LOOK for McClure and/or McLean tartans in every panel
- DO USE your cell phone to scan the QR codes and learn more about each panel
- DO TAKE photos--give me credit if sharing online
- Brenda Harrington, Assistant Director/Adult Programming, Belfast Free Library, Belfast ME More info here
- Abbie Read, Maine artist More info here
- Alison Wearing, Canadian memoirist and teacher, Memoir Writing Ink More info here
- Rachaeldaisy, Australian quilter, Rachaeldaisy Designs More info here
- The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago at the Brooklyn Museum. More info here
- John Elberfeld, my husband and greatest supporter who built LESSONS LEARNED, did the math for NON-CHUCK-BILL and HOME, and helped construct the exhibit
- Nancy H, my sister, who introduced me to Rachaeldaisy and critiqued my work for a year
Thank you for visiting my fiber art. I hope it inspires you to tell your story!
Jane McLean (it rhymes)
[email protected]
PinchPenny Threads
Copyright Jane McLean, 2024