Before, During and . . .

Here is a photo of before. A whole tabletop of ideas, ripe and ready to go. What to make of this?

First, I stamped some hands. Nice, but that didn't do it for me.

Then I stamped male and female figures. Male and female together, male and male together, female and female together. This was going to be "A More Perfect Union." That did not happen. It may yet, but it didn't gel.

Then what? Perhaps all it takes is a bit of music. Since the New Orleans series, I have been listening to Cajun and Zydeco music, and have removed the brass band-style tunes. I started thinking of swampy, mysterious things. I focused on a couple of Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas songs (go to itunes and check out "Old Man's Darlin" and "Don't Worry 'bout the Mule"). Hmmmmmm. Voodoo? Not really. Gumbo? Maybe. Storytelling by a flickering fire? Very possible.

Here are two pieces in progress. Graphic. Perhaps a bit scary?

Today I stitched them together. I need to decide if I will do any decorative stitching. I have some red fabric bars I will apply with black stitching. And then I feel these pieces will require beading.

Hopefully I will have the finished product(s) next week.