Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Holy Smoke, A Table and Pope Fiction

Holy Smoke, I can't believe it's been over a week since I posted!

Of course, maybe I should use a different expletive since Holy Smoke has quite another meaning these days.

I don't know about you, but the drama surrounding the Vatican, the butler who leaked secrets and then was pardoned, the pope who abdicated and flew away in a helicopter, and all the corruption surrounding the Vatican bank (including murder) has got my imagination on overdrive.  I cannot wait to read this novel or see the Hollywood movie.  Holy Smoke indeed!

Anyway, while the Vatican is trying to get the color of their smoke correct...I mean, the first two spewings didn't look black or white to me...Just a lot of gray.

Don't you think in the 21st century we could figure out the smoke issue?  And if they can't figure out the smoke, I wonder what that portends...

Oh well.  It's a good thing I'm comfortable with gray and I've been working with gray again making a little side table with an open drawer to help in telling the story of Mrs. Rose...



I had started to work on Mrs. Rose herself but found that I needed to order some flesh-colored fabrics for her "body".  There's a lot of components to her that I've never made before so it's all new in sourcing materials and experimenting with techniques.

While that work is underway behind the scenes, I decided to make the little side table that goes into Mrs. Rose's nursing home room.

I used an Exacto blade to cut out the shapes of the table from acid-free mat board (the kind used by framers) and then sewed a felt cover over top of each piece.  I used toothpicks for the legs covered in felt as well, and pressed each of the components with an iron to flatten the nap of the felt.



I then built the table by sewing down all the components, using Tsukineko inks and outline stitches to give some shading and dimension to the little piece of furniture.



I also adding some beading to finish off the frame of the mirror.

Now I really am off to work on the birth of Mrs. Rose...her chair has been waiting for some time.



While I'm creating, I need a new book to read so I couldn't help but get into the papal spirit of things and found this list of Pope Fiction on Goodreads.

I highly recommend Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross.  It's one of my favorite books of all time.  Angels and Demons By Dan Brown was also good but its style was a bit too like his other book, The DaVinci Code.  That being said, most folks loved it.

I've got my sights set on Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess.  I haven't read that one and the reviews look good.

I bet none of them can hold a candle to what is really going on in Rome.  Truth truly is stranger than fiction.

And Holy Smoke evidently isn't very black and white...it's pretty gray.

Who knew this piece was going to be so trendy?  Just one more benefit to working sooo slowly.

Oh well, Rome wasn't built in a day.

Happy Smoke Watching everyone!

26 comments:

Dolores said...

Thank you so much for showing us your 'secrets' in making the various items of this project.

Laurie said...

Hi Susan! I so love your blog and love to see what you're working on. I'm can't wait to see the progress on this one! I haven't seen the smoke yet, I keep missing it! (Love your sense of humor!)

cucki said...

wow it is really looking so lovely..thank you for sharing x

Mary Ann Tate said...

So sweet anD such a perfect touch to the picture:)

char said...

I love watching your progress. The beads were perfect around the mirror and the little table is just darn cute. Are you writing the book (Holy Smoke) you could and it would be just as good as your fabric story telling. Can't wait for the next "Chapter" in the story of Mrs Rose.

Unknown said...

I love your progress on on the little details. Can't wait to meet Mrs. Rose.

wendy said...

I love the table and the beading around the mirror. Can't wait to see Miss Rose!

Lilli said...

A great work!

Joan said...

Funny. As you posted this, the Vatican gave forth with White Smoke. Holy Smoke Indeed.

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of Mrs. Rose

MeganH said...

.....and the radio is going crazy because the White Smoke has gone up, but we don't know who it is yet....(5.30am Australia time)
I just loooove the shadowing you did with the table. Gorgeous.

Suztats said...

how clever to use those toothpicks as table legs! The beads add a nice bit of sparkle to the mirror. We should be hearing any moment......

gracie said...

You are amazing!

Anonymous said...

Hi Susan,

I usually read your posts in my email, but I wanted to comment today, so I opened up the post, and I love the new header on the blog! I also love following your work, AND I love all the family posts. What a great family you have, and it's so great that most of you live close to each other. My kids and grandkids live all over the place, while I live in San Diego! When you were talking about the gray smoke, I remembered what Jay Leno said about it in his monologue last night....he said, "white smoke means they've selected a pope, black smoke means they haven't selected a pope, and gray smoke means they're burning the evidence!" I thought it was funny, but I'm not Catholic. I hope I didn't offend anyone who reads this... 8-) Keep up the great work. Mrs. Rose's room is taking shape!

Rachel said...

You have a real gift for dealing with these subtle colours, and the side table has turned out beautifully...

Wendy said...

I love your little table. Not being catholic I don't know the smoke code, but thought they could just announce it as that would be easier in my opinion. This piece is going to be so wonderful when finished with all these wonderful elements you are using. I cannot wait to see the rest of this block take form.

Miriam said...

Thank you for sharing your "secrets" while creating your masterpieces. I love how such subtle beading around the mirror and stitching and ink around the table can bring them to life. Looking forward to watching Mrs Rose appear on her chair.

I woke this moring to hear there had been white smoke at the Vatican. Pope Francis 1 is from Argentina.

Sheila Iskin said...

Susan, this is looking so neat! I'm watching Mrs. Rose evolve with great interest. I love how you shaped and colored the table. It's looking wonderful! Thought of you often recently about this next year and college apps. Signed up one child for high school last week, and it rather takes my breath away how fast life is moving... Take care, and happy stitching. Thinking of you often while I knit...~ Sheila :D

Jen said...

Hi Susan -- just going to throw a book title out there, one of my all time absolute favorites, Good Omens, by Terry Pratchet and Neil Gamian. Its a) hillarious and b) about the end times (the four horsemen, antichrist, etc) and an angel and demon who lived on earth long enough that they became somewhat friends. It may not be your cup of tea, because obviously hilarious stories about the end of the world probably aren't for EVERYONE, but its excellent. Let me know if you check it out!

Createology said...

These are exactly the details that make your stitching creations absolutely amazing and beyond the ordinary. The table is perfect. I adore the beads added to the rim of the mirror. Mrs. Rose will be so very happy with this tribute. Pope Francis it is...

Carol- Beads and Birds said...


Good Evening! I knew you were either busy, or off enjoying an early Spring Break.

I often wonder if you invent your techniques or utilize all the ones you have learned over the years, put them all together and create fab artwork. The table is unique and the beading added so much perfection to the mirror. I am wondering where the reflection in the mirror is. Did your camera white it out, did you remove it, or did I miss that it was not permanent? Just wondering. Or maybe its one of those games..find what is different in these two pics...~lol~ I'm kidding of course.

I predicted who the new Pope would be. Funny how everything in this world is politics. I could start another great debate on this subject. I can only say that I am glad that one of the greatest Pope's of all time lived in my lifetime. Hopefully, our new Pope will have his appeal.

Glad you posted. I have missed you.
xx, Crol

Shirlee Fassell said...

wow you blow me away!!!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Your post cracked me up.

I just love the side table and what you have done with the mirror. Your work is amazing as so much heart goes into every embellishment as well as in every stitch and the whole thought process.

Hugs to you ~ FlowerLady

Cassandra and Alex said...

I love when you post about your personal creative process. It's truly fascinating. And your piece is coming along beautifully!!
–Cassandra

Anonymous said...

The breadth of shades of grey in this is breathtaking but yet it still has a wonderful lightness and anticipation, waiting for Mrs Rose...?

Judy S. said...

Another great post, Susan. Your table is most ingenious! Can't wait to see what you come up with for Mrs. Rose.

Laurie said...

...love your blog makeover!

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