finished my Old Man Crow for Ann Wood’s Crow Sew Along today!
made with so many memories bound into every knot and stitch
Ann’s crow pattern is brilliantly thought out & joining the Crow Sew Along really got my mojo working, will make the next one life size with an armature to support the weight as our Australian Ravens are big birds but my heart and hands need a rest, feeling quite lost today.
The bush is calling, I need to go out for a long walk, the Waratahs are in full flight!
It's Crow Time 
Oh Mo! Your Old Man Crow is exquisite! How this must have been such a meditation on your beloved. I can only imagine how fulfilling, yet drain that could be. This old bird is beautiful to look at. I especially like the eyes…there’s so much in there. Sending love your way. xo
(((Nancy))) will try to get some photos of the details, Louise’s beautiful lace made the eyes work so well and the feathers under the wings but the light is so strange this afternoon, need to go for a long walk or curl up with a good book, not sure which!
MO so very beautiful
renate
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(((Renate))) thanks for the good words, hope you’re enjoying living by the beach!
What a beautiful and evocative symbol, Mo
(((Lizette))) the Filigree of Memory will keep me making art for the rest of my life or until I can’t remember anymore whichever comes first!
Oh he looks so strong Mo….well done!
(((Eliene))) wrapping the legs & feet in thin strips of black leather over heavy guage steel wire helped give him some weight for balance
MC – what an amazing piece – at first I thought it was the real thing – an old man crow. Go well. B
(((Barry))) Ann’s pattern is brilliant, will double the scale and use an armature for the next one!
Oh, Mo! I’ve been following the group and waiting to see yours. He’s very like the ravens I met in Canberra. And I can understand that you need to soak up some bush medicine.
(((Di))) will go for a long walk in the morning, curled up with a good book (Bliss by Peter Carey which I haven’t read in years) and feeling a lkot more sane after a few hours sleep !
Nothing like a little practical magic,to calm the soul after it has been bruised by the things that sadden us,you are in my thoughts,sit under a tree great for soothing the soul.❤
(((Rik))) your words remind me of a wonderful landscaper I worked for in Adelaide all those years ago. He said “Fatigue is just a state of introversion, go and sit under a tree for 15 minutes then get back here & help finish this job!” We were 8 hours into rebuilding a collapsed retaining wall, his sage advice worked and I was able to give the job the extra 5 hours it took to get it done & has helped me get through so many of the tougher moments in life ever since!
this is so wonderful Mo
(((Susi))) it’s so good to have my hands & heart & eyes all working together again!
Within the folds of black, the feathery black lace, the strong eye, the surefooted feet, enfolded into the heart of this crow is magic, of course, as well as spirit and deep love. Gazing at where you have placed this special crow, I close my eyes and see him taking off, Rod’s face comes into view, and I hear music, and most of all, I feel the mojo of love…deeply beautiful Mo.
(((Marti))) thank you for these beautiful words of love and spirit and magic
Oh Mo! This may be the most stunning piece of artwork you have ever created. It is beyond beautiful. One can feel the spirit of Old Man Crow in every part of the creation. All put there by you. A very fitting tribute the the man, the legend. Keep healing Mo. Sending along so much love.
(((Carol))) Baba, Best friend of Bastet, thank you for these good words of healing and love
I too thought your hand-wrought crow to be the real thing … a brilliant pattern with your magical way worked into every stitch … may the land refresh you as you live into your first Blackheathen springtime
(((Liz))) there’s frogs in that pond where the Old Man Crow is standing, breeping and croaking merrily, loving the spring weather it was almost t-shirt weather yesterday!
Working on a deeply personal piece, and such a handsome piece too, can be exhausting. Take to the bush . . . there’s healing there. ❤️
(((Wendy))) it’s dawn of a brand new day, slept more soundly lthan I have all year, the bush is calling & an old friend is visiting today !
He’s magnificent Mo. Love that flash of blue in the wing. I’m to the balancing stage and final stuffing with mine and soon to put the loose pieces on. Hopefully I can finish in the next few days. That flower is extraordinary. Leaves are coming down like crazy here, nice to think of you in spring. Love.
(((Beth))) look forward to seeing your crow come to life, it’s so exciting that first moment when he stands on his own two legs! Will start working on the steel armature for the next crow which will be twice the size (21″ from point of beak to end of tail) Look forward to working with your Mom’s very fine black leather gloves on the wings for the next crow, used the thumb leather of one glove on feather 4 in the wing, must take some detail shots if the sun cooperates this morning!
An old friend AND the bush! Wonderful! ❤️
I really love him outside, in the landscape and the sunshine and the shadows. Oh – the Waratahs!!! They are absolutely a thing I miss from our old place – such amazing beauty.
(((Fiona))) waratahs are such fabulous flowers & they grow so big up here in the mountains!!
He’s beautiful! I thought he was real at first. Well done 💕
(((Sue))) you’ll meet him in real life very soon!
It really is exquisite, Mo. It took me a while to realise that I wasn’t looking at a ‘real’ crow. Astonishing work 🖤
(((Karen))) Ann Wood’s pattern is brilliant, it’s the first time I have made anything from a pattern since about 1980, am going to make her Dastardly Owl next just for fun!
Mo, He is Fab!
(((Saskia))) I look forward to making a life size version of Old Man Crow (twice the size of this one) but for the next few weeks I am enjoying giving my eyes a rest from working black on black by taking a diversion & making a barn owl with Ann Wood’s Owl Sew Along which will start this Friday. Have started the pattern with some lichen dyed cotton from Liz Akert. My eyes and hands are thanking me for stitching with a bigger needle & thicker contrasting thread !