I have followed the life and near death of this Oak, watching as HE ages – his old tree bark changes colour, the leaves come and go, and the arrival of the many woodpeckers and squirrels who arrive to be with the Oak, remind us to watch the old tree come to life each year.
We celebrate the seasonal changes of colour, and his strength to remain standing tall… and wonder how this one has survived. Many others his age (almost 200 years now) have fallen into the nearby woodlands… broken, rotting and becoming only what is left as moss/lichen covered, deteriorated piles of what will feed the earth.
The yarns used here, my hand-dyes, share colour changes as this late fall 4-4 CIC piece got started.
The Tree has been a storied friend over the past 33 years. I have walked past him almost very day as I hike the many hours that take me along the trails. HE lives in the Escarpment Area of our KP Trails (known as the old Kingston to Pembroke Railway) that are now traversed by many local and distance walkers, cyclists, and snowmobile enthusiasts. Throughout the years I have watched this Tree, in awe.
The background here is hand-dyed indigo cloth strips, matchstick quilted before the yarns were added.
Each tree has a story, and this Old Oak stands alone, hidden to some and cherished by others in the valley in Sydenham, Ontario’s only deep forest area that many recognize with each treasured change of season. The Tree has spoken, and HE welcomes the growth of his many years of long and very mature grape vine friends along the trails. They appear to some viewers as ropes, but are actually the pathway that moves water into the Tree and contain the food that keeps the Tree alive and standing tall.
Layers of yarns, interwoven with dyed cheesecloth and stitched to add “landscape” around Tree
I worked for a full 52 hours, cutting and stitching the background and hand-stitching on all of my imagined grape vines and the huge twisted and layered base and limbs on the Tree. I was entranced while twisting the roving/yarns these past two months, imagining the many times I walked by this Tree – I was thinking about the prompt for change of season.
This TREE is a strong reminder that if we just pay attention, look at the world around us with a willingness to share and tell the stories we know… perhaps what means the most will offer us the chance to celebrate a good old friend that out ways hundreds of straight pins, threads and deadlines for posting – but does offer comfort and maybe the ‘change of season’ as a refuge for making something unusual and something that might bring a smile to others.
4-4 , AND HE STANDS ALONE, WAITING…
Bethany Garner, Musings, Revealed Quilt
25.5w x 40.5h
Indigo-dyed background, machine stitched.
Hand-dyed and hand-spun yarns, twisted to vines/limbs
The texture of the old wood seems to tell the story of his history.
A dramatic, texturally sumptuous portrait, Bethany! Your wonderful colour sense and luscious hand dyes tell the story again, bringing his unique qualities to life. Reminded me immediately of an old, tall, strong friend who always proclaimed I should not be wearing blue and brown together!
I love your quilt, and the story of your special tree. I recently used yarns in a similar way to represent tree bark: it’s perfect for the subject.
That delicious hand dyed yarn – so rich and warm! And in such a beautifully cold space! My dad’s nickname was Oke. When you referred to your tree as Him, I thought of my dad.
I wanted to celebrate this old Oak – really appreciate that you were touched when you saw “HE”.. speaking of a treasured friend, even when only an earth’s tree feels right. Thanks, Karol!