The forest floors and the depth of morning light are comforting on these summer days in Canada, and create an all-new wonder as we pass by on the way during our walks. The depth, shadow, and colour are a reminder that there are others that walk along with us as we search for quiet and see things that were never intended to become a part of our artwork. Look closely and share a note with me of what you see…

I intended a vertical layout, and I am inspired by the glow that happened in the woods as the walks evolved in my mind from friends many years ago. This late summer, I focused all of August and September on building small blocks of woodland colour, and the many swerving inset lines and squiggles as I cut and placed the pieces of cloth in piles, many piles for each of my quilt blocks.

I worked on the forest colours and used the deep dark dyed cloth that I was focused on – late summer colour. Hiking and looking through the backlands, seemingly interested in age-old Japanese landscapes in my heart and mind. I worked with the light and movement of the moving water and creeks.  Simplicity and line are a huge part of my own ‘making days’. While the eager excitement of starting a new piece is helpful for “what’s new and different” – water, soft, humble colour, and something that feels comfortable on my wall – all I am working toward.

The days passed so quickly this summer, and I know we have ALL been busy living our lives and time with family – so I swerved from project to project, trying to meet deadlines for several fall projects. I admit that finishing this piece today after time with the artist friends at our CONNECTIONS retreat this past week was so important I was up very late last night … our Crieff Centre Retreat days pals kept me in awe of the art that was shared…

I LOVED what our CIC member, AL Cote (there in our back row), was working on and the time with him, and the other friends as we chose our outdoor walking paths and time together -! Precious!

(Last day of the Retreat ‘gathering photo’ below…)..and you might know some of my friends.

(And, while my piece in this round will show here at CIC as vertical, my art has been provided a hanging device in both vertical and horizontal hanging directions. I don’t know about you, but I love to walk past a piece of art on my studio wall today and totally change my mind about the way I want to view it tomorrow.)

BETHANY GARNER, WAITING FOR THE DAYLIGHT,  4-2

Dimensions: 28″w x 40″h

Technique: Hand-dyed cloth, 2023 summer, hand-painted accents, with machine piecing

Materials: White cotton lawn, dyed with Procion MX and painted with Pro Chem Fabric Dyes