Mola
I have needle turned all the 'Florida Blue' batik and the leaf patterned batik, also from Floria, is visible.
There's a bit of purplish batik ('pasta' remnants from Trinity Green!) at the ground and a triangle of yellow sticking out.
Mola - Snippets of Interest
The Cuna Indians of San Blas Islands believe in a life after death. Cuna women who make beautiful Molas are ensured a place in a special house in heaven.
(Source: Eva Köhlmark - Broderiboken)
Traditional Mola motifs often feature mirrored images, this tradition originates in the belief that everything comes in pairs, is the same and yet different, e.g. left and right, man and woman...
(Source: Elizabeth Healey - Stitch, Fabric & Thread (which is an excellent book))
Greeting Card
I used the outline of the oak leaf and acorn that was my homework for the Du Vos Stitch
and filled it with straight stitches and French Knots.
It was then mounted on a piece of cardboard and inserted into a window card, and is now winging its way to a friend's birthday celebration.
Hello Carin, I don't know at all Mola works : is it difficult to do ? Congratulations or your leaf...its colours are beautiful...I am looking at a tree just in front of my window and its leaves are just like yours ... well seeing :)
ReplyDeleteWishing you a lovely sunny day,
Thank you for your kind wishes. Unfortunately it has been a rainy and col d day in Tokyo.
DeleteYes, Mola is fiddly and you need to think in 'reverse', by cutting and revealing what is underneath.
Your mola is looking fantastic, and you're very brave to introduce so many undulating, narrow borders, that's a lot of fiddly turning under! Will you be adding embroidery to the finished mola, or, will you keep it simple?
ReplyDeleteYou would know! Yes, the narrow borders are fiddly!
DeleteOf course I'll add embroidery, but I will try to keep it simple!
Seeing your mola progress really makes me want to try it. Your birthday card turned out nice.
ReplyDeleteMola is an interesting but tricky kind of quilt making. Do try it on a small item, just to see if you like it.
DeleteMy poor Mola is taking a back seat to the stewardship banner. The entire day sewing letters. six left to go but I think I have had enough for today. I want to get it ready for quilting while on the choir retreat.
ReplyDeleteI am glad I have some other things to work as well; Mola is a bit hard on the brain! Ordinary appliqué is just piling on, Mola means digging and I can't imagine what the result will be!
DeleteI keep meaning to do something in the Mola technique, but haven't got around to it yet. Maybe yours will spark an idea for me!
ReplyDeleteIf you do, keep it simple to start with. It is rather fiddly work!
DeleteI've seen end results of Mola but not the making-of one. Secrets revealed. Thank you for the history and meaning of the work. I'd never heard about that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a handsome leaf and acorns. You've made a really delightful birthday card that would be most welcome.
Thank you.
DeleteMola is interesting, but I find the technique tricky - it twists my brain!
Looking good!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteBeautiful work on your Mola project.
ReplyDeleteThe oak leaf and acorns, straight stitch with French knots is
a nice finish and I'm sure will be appreciated.
The variegated thread makes the leaf a bit too stripy!
DeleteYour mola is growing nicely. And I like what you did with the leave and acorns, very pretty!
ReplyDeleteThe Mola technique is still puzzling me. I hope to learn as I work.
DeleteWhat a beautiful mola flower! I love it! Your above reply says it all... "the mola technique is still puzzling me..."
ReplyDeleteI can just not figure it out!!!!
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