Pin Cushion Doily c. 1939

This "Pin Cushion Doily" was made by Frank Nelson sometime between 1855 and 1995, and it's pretty delightful. I can almost feel the gentle tug of the needle and thread as he worked. I imagine him, lost in concentration, carefully building each delicate flower and looping ribbon. Maybe he was thinking about someone he loved, or just enjoying the quiet rhythm of the craft, one stitch at a time. The piece looks both ordered and spontaneous, like a kind of meditation. The soft pinks and greens are so soothing, and the blue trim gives it a playful touch, which is echoed in the embroidered bows. It's a world away from the messy, chaotic energy of my own studio. I am sure that Frank would find my paintings perplexing, but, in a sense, aren’t we both just trying to make sense of the world, one mark at a time?