Dr. Seuss to the rescue

Thanks to the Cat in the Hat, the wedding embroidered collage is moving forward again. It needed a better defined composition and a more personal meaning. I cut away some of the layers, and then added shapes that suggested space and movement. Looking for a vintage piece of family needlework that wasn't too precious to cut and collage, I found a tea towel with embroidered cups and sugar bowl. Cup? Fish? Books? Something elbowed my brain.

"Look at me now!" said the collage. Remember the Cat in the Hat's tricks?

"With a cup and a cake
On the top of my hat!
I can hold up TWO books!
I can hold up the fish!"

My son's bride knows he is usually holding TWO books at least.

The piece is now 23 x 16 inches. It includes a lavender plastic mesh bag that once held plastic Easter eggs.

© 2009 Nancy L. Ruder

The Wedding Bettas

I'm regretting layering so many papers, plastic, and fabric now that I'm stitching the betta fish. Boys and girls, can you say, "thimble"?




© 2009 Nancy L. Ruder

Won't get me to the church on time

This collage is for a very special wedding couple, but I'm not going to have it ready in time for their big day on Sunday.



So far the collage is backed with tie-dyed fabric and the Dallas Morning News book review page from 10/11/09. Other fabric pieces include a sari, a gold satin sheet, and purple tulle circles. Silver giftwrap and a section of a punch-cut lavender plastic shopping bag are inside a ziplock storage bag. Paper elements include betta fish cut-outs from printed original photos, library date due card, bleach discharge print on navy card stock, and newspaper photo of a football pass reception that resembles a betta. Recent additions are beads and sequins. The work has been machine stitched for position basting, awaiting embroidery work.

© 2009 Nancy L. Ruder

Plastic Rain Bonnet

Found a Sixties plastic pleated rain hat in one of my mom's old purses. Growing up we learned never to be caught without our handy rain bonnet or a dime in our penny loafer for a payphone call.

© 2009 Nancy L. Ruder

Apples and amaryllis

This series was created as a gift for a Montessori preschool director and intended to be handled by children learning the initial sounds of letters. No piece is for sale, nor intended to be reproduced without permission.



Paper collage, 4.25 x 5.5 inches. Original digital photo, magazine illustrations, plastic bag, other papers.

© 2009 Nancy L. Ruder

Basil bees

Paper collage, 4.25 x 5.5 inches. Photocopy on vellum, plastic bag, marker, tissue, metallic giftwrap.


© 2009 Nancy L. Ruder