My father went to the first church of fishing. That does not mean that he was fishing for men or that he went to church. If he had a free day it was spent in a row boat on the river or lake, fishing for bass. It made for a much nicer sort of person than my Catholic mother, so I had much more respect for it. It was his passion and his peace.
Being a good dad, he took me along from time to time. We had a few tearful moments about worms on hooks and the use of the tin can ( there is no pottie in a row boat). We solved that early. He took me ashore when needed and he understood I didn’t want to catch fish. I just wanted to watch them.
So I would lean out of the boat with my head right above the water, watching the swirling water and the swish of fins. I’m still there. I’ll be there forever.
The fish in the stream series is all about that. And it’s about swimming through the waters of your life. I’ve gone back to it repeatedly because it’s so vital to me.
The earlier ones were less filled in, somehow less active.
Father of All Fishes was my first real Thread Magic Quilt. It was nature based, done in pearl cotton bobbin work. The transparency of the images, and the nature of seeing the fish under and over leaves fascinated me.
Here are some of the more formed fish I did after I learned how to fill them in with thin thread and a zigzag stitch.
I soon learned after that how to control my water better. When you walk into water you can feel the cooler and warmer currents in layers. You can make that happen with layers of organza and lace.
Finally I learned to use hand dyed pearl cottons and Angelina Fiber for water. It’s funny to me that the techniques change and my ability to render get’s better. But the fish still make me quiet and happy as a girl leaning out a row boat, reaching for the illusion of underwater life.
Tags: father of all fishes, fish in the stream, koi, series
Absolutely beautiful! And your fishing story is pretty cool, too.
loved the process, the learning and the beautiful final works.
Ellen Ann, You have captured the koi beautifully. I keep a few and love to watch their graceful movements. I went to the same church as your Dad. Bonnie
The can in the boat and learning to control your water had me in stitches.
I took a workshop with you in NH. Still love your work and occasionally do threadwork.
Thank you for your work and your openness. I admire both.
I’ve loved looking at your fish quilts for many years. It is nice to know the back story. My husband belongs to a spin-off of your dad’s church – Church of the Lake. Actually, I think it is a cult!
Ellen you are a delight. I love doing fish quilts as well, with of more fabric and beading than threadwork, but they soothe me as well. Love catching them, but don’t like eating them. DH will fight with the seagulls for the dead ones so it all works out in the end…..Jack Sprat, etc..lol