Sunny Side Up, April 2026

The piece of artwork attached to this blog is called Sunny Side Up.  It is completely hand-stitched with scrap fabrics from my studio.  It’s lovely when you can turn scraps into something cheerful, which I believe this piece is.  The sun face, which was cut out from a larger pattern, was the inspiration for the piece.  This piece was created several years ago, but the message still applies.

  After a long, cold winter, we all look forward to the sunshine that spring promises. We don’t even mind rainy days when we know that milder temperatures and rain will bring us May flowers.  Sunshine and warmth lift our spirits out of the doldrums of winter. 

  This past winter was particularly harsh, with many days of snowstorms that kept me housebound.  You would think that forced confinement would inspire me to run down to my studio and get creative.  My studio has an abundance of materials, books and equipment that should nurture my creative side on stormy days.  Alas, it did not.  Most of those stormy days were spent watching TV, crocheting or reading.  The lack of freedom and isolation only added to the dark days of winter in my mind.

  Now that April has arrived, my spirits are suddenly lifted.  All those books, supplies and equipment are beckoning to me to get busy.  Mono printing, stitching both by machine and by hand, painting and drawing all call out to me.  My accomplishments in the last few days of March surpass everything I have managed to do since the beginning of the winter season.   Now that spring has arrived, the veil has lifted.  Look out, world, here I come!

  Sunny Side Up can refer to cooked eggs or smiling faces.  In this case, the promise of spring brings a smile to everyone’s face.