Soul Mending Mixed Media Poetry by Sunila & Aditi

Hello,

Today we're sharing our project inspired by the Stencil Poetry theme. Poetry and art for us always go hand in hand. Many times, we either create an art project and then write about it or vice versa.

We've created a mixed media layout and we were inspired by Aditi's poem 'Soul-Mending' from her recent book 'On The Other Side'. For the project, a newer version of the poem was written and then we created this layout. We'll share the two poems below as well!

Here's a look at the layout:

Here's the brief process of creating this layout:

Step 1: Choose a few stencils for the layers. Sprays colors through them on a piece of white cardstock. This becomes the pattern paper for the base. We've used- L 708 (Mod City Country Abstract by Cynthia Silveri), L 726 (It's Time to Play by Carolyn Dube), L 712 (Lattice Medallion by Kristie Taylor).

Step 2: We used the stencil L 698 (Hexagons Mini Printmaking by Ann Butler) with a black Uni-ball pen to draw some abstract hexagons on the printed paper. We also drew a few puzzle pieces and cut them out.  You could use dies and cut shapes for the base.

Step 3: We then arranged and stitched our hexagons onto a base white cardstock. The loose threads add to the effect we were looking for.

Step 4: Arrange the puzzle pieces. Use foam tape for varying depth and adding dimension.

Step 5: Time to add embellishments. At this stage, we picked out some chipboard pieces, colored them with metallic acrylic paints and waxes. We also layered some flowers, die cuts and feathers. These elements went well with the poem and we talk about this add the end of the post:)! Our poem is the focal point, so we typed it out on a piece of pattern paper. 

Step 6: Complete it with sequins.

And that's it! We really enjoy making layouts in this way. 

Here's the poem and how we were inspired by it.

Soul- Mending Version 1.0

Fixing broken pieces of your soul,

is not like joining pieces of a puzzle.

Sometimes you need to hurt,

to take it all in. 

Once you’re done hurting,

pick them up piece by piece

and mend your soul.

It won’t be the same,

The scars will be there,

But you’ll been one again.

Soul-Mending Project Version 1.1

Fixing broken pieces of your soul,

is not like joining pieces of a puzzle. 

The same pieces that once fit together,

may no longer do so.

Sometimes you need to hurt,

to take it all in. 

And, some pieces need to be discarded,

when sifting through them.

Once you’re done hurting,

pick them up piece by piece

and mend your soul.

Sew them and stitch them back again.

The threads you use will remind you,

of how you patched it all together.

It won’t be the same,

The scars will be there,

But you’ll been one again. 

We were inspired by the idea of the soul being fragments (our different patterned hexagons) and puzzle pieces. When you mend them, they do leave gaps, and necessarily don't fit back together. We used thread to stitch them together, with varying patterns as it's never the same. The Deer spirit reminds us to be gentle and kind with ourselves through this process. The flowers remind us about the idea of blooming and then drying, falling, yet the seeds blossom into a flower again. The color palette we used: Teal, Greens, Mustard(Gold) all speaks to us of soul renewal, of spring, of fixing. 

Here are a few close-ups:

Supply List-

• Lindy’s sprays - Bayou Boogie Gold, Grab a Guy Gold, Golden Sleigh Bells, Time Travel Teal, Lucky Shamrock Green, Cathedral Pines Green
• Art Alchemy Metallique- Gold Amber, Ginger Magic Sparks, Dark Forest
• Art Alchemy Metallique Waxes- Mint Sparkle, Peacock, Firebird 
• Dusty Attic and Kora Chipboards
• Fantasy die - FD 779
• Stencil Girl Stencils- Mod City Abstract L 708, It's Time to Play L 726, Printmaking Stencils L 698, Lattice Medallion L 712
• Sequins
• Thread 
• Flowers, Feathers 
• Distress Ink- Fossilised Amber 

We hope you've enjoyed our post today! Happy crafting!

Sunila and Aditi