Monday, October 15, 2012

Mother's Milk


 
Mother's Milk.  Stitched words:  Breast Feeding.  Xylene photo transfer on tea-stained muslin.  Hand stitched.  25" x 19" unframed; 31" x 25" framed.  Click on image to enlarge.

The Internet is a wonderful thing.  It has provided so many exciting adventures for me.... without me ever leaving home!  This is a portrait taken by Celina (http://jujubebaby.blogspot.com), who is on an extensive camping trip through the mountains of the western United States after time in Spain.  It is of her friend Marija (http://www.living-with-bugs.blogspot.com) in Norway.  Both are mothers to decided to breast feed.... even in public.

When I first started looking for someone to pose for Mother's Milk, I suggested potential stitched words reading:  Breast-feeding...even in public.  I hoped for a PERFECT photo.  Celina sent what is undoubtedly PERFECT.  Yet, when I went to stitch it, I realized that the decision shouldn't be limited to the location and surroundings for breast-feeding.  It should incorporate all sorts of breast-feeding decisions. 

Not all mothers chose to breast-feed.  Those who do also have lots of other decisions to make...like, how often, timed intervals, whether to pump milk or not, what to eat and drink while nursing, and when to wean the child.  By simplifying my stitched words to just "Breast Feeding", all these decisions are suggested.  The photo really is PERFECT for all these choices that are made by mothers all over the world, throughout all of history.

For more information about breast-feeding, please visit the La Leche League International.  Also, the website recommended by Celina is Kelly Mom.... check them out!  (http://www.llli.org/ and http://www.kellymom.com/.)

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