I don’t remember exactly when it was I bought Sara Midda’s 1981 book In and Out of the Garden, but it must not have been too long after it came out. Years before I was able to have a garden of my own, that little book has graced my bookshelf in all our many homes, serving as an inspiration and a reminder of the universal beauty and solace to be found in the magic that results from adding seeds to soil.
Stitching in progress, detail ©2017 Elizabeth Fram The idea of including and concentrating on an area of tone-on-tone cropped up while working on the piece previous to this one.
The main draw for me is Midda’s tiny watercolor images, luminescent and charming. Paired with her hand-lettered text of quotes, historical facts, poetry, and recipes, I have always found a gentle delight in reading and rereading this book that underscores much of the way the world of horticulture captures the imaginations of those of us inclined to garden.
Detail ©2017 Elizabeth Fram The scissors remain more sketchily defined as a foil to the heavily stitched areas above and below them.
In 1990 she followed up with Sara Midda’s South of France – A Sketchbook, and in 2014 A Bowl of Olives: On Food and Memory was released. I was quick to buy copies of each as soon as I learned it was out, happy to become re-immersed in Midda’s eye for the details that honor the essence of the unsung elements that surround us, things we tend to take for granted but which give such a strong sense of place and moment. All three books are meditations of a sort, quiet picture books with “more”. To some degree I am sure appreciation for her observations have had some lasting sway on my own choice of subjects.
Detail ©2017 Elizabeth Fram In the end, I think it’s the “conversation” between the diversity of pattern, evident in both the stitching and the stitched-resist pattern, that pulls the piece together, making it whole.
Despite looking, I haven’t had much luck learning more about Sara Midda. There is relatively little information about her on the web other than a few promotional articles and blog posts marking the release of each book. Disappointingly, she doesn’t seem to have ever had a website. So I was thrilled to discover that Danny Gregory* conducted a 40 minute video interview with her on his Sketchbook Club blog last week. How lovely it is to hear her talk about her process and the history of these books. Outwardly quiet and gentle, just like her art, it was one of those rare occasions when all elements seemed to add up.
Divide and Conquer, unframed ©2017 Elizabeth Fram Stitched-resist dye and embroidery on silk
Have you had a similar experience with a book that has had a lasting impact on you? Please fill us in…
*I credit Danny Gregory’s book Everyday Matters and his original blog of the same name as being the instigation behind spurring me to commit to drawing regularly. I have no doubt his welcoming and encouraging approach, pointing out the huge benefits to be gleaned from drawing, regardless of ability or experience, has been one of the main driving forces behind awakening or reinvigorating the desire to draw for thousands of people. If you aren’t familiar with him, check out his site.
Thank you for sharing this…your work is so intriguing and it is awesome to learn of some of your influences.
Thanks Jill!
How lovely to hear of Midda’s other books. I have 2 copies of South of France that I have moved around in ways similar to yours, and pulled out to enjoy. I know that her eye has influenced me in all my travel journal attempts.. I can see the page of olives and the one of the espadrilles in my mind’s eye at any time… I do LOVE her delight in small things.. and her perfect tiny paintings..
Thanks for info on other books and on Danny Gregory’s which I will also look up. xxoo
Liz, I have to admit you were firmly in the back of my mind while I wrote this, so that makes your comment all the sweeter. There is a very simpatico feeling between your work and Midda’s. I think you will totally connect with Danny Gregory on numerous levels.
Betsy,the piece is gorgeous. Let’s have a phone talk soon sometime in September.
Thanks Judy! Yes, let’s. I’ll DM you.
Thanks, Betsy. I can’t wait to see and hear from Sara Midda.
I, also, found a book that influenced me tremendously when I began creating my first garden from scratch. It’s ‘Dirt, the Lowdown on Growing a Garden with Style’ by Dianne Benson, published in 1994, and it could not be more different in style from what you describe as Sara’s. Ms Benson gardens on Long Island with a completely different approach to garden spending from mine, but her detailed description of tools, catalogues, pests, plants, invasives and composition gave me a solid footing to begin as an amateur. She suggests places to buy bags to carry garden waste. I use a five gallon bucket. She suggests gardening in jodhpurs like Vita Sackville West. I wear rummage sale treasures. I remember sharing her excitement in deciding exactly which tree was needed to fill out a section of her garden. I was then pretty amazed when she described finding and buying it for $750. But the information from the book has come back to me over and over in the last twenty-some years. And I think of her and smile whenever I search thrift shops for 80s style wind pants instead of visiting haberdashery shops for jodhpurs.
Roz, you never fail to make me laugh! I’m going to look up that book. Love that you were still able to get some gems from it with your feet firmly planted on the ground (ha!).