I was looking through some work in progress and thought this looked odd.
The last time I saw this piece the stitchwork background was completed. The plan was to add another layer of stitchwork with fiber and seeds with the code, A Fragment of Memory.
When I opened the graph paper I found this–
And this–
So what caused the damage?
Casemaking Moths.
I have a weird fascination with the critters. They totally creep me out. And yet they are rather interesting the way they become active with a bit of light. And how they carry their shelter with them.
It is frustrating to have work destroyed. Even if it is work in progress.
This is a image of the damaged alpaca lace piece and a piece that is stitched with bamboo.
They were on the same shelf, right next to each other. Does this show a fiber preference? Or maybe the difference was the alpaca piece was partially inside of a piece of folded paper. That would make for a darker more protected environment for the casemaking moths.
I have written about casemaking moths in the past here, here, and here.
The first time I wrote about casemaking moths was March 2012, the last time was in September 2014, well until now.