I fell into Fiber Arts almost by accident, and yet, I have been embroidering almost all my life.

My mom taught my sister and I how to embroidery when we were kids. It was mostly cross stitch…don’t confuse this with counted cross stitch, because counted cross stitch is actually harder. The cross stitch “X” is an easy stitch made from two straight stitches that cross over each other, similar to the letter “X.”

This is where my fiber arts began. As a young woman, I took up Crewel Embroidery and made vases of flowers and landscapes.

Now, most of my fiber art is multi-media in that I use embroidery, appliques, beads, sparkly gems, and just about anything else that makes sense to the piece I am working on. Most of my fiber art is of Goddesses, and they have stories!

Medusa

(Greek Mythology)

adapted by Connie Dunn

Medusa was the mortal one of three sisters, including Euryale, and Sthenno. Medusa was said to be beautiful as well as a priestess of the Goddess Athena. Each evening Medusa tended Athena’s Temple, cleaning and tidying it up from the day’s use. Then, she worshipped Athena.

Medusa was a beautiful young woman with long goldenhair. Although she was a young woman at the marrying age, she had yet to be betrothed. One night as Medusa was tending Athena’s Temple, Poseidon came to her. He told her that her beauty was captivating; and he must have her. Medusa tried to avert his attention, but he returned the next night and the night after that. She refused his attention, which only made Poseidon more relentless. Every night when Medusa was in the Temple tidying up from the day’s use, Poseidon would come to her. Finally, he pushed his affections on her, and she was unable to fend him off.

Athena was furious that her Temple had been defiled. Since Poseidon was a god, she could do little to him. However, to Medusa, she turned her beautiful golden hair into hideous and venomous snakes; caused anyone who looked into her eyes to be turned into stone, and banished her to the Hyperborean lands, where she was unlikely to turn any innocents into stone. Hyperborea was located north of the Land of the North Winds, which had been rumored to be where Great Britain and Stonehenge, a circular Temple, was located.

While Athena banished Medusa in the hope that she never heard from her again. King Polydectes sent Perseus on a mission to bring back Medusa’s head. Athena helped by giving Perseus a sword and a mirrored shield. From Hermes, he received winged sandals, which would allow him to fly rather than walk to his destination. From Hades, he acquired a cap that made him disappear, which may have been the best tool he was given.

Perseus found Medusa, lopped off her head, and flew back while alluding Medusa’s sisters. He even managed to use Medusa’s severed head to turn some of his enemies into stone. He gave the head to Athena, who put Medusa’s head on her shield.

While this is the story as Medusa relayed it to me, I don’t believe her story has been understood for the travesties put upon her. Her story both touches my soul and angers me.