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Daily fiber: Embroidered Amy Sedaris

Originally uploaded by muchodesign on Flickr
Via Craftzine

Because I just like Amy Sedaris. (Someone needs to do The Rooster now).

Other work by this artist here.


Related:

Daily fiber: Amy Sedaris wears  'I Like Rum' embroided dress

Daily fiber: Knitted Kong on Empire State Building

Spotted in window of Lion Brand Yarn Store on W. 15th Street

Daily fiber: May the 4th Be With You

Did you know it's "Star Wars Day"? I didn't either, but apparently it is.

Why is it "Star Wars Day"? According to Wikipedia, it originates in the wordplay found in today's date, May the 4th. So, "May the 4th Be With You."

In honor of SWD, here's a nifty felt Yoda.

Originally uploaded by Poorlulu's Stabby Critters

Daily fiber: Great Balls of Fiber

 

Vintage bag made of felt balls, seen on 5th Ave near 17th St., Brooklyn

Daily fiber: Embroidered Martyrdom from Jenny Hart

Embroidery by Jenny Hart
Originally uploaded by Jenny Hart/Embroidery as Art blog

Some colleagues and I got on the subject of martyrs yesterday. This is not that unusual when you work at a seminary, but we happened to get on the topic while looking at someone's vacation pictures from San Juan. Specifically, there was one statue of St. John with his index finger raised as though in the midst of a dramatic sermon, although at first glance he appeared to be angrily flipping the bird.

Coincidentally, I then saw that patron saint of embroidery Jenny Hart had just posted this new work of a beheaded St. John on her Embroidery as Art blog.

Daily fiber: (How-to) Knitted Moby-Dick stowaway for earbuds

Originally uploaded by Artemis Adornments
Via @powermobydick

I've never been one for iPod cozy-type things, but this guide to making a whale-shaped earbud holder from Artemis Adornments, who offer "accoutrements for the post-modern subject," had me at this perfectly-chosen Melville quote:

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.”

--Herman Melville, Moby Dick

http://artemisadornments.com/2009/03/04/whale-cable-controller/

Daily fiber: Michael Leavitt's cardboard shoes

Some days I passionately hate terms like "fiber art" / "fiber artist." Although they can be helpful filters that allow me to focus on what I appreciate (artists who use cloth, paper, sewing, that sort of lo-tech, DIY thing), it rarely if ever make sense these days for an artist to define his/herself with a medium. Doesn't just about everyone take an interdisciplinary approach?

Here's an example of someone's work who defies those kinds of limiting labels. I'm enjoying Michael Leavitt's old school cardboard shoes, and other objects. Looks like he has a show opening  March 21 at Fuse Gallery.

Michael Leavitt
Chuck Taylor
Recycled cardboard & paper bag, glue, staples, acrylic paint
13” x 4” x 7”
Originally uploaded by Fuse Gallery, NYC

Daily fiber: Crocheted horse hat, NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade

Some horses are such good sports.

Photo from lensjockey on Flickr
Via Gothamist

Daily fiber: China Marks & Her Process

Despite my high hopes, my art making was in the shitter all weekend. My hand sewing is just not fast enough to let me realize my great big ambitious projects. I have to accept that.  So, I'm hunting around for a sewing machine that might have some embroidery capabilities, and possibly some quilting, all for $500 or under. We'll see, I'm shopping around.

I've been researching what kinds of machines other artists use, and appreciate China Marks' candid sharing of not only her machine of choice, (which happens to be a Consew 2033R industrial zig-zag sewing machine), but her process as a whole.

Also, I love her "sewn drawings," as she calls them. China Marks is also featured in the Winter 2009 Surface Design Journal, reproduced at her gallery's site, Luise Ross.

Drink Me!, 2005
China Marks
Machine appliqué and embroidery on various fabrics   31 x 33”
Originally uploaded by Luise Ross Gallery

Daily fiber (retro): That's knot art

I found an old macrame book, “Macrame Accessories: Patterns and Ideas for Knotting” by Dona Z. Meilach (1972). Macrame, all the rage in the 70s. My grandparents’ house was a testament to that – every house plant and Kleenex box was outfitted much in the same garb as these crafty hippies. Men wearing fringy vests…way to challenge those gender norms.

Related:
Daily fiber (retro): Behold the glamorous, alternative world of 1970s tie-dye