Lovely World

golden

The first photo is of a small embroidery (about the size of a placemat) that I found at a house sale this past summer. It has been sitting on my work table, and I examine it often. It is so pretty the way it is, yet I bought it with the thought that I would cut it up and use it in my own textile sculptures. I'll have to be very sure of myself before I take scissors to it.

The other photo is of one of my lions. I have made 3 lions so far, and they each have a unique personality. Interesting how the particular stretch of the fabric, or the fashion in which I happened to sew a seam, creates a different face, even though I use the same pattern.

I so love making textile sculptures. I have so many populating my work room. I have sold some - to people in my community, as well as others including in other countries. But, I have not struck upon the best way to find an audience. I have found that the creative part comes freely from me, the marketing not so much.

Lots of projects this week: sewing, knitting, cooking. Thanksgiving, Hanukah, and a sweet niece turns 16. It seems like yesterday when I witnessed her birth, which occurred during my first year of midwifery training. A whole lifetime ago!

❀ Maribeth

stitched portraits

 

 

 

Settling into the colder, darker time here in New England. Spending more time with my sewing. Our three cats roam about my work room, mostly behaving themselves, although I have to watch them carefully as they tend to like the ribbons, string, and yarn that populates my storage baskets. 

I've started making some bust portraits. Lots of embroidered details, which are a soothing and contemplative process to stitch. This past spring I bought a box full of small wooden chairs, each about 4 inches tall, from a local artist who is moving to New Mexico. I believe she made them for some sort of installation. I find them the perfect match for mounting these busts. 

Thanksgiving and Hanukah both next week. Looking forward to meals and celebration with family and friends. Hope you are too. 

❀ Maribeth

textiles, with a touch of imperfection

:: My mother gave me two vintage linen tote bags: one with peacocks done in a knot stitch, the other a border motif in cross stitch. They are both so well executed. I can see a few "extra" stitches on the cross stitch. You can too if you look carefully.

:: These extra stitches remind me of the Japanese concept of Wabi-sabi, which in general means the acceptance of imperfection and transience. How freeing is that, particularly set next to some of the Western ideas about beauty and perfection?

:: Here are some other words I came across to describe the qualities of Wabi-sabi: simplicity, economy, austerity, asymmetry, modesty, irregularity, and appreciation of natural objects and processes.

:: I one time made some Raku pottery. In Raku, the vessels are fired at a low temperature. When you remove them from the kiln, they are immediately submerged in cold water (traditionally maybe even tea water!) or smothered in material, such as sawdust, which catches on fire and then finally cools. This dramatic process from hot to cool causes very unexpected, uncontrollable results: crackling of the glaze, marks from the smoke and fire. Raku is a very good example of Wabi-sabi in action.

:: I also like to think about Jazz music and the quilts I have seen made by African American women (see here and here). Improvisation leaves lots of room for imperfection and happy accidents.

artful stone swap

I recently participated in the Artful Stone Swap hosted by the ever lovely Nicole of Garden Mama. I enjoyed this swap very much, both the making and the receiving.

I covered my stones in a coat of embroidered cotton and duponi silk.

As I began to receive the stones from my swap partners, I realized that I had neglected an integral part of the project: picking a word to accompany the stone. The words shine, peace, and potential arrived with the stones in my mailbox, along with the most lovely letters explaining why the women had chosen these words. I am now in the process of planning a second mailing to send my word.

And why did I neglect this detail? I am too busy, and I was especially busy over the last couple of weeks as I got ready for the Twist Fair. I become scattered when I am too busy, unable to absorb anything. I have begun to look at the ways I am over-scheduled with responsibilities (and my family as well). There must be a better way.

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My have listed a number of new things in my etsy shop, Lovely World Handmade.

Go and have a look, I hope you enjoy.

this and that

Stitching some felt brooches.

The TWIST Fair is just over a month away. Wondering what else I want to make to bring with me.

The frost has come to our valley. It was so heavy on the grass this morning that my children thought it had snowed. Very exciting for them, but I am sad for the loss of the flower garden.

The monthly craft lab I belong to met last night. We dyed silk scarves, exploring the Shibori dyeing technique. We won't know what our finished projects look like for several days as they have to be fully dry before we remove them from the tubes they are wound around. Very fun to have something that is not immediate in this culture of constant immediate gratification.

polar bear

I made my first polar bear a while back. This is my second go at my pattern and I am very happy with how it turned out. I have been working out embellishments for my animals. I want them to have a bit of quiet fantasy about them, but I don't want them to become overly "precious." This bear has a blanket made of silk, with hand embroidery. There is a pale pink velvet ribbon encircling the belly, holding the blanket in place. I wish that showed better in these photos.

While making it I began to think about Iorek Byrnison, the great armored bear that befriends Lyra in "The Golden Compass." Wouldn't it be great to design and make bear armor? Something for later.

Hope your week is pleasant. Thank you all for the positive comments about the birds. I have made some more, and enjoy making them. x Maribeth

in process

I have been settling into some satisfying craft work. I will definitely be doing the Northampton Twist Craft Fair in November, so am building up some inventory. I am also hoping to finally put some more things in my etsy shop.

The kids go back to school early next week. I think they are ready. I know I will do well with a more predictable schedule. The summer has been very much a by-the-seat-of-your-pants time. Every day a little different. That embroidery in the final photo has been my motto of sorts.

A lovely breeze has blown in some of the best weather of the season. No humidity, warm sun. I harvested basil (for pesto) and some of the late raspberries today. My son and I taste-tested the apples from our three apple trees. I think the deer like them best. Tomorrow we head to the Cummington Fair. The last hurrah to summer.

PS. The needlecase with the embroidered rabbit is from Tiny Happy (Thanks Melissa!).

fish

 

 
This fish continues my efforts to craft sea creatures in honor of all those creatures that have been threatened by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Thankfully, the oil has supposedly stopped gushing from the broken well. But, there seems to be an eerie uncertainty concerning the long term consequences of the spill on that region. Also, I wonder whether the momentum to find alternatives to fossil fuels slows as the drama of the spill lessens. Time will tell on both of these fronts.

This fish is made of duponi silk. The fins are hand embroidered. The belly is embellished with crocheted rings. It is about 12" long. With all the stitching and crocheting, it took me a long time to finish. But, such is the case with the first time I make most anything. I will make a crochet loop to attach to the back, as I think this will look best hanging.

Hope your weekend is a lovely as the one we are having here in the Berkshires. X Maribeth

give-away for you

To thank all the folks who come to this space and share such kind words, I am having a New Year's give-away!

Here is what is included in the give-away:

 

1. A copy of Rashida Coleman-Hale's brand new book "I Love Patchwork: 21 Irresistable Zakka Projects to Sew." This is a lovely book, with beautifully designed projects and easy to follow directions. I was happy to see that she included a pattern for her popular Blossom Pincushion. I have had my eye on them in her shop for a while, and now I can make my own. Rashida blogs at I Heart Linen. Check her out.

2. An embroidered felt brooch hand sewn by me. It features a mellow red and blue flower garden on an ivory background.

If you would like to be included in the give-away, please leave a comment on this post. I will close the comments and draw the name of the winner Wednesday morning 1/6/10, at 9:00 AM. International friends - I will ship to you as well, so please join in!

hospital-bound handwork

My son spent the last two days back in the hospital for bleeding after his tonsillectomy. Time stands still when you are in a hospital, particularly with a child. We are exhausted, but very glad to be home. Bleeding is a potential complication of a tonsillectomy, but of course we had hoped it wouldn't happen to Adam.

I had begun some new embroidered felt brooches last week. The stitching was quiet and I could do it with Adam hanging out on my lap. When we ended up back at the hospital, I needed a portable project to keep me busy as I sat for the long hours on the Pediatric ward. I was able to finish up a bunch of the brooches and I am very happy with them. As many of you have probably noticed, I am partial to animal imagery (and nature themes in general) for creative work. I also like circus imagery.

The bottom photo shows an 1870s watercolor, "Man Feeding a Bear an Ear of Corn," by an unknown artist. I found it in the book "The Flowering of American Folk Art." It inspired the brooch I made with the black bear and red ball.

Two notes:

** I plan to list some of these brooches and others in my etsy shop shortly, so keep an eye out for the update.

** The little mushroom I have been using as a portable pin cushion (shown in photo above) is a pin sent to me by Fanja of Le Train Fantome when I ordered one of her Lumi dolls.