What I’ve been doing

Here’s a snippet of The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

a crewel embroidery I’ve been working on for over a year now.

Layers of Meaning

Serena Fenton’s Layers of Meaning is a truly fine blog. I’m shamed for not having posted since October here, and beginning to wonder if I should re-think my intentions in blogging, but more on that later.

For interesting content on visual work from a textile sensibility, go visit L o M.

Well-behaved Women Seldom Make History by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

 

Christine de Pizan at Her Computer was published recently as an illustration in Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History. This was honor enough in itself, but the passage she wrote (and in the final pages!) feels like a tribute to the work. You’ll have to get your own copy of the text, since I won’t publish what she wrote without permission here, except for “A woman who writes her own stories has no fear of demons, Yaeger’s emblem seems to say. That is an idea worth contemplating.”

The book itself, as described on the jacket, is a celebration of “a renaissance in history, inspired by amateurs, activists and professional historians.” It’s a delightful, quick read; how can it be rich and light at the same time? You can bounce around in it without getting lost and I’m not quite sure why this is so, but I have a feeling it’s the skill of the writer combined with extensive scholarship.

Where’s my custom header, wordpress?

Here’s what the missing header looks like:

Recently Commissioned Merit Badges

When Shelley Savage Caw turned 40, her family decided that my merit badges would be a great way to help her celebrate. I created these two pieces:

Ovaries:

Shelley’s Grey Hair:

for a woman with one of the loveliest heads of salt-and-pepper hair I’ve seen. Thanks to the Savage family for thinking of this one.

In 2006, I was asked to create a hysterectomy merit badge. At the time I couldn’t believe that I had never thought of this one, but it was in fact missing from my series of merit badges. I intend to include every significant event that could be seen as a female rite of passage, and will continue to create images like this. I appreciate being reminded that there are many life events that deserve to be celebrated or commemorated through my work. Here is Hysterectomy, stitched in 2006:

Pablo’s Baby

Here is my latest embroidery, Pablo’s Baby:

This is embroidery #2 in what will be a series of images depicting the babies of some well-known painters.

Not so sure about “not counted or crossed.” after-school programs for teens

I’m taking a second look at my “policy” about “no needlepoint here.” Actually, I love needlepoint, and would love to stitch a high-quality William Morris/Henry Dearle kit, like The Forest. I think these kits by Beth Russell are so tempting, but God forbid that I, a trained designer and artist should stoop to buying one, no matter how lovely they are. The whole William Morris and arts and crafts thing is one of my passions, so I have been sneaking around the designs, trying to adapt them in some way to my purposes.

I’m currently seeking to get involved in some kind of after-school program for teens that involves craft, and one of the first things that came to mind was needlepoint. I think this was because I remember how comforting and trouble-freeing it was to do when I was that age. I would come home from school and just sit for an hour or two, completely absorbed but in a mindless, pleasurable way. It was relief from all the confusion and anxiety of that time.

So I’m saying, bring on any craft project, preferably not messy, so it can be done anywhere, that will be fun for teens and parents to do, together. I’d like to open up this space to that.

“Stroud in Stitches” Exhibition and Sale

I hope the exhibition of the Stroud Embroiderers Guild is as strong as their promotional pictures. I especially like the work here of Ann Vick. [via Beadworkers Guild of GB]

Alzheimers Plaques from “Designs for Life”

The following text is displayed with this panel from “Designs for Life“:

“Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain. Scientists have identified microscopic structures in the brains of sufferers called ‘plaques.’ This panel shows four plaques which are formed when clumps of protein accumulate around nerve cells. The embroidery around the plaques reflects the symptoms of the disease notably confusion,loss of memory and agitation.”

This panel was created by the Stoke Lyne and Bucknell chapters of the Womens Institute.

 

 

Brueghel Video

Thanks, Moderato, for the video of Brueghel paintings and music of Guillaume de Machaut. I also see you have some great links that I’ll have to check out soon.

From the 16th century, and yet it always seems so vibrant and alive.