6″ on unbleached muslin framed in hoop
Stitches: back stitch, french knots, lazy-daisy (detatched chain), satin, outline
Private Collection

First in a new series of Hamsas I’m working on.  This one is already planned as a gift to a friend who collects hamsas.  The design is inspired by the henna work of a good friend who is a henna artist.

Also, this piece is the beginning of me using a new cipher to sign my work.  Names are really important to me,  and I realized that this is not the work of Carly Lesser anymore.  It really represents a shift and is part of the work of being Ketzirah.  The new cipher is a pomegranate with the Hebrew letter Kof (ק) in the center, for my Hebrew name Ketzirah.  Originally the Kof was a pictograph that symbolized a needle, which a is a super fun “coincidence.”  I can’t say that I think this is a coincidence at all, but to each her own.

I started working with round pieces recently too.  This is also a fairly intentional shift.  I’ve also taken on the moniker of Magelet, which means circle maker.  This is one way to express that part of my work in a very literal way.  The desire to work with round forms came before the concious realization of the connection.

Technorati Tags: hamsa, amulet, magelet, embroidery, henna, french knot, back stitch, chain stitch