I’m very excited that the theme for the latest PHAT Quarter swap is one I can get into.  Despite how busy I am, I decided that I really wanted to participate.  Part of the challenge for me is coming up with a design I can execute within the short time-frame of the swap.

The theme of the swap is:

COMICS/CARTOON. Basically anything with text relating to an image, original or interpretation. You can interpret that as narrowly or widely as you like!

I’m a comic book geek so at first I thought I’d grab an iconic frame from something in my collection, but nothing was really speaking to me.  So I broadened my concept to the text/image but not comic book.

Concept 1

I love the Alice in Wonderland designs that Urban Threads has done, so I thought I might do something with that — which is where Concept 1 comes from.   The girl is my crappy sketch of the Urban Threads Alice,  which I would use if I did this one. This concept is kind of half-baked.  The layout isn’t even close yet.  The quote is from a book of poetry that my Great-Aunt and Uncle gave me when I was a kid.  I still have the book.

All my friends seem to like this design the best, so even if I don’t do this for the swap, I may do it and give it away!

Concept 2
Most of my work is spiritual in nature, so I wanted to at least try and come up with something I would have done anyway for the swap. I do like to mix things up and just do some fun stuff from time to time, which is what Concept 1 is all about.

This concept is a visualization of the following quote:

“The water conceived and gave birth to darkness.
The Fire conceived and gave birth to light.
The wind conceived and gave birth to wisdom.
The earth conceived and gave birth to life.” (Adapted from Genesis Rabbah 13:3 by RK’Jill Hammer)

The cool thing is I could do this piece in English or Hebrew.  Also, I didn’t want the piece to be so overtly spiritual that the recipient couldn’t enjoy it at face value.  I’m still working on the imagery options for light. I did some additional sketches that had a sunrise and lightening bolts.

I think this is clearly the stronger of the two designs, which makes sense. Mr. X Stitch, who runs the PHAT Quarter group voted for this one as my swap entry.  So did my awesome husband, Art.

Life Begins Now - a work in progress

Almost done!!!!!  Finally after nine months of work, I’m almost done. The entire canvas has now been filled with chain stitches, twisted chains, and french knots.

I’ve used probably 20-30 skeins of variegated ecru perle cotton floss.  I’ve done hundreds and hundreds of french knots.

The final step will be to balance it all out and add the rest of the color "sparks."  I’m still planning on doing that in stainless steel silk to give it even more texture.

Sketch for a kippah design I’m working on.  I need to move the name over a bit so it sits just a little more nestled in the tree, but other than than I rather like it.  I’m not sure how it will look on someone’s head.  I still have to think about that.

I’m wondering if the roots would go in the front (at forehead) or if the roots would be at the back of the head?  I guess I could leave that up to the wearer.

[update: 5/1/2010]
[update: 4/25/2010]
[update: 3/13/2010]

This is the first stages of a new piece created in tribute to my Kohenet sister Yosefa.  I drew this the morning before I left for her funeral.  The piece isn’t about grief, it’s about all the color Yosefa brought to the world.  The floss on the left side is a gorgeous variegated cotton floss from the Caron Collection.  I bought it at the best embroidery shop in the DC area, which is still a haul from my house.  When I actually get down there I stock up on all kinds of fun things.  But I digress…

I’m planning on continuing with the tambour-stitch style I’ve been working in, but really stepping things up and doing some serious surface embellishment.  I feel inspired by the work of Sharon B. and her “Sumptuous Surfaces” class.  I haven’t taken it (yet), but I’m already inspired.  So I’ll start with the tambour style, but mix it up after that.

Anyone who knew Yosefa would understand this.  She was an amazingly colorful, highly textured person.  Here’s a tribute with one of my favorite pictures of Yosefa.  I don’t know what I’ll do with the final piece.  If the Seattle Women’s Tattoo Forum, which she co-founded, has their art show again next year I may see if I can donate it to them.

I’ve become really fascinated by Habu Textiles stainless steel silk yarns.

I first saw it in action at Artomatic this year when my friend Rania had incorporated some into her amazing mixed-media artwork. She told me about how amazing it was, but I wasn’t sure that I could work with it because I’m not a knitter. I started playing with some ideas and finally gave in and bought some.

I’m experimenting with “net stitch” vessels. My stitch work here is kind of messy, because the stuff is hard to get used to. Even so, I’m really happy with this experiment. I love that it’s so sculptural. I think I’m going to invest in more and use it as part of the final work on “Life Begins Now,” because I really want that to have a sculptural quality.

For a knitter the thread is probably expensive, but considering how little I used for this experiment — it’s not too bad for me!  I purchased my first batch from Purl Soho, and it arrived very quickly and the colors were exactly as I expected.  I love their blog, so I’m happy to be able to support them through a purchase finally!  The fabric is scrap from my favorite linen from Scarlet Letter.  I’m pretty sure it’s the “golden flax” evenweave.

Oh, if you are looking for more inspiration on how to use this amazing yarn — check out Flickr.  There’s tons of pictures of what people have been doing with it.   Stainless Steel Silk on Flickr.

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