Mizrach Sunrise, Cropped Detail

Size: 9″x12″, not including tassels
Stitch: chain, twisted chain, net stitch
Materials: Linen, DMC perle cotton

According to my blog, I started this piece somewhere around February 2008. The artwork was finished at least 6 months ago, but it sat in a drawer waiting for me to be motivated/inspired to do the “finishing” work. I’m a notorious procrastinator about doing finishing work. Usually it’s fear related. I’m so afraid of making a mistake and ruining a piece that’s taken months of work to complete.

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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

This has been finished for a while, but I didn’t have any good pictures of it.

The work is done in the Tambour Stitch style, but with a standard embroidery needle. I used DMC Perle Cotton for this, which gave it a really nice texture.

It’s available for purchase at my shop on Etsy.

Technorati Tags: embroidery, judaica, tambour stitch, original design, pomegranates, challah cover

Size: 2.25″ H X 3.5″L X .75″ D
Materials: Linen, Cotton, Modeling Compound, Altoids Tin
Stitches: Running, Colonial Knot, French Knot, Sheaf, Algerian Eyelet, Fly
Status: Available on Etsy

This is the first in my series of altered Altoids boxes. I’ve developed a bit of an addiction to the chocolate covered and sours, and decided I needed to do something with the boxes!

The Altoids tin is covered with a hand embroidered cover featuring an original design. The artwork on the cover is intended to represent the scent of the spices swirling through the air. The stitches include running stitch in bright blue, white, pink, and green; french & colonial knots, sheaf stitch, seed stitches, and fly stitches. The edging was created using a heated modeling compound with which I cut an “egg and dart” border.

The box is filled with my own blend of spices which includes bay leaves, rose hips, rose petals, cinnamon, cardamom, and citrus. The sweet and spicy scent is sure to return your soul to you after Shabbat!

Altoids is a registered trademark of Callard & Bowser.

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Size: 8.5″ X 8″
Materials: Wool Felt, Linen, Cotton , Organza Ribbon
Stitches: Running, Satin, Ribbon, Long/Short, Stem, French Knot
Status: Available on Etsy

I’ve been working on this piece for more than 6-months. It began as a 6×4 and then grew into a wall hanging. The name comes from the question everyone asks when they see the piece, “Where’s the snake?” The answer is simple — the snake is gone and Chava (Eve) stands alone. This is the moment just before she makes her decision to eat.

Chava Decides
This is my decision. This is my first decision.
Do I eat and allow my mind and body to grow,
Knowing it will bring death into the world…
Or live in ignorance?

As I wrote in an earlier post about this piece, “the snake is not present, because the focus is on her decision. In my midrash Chava makes a choice, she is not tricked by the snake. She listens to the snake and then does something she’s never done — she makes a decision on her own — thereby beginning history (herstory, if you like).”

Technorati Tags: etsy, chava, eve, judaism, feminism, midrash, pomegranate. fiber art, textile art, needlework, judaica