Vasalisa in stages...

Featuring free machine embroidery, running stitch, stem stitch, satin stitch and wonky cross stitch.

Never a truer word spoken.

From here.

Vasalisa mood board

For sitandknitabit as part of the 100 events for International Women's Day, I am creating an embroidery based on the story of Vasalisa. Her is a sneak peak at the mood boards I have made. Lots of rich textures and colours.

100 million stitches...

These granny squares are going to be part of something huge. They are destined to be part of sitandknitabit 100 million stitches. Only one week left to get stitching!

Love and Freedom with Dirk Bell

A computer game where by collecting Love and Freedom causes a star to shine brighter. This dreamy romantic idea is brought to life in Dirk Bell's Merkaba.
Thirty six neon tubes connect via a mass of wires to a laptop, and you are in charge. Is this a statement on enlightenment? Religion? Consumerism? I'm not sure.
Bell's metal structures spell out the words you want to cherish, combining warm words with cold steel. Whilst his paintings of intense eyes stare down on you. Are these the all seeing evangelical eyes or is it our own eyes searching for something that isn't there?
A very thought provoking exhibition at the Modern Institute.

Telling Stories

On Sunday we had a wander down to the Market Gallery. This is a little gem on Duke Street. The current exhibition is entitled telling stories, looking at graphic artists and fine artists who use storytelling and narrative to construct their own worlds. I particularly enjoyed those pieces that brought a little bit of Glasgow to life. From Stuart Murray's folk that ye bump intae, to Mitch Milller's amazingly detailed Red Road dialectogram. I liked the eerie imagery of Sorcha Edward's work. It was great to see work from Penny Sharp & Heather Middleton, two contributors to Team Girl Comic. This is a Glasgow based all-female comic collective, that features work from artists of a variety of backgrounds. I'd brought a couple of editions recently at the very lovely Plan B Books. With such taglines as 'indie boys: What they really think' and 'perverts: can you spot 'em?' It is a great read & hopefully it will encourage more women to get involved in comics.
In a related theme, my uncle has just put some of his comics that he wrote in the early 90's on-line. Check out his Super-Zeroes!

New Tracey Emin Tapestry

I was excited to hear that West Dean Tapestry studio is working on creating one of Tracey Emin's paintings in to a tapestry. Tracey Emin divides people, I'm in the love her camp, not least because she has an 'e' in her name - like all great Tracey's! Her work is brutal at times, personal, painful, but always so refreshingly honest. I am a big fan of her quilts, applique letters on kitsch fabrics, inner most thoughts told.

Tracey Emin - I do not expect to be a mother, 2002

I am reminded of Tilleke Schwarz's embroideries. In 2008 there was a Emin retrospective at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh. Inspired by my visit, I created my very own take on an Emin quilt. This was pb (pre-blog!) so I shall share it now. Hand stitched in felt and cottons.

Colour me bad...

MONO is a free paper which has visual essays. I picked up Issue #3 last week, featuring 18 Unassisted Readymades by John Stezaker. These were unmanipulated images from the golden age of Hollywood. I couldn't help but give them a revamp, not by cutting and pasting like many of Stezaker's pieces, but by adding a little colour.
A bad case of 'red eye' there!

I want a wine drinking badger!

Yesterday was Mr Crafty's birthday. I must share the card I gave him featuring a tipsy badger! It was from the illustrator and textile designer Sophie Parker.

Her designs are beautiful, combining fair isle inspired patterns with animals. Check out her shop on Folksy here.

Down at Fraggle Rock...

Sunday was the loop sitandknitabit fundraiser at Stereo.
I got to drop off these squares.
I got to have a knit and a drink.
I saw this little creature on the stairs.
I watched some great bands.
I admired some lovely decorations.
And attempted to teach Mr Crafty to knit - the lesson learnt is that Guinness + knitting don't mix!
For more photos see here.

The Inventors of Tradition

Scottish textiles are more than tartans, tweeds and Fair Isle knits. A huge textile industry was once based in Scotland. Names such as Pringle, Mackintosh and Ballantyne were synonymous with luxury, and renowned worldwide. This exhibition from Panel and Atelier celebrates this heritage. Archive film footage is shown alongside promotional materials, artists sketches and knitwear. A row of Mackintosh coats line the centre of the room.
The usefulness of this item really hits home in rainy Glasgow, and its range is shown with the standard issue work coat of British Rail sitting side by side designers such as Katherine Hamnett. Complex intarsia knitting patterns, carpet patterns and Singer factory memorabilia are present. Scarves adorn tapestry heads by Elizabeth Radcliffe, with amazing texture detail.
Atelier have created a new collection which fits perfectly in the show, and a book to accompany will follow later in the year.

Doodle...

Star constellations or atomic structures?
Or just plain doodles?

Sew & Sew...

I told my mum & nan about the sitandknitabit 100 million stitches project (who in turn told my nan's neighbour). And at the weekend I went down to MK on a visit and came away with almost 50 squares! Having volunteered myself to help sew up the squares one day in March I thought I'd get a head start on this bounty!
For anyone in the Glasgow area there is a fundraising event for the project at the lovely Stereo on Sunday. There will be cake, music & knitting - what more could you possibly want?

Seascapes, Iona & Cadell...

At the Hunterian Art Gallery I was drawn to a painting of the sea - white sands, hills in the distance, calming and picturesque. On closer inspection, I realised why the view looked so familiar - I had been there! The Scottish Colourist, Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell (1883 - 1937) visited Iona each summer to paint.

Cadell - Iona c.1923-25
Hunterian Art Gallery, Glasgow

Cadell - Ben More from Iona c.1913
Hunterian Art Gallery, Glasgow

I think he captures the tranquility of the island perfectly and I am transported back to my trip there last summer.