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.