Thanks, Patsy Kay Kolesar

Many thanks to Patsy Kay Kolesar, jewelry designer, who wrote a lovely blog piece about my embroidery and this blog. You can read her commentary here.

Patsy found my work through Etsy.

Holiday Art Fairs

It's holiday season, and in addition to food binges and parties, it's time for Holiday art exhibits and fairs. Here are some places where you can catch my artwork, including pieces like the one at left:

1. Shop Art Holiday Group Show - December 2-31

51 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY

F/G train to Bergen

Click here for web site and more info

2. Center for Book Arts 2009 Holiday Gift Fair - 

Friday 12/11-Saturday 12/12

The Center for Book Arts

28 West 27th Street, 3rd Floor

Friday night is a preview party with $10 admission. I have a few tickets, so if you're interested in music, food, and great book arts, please contact me.

Friday 12/11 6-9pm

Saturday 12 noon - 7pm FREE admission

3. My Etsy shop! That's right. Some finds on good, old Etsy: IvivaEmbroiders.etsy.com.

Happy holidays to all!

Intro to Embroidery

If you are in the NYC area and would like an introductory crash course on embroidery, I am teaching a 3-hour workshop on Tuesday, May 19 from 6:30-9:30pm at Etsy at 3rd Ward in Bushwick, Brooklyn. For details, visit 3rd Ward's web site.

Aphorisms

In addition to the 8.5" high by 5" wide pages I have been posting here, I have created a series of snippets of conversations, which I think of as embroidered "post-it notes." They capture synapses in thought in how we relate to each other in this new era of romantic and sexual entanglements.

Many of these are available for sale on Etsy:
www.IvivaEmbroiders.etsy.com.

When the Shoe Doesn't Fit

I've tried on and run in many pairs of sneakers, just as I've tried out many men. I am not sure in which area I have done more research.

"When the Shoe Doesn't Fit," finished piece at right, says:
"My slow accumulation of boyfriends, like pairs of running sneakers. Some hurt and were hardly worn. I hoped some would mold, magically, to my feet. Others, I ran in blissfully. I held on as long as they held up. Now, after years of waiting for the other shoe to drop, I know to try on many pairs until I find one I won't want to take off. I know when to say no, even if it hurts. And I am learning how to slow down."

As for learning to slow down, I am picking up speed and mileage.

The drawings at left, my study for the finished piece at right, are from an embroidery class I taught at Etsy Labs in Brooklyn last spring. After my students practiced French knots (see right-hand image), which require small, tight movements, there were sighs of frustration. To loosen up, I had my students do a continuous line drawing of one of my sneakers. This exercise is like a game where you continue drawing and do not pick up your pen until I say stop. I participated, too, and later went home and added more sneakers.

To sign up for an embroidery class: Etsy at 3rd Ward in Bushwick, Brooklyn:
http://www.3rdward.com/classes/spring/etsyward see Extraordinary Embroidery.
Next one is Saturday, April 11, 12noon-3pm.