F train couple, New Year's Day 2014

Sometimes watching people (purportedly) in love breeds hope.

Thanks, New Year's Day F train couple. You made it worth the ride to a lackluster art opening.

Sampler survey or remnants of my years of teaching at 3rd Ward

I taught embroidery at 3rd Ward starting in 2009. Over the years, I connected with hundreds of talented and creative adults from all over New York City and surrounding areas, some of whom have since taken workshops with me elsewhere, remaining important members of my artistic and teaching network. I am grateful for everything I learned from my students, and for our inspiring group conversations, critiques, and skill shares. I still have yarns an anonymous student left at the reception desk for me one day, many years after the initial donation.

Below are a few of the in-class samplers I created. Their quirkiness and inconsistencies reflect the varying requests, needs and interests of class members. Perhaps befitting historical precedents, these samplers tell their own stories...

Mauve sky for morning run: day before snowstorm Nemo

"Mauve Sky for Morning Run." 2013.
Embroidery and watercolor on fabric. 2.25" x 4.5".

@EmbroideryPoems #BrooklynTweets

Dear blog readers,

I learned a few weeks ago that I have a grant from the Brooklyn Arts Council, courtesy of the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, to collect and embroider Twitter "poetry." Yay! I am so excited!

I envision a web of interconnected tweeting between myself and poets, both self-defined and accidental, throughout Brooklyn and really everywhere. Sometime this spring or summer, I plan to have a live poetry reading with a responsive embroidery circle. The embroiderers will try to record the poets' words, but since they won't be able to stitch quickly enough, they will end up embroidering what they remember, resulting in new "found/accidental" poems.

The beauty of Twitter is in its ephemeral nature. But this ephemeral quality is exactly what I'm trying to counteract:
I find our obsession with disposable communications sad, and long for a sense of permanence and meaning. That's why I'm embroidering tweets, and also why I'm seeking writers who use Twitter to say something important to them. 

So you, yes you, blog readers, can help. Tweet me @IvivaOlenick or @EmbroideryPoems. I need you, yes, you!

One of my first embroideries for this project appears below. Thanks @postcrunk for the words, which seem to have resonated with so many people. 

Don't use Twitter? That's ok. You can follow along via my new blog for this project.

Your Heart Unfolding into Mine...

Final image - "The gentle unfolding of your heart into mine..."

My Heart, again

Embroidered Tweets and Love Notes, Saturday at 3rd Ward

Dear blog readers,

Some fun things are brewing. I recently added a whole bunch of new classes to my 3rd Ward embroidery workshops roster.

This Saturday is Embroidered Tweets and Love Notes - perfect for beginners! Sign up now via 3rd Ward's web site. The deadline to enroll is Thursday, so don't miss out!

As I mentioned, the class is this Saturday, 12/1, from 1:30-5:30 at 3rd Ward in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

Spray Kings from FiberGraf

This is the latest piece from FiberGraf, my collaboration with graffiti artist, Jon Baker. I started working with this image in 2009. I've worked on it on and off for the past 2 1/2 years, and finally feel as though it's finished. As you can see, I selected certain areas to cover with stitches, leaving others "flat" and sans embroidery.

FiberGraf Henster edited

I wasn't satisfied with the original version of this piece - I felt as though the composition was awkward and incoherent. I have added many more French knots, and bring you this final version of "FiberGraf Henster."

FiberGraf update

My FiberGraf partner, Jon Baker and I recently visited a beautiful book arts gallery in Dumbo, Central Booking. We met with artist/curator Maddy Rosenberg, who will be showing some of our work in 2011. Thanks, Maddy. We're excited about this new development.

At left is a new FiberGraf piece composed of Jon's marker on recycled envelopes, collaged together with my French knots.

Disappearing Man Makes More of an Appearance

The disappearing man is coming into view, becoming better defined, more present. I am loving working with the image...As soon as I get down to his feet, I will add in the text.

He is my dream of the love I want...although my dream definitely includes someone who is present and available the majority of the time (we all need some time away sometimes).

Long live the French knot!

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.