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...

Latest embroidered selfie + look out for more images of new work...

Back Stitch Embroidery Tutorial - My awkward pauses made less awkward by the video and motions graphics work of John Pitts

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.

Caroline Mak: Scabs, Bandages and Skeletons

Last night, I visited Newark, NJ for the Newark Out of Doors art walk and festival. I stopped by Gallery Aferro, where I fell in love with the stitched orange peels and distressed and reconstituted paper towel roll in Caroline Mak's installation, "Scabs, Bandages and Skeletons." I recommend a quick trip on the Path train to see this work.

If you live in Brooklyn, check out Caroline's site specific installation at the Brooklyn Arts Council.

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.