Chain stitch links us together

"we are links in the same chain"

Oh, Facebook. We never met, but...

"Visual assault of your Facebook
photos the morning after we
didn't meet. Your flimsy excuses
and unrepentant arrogance.

"Piecing him together from
Facebook and OkCupid photos.
We never met, yet I almost ended
up at his apt one night..."

Embroidery, watercolor, and
appliqué. 2013. 6" x 4.5"

Another piece for my December 13th show with Muriel Guepin Gallery. Stay tuned for opening reception and exhibition details!

Dad knows best, part 1

Thanks, Dad for this tweet-length poem.

"Like a Earthquake" (borrowed text)

It wasn't love at first sight in Prospect Heights

Prospect Heights love story as told by a friend now living with her husband and two kids in Flatbush, Brooklyn. When she and her husband met, she lived in Prospect Heights with a roommate (who is a good friend of mine).

"I remember the first time he cooked for me. It was maybe our third date, and I felt taken care of, like I was home.

He cooked spaghetti with an instant Japanese sauce pack, which was funny for two reasons:

1) the flavor was gorgonzola, which I don't like, and

2) I didn't know it at the time, but he's a great cook without having to lean on mixes, so I'm not sure why he used one then.

Maybe he wasn't trying hard to impress. He's cooked me countless meals since then, but that was the first time I thought he might be a keeper.

My love overflows

This weekend was the holiday gift fair at the Center for Book Arts, a wonderful laboratory focusing on artist books located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. I met some artists who run their own presses, and saw some great work. I also had the opportunity to share my work with many enthusiastic visitors. Thanks to everyone who came out, signed my mailing list, purchased a little something, and expressed interest in my work.

I also woke up super early this morning with phrases running through my head, asking to be embroidered. This newest piece says:

"I'm brimming over with love for you. My desire overflows." 

My idea of romance

I hope this one gets a few laughs, although, I really do feel this way.

Prey

Cleaning my apartment recently, I found this old piece. I must have made it about four years ago. At the time, I was starting to stitch excerpts from conversations, many from dates, onto fabric, but had not yet considered this the start of a more serious project. 

I like the idea of "reviving" work that has been sitting idle for so many years.

You're my main meal

"I want you to be my main meal. Not just a side dish. Not even dessert.

Many people dream of getting married. I dream about running. Will you be my one and only pair of sneakers?"

Hand stitched on antique lace (see Antique fabric and what I'm dreaming of post).

Same Spool of Thread

We Are from the Same Spool of Thread. 2009. embroidery on fabric. 4.75" X 8.25".

I think this man has an incredibly sweet face, and while he  looks 10 years younger than me, his spirit of openness and availability is what I am looking for in a partner. He also seems like he's in pretty good shape (that is always a bonus in a partner).

The text on his body says:

my smile never fades or tires

we are done with dating doldrums

When you're around, all of my hopes are possible. Birds sing and the sun shines.

Our love is an endless warp-you are the warp and I am the weft.

We are an endless spool of thread.

We are interlaced and interwoven.

We are from the same spool of thread.

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.