Danny Mansmith I

I am beginning to wonder what is in the water in Chicago that this city is making all these incredible male textile artists. Ok, I only know of two so far in Chicago, but even so their work is so phenomenal, that the fact they are both from the same city is astounding. I am talking about the artist Danny Mansmith who shares his city with one of my hero's Nick Cave. Stitching 10 hours a day by the time he left high school, Danny naturally went to art school but this was short lived as it was too constraining. Danny's work is so prolific it is difficult to summarise, the few examples I have chosen are free machine embroidery pieces, resembling sashiko in the intensity of stitch. Danny also produces lots of cut out pieces and an amazing cast of figures/dolls.

The Circus . . . has come to town

At last it is all finished and ready to post tomorrow. Textiles are so under appreciated as an art form. I love to work in this media but it is a slow process, requiring incredible patients, there is no rush even when there is one and no short cuts.
Now it is time to relax and get ready for a new week and a new project.
This piece has been created for an exhibition called Tactile in Alloa, where visitors will be encouraged to touch the work. I wanted bunting not only for the colour, but also for that ragged prayer flag feeling. I am therefore hoping that the work will improve by being touched.

Circus

Busy, busy, busy at the moment new term, and an exhibition piece to finish. This is a piece of work called Circus that I am hoping to submit for a textile exhibition called tactile. I have to sashiko the whole piece, frame it and add extras . . .

Books, Books, Books II

Above: some pages from my textile Sketch Book
Inspired by the wonderful textile book of Louise Bourgeois, I have started my own, for fun and as an example for my textile students.

I am loving it as I don't know how anything is going to turn out, so I have the naive pleasure of innocent creation for creations sake . . . long may it continue.

Ice Cream Van's

Here are my ice cream van's (work in progress). I'm really excited about these, and as you can see I am enjoying my purchase from Beyond fabric's too.

Sashiko Workshop with Sara Keith

Above: Sara's samplers, below: equipment

I have had a fantastic day with some wonderful people in Glasgow, learning the rudiments of Sashiko Embroidery at a workshop at the Collins Gallery with Sara Keith. We also had great access to the current Sashiko exhibition which runs until the 10th of April.

Sashiko by Nicole Carlson

Nicole Carlson makes wonderful beach glass inspired rings. However I think these stunning indigo sashiko embroideries by Nicole are just fantastic.