Textile Tuesdays : #16 - William Morris

I knew who William Morris was way before I knew who he was. Like Impressionist painters, his influence and style had shown up in historic homes on school field trips, on wrapping paper and tablecloths and it was part of the backdrop of design in my world. When I moved to London, I knew a little bit about him and the Arts and Crafts Movement that he started, but I still had not looked closely at his life or work. I had not examined it from the perspective of a textile artist.

Being in London was the perfect opportunity to embrace textile design from its rich and dramatic history to its contemporary trends and technologies. It was 2001, I was about to turn 40, and it was the point in time when I decided to give up my career as a social worker and commit to my passion for fiber arts, textile design, and sewing. I decided to make textiles the focus of that year. I even wrote a book about it that I still have failed to get published. One of my heros and inspirations was William Morris.

I went and saw his works at the Victoria and Albert Museum. I got a book about him for Christmas and devoured the whole thing. There were three landmarks related to his life that I wanted to go to: Elm House (where he was born and which is now a William Morris museum), Woodford Hall (where he grew up in the Epping Forrest) apparently only a memorial plaque now, and Merton Abbey (where the print works were).

For lack of determination, energy and a good raincoat, I found it difficult to tackle all the adventures that were possible in that year. Somewhere between finding my way around, making friends, shlepping two small children to and from school on foot, researching, writing, and being a tourist, I ended the year with those places on my "next time" list. I did manage to go to the W.M. museum two years later and it was small but magical. The other two are still waiting but I don't think they are going anywhere.

Morris was inspired by designs in nature. Flowers and animals figure greatly in his work. At a time when the industrial revolution was booming, he and his cohorts advocated and lived by a philosophy of simplicity, connection to the earth, and fulfillment through working with ones hands. This was the Arts and Crafts Movement. His talents were applied to practical, tactile arts such as book printing, home decor textiles and wall paper, and ceramic tiles and pottery. He was political and published writings on his social philosophies.

He was successful in selling his products to wealthy home owners and his designs were bought and reproduced by Liberty of London. Liberty is still using many of these designs which are now classics. One of the most famous is "The Strawberry Thief" with birds and strawberries. He was influenced by Indian and Asian arts as well as Medieval art and style.

Above are some images of works inspired by or incorporating William Morris' designs. There is also a photo of the W.M. museum. From the top: The museum; a beautiful embroidery based on a W.M. design by Hands of Hope on etsy; a handmade journal by Straw House Books on etsy; a knitting bag made of W.M. print fabric by 1Elephant on etsy; The Strawberry Thief, by W.Morris off google images; The dude himself.

William Morris was a true artist who believed in the importance of beauty and creativity in everyday life. He valued crafts such as embroidery, print-making and pottery as much, if not more than, so called "fine art". He had a whole community of friends, philosophers and artisans that he worked with and with whom he created a movement. His life and work are an inspiration to me.

Life in a Southwestern Mountain Town #6

Wednesday night I went and heard Spike Lee at the local University. It snowed and rained all afternoon and I was weighing the possibility that it might be too dangerous to go out at night. The temperature hovered at around 36 degrees, so none of it stuck and the roads did not become icy. I figured the airport would be open if Mr. Lee were flying in that day.

My friend Lisa had organized the whole event, working on the invitation, contract negotiations, dates, details, etc. She works for an institute on campus whose mission is to educate about the holocaust and genocide, and to foster tolerance and moral courage. Every year, she brings someone in on Holocaust Remembrance Day. In the past, she has brought Paul Rasasabagina and Art Spiegelman . This year it was Spike Lee. He was supposed to be talking on the topic of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation caused to the people of New Orleans. He made a film about it.

He didn't talk about that at all. He didn't really have a prepared talk and I think more than a few people were annoyed by that. Instead, he seemed to be having a friendly, almost grandfatherly, talk about his life, about what mattered to him, and about what got him to where he is today. He talked about following your dreams and how things that might seem to be a roadblock can actually turn out to be the thing that sets you going in the right direction.

I actually, really enjoyed the whole thing. I was relieved and pleased that he had taken such a warm, open approach with the audience. I appreciated the non-linear, story-like approach that he used to get his points across. After all, he is an artist and a visual person. Maybe I liked it because my own style is to go about things circuitously, or maybe it is my Irish genes and heritage that like to see the weaving of a good tale. I generally enjoy it when the meaning of something is implied with examples and left somewhat to individual interpretation rather than a bullet point that is shoved in your face.

At the end, he took questions from the audience and was very patient with people and their inability to formulate a reasonable question. One woman seemed like she was expecting to engage in therapy with him in front of the entire auditorium. A young man started the inevitable political soap boxing tirade.

But the best one was a young freshman student who started by saying that before last week, he had never heard of Spike Lee! Everyone gasped and groaned. Even Spike Lee was taken aback. He said, "not even my TV commercials?" But the young man was calm and polite and he said that he had explored some of his movies to get ready for the talk and that he really liked it and had really enjoyed getting to see Mr. Lee. Spike said thanks, and I think it might have actually turned out to be a highlight for him. I imagine him thinking that it is a good thing to not always preach to the choir. By coming to a small town in Arizona, he might have been out of his element, but he opened the eyes of at least one young white boy and maybe helped us get one step closer to the "post-race" society that he said is at least a few generations off.

Photo credits from etsy: Hacienda by Friendly Made, the Utah sky by Alison du Bois, and Colorblind by Wife of the Rock Star.

Textile Tuesdays : #15 - Textile Collage

On today's theme, I don't have much to say. I will just let you look at the pictures and enjoy.

A textile collage is the combination of several materials (including some textile) used to create a new, unique, work of art. It can be many fabrics layered together, or it can be fabric combined with paper, objects, photo-transfers, paint, or decorative stitching.

Collages are quite popular now and can be seen as wall art, parts of quilts, clothing, bags, even jewelry. The styles are as varied as the artists imagination, from Victorian to Industrial Modern.

I did a search on Etsy and found loads of collages - some I loved, some, not so much. I searched under the terms "textile collage", "fabric collage", and "fabric jewelry". For some reason, many of the ones I liked are from artists in England and Australia. I know that they have very active and creative Embroidery Guilds in both of those countries so maybe they have an older and richer tradition of fabric collage.

Anyway, here are the names of the ones whose photos I have chosen, they are in order from the bottom up. And I have to say that the adorable necklace from Vadjutka wins the prize for the smallest textile collage!

Happy Betsy, Art Eclectique, Tailor Made, Lisa Stubbs, Vadjutka, and Lulu Sandbar.

Moody Monday

Well, everyone was back at school and work today, and I was back at work, alone in my workroom. It was nice to have quiet, but I also kind of missed everyone. I don't know why but I am feeling nostalgic and missing my friends and family who are far away.

I got some photos of my brother and his wife and kids that live in Christchurch, NZ. and one of my oldest and best friends posted some photos from the 80's on facebook. I really felt the distance of time and place but I am also glad that we are the kind of people that stay close even though our lives are happening separately.

I called my friend and she was sad. She said I must be psychic since she needed to talk. She is just going through a rough patch right now. I was glad that I was there for her but I hung up feeling sad and worried. I started thinking again that all of our lives are stories even if we don't see the plot. Some are tragic, some are glamorous, all have their ups and downs.

It is hard when we are in the thick of it to see the bigger picture, but I think it helps. It helps to have some perspective and to know that all the bits together make up the richness of the story.

My sister Peggy got cancer and died young. We all thought this was wrong and went against nature, fate, all meaning, understanding, and life itself. I still think it was a tragedy and it was, at least in part, the result of human negligence. But now, when I think of her life in its entirety and of the legacy that continues in her spirit, I think that she has an amazing story. I will write it and post it nearer to her birthday in March.

I think about Proust all the time who supposedly drew huge amount of time out of seconds by focusing on details, by being in the moment, by not taking anything for granted. There is a great book called "How Proust Can Change Your Life". I highly recommend it!

Devastation and Stillness

We've been snowed in all week. Last Sunday was the last time, before today, that I went further than my driveway. We got about 5 feet of snow. The television channel has been out all week. Our computer cable went down for just one night - thank god! The mail didn't come for three days - gghrrrr! And our cat, who is an outdoor cat, has been refusing to go out at all, and she pooped on the kitchen floor, out of desperation no doubt!

All this is really nothing since we have been safe and warm inside with plenty of food and drink. Thank god the power never went out and the roof is holding up.

We have been getting our aerobic exercise by shoveling even though we had the bulk of it done by a charming young man who drove by with snowblowers and asked if we needed help. He was raising money for his band trip! We were so thrilled to have him and his friend do it because using the shovel was almost impossible since the berm was so high we couldn't move it by hand. He came by Thursday and Friday. Last year when David was at Princeton and we had heavy snow, it didn't occur to me to hire someone to help. Now I would totally do it. I like outdoors and exercise, but there is no reason to injure yourself.

Anyway, today we drove to a cafe for an early dinner and went grocery shopping. On the way we drove by the shopping center where we rent videos. I heard about it on the news but seeing it was shocking - The roof of the local used bookstore and the next door JoAnn Fabrics had completely collapsed!! Looking through the big glass front windows, all you could see was the top of the building inside and on the ground! These are two of my favorite stores here in Flagstaff. I don't really have favorite stores here. I don't shop that much. But I do buy fabric and sewing supplies and I do buy used books. I know the people that work at both of these places. I can't imagine the waste and the disappointment of these people.

There were other building that collapsed, like the local skating rink that is about 30 years old, and many had leaking roofs, but overall, it is small-scale destruction. I looked at those heaps of metal, wood, etc., and I wanted to cry. Then I though of Haiti, with a much huger loss and the addition of massive death toll, and I felt very small, and very shaken. The good news is that, like in Haiti, tough times bring out the best in people.

We had a sweet, pleasant week at home. We heard that the city and several businesses were doing what they could to help those who needed it. Everyone seems to set their trivial concerns aside until things go back to ease, mundane, and boredom.

Big Love

So, I went to Phoenix over the week-end. We went as a family just to get out of town since we didn't go anywhere over Christmas. We went to the art gallery and saw some great art and a fabulous Geoffrey Beene exhibit. We ate in some fun cafes and yes, we did a little shopping.

I wanted a navy and white striped shirt like a French fisherman's shirt. Mira suggested that we think of things we might need for our European trip this summer which I thought was great forethought on her part. I don't need much since I am wearing the same four skirts. I guess it will make for light packing. I did get a perfect black rain parka on sale. It will be great for travel and it is long with a cinched waist so it will look stylish in the city.

Lately, since my one Michelle skirt is too summery, I have been daydreaming about a red corduroy skirt that I saw when we were in Phoenix last time in October. I couldn't remember what store I had seen it at and I really didn't know exactly what it looked like because at the time, I turned my nose up at it and said "I don't need any clothes. I have my 4skirts already."

But I have been wanting a solid color to wear. I have been regretting not having a bright solid in my skirt lineup. I was wishing that I had bought it to just put away for next year. So when I found the fisherman shirt at H&M I thought a red skirt would be so perfect for the summer. Then I went to look for a size for my daughter in the clearance section and hanging there was one last red cord skirt! on clearance! what size? my size! It fit perfectly and I got it. I felt it was fate and I thought I would put it away for next year.

I am a huge fan of the show Big Love. I love the drama but mostly the clever way that the writers make the issues, problems, lessons, and dreams of these social outcasts the same as those of just about anyone. It is a show about outsiders, about being true to your beliefs, about admitting faults and flaws, about ego, ambition, prejudice, relationships, family, and love.

I don't condone polygamy and I think there are many holes and pitfalls in the Mormon religion. But, I have to say, on an ideal level, there are some good things about their beliefs. In some ways, it is not that unlike the ideas of the hippies in the communes of the '60s. Yes, in some ways it is quite different. Anyway, I like the idea of a love that is so big that it grows with more people instead of diminishing. It is like the Buddhist quote about a candle whose flame is not diminished no matter how many other candles it lights.

In my own humorous and trivial way, I have given my skirts identities and developed a relationship with them. So, when I was puzzling over whether or not to wear this red skirt, I thought of the plot line in Big Love when Bill and his wives are trying to decide if they should take on a new wife. It is a conflict of values, morals, integrity and logistics. But it is also exciting, tender, and sincere.

I want to stick to my 4skirt plan. I don't want to quit. But I also see that I need some new blood in the mix. Does adding a new skirt mean that the whole thing is a failure? Is it better to quit out of a rigid sense of rules? No. I decided that I am adding a fifth wife - I mean skirt. I will make good use of it. I will be able to give a rest to all of the other ones. I will have an improved outlook on life because of the red energy of the skirt. I may even retire one of the other ones.

When I set out to do this experiment, I didn't know what would happen. When the year is over, I will look back and assess the ups and downs, the successes and failures, the lessons and the triviality. One thing I know is that you can't know everything and sometimes you have to go with your heart.

Textile Tuesdays : #14 Zippers

Something we take for granted when we get dressed, crawl into a tent, or sew things like bags - closing two pieces of fabric together for modesty or security - is the amazing zipper! This little device that we are lucky to have is the result of several weak attempts over almost 80 years. The first version was patented by the same man who invented the sewing machine! However, zippers were not used in clothing until around 1930 - not very long ago. Here is a link to the whole story.

Nowadays, zippers come in various colors, materials, sizes and functions. You can get nylon, plastic, brass, or other metal. They can be invisible, separating, or fixed ended. I recently saw the cutest zipper ever from Japan (of course) and I can't wait to get some and use them in my bags. They have lacy scalloped edges so you sew them on top instead of under the seam.

This exposed zipper style seems to be a growing trend. Along with unfinished hems and edges, it is a style that makes it easy on the sewer. Everything from evening gowns to blue jeans can sport a big brass zip.

The photos at the top are from: Amalia Versaci - Talon Pull necklace, Zippining - zipper flower brooch, Buttons and Such - lace zipper, Shecological - bag, Top Shop - exposed zipper dress.