more fall pleasures-for some

Blogger has been having so many problems lately.And when Blogger has problems we all have problems.
This is another of the series.I am enjoying the embrodery part very much and the crayon watercolors offer some interesting possibilities.
Next weekend i am going to the countryside to see the colors which are late this year,it's Halloween and i am still wearing a sleeveless strappy top and sandals. Will take endless photos for the "inspiration archive".

neki desu

Tags: surface design, embroidery

de stashing and a find

This is so opportune.i was in the ever on going process of getting the studio organized and doing something with the stash. found a big bag full of rayon embroidery floss old as the mountains.There are German hanks,some really cool twisted Swiss threads and a variety of others of undercovered origin. There is about a kilo of material and right now that i'm going through an embroidery phase it is as if i had been rewarded for some unknown good deed. will have to spread some joy around in return.

neki desu

Tags: embroidery, day to day

brunette ambition

This is another work from the Fall Pleasures series. It was intended for an exchange that never happened so i am posting it here.
Lately i have been thinking a lot about my using stitching combined with surface design. Perhaps it is a revision of my school days when we were given embroidery lessons once a week.It sounds as if it took place in the middle ages, yet it wasn't that far back. i like working stitches in a non figurative way because what really interests me is not representation, but creating an extra layer of meaning with stitching.i think that using stitchery as an expressive force frees it from the precious and dainty look/ feel associated with the needlecrafts. i like leaving raw edges and some imperfections, however that does not mean shoddy craftsmanship.
Let's see where this ambition leads.

neki desu

Tags: surface design, dyeing, stitching

forests and woods

I have already started my second year of Japanese and things get more complicated.
We were given a paper with all the possible ways of counting, flat long objects, round objects, people, books, small objects, in short 16 different ways of counting!
We were also given 3 pages of kangies to study over the weekend.
Kangies are fun because they make sense when you look at them. The problem is knowing the word in Japanese or discriminating between the Chinese or the Japanese pronunciation.
I intended to finish a piece I'm working on, but it looks like my time this weekend will be devoted to studying Japanese

neki desu

Tags: japanophilia

while the fabric dries

While some silk organza is drying from being processed with Bubble Jet Set I went on line and found this incredible resource.I love these serendipitous- what a nice word!-finds that make life easier. Hesitant about a color scheme? Stuck trying to design a colorway? Agonize no mo' colorblender© is here!


The animation here is a fabric print which i designed and decided to put it in motion this being my answer to the decadent Mentos craze.


neki desu

Tags: textile design, animation

we're in motion

I have been gathering momentum to start a weaving sample.Meanwhile to work myself back into the disciplined routine I have been creating animated fractals with a textile feel.This one in paricular is called Paisley Froth.It could also look nice as a fabric print.The challenge would be the light blue green transparent "veil"

neki desu

Tags: animation, fractals

aki no nihon

There is something special about fall in Japan. Fall is tranquil and serene and activities are influenced by it. Food for example is seasonal not only in content,but also in aesthetics.


There are foliage maps
that give account of the colors and its peaks and train stations have maps of the colors in their regions. As soon as you get off the train you can follow the trail. Not only that, geishas and maikos are noted for wearing kimonos and head ornaments to highlight the season.
If you ever go to Japan try to make it in the fall,nothing can compare to that.

neki desu

Tags: japanophilia

something new

This is a new series called fall pleasures. What I'm doing is trying to work with the season colors and convey "the season of mellow fruitfulness" with fabric collage and stitching. I'm working a lot with stitching now and it is a challenge to use it in a way that is not literal, what i mean is that it doesn'tfollow a shape or fills it but it adds another element to the dialog.I dyed silk and also used colored crayons which are becoming a favorite. Let's see where this leads.
So far i have finished 2 more that i want to include in the fabric exchange if it goes.If it doesn't they will be posted here.

neki desu

Tags: surface design, stitching

a tribute

This is a tribute to my weaving teacher who passed away last Wednesday.
She was another japanophile so i think she would have liked this.
May she be in a place where there are great looms and fabulous yarns.

neki desu

Tags: weaving