Hello, hello...yes, I am still here! I know it's been awhile, but I needed a little blogosphere break. Easing into the fall schedule hasn't been as easy as I had anticipated (I think my brain is still in summer). Plus, it feels like my visual mind is in sleep mode because all I want to do is think. Just think. Normally I'm like a sponge soaking up the visual world, but for the last couple of weeks all I've wanted to do is just be with my thoughts. Call it a visual vacation...call it musing...call it doing nothing. Either way, I needed the break. I've always been big on contemplation, but I found that after my Mom passed away is was easier to turn on the TV or get lost in something else instead of facing my thoughts. I'm slowly realizing it's important to embrace and be with those thoughts (good or bad) than to set them aside. It's painful, terrifying and empowering at the same time. How do you face your thoughts?
Let's start back with more inspiring and thought provoking work by my new favorite artist, Ali Naschke-Messing. I gushed over her Threadworks and continue to be in awe over how powerful her work is through simple notions like shells, cloth and thread.
Link - Ali Naschke-Messing
Friday, September 24, 2010
Just Think
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Ali Naschke-Messing: Threadworks
Thread. It's easy to forget how much thread, a basic and complex necessity, surrounds and assists our everyday life. I am continually fascinated by what thread does and how artists explore thread in their work. One such artist is Ali Naschke-Messing, who uses thread to create threadworks inspired by published text. She explains,
"These objects deal with the fragility and transience of language and interpretation. I collaborate with published authors, using fragments of their texts, sometimes in combination with my own, to create a new sculptured text that opens itself to the interpretation (and frustration) of each viewer. The fragments of Djuna Barnes, Ann Carson, Hafiz, Julia Kristeva, Lucy Lippard, and Jeannette Winterson (to name a few) have all entered and inspired work."
Monday, August 9, 2010
French Knots
Four Thousand French Knots
One Thousand French Knots
Fifteen Hundred French Knots
As artists and designers we can all get a little obsessed when it comes to our work, but Jeana Eve Klein has taken it to a whole new level with her French knot embroideries. The pieces are composed entirely of hand-stitched French knots and then name accordingly. She describes them as, "a humorous poke at my own obsessive compulsions for hand-work." I love the dedication, attention to detail and beautiful colors. Be sure to also check out more of Jeana Eve Klein's work like her mixed media quilts and altered embroideries.
Link - Jeana Eve Klein
Monday, June 21, 2010
Kathryn M. Ireland
Designer Kathryn M. Ireland's unique look has been described as "comfortable, bohemian, and family friendly with large doses of color and a lack of orthodoxy." Wow, I couldn't agree more! I enjoy seeing a hint of ethnic style in an interior space, and Kathryn's style is the perfect inspiration. Imagine her gorgeous Mexico meets Morocco fabric on pillows or window treatments, and instantly you add subtle, ethnic appeal to your current style. Or if you live in a wonderful exotic abode you can go all out. But, if you're like me in a small city home then I guess we'll have to get our exotic escape through fabrics!Link - Kathryn M. Ireland
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Lauren DiCioccio
Lauren DiCioccio's hand-embroidered, sculptural art is highly detailed, realistic and downright amazing. I'm speechless over her beautiful pieces and refer to DiCioccio's artist statement, which nicely sums up her current body of work:
My work investigates the physical/tangible beauty of commonplace mass-produced media-objects, most recently: the newspaper, magazines, office papers and writing pads, plastic bags, 35 mm slides. These media are becoming obsolete, replaced by the invisible efficiency of various technologies. In some cases, this transition is a good thing- faster transmission and distribution of information, streamlined systems, openness to user input, less waste. But a hole is left behind by the disappearance of these everyday objects. What will happen when we no longer touch information? When newsprint does not rub off onto our fingertips? When we no longer write longhand? The tedious handiwork and obsessive care I employ to create my work aims to remind the viewer of these simple but intimate pieces of everyday life and to provoke a pang of nostalgia for the familiar physicality of these objects.
I'm always impressed when an artist utilizes a medium like embroidery and turns it into a thought provoking message. These awe-inspiring pieces created with thread, fabric and determination make us question many of the uncommon and ordinary objects we encounter each day. What is the future for these objects and the impressions they leave behind?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
ShelterPop Tuesday: Claire Coles
Before we dive into more weekend vintage, I first wanted to welcome you to a new feature here on Please Sir! Erin Loechner from ShelterPop (also famously known for Design for Mankind) has partnered with Please Sir to provide inspiring ideas from the world of interiors. Every other Tuesday and throughout the week you'll find helpful links to ShelterPop with the latest updates on vintage finds and interior goodness. Erin and I are super excited to team up and I hope you will enjoy the new content and links on both sites! Check out, read and subscribe to the many great design posts available on ShelterPop.
Now to the goods...I've posted about the talented Claire Coles before, but ShelterPop's post led me to discover her vast range of vintage collage-style wallpapers and accessories. Wallpaper, art or both? You decide!
Link - ShelterPop
Friday, March 26, 2010
Bhakti Ziek
Weaver, artist and author Bhakti Ziek specializes in digital jacquard weaving, which merges the craft of weaving with digital technology. While studying textiles in university my professors would often reference Bhakti Ziek to discuss her amazing weaving skills and beautiful pieces. I continue to enjoy the thought provoking stories that emerge from the layers of images and text within each weaving. View Bhakti Ziek's creative process unfold on her blog and learn more about her weaving process with her book, The Woven Pixel: Designing for Jacquard and Dobby Looms Using Photoshop ©. Bhakti Ziek also offers private tutoring for weavers in her lovely Vermont studio (don't you love those windows?) and will be teaching a Woven Structures Class from June 1-June 18, 2010 at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Registration is now open!
Link - Bhakti Ziek
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Abigail Brown
I've recently taken an interest in birds because my sister is using a bird theme to decorate the nursery for her soon-to-be baby girl. After three boys, she is eager to have a big dose of girly frills and LOTS of pink. I'm also very excited and have been filling my head with bird ideas, which led me to the talented Abigail Brown. She creates handmade textile and paper pieces that are quirky, fun and full of delightful magic. Her fantastic birds and masks are my favorites, but be sure to check out more works on her Etsy shop and blog.
Link - Abigail Brown
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Ruth Cross
Don't you think your boots need a good pair of socks? And your socks need a nice matching scarf? Oh, and your scarf needs a lovely chair to rest? Yes, me too! Discover your woolly needs at Ruth Cross, a design company specializing in hand-crafted knitwear created by British knitters using the finest lambs-wool from Scotland. The snow is coming my way, but at least I can stay warm dreaming of handmade knits and beautiful photographs.
Link - Ruth Cross
Monday, January 25, 2010
Rewinds
Artist Anne Wilson worked with talented gaffers and glass artists to create amazing, sculptural pieces titled Rewinds. Wilson says, "In watching the movement of the gaffers, I realized the relatedness of textile processes to glass -- glass is flexible and can be fibrous when molten. By translating fiber bobbin winding, or rewinding, into glass we are able to produce and exploit aesthetic analogies between these two modes of production." I'm impressed by the process and infusion of textile and glass production. The texture, the translucent quality and the colors of the resulting works are stunning.
On a more personal note, blog life will be sporadic this week. I just recently moved again...second time in less than a year....ugh! I honestly don't want to see a moving box or truck in a very long time. So this week will be devoted to unpacking and recovering, but I'll still be around and I look forward to catching up!
Link - Anne Wilson
Monday, January 11, 2010
Shepherd England
Brrr...it's freezing outside, which means it's perfect weather to bundle up in over-sized and striking scarves by Shepherd England. Each item is hand crafted to order and created with the highest quality of superfine Geelong lamb's wool. This type of wool traps air to provide more warmth and a soft appearance, yet it's still lightweight. Ahh...don't you love it when we talk textiles and yarn? Here's to a cozy filled week ahead...
Link - Shepherd England
Monday, December 28, 2009
Mexican Bedspreads
I'm exhausted from the holiday rush of running through the airport...I still smell like roasted turkey...and there is a mound of work waiting for my attention. Aren't Mondays fun? On a lighter and much happier note I love these hand-embroidered Mexican bedspreads available at The Loaded Trunk. They will liven up any space and be a great conversation piece to build a room around. Maybe even a fun and magical addition to a kid's room...thoughts?
Link - The Loaded Trunk
