I Make Things: “Yes, I Still Do” Edition

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve written about my adventures in craft, and the reason is that I’ve been too distracted — too distracted to write, too distracted to have something to write about. I always have an embroidery project on the go, but the going has been slow as my attention has been divided among many other projects and priorities. Slow progress used to make me feel guilty, because “being productive” is capitalism’s main commandment, which we are conditioned to obey in all things, including our leisure time, but no more. The joy of this phase of my life is being on my own schedule. I am currently in a passive, not actively creative season; sometimes, I like to think of it as a time of incubating ideas — looking outward and gathering inspiration (like a squirrel chasing nuts) and storing it for later. In practice, that looks a lot like spending all my free time walking, gardening, and reading.

However, I did commit to a major art market in September, so as much as I’ve been enjoying the dolce far niente this summer, a little bit of preparation was in order as well. I did not manage to add a lot of new work to my portfolio since the spring, but I did add a few pieces that make me pretty happy.

Continuing the floral bouquet theme I’d been exploring earlier in the year, I created this peony-and-iris design to capture 2 of my favourite flowers. I’m sad to say that neither had much luck in my garden this year … but a girl can dream, especially on canvas.

This abstract design was inspired by a beaded necklace I made years ago, along with the pattern of a Marni skirt I saw in an old magazine. I combined the two to create this limited palette hoop — a bit of a departure for me, but a direction I think has a lot of potential. It inspired me to go and look at my William Morris reference books, which then sparked another idea …

… specifically, this design inspired by The Strawberry Thief. It’s been a while since I worked on a hoop that was not “full coverage” (i.e. leaving portions of the canvas blank) and I was nervous that I would not like the result, but I think the coloured background works well in this context and complements the design.

Lastly, I revisited another older theme: Picasso-inspired portrait in French knots. This is one of the most laborious stitches, and while I love the tactile effect of covering an entire hoop in them, it takes FOREVER. But! I recently thrifted a vintage embroidery floor stand, and it was a total game-changer. Doing French knots without having to worry about holding the hoop steady at the same time is so much easier and faster. Don’t get me wrong; this hoop still took somewhere in the region of 30 hours to make, but I probably saved at least 10-12 hours from what it would have taken otherwise. I was so lucky to find this stand — it was brand new in the box (never assembled), solid wood, made in the US (likely in the 70s), and excellent quality. It’s very sturdy and easy to maneuver, and it helps me maintain a much more ergonomic posture while I work, which is a big win.

I’m looking forward to the market — I will be sharing a booth with my friend Josh of Prairie Trail Goods, and I am so excited for that — and hoping it will prove a good venue for me to connect with local yarn art lovers. And looking farther down the road, I am excited to get started on some new designs to get ready for what is usually my most “productive” season, November through February. Stay tuned!