Hand/Eye Magazine for Global Textile Explorers, Navajo Rugs, and Restful Stitches

Hand/Eye is a very exciting new magazine about global textile explorations, sustainable textiles and craft, and the relationship between culture and craft -- the same topics covered here. Yes, I certainly do plan to submit story ideas! I'm not sure if there is a print edition, but the online edition looks very rich. I discovered it through email from L'Aviva Home.

Also in today's discoveries, a wonderful slideshow with audio on Navajo weaving from the New York Times.

I apologize for the delay in new posts -- I started this post days ago -- I'm adjusting to an intense new schedule. I'm lucky to be working in a job where I'm immersed in at least some aspect of textiles and crafts all day. Still, my diet is off, my yoga is off, I'm trying to rebalance and it's taking a lot of energy. Yet my creative urges are stronger than ever -- to sew, stitch, paint, write, design, and explore. I just need to find the energy. I feel off track somehow, like I'm not doing anything well.

Some days I can't get enough of the most complex surfaces, with layers, embellishment, printing, beads, transferred images, coins, many colors and textures, whatever it may be. Other days I want to rest my eyes on the most elemental structures -- a beautiful fabric with a line of stitching.

Kirsten Hecktermann's earthy, restful work (and go to her site and check out the amazing spoons and bright clothes, too):

 

 

From Sally Campbell Home Textiles (via Fibercopia):

 

Though it's hard to know if the producers of imported textiles are fairly paid, Sally Campbell says that all her products are handmade; here is her statement: "I travel to many remote communities, working closely with the artisans. Different areas in India specialise in different crafts. I work with women who create exquisite applique work in the desert near Pakistan, natural dye block printers in Rajasthan, village weavers in Bengal and Hyderabad, and women who do intricate hand embroidery in Lucknow. Like other Western designers working in India, I am hoping to keep these ancient crafts alive as we compete with the manic rush to modernisation."

These textiles are produced for commercial sale, but of course if you want the most real, soulful, one-of-a-kind stitching, you look to the artists; Jude's work always comes to mind first, and today, she too writes about a simple line of quilting. It must be in the air.

I'm going to go rest my eyes with actual stitching. Really sorry for the slow posting and the crankiness  -- it's a good thing I don't Twitter, or any followers would have been subjected to a rant of irritation for days now --  I'll try to keep it to a minimum on the blog!

Comments

[jude]

wow, great links, that new publication is fabulous.... all such great cloths here, an honor to be included. it is always great to come here....you work so hard for us.

[Mary Beth]

Thanks for the wonderful links! You've made my day :)