"Gay or Eagles" Recap

I was fortunate enough to attend the opening for Gay For Eagles at Hotel Hadley Studios in Siler City. It was a couple weeks ago but I'm just getting around to posting about it--so sorry. This is a fiber art show inspired by the work of Alexandra Walters. The work was absolutely wonderful, so many representations of fiber art and stitching. I "know" a lot of the artists through online groups, blogs, flickr etc. so it was especially nice to see their work in person.It seems that over the past few years there has been a real resurgence of stitching as art and I'm loving it. The opening was in conjunction with Third Fridays of Siler City and it's nice to see them trying to revitalize the downtown area. The gallery/studios itself is a great space. Drucilla Pettibone is one of the artists that has a studio there and put the show together. So here are some shots of the night. Please go here to check out the list of artists and you can purchase anything you like (hint hint).

The studio/gallery space

View of the gallery

Another gallery shot  These huge pieces by Bren Ahern were amazing. 

This amazing quilt by Penny Nickels blew me away!

Alexandra Walters's pieces

Playing with Bridget Franckowiak's piece "Paranoid Android"

Hey it's me and Becky!

Again, please go here to check out all of the pieces that were in the show. I was very inspired by the artists and hope it will put a little fire under my butt to get going more on my own art.

Uni-girl and Sea-pony

I have finished this embroidery of one of the Tara McPherson Sublime designs! I'm calling it Uni-girl and Sea-pony (though I guess it's really a Uni-Sea pony). 

I stitched it on a linen I found at the thrift store.  I have been wanting to stitch these patterns for a while now because I am a huge fan of Tara's work.

She has such a whimsy to her style that also has a touch of sensuality and oddness that I really love.

If you are not familiar with Tara's paintings, please go check them out on her site.

Here's a couple that I really like.

"The Love Space Gives Is as Deep as the Oceans" 2010

Does this look familier?

"Lost Constellations" 2008

I also recently attended the opening for Gay For Eagles, a fiber art show in Siler City, NC.  It was an absolutely amazing show filled with great stitching and I will post about it soon.

Also in other news, I have made new friends in the stitching world!  Who knew these fabulous ladies lived just down the road---how I love the internet. We got together to stitch and chat and it was lots of fun, so go check out their blogs here and here.  They really inspired me and I can't wait to get together again!

Works in Progress

Here's some things I've been working on lately...

A cross stitch for a friend--just need to finish the border.

A Tara McPherson pattern from Sublime Stitching. I've been wanting to stitch this up for while now.

A painting

Detail of painting in progress.  (I'm sorta in love with the embroidered picket fence.)

I love being productive with my time.  Makes me feel good!

Inspirations: Camille Rose Garcia

What can I say about Camille Rose Garcia? Her work is so stunningly beautiful that there really are no words.  When I look at her work, I am truly knocked speechless.

"Mirror, White Mirror" 2011

She creates worlds and characters that are both beautiful and frightening. I want to dive into her paintings and get lost for while. Really explore the layers of colors and darkness. They are beautifully haunting. 

"Emerald Cavern Night Raid" 2006

 The way she juxtaposes the idea of fairy tales and other happy creatures with the grimness of reality (detachment from nature, use of drugs to make yourself happy, false sense of security) truly amazes me.  She  uses her art to tell a story--a story of a grim truth based in a surreal landscape.  She is definitely one of my inspirations.

"Royal Disorder Poison Party" 2005

She helps me to believe that the worlds I create in my art aren't really all that strange, but a reality of my own making. And that it is OK to really create the things that are in my head--even if they are not always pleasant.

"The Night Greed" 2004

Do yourself a favor and look at her work here. It will blow your mind.  I just hope that I will be able to see one of her pieces in person, to really explore the depths of it. 

"Arctic Cavern Hideway"

Here's are some links if you'd like to know more about her and her work.  

*Article about her new show "Snow White and the Black Lagoon"

*A video showing her create one of her wonderful ink drawings

*A great interview with her

*She has a few books you can buy here, here, here, here, (I have a few of them and they are wonderful)

Ode to The Big Lebowski

I really can't tell you how many times I've watched this movie---lots---and I never get tired of it and laugh hysterically every time. If you've never seen it, then you obviously have no taste and need to be bludgeoned, but anyway. The absurdity of this movie and it's characters is why I love it--I mean the main character is an unemployed bowler with an affinity for jelly shoes. The other characters are just as fantastic--Walter (who can get you a toe), Donnie (I am the walrus), Marge (do you like coitus), Jesus (don't f*ck with him), the Nihilists (we believe in nothing), Mr. Lebowski (grown men do cry)--the list goes on. It has so many great lines that can be used in everyday life ( I often use, "I'm staying, I'm finishing my coffee" for no real reason). There have been some amazing craftiness going on in the name of The Dude so I thought I'd share a few. *Note: I'm sure this has been done a thousand times--but oh well



These awesome prints by retrowhale



This amazing cross stitch by DefiantDamsel. I want this SO bad.



Another fantastic cross stitch by gillyweed25 with an awesome Walter quote.



The Dude in perler beads!! Seriously--how amazing is this??


ohbabytee's stencil of Walter on a onesie just tears me up! It is so hilarious.



This absolutely hilarious toe. I can just hear Walter saying "You want a toe, I can get you a toe---with green nail polish!"



This is a great embroidered Walter Sobchak by craftymcgee How great is this??



Follow that up with this amazing embroidery of the dream sequence with The Dude and Maude by mafiosagrrl She also has done a stellar Jesus embroidery.

I've been inspired to make something for His Dudeness---not sure what yet. So go watch the movie right now--even if you've seen it before and just remember, all the Dude ever wanted was his rug back.