Sashiko is a form of Japanese folk embroidery using simple running stitches to create repeating geometric shapes and intricate patterns. Literally meaning “little stabs”, sashiko was originally used for repairs and reinforcements. Today, the traditional patterns have evolved into a more decorative form and are often used to create beautiful handmade designs on table linens,…
Category Archives: PIONEERS
If we wanted to begin, and then immediately end, the discussion on textile design during the Modernist period we could’ argue that to remain loyal to Modernist design in its purest form, the colorful patterns we associate with the period just couldn’t exist.’ Because in Modernist design of the purest form,’ there is no tolerance for…
In Part Two we continue looking at pioneers of Modernist architecture; the following architects brought an expansive creativity to Modern design that pushed the boundaries even farther. Their impact demonstrated not only a love of form, but also of humanity. Alvar Aalto In the starkly beautiful country of Finland, sixteen year old Hugo Alvar Henrik…
The first of our Modernist heroes’ are three men who at the beginning of the twentieth century were sailing into the future creating a new landscape within architecture and design. They were reinventing what architecture should stand for, they were trialling new materials, and questioning how function should dictate design and aesthetic. In this article we…
In this new series we will explore the Modernist Movement in architecture and design and how it has influenced our society and lifestyle from its inception through today. By 1930’s no longer desiring to be influenced by traditional ideals and rules of the past, architects and designers such as Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der…
We are living in a completely different world to the days when I was a little girl, bear in mind I say this even though’ I’m in my early 30s. My children are more likely to know how to operate an ipad in fluent proficiency than how to fix a bike. This of course might be…
Our last article in the artisan embroidery series is a bit of a special one – the series has allowed us to explore some wonderful stitched art, but it also led us to discover our next artist, Lucia LaVilla-Havelin. Lucia is one of our very own The Thread readers and for the last few years…
Combining a variety of mediums within a work is definitely an artistic trend of late, but none is quite as striking as Singapore-based Izziyana Suhaimi‘s embroidered illustrations and paintings. Part whimsical, part fine-art, each piece conveys a very different set of emotions, showing off her incredible multi-disciplinary skills. She documents her different projects and the…
In this series we set out to explore modern embroidery and celebrate stitchers and artists developing the craft, and helping to make it be taken more seriously. One artist, however, is turning it on its head and adding a little humor to the otherwise serious practice with a refreshing, lighthearted approach to embroidery. Richard Saja…
In our last artisan embroidery article we explored the work of Rosalind Wyatt, who stitches stories into personal textiles to add new life to a garment and add a further dimension to it. Our next embroiderer has a similar creative process, except her medium of choice is not clothing, but black and white photographs Maria…
As we explored in our introduction and history of embroidery, using the craft to tell a story or document history has been common practice since its inception, the greatest example being the Bayeux Tapestry, which was created in around the early 11th century. Our next artisan embroiderer produces modern versions of this phenomenon, stitching stories…
Many of our artisan embroiderers started their design life out doing something completely different and then found themselves in embroidery, almost by accident. This is no more true than for Evelin Kasikov who, after completing a Fine Art graphics BA at the Estonian Academy of Art, worked as a graphic designer in advertising for ten…
The next of our artisan embroiderers is Aimee Betts, who describes herself as a “˜Creator of Adornments’. Aimee combines more modern processes, such as industrial sewing and digital embroidery with the more traditional hand-sewn approach to create contemporary embellishment pieces. Her work spans fashion, interior design and visual art and includes modern crafted accessories, jewelry,…
Sydney-based sisters’ Maricor and Maricar Manalo‘ describe themselves as “˜Makers of Things assorted’. They’re designers, illustrators and animators by trade, but in recent years have gathered somewhat of a cult following due to their incredible embroidery skills. ‘ Their hand-stitched typographic works are playful and geometric as well as bursting with color, and have earned MaricorMaricar commercial and…
The first of our embroiderers is Emily Jo Gibbs,’ a British artist specializing in hand-stitched textiles. A member of the 62 Group, she became internationally known for her exquisite luxury handbags, but has recently found more artistic acclaim for her embroidered portraits. Her unique ability to bring objects and drawings to life with embroidery means…
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