Artwork of the Week: Long Braid

Long Braid by Diem Chau

porcelain plate, silk, thread, 6.25" in diameter

Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of Swings & Arrows! Hurray!! So I thought as our gift to you I'd find an Artwork of the Week to commemorate the occasion that blends the traditional (cotton) with the modern (china), something I think we strive to accomplish here daily. 

Artist Diem Chau embroiders drawings on a fine silk muslin that is stretched like canvas across various serving dishes. The effect is quite ethereal, an image floating just above the surface of a saucer or bowl. My favorite pieces are the ones where the line comes off the canvas, engaging the territory around the work, or when the thread pools in the space beneath the scrim.  

You can see more of Chau's work on her website: www.diemchau.com

- Cathleen 

Maranon Jewelry

I discovered the beautiful hand embroidered jewelry by Lorena Marañón on Etsy a while ago when her shop was called spinthread. One of her pendant necklaces has been on my Christmas list for a couple years now (ahem). 

She’s recently moved on to her own bigger and better website, Maranon Jewels where she has expanded her line of accessories (hello, shoulder epaulettes!) and also features photographs of some of her finer work. Look into it!

- Cathleen


[All photos courtesy of artist's website.]

Sew Cool

A blast from the past! This picture was taken with my first fancy digital camera years ago on a trip down to DC to visit my bestie. To this day, it’s one of my favorite photos. I even printed it poster-size and hung it over the futon in my first apartment. I’m still not sure who snapped it—me or Grace—but she was definitely the one who spotted the perfect photo opp through the tailor’s window. We also took a pic of a trashcan full of rotting shrink-wrapped meat, but that’s another story for another time.

I recently spotted this beauty below on Pintrest and then tracked it down on Etsy (seller: misstitchery). Bad news: it sold. Good news? Whoever bought it, paid 68 bucks! Which means better news—I feel like you could totally make your own version for way cheaper. I also thought Grace might get a kick out of a new take on a pretty welcome wreath. Shout out!

I love scallops! From the sea AND as a fashionable trim! I found this tutorial for a REVERSABLE (that’s two! TWO skirts in one!) scalloped skirt on Bored and Crafty and if I ever find a free night, I will make one. (Or two?)

This one isn’t sewing-centric, exactly, but I definitely want to craft a couple of these for the fall. Leave it to Martha to transform something simple into a fresh, sophisticated look for all seasons. I’m thinking maybe a little magenta and navy blue. With perhaps a touch of gray? Oh yeah.

- Cathleen