Cosmic Vibration Textile Instrument

Tuning in to the soul of the cosmos

This may be the last in the series of False Artifacts from Cultures That Never Existed. It is a musical vibration instrument that enables up to four users at a time to tune into the cosmic vibration that thrums through every level of existence, from the atoms that make up our bodies to the ongoing rhythm of the universe. 

Rolled for traveling

The exterior of the instrument is a hand-stitched assemblage comprised of scraps of vintage textile pieces from around the world — the riches of a fabric stash I have been assembling for the past fifty-plus years. The interior is a hand-embroidered rendition of four different voices singing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" in rounds. 

The choice of song emerged from weekly Zoom maker sessions with my sister and grandnieces, after our urge to end each session with a song was frustrated by the realization that the time-lag on Zoom made singing in harmony impossible. The solution? Pick a song that can be sung in rounds, by-passing the timing glitch. Our default choice was "Row Your Boat", though we were oblivious at the time to the spiritual origins and implications of the song. 

The Interior

By passing the looped textile through their fingers, those playing the instrument receive a tactile sensation of the song as they sing the rounds. Each voice is represented by a different color.

The interior - embroidered rounds

The Exterior

The exterior combines an assortment of antique and vintage textile scraps from around the world.

From top: Laotian stitched spiritual maze, scraps of vintage hand-stitched embroidered collars.

Vintage embroidered collars

Antique Chinese embroidery (note the man in the boat!)

Playing the Instrument

Once unrolled, the instrument may be refastened into a loop for playing. Ideally, while the instrument may be utilized by one player, the instrument will accommodate up to four players, divided into two pairs standing opposite each other, with all hands on the instrument.

Looped position for playing

Storing the Instrument

When not in use, the instrument may be rolled snugly for storage or travel (see top photo), or may be fastened into a loop and hung on a wall.

Political Protest In a Multi-dimensional Universe

 

Resist Fish!

My holiday card for 2025 is heavily influenced by the PBS series, The American Revolution, by Ken Burns, as well as awareness that we are living in a multidimensional universe, time itself is iffy, the coming year is the 250th anniversary of the founding of America, and we have no idea what is going on.

The Fish

This hand-stitched series, drawing on random remnants of my scraps, was done in an edition of 17. Each is completely unique in design, stitchery, button eyes, and backing.

Some of the fish

The back of each fish is hand-stamped with the legend, "Resist 250," using a vintage stamp kit and vegetable-based ink.

Some of the backs

The Card

The card below is self-explanatory (or as explained as this project is ever going to get). The card flips open vertically, and each card contains one of the fish inside, dangling from a slit at the top of the card that secures the line coming out of their mouth. Each card also contains a revolutionary handbill.

Card front

Copy from inside top

Copy from inside bottom

Handbill insert inside of card

Copy on back of handbill

Back of card

Happy holidays, viva la revolution, and god help us all.

Wound Man Talisman #3

Wound Man: He won't protect you, but he knows how you feel.

Apparently I was not quite done with Wound Man (click here to see the two earlier versions and the back story regarding the history of this figure and image source). This version relies heavily on links with Oaxaca and San Cristobal de las Casas. Materials include milagros (metal charms depicting the limb or body part or problem you would like to have miraculously removed by a deity) and dried peas from a necklace made in San Cristobal. Inside the little bottle is liquid and tiny stones from a magic packet purchased in my favorite aisle in the Oaxaca mercadeo, where the stuff for creating wonders and magic is sold. Both stones and liquid are promoted as "strong magic."

"Strong magic" stones and liquid.

The reverse features hand printing on a scrap of flower-pounded fabric.

Back of talisman

And the words? I saw them on a sign while I was riding by on a bus, and am simply passing the message along.

Wound Man: A useful little talisman for people who seem to be falling apart

There are times in this life when the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" seem a bit much. I made these talismans for those times. I was inspired by "wound man" - a figure that appears, in various depictions, in all medieval medical textbooks. Wound man illustrates just about every injury known to medicine at that time that might befall an unlucky human being. Note the animals biting his feet, the assortment of weapons, even buboes near the groin from the plague.

Talisman one: front

Talisman one: back

These pieces employ iron-on photo transfer to cloth, broken jewelry and beads, eco-printed leaves on cotton, hand-stamped lettering, and lots of stitching. Talisman two (below) also incorporates a vintage tassel and glass beads.

I saw the phrase "expect no mercy" while looking out the window on a bus, and thought it would be apt for the back of the talisman. Go ahead and pray, but that rat bite is probably going to get infected and kill you anyway.

Talisman two: front

Talisman two: close-up

Talisman two: back

If you would like to learn more about wound man and see more versions of him, head on over to the marvelous Public Domain Review. And be careful out there!

Seabed Quilt

Detail: brown paper bags, tea bags, thread

Once you start stitching the ocean it becomes a happy compulsion. The original four panels of stitched wave patterns featured in an earlier post (Stitching the Ocean) expanded to eight new panels, and now they have merged together into a quilt. 

Seabed quilt

The recycled brown paper bags, once washed, crumpled and dried, take on a seductive texture, one that lends itself beautifully to stitching. As noted in the earlier post, the patterns are inspired by a turn-of-the-century Japanese book on wave and ripple designs (Hamonshu), and all thread ends are left dangling from the front of the piece because I love the end effect.

The only drawback to this piece is that the quilt as a whole is very tough to photograph. Enjoy the following detail photos.

Detail

Detail

Detail

Full quilt (2' x 2.75')

 

Stitching the Ocean

What do you do when you have the flu? Apparently I stitch waves and ripples and droplets and foam. All inspired by Hamonshu: A Book of Wave and Ripple Designs (1903), from the wonderful folks at the Public Domain Review. And here you go. I have left thread ends emerging from the front of the piece because I think it contributes to the general ocean spray/wet/chaos effect. Click on any piece to enlarge.

Spray (brown paper bag, thread)

Waves (brown paper bag, tea bags, thread)

Ripples (brown paper bag, thread)

Droplets (brown paper bag, tea bags, thread)

I am tagging this "false artifacts" as well as "textiles" because these pieces look like they came from somewhere and some time other than here and now.

Pigeons Encounter Miracle Tortillas

I originally figured out how to create Miracle Tortillas back in 2010, and reprised them this past December for a holiday studio sale. Now, several months later, I am wondering what to do with the leftovers. These tortillas truly are miraculous in that they seem to stay preserved forever. I still have an original from 2010, perfectly intact. On a walk around Lake Merritt in Oakland, I decided to share the miracle with the pigeons.

I never did reveal the how-to secret for these Miracle Tortillas back in 2010, but have now decided to tell all. Note that Jesus isn't the only miracle in town. You may use any miraculous image you like, depending on what you find astounding, awe inspiring, or culturally iconic.

1. Choose and download a non copyright image from the Web. Resize it as needed using Photoshop or other graphic software. I also altered the image using a sepia tint at this stage.

2. Place multiple copies of your image on a single page in either Word or the page layout software of your choice (mine is InDesign).

3. Print image onto iron-on photo transfer paper.

4. Cut out individual images leaving a scant 1/4" border around the image.

5. Iron the image onto a tortilla by first placing a large piece of plain white paper on a hard surface, then the tortilla, then the iron-on image (face down), then another sheet of white paper on top. You will have to experiment with the iron temperature. Begin by following your photo transfer paper instructions, and then make slight adjustments from there. Don't get frustrated if your first tortilla or two tears away a bit on the surface; it just makes the tortilla look more like an ancient artifact. With a little experimentation you'll find the perfect temperature. You will need to change the top and bottom white paper fairly frequently.

6. To keep tortillas soft, place them individually into plastic sealed baggies. Even inside the bag they will slowly harden after a month or two. Once hard, they will last for years, or maybe forever.

Embroidering the Scent of Winter Tangerines

Embroidered tangerine

Drawing on an old folk tradition that never existed but should have, we present the wonder of what the Germans call "sticken des geruchs der wintertangerinen," or "embroidering the scent of winter tangerines."

Embroidered tangerine design dating back to the 12th century

The two halves joined

Interior stitching

One method used to dry tangerines while preserving their shape - sand packing

In the dead of winter, with scant light from flickering candles, those who lived deep in the forest fought despair by taking up the meditative practice of embroidering tangerines and oranges. As they stitched the citrus skin, the essential oils of the fruit were released, filling the room with the scent. Modern research indicates they instinctively stumbled on a strategy that is based in scientific fact. Studies have shown (http://www.prevention.com/health/emotional-health/scent-citrus-shown-reduce-stress) that the scent of oranges is effective in fighting off anxiety, stress, and depression.

"Blood of winter" design

Two halves

Close-up

Stitched "hinge" joins the two halves

Interior stitching

Once completed, the embroidered oranges and tangerines were packed with moss or dry soil in order to assure the peel retained its shape while drying. Once dried, the resulting beautifully embroidered casings were tucked in nooks and crannies around the house as an offering to friendly spirits in hopes they would make themselves hidden nests for the winter, forming cozy beds from the interior stitching. These friendly spirits could do battle with evil spirits and dark moods, so the more of them you could lure into your home, the better.

Celestial pattern based on design circa 14th century (note star taking advantage of bark-like discoloration in fruit)

Close-up of top

Two halves joined

Interior stitching (spirit nest)

A sense of scale: size of finished embroidered tangerine