Where The Mind Is Without Fear

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high...... the first line of Rabindranath Tagore's famous poem. A poem most Indian children learn in school and remember.This was Tagore's dream for newly independent India.

My sister requested me to embroider this poem so the words could inspire her.

My sister loves florals so I embellished the poetry with appliqued buttonhole wheels in different sizes.She picked the colours of the tussar silk border and they work very well with the other inspirational pictures and objects she has on the walls beside her little writing desk.

I forgot to measure the size of the finished piece but its about A4 size or a tiny bit bigger.

Which poem inspires you? I like the pictures which Sarojini Naidu's poems paint, in poems like - Bangle Sellers and Coromandel Fishers.

A Commission

About two weeks back I was shutting shop for the night and decided to check mail and there was this mail from Madder Moon requesting the commission of a piece.

Jane had wanted to buy 'Life is too short..' which was on display at the group show Fibre to Fabric curated by Madder Moon in September but it had sold.

Overwhelmed and elated best describes my state at that point. A deadline loomed large and this was the first commission for my fibre art. It must be adrenaline that got me through the past couple of weeks. 

Buttonhole wheels, appliqued flowers,fabric weaving and running stitch. All the usual suspects which find a place in the pieces I create. 

The commissioned piece is on its way to Singapore and Jane should have it just in time for Christmas. I hope the recipient of this piece finds inspiration in the words of this quote.

Ode to Running Stitch

 My favourite embroidery stitch is the Running Stitch.
Ode to Running Stitch is a triptych and a little homage to the first embroidery stitch one learns when a person takes up embroidery.

 Running stitch is the stitch used to darn and patch fabric. It forms a a soft undulating texture if its done row after row.  I use running stitch to applique pieces of tussar silk onto a silk scarf.

 Running stitch is the base for a more decorative compound stitch like the three which have been embroidered onto each of the three pieces of the triptych. The pattern on the first piece is called 'Kukadi taang' by the Lambanis of Karnataka.

Running stitch binds layers together to make a soft Kantha quilt.

Which is you favourite embroidery stitch?

Ode to Running Stitch will be available for sale at the Festive Bazaar organised by  Madder Moon, Singapore from Dec 2nd to Dec 20th.