In the latest “Off Book” feature, PBS explores the work of two unique artists who use the streets as their canvas: Olek, who wraps everyday objects (and even people) in layers of colorful crochet, and Swoon, who pastes large-scale paper drawings on peeling city walls and in public spaces. Equally at home in museums and galleries, both artists create installations that challenge the formats of traditional art spaces. With powerful layers of meaning, beautiful aesthetics, and unique media, these two prolific creators are pushing the boundaries of contemporary art.

Oh, and thanks so much for the super kind emails, comments and Tweets to my last two posts. They have not gone unnoticed, and have warmed my heart lately at a time when it needs a little extra warming. Just got one of the phone calls I’ve been expecting, which was only joyous as it signals the end of someone I’ll miss dearly’s pain. And currently the screensaver on my phone is my teeny tiny little niece smiling, ever reminding me that things ebb and flow, from happy to sad to happy again. As they will always.

In the absence of words, the Hmong used story cloths (see quotes below for more info) to tell their own stories of their experiences in their homeland. Stories that are not generally depicted on a needlepoint pillow like the ones your grandmother has on the couch.

Without written language, they used story clothes to preserve their history. Women sewed images of their devastating stories of crossing the Mekong River to Thailand from Laos, or flying overseas to America for freedom.

Paj ntaub or “flower cloth” is a textile art traditionally practiced by Hmong people. It involves embroidery in applique, reverse applique and batik designs that are used to decorate clothing and accessories. Paj ntaub has also expanded to include “story cloths,” stitched stories often telling of the Hmong exodus from Laos to Thailand and even to the U.S.

So, ingeniously, the staff at the American Red Cross Twin Cities Area Chapter (where there is a large Hmong refugee community) found a way to show off these needlepoint skills and help the community navigate their new lives simultaneously.

Create new story cloths as a teaching tool for those in the Hmong community who are illiterate.

Each of the panels in the story cloth shares a different set of safety skills. “The winter weather panel shows images of Minnesota winters, including an icy lake and a car stuck in a snow bank, while the summer safety panel reminds people to wear lightweight clothing instead of traditional layered Hmong dress,” said Chau Vue, Hmong/South East Asian Outreach Coordinator with the Twin Cities Area Chapter, who shares these safety messages with the local Hmong community.

Imagine the possibilities here for countries with high illiteracy rates and taking cultural skills that are already there and transforming them into teaching tools. Perhaps my favorite example of this is the Mapula Embroidery Project in South Africa (more here and here).

And conversely, imagine the possibilities if we discovered more about what story cloths and other tapestries made by highly illiterate communities can teach us about their cultural experiences, cultural memory, histories, hopes, dreams. My favorite example of that are my biggest love, biggest question mark and biggest dream for writing more about, Afghan war rugs.

We often think we’re so advanced and cultured and technologically advanced, and we’re so often focused on moving forward, that I think we forget that there are great lessons to be told and stories to be shared and secrets to be uncovered when we drop our iPhones and laptops and headphones, and take a minute to learn (really learn) what stories are being told with little more than needles and thread, words optional.

You may have noticed that I haven’t updated here in awhile. That’s been due to two things…


1a. Working on some projects not directly related to craftivism, one of them, some communications work with the amazing non-profit seen in the video above, Emerge, which helps young sexually abused girls in Sri Lanka start their own jewelry businesses.

1b. There are other projects I’ve been working on, too, which will surface publicly soon! Yay!

2. Taking some time off the internet entirely, after being told I was misdiagnosed and given medication that made me worse for fifteen years! Although have been knocked a bit back by some allergy problems, have been enjoying finally having the energy to do things once again… some of them for the first time this century. (Krikey!)




While the time off has been pretty great, it’s also reminded me how much finding craft a decade ago has helped me redirect, reshape (and in many ways) rediscover my own life, so will be back on a more regular basis soon. When I started writing about craftivism, this crazy compound notion I came up with in 2003, I had no idea it was going to grow in so many different directions and mean so many different things to so many different people. It’s been so amazing! But it also means reworking what it means to me now in 2011 now that so many other people have found it has meaning in their own lives too. Now that it’s no longer just me touting a rogue idea, but something that has been written about and practiced by people around the world, this time off has been important to really figure out in what direction I need to go to with craftivism now that it’s come into its own.

So, I guess what I’m saying is, I’m still here, and that I’ll be back soon. I just needed some strict time away to refocus on my life outside craft and technology, in order to figure out the best way to go forward within them.

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Text from here, click through for whole story:

Video from here:

Louisiana, MO. He’s a hard-core biker with a sensitive soft side. Truly, how many Harley owners do you know who stitch quilts on the side? And have you ever met a HOG lover who makes his quilts out of women’s panties? And let’s not forget this character has his nickname “Shovelhead” tattooed just below the bridge of his cap. Yep, right there on his forehead so you won’t forget his name—as if anyone could forget ol’ Shovelhead.

But back to the panty quilt…

Louis “Shovelhead” Garrett rents out the basement of his mother’s house in Louisiana, Mo. That’s where he crafts his one-of-a-kind quilts. He’s kind of picky with his panties. He’ll accept silk, acetate, nylon, even rayon. But polyester panties need not apply.

“I don’t want them cheap, dollar store, not-sexy-farm-girl panties. I want classy.”

How can you not love a story who’s headline reads “Biker stitches panty quilt? Or a video that dares to ask, “From where do you get all the panties?”


Yet another example of how craftiness has nothing to do with gender or appearance… And how it runs through the lives of many in so very many ways!

While you should watch the whole video, as it’s brilliant, one thing he says spoke out to me the most, “In today’s society, there’s so much wrong with society, to me, that’s the role of the artist… to try and keep that highlighted and not let it drift away and become yesterday’s news.”

It’s our (whether you call yourself an artist, crafter or maker) role to make sure people pay attention. Our (collective!) role.

And speaking of Carrie, she currently has a show up at Ink’d in Brighton until April 10, which you can read a review of over at Spindle. The show is called Mad in England, a show about which the Ink’d website notes (click text to read more):

UK renegade potter and leading anarchist Carrie Reichardt will be bringing an eccentric twist to all things British at Ink_d Gallery. As we built up towards the media mania of The Royal Wedding Reichardt has decided she just can’t take it anymore – and this show represents the Great British Empire as ‘Cruel Britannia’ through her unique anarchic vision.”

If you can’t get to the show, you can still own a bit of “Mad in England!”I recently received my specially made mug for the Kate n Wills Royal wedding next month in the mail that Carrie created for the occasion. While it does contain a 4-letter word not suitable for the kitchens of some, it looks quite proper sitting on my kitchen shelf.

*Seriously her house is amazing. They did a 4-page spread on it in The Guardian last year. See the original Guardian article here, and complete with photos over here. (And yes, there is a little blurb about Garth Johnson, Craftivist Collective and I down at the bottom of the article. Way to go, eagle eye!