all sewn up

I've really been into stitched and sewn art lately, so when I discovered Lauren DiCioccio's series sewnnews and National Geographics, I was enthralled. Each piece is hand stitched with needle and thread to resemble newspaper and magazine articles, or other items/public figures of poignancy in today's society:

"My work investigates the physical/tangible beauty of commonplace mass-produced media-objects, most recently: the newspaper, magazines, office papers and writing pads, plastic bags, 35 mm slides. These media are becoming obsolete, replaced by the invisible efficiency of various technologies. In some cases, this transition is a good thing- faster transmission and distribution of information, streamlined systems, openness to user input, less waste. But a hole is left behind by the disappearance of these everyday objects. What will happen when we no longer touch information? When newsprint does not rub off onto our fingertips? When we no longer write longhand?"

via Colossal

up, up and away

Remember when you were a child, when everything seemed so beautifully bright and new, and you wanted to capture each breathtaking moment, and never let it go? As I get older, and these memories start to slowly fade like aging film, I try to draw them to the surface, and relive those times when it was all so blissfully simple. Flipping though magazines, looking up at billboard advertisements, and watching movies, it would seem the general media is fixated on recalling parts of our childhood too: balloons. Whether you first encountered them at the fair, an amusement park, or a birthday party, those round, rubbery, almost lumiscent-in-the-light objects were a part of your childhood.

Fiberarts folds

After the June 2011 issue was sent to stands, Fiberarts, a magazine dedicated to to all things knitted, woven, felted, sculpted, quilted and pulled, decided to close up shop, attributing the folding to a general lack of interest and difficulty keeping it in circulation. Though the mag's mother publisher Interweave is offering up Quilting Arts as a supplement, it is incredibly disappointing to see another unique publication bite the dust. Moreover, Fiberarts' folding marks yet another hit to the stability of the print industry. With this in mind, I encourage readers to turn off their monitors and pick up a magazine, book or newspaper. Hindsight is 20/20, and I would hate to look back ten years from now and regret being part of the growing slaughter of the printed page. Wouldn't you?