October 28, 2003
Elaine McBride - stitched small narratives
elaine mcbride, fiber artist Stitched small narratives are what Elaine McBride calls these tiny modern embroideries. She's been making them for over 25 years while teaching at area colleges and arts centers. It's hard to find much information on her techniques or theory, but the Peters Valley Crafts Center in 2003 did offer this description of her course, which gives some insight into her process:
"Embroidery is deceptively simple - providing substance to a piece of cloth with or without pre-conceived ideas! This course will utilize the stitch to develop personal imagery. Students will experiment with stitches exploring color, stitch application and mark making (think "sampler" for reference). We will design a project specific to each student utilizing doodles, introspection, brainstorming, ideas that need tweaking for needle and thread mode or suggestions from a wise and savvy stitcher! (Think personal narratives/symbols/totems.) Embroidery is a meditative process in this world of instant gratification, students may not complete their pieces but will leave with the ability to finish on their own. Framing and finishing ideas will be discussed."
Image by Elaine McBride
