My design just got on AlJazeera’s blog!

I have been following the revolution in Libya very carefully.  Some of the images are truly amazing, and I made a pattern of one of the designs and shared on Twitter.  If you’ve been following my designs, you already know that I have a taste for the unusual–if someone is going to spend hours making a pattern, it should have meaning.

Anyways, Al Jazeera English’s blog “The Stream” picked it up and featured it! Oh my goodness, Im terribly excited, and I really feel like this little hobby is actually getting noticed. I feel like I might actually be GOOD at this, y’all!

Here it is:

 

It’s an advanced level pattern. It measures 10×15 approximately, is worked on 18 count Aida, and uses 30 different colors. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, but neither is the #epiclibyanman who inspired it.  If you would like the pattern, please contact me @amyrohde on Twitter, and I’ll be happy to send it to you!

Surgeons wash their hands before stitches, and so should you.

I did it again.  I DO know better, and I didn’t forget, I just got lazy… and well, now I’m having to pick out a bunch of stitches and start over.  I saved myself 30 seconds, by forcing myself into a situation where I’m going to waste at least an hour, a bunch of floss, and maybe even the cloth that I’m stitching on.  On which I’m stitching.  Whatever.

 

What is my heinous crime, stitchery friends?

I. Didn’t. Wash. My. Hands.

It seems like such a little thing.  They looked clean, and I don’t remember touching anything grimy, so I didn’t bother.  Of course, after doing a technically lovely patch of snow white, I noticed it wasn’t snow white.  It wasn’t even ultra light gray. It had moved past ecru and had become a mottled light gray brown.

I tried to convince myself that it was simply the light, so I rushed it under better light to see if the snow white would come beaming out.  Nope.  Still grungy.  In fact, it was grungier in better light. Argh.  Considering that it was likely from petting the dog (who is almost always a dirty beast), possibly also from when I had eaten hours ago, I don’t think I’ll be able to get the yuckness out, and will have to start that part over again.

So, as a public service announcement brought to you by my grinning, stinky dog and the makers of Cheetos, remember this:  Your surgeon would never dream of putting stitches in without washing his or her hands.  Neither should you.

Eurrrrrrgh! Why would you do something like that?

I get a lot of raised eyebrows and awkward silences when I tell people about my cross stitch designs.  It seems that they are expecting bonneted geese, cheesy sayings or faces with eyes entirely too large for their heads rather than, well, guts.

While I’m not knocking anyone who enjoys those designs, they just aren’t for me. I find them tired and uninspired.  A goose in a bonnet is simply a goose in a bonnet– no thought required.

Guts and brains and tendons though? They’re interesting. They DO things. And believe it or not, they’re beautiful.  Look at the lines, the curves, the complexities of it all.  And then think about how each bit (save for a few, like the completely pointless appendix) works with all the other bits to keep you alive and feeling and thinking.  It’s beauty rooted in function.  Amazing.

It sounds lofty and snobbish, but I’d like to celebrate the systems and structures of the body.  With each curve and fold I look at, the the deeper I fall into my own thoughts, and that, my friends, is what art should be about.

 

Back muscles

With all the time saved on the brain and spine pattern, you’ll have PLENTY of time to work on this chart of the muscles of the back…. right?  This beautiful chart is done in 40 colors and measures 9×15″.

 

Brain and Spine

I haven’t posted, but I have been busy!  My latest piece is worked in three colors on 18 count fabric. Due to the fact that I have put no background in this 7×24″ piece, this will work up quickly!

Brain and Spine

 

 

 

 

Ever wondered what the inside of a hand looks like? Wonder no more!

Another recent piece from a vintage anatomy textbook.  As always, this pattern is for sale at my Etsy shop!

 

(Not for the faint of) Heart

Yet another one of my pieces.  Oh, be still my beating…. meh, nevermind.