Flora as Fashion: Jonathan Mills

"Flora as Fashion: Jonathan Mills" 2019
Digital inkjet print and yarn
40 x 40 in.

In the final days of stitching the last pieces for the exhibition, this 40 x 40 in digital inkjet print was both a joy and a conundrum. There was no doubt I would fill the piece with the ombre colors echoed in the wisteria vine that Jonathan was wrapped in and intended to fill the shirt with a pattern of it's fragrant flower. But after I had filled in the first line of flowers which were attached to the vine, I sat with the piece for a day and came to the conclusion that the image was complete.

Simplicity is not as easy as it appears. Although I desired to fill the shirt in completely, it was obvious to me that just a simple line of flowers hanging from a single vine had created a powerful image that expressed exactly what I had intended to present.

Using the French Knot embroidery stitch in yarn was a bit of a challenge. I had to do quite a bit of testing before I could properly create the knotted stitch and ended up using merino wool with a rather large, heavy duty sack-needle used for stitching up packages of hay or grain.

I couldn't be more delighted with the final image in this series as it contains all that I have experienced and learned from creating this project. With the exhibition "Home as Hat - Flora as Fashion" coming to a close today, I am pleased that I was able to see this body of work come to its final conclusion.

If interested in purchasing an exhibition catalogue, please email me at julievox@sbcglobal.net

Julie Green
June 22, 2019

Home as Hat: Amanda Quinn Olivar

"Home as Hat: Amanda Quinn Olivar" 2019
Digital inkjet print and yarn
40 x 40 in.

This final "hat" was created from one of the first photographs taken for this series. Walking around Beverly Hills, we spied this Tudorbethan style gable,  a subset of the Tudor Revival architecture of the 1930's. Once I began to stitch this piece together in yarn, it was evident to me that a drab brown color of the timbers was not going to pop against the wild shrubbery and couldn't possible compete with the dominant patterns in the incredible coat created by Zandra Rhodes which Amanda had on, so I chose the color red.

Amanda, who is currently producing a feature documentary called "Seeing is Believing: Women Direct" and the play & film "Paint Made Flesh", is also an editor for the online magazine Curator. She recently interviewed me about my work as well as my thoughts on this series. You can read the interview here.

I am delighted to see this image int he 40x40 in. format as it is a strong image of a lovely person in a magical setting clothed by one of the world's most fascinating fashion designer. What more could you want?

This piece, along with 32 other images in the exhibition "Home as Hat - Flora as Fashion" can be seen at Muzeumm until July 22nd.

Julie Green
June 15, 2019

Home as Hat: Andrea Minton Part 3

"Home as Hat: Andrea Minton" 2019
Digital inket print and yarn
40x40 in.

There are four 40x40 in. digital inkjet prints in the exhibition which have been stitched with yarn. Embroidery floss would have gotten lost on this large image, so I tested different types of yarn, rope and thread to see what would work best. I ended up using both a combination of a merino wool and regular cotton to construct this piece.

This simple line stitch was a perfect counterpoint to the busy houndstooth dress Andrea is wearing. It also helped to tie together the architectural element behind her into a hat she is actually wearing. I had originally thought that I would weave another hat for her as I did in the second Home as Hat: Andrea Minton Part 2  7x7 in. print but once I had laid down the first horizontal lines with the only multicolored yarn in the show, I knew it was just the right accent for this piece.

It also looks like a party hat and since my 50th birthday is tomorrow, it seemed like the perfect image for this celebratory weekend!

This print and 32 other embroidered photographs are on view in "Home as Hat - Flora as Fashion" exhibition hanging at Muzeumm until June 22nd.

Julie Green
June 8, 2019

Flora as Fashion: Asia Muka

Flora as Fashion: Asia Muka" 2019
Digital inkjet print and yarn
40 x 40 in.

When I approached this piece it was a bit daunting. Not only was it 40 x 40 in but it was an overall design I wanted to stitch in detail. I had photographed Asia deliberately in front of an extremely old and prominent organ pipe cactus which I felt reflected her larger than life personality but didn't take into account how long it would take me to execute the piece.

I had been studying varying embroidery stitches and hit up on the buttonhole stitch which seemed to emulate the undulating outline of the cactus. The evenly spaced cactus spines gave me a guide to puncture the surface. Turning the cactus into feathers seen in an elaborate Las Vegas showgirl costume came alive with the use of yarn instead of embroidery floss.

Three weeks later, the piece was finished.

I'm extremely proud to showcase this image in my exhibition which will be opening tonight at MuzeuMM.

Julie Green
June 1, 2019