Saturday, May 24, 2014

The Next Big Thing

Often when I finish up a new piece, folks will ask me what the next big thing is.  With Reflections of Paris and Elegant Squid just released, I can honestly say the next thing is truly BIG. Bigger than anything I've ever done. I love it, and I hope you do too. Here is the story.

A few years ago I was introduced to a beautiful form of needlework called the Tampan Ship cloth that were woven in Sumatra in the 18th and 19th centuries. I'm not going to give a whole background, but I'll point you to a few articles that I enjoyed (1)(2)(3) for more info on their history.
A Tampan ship cloth
The writings all indicated that these beautiful artifacts were no longer being made and the samples remaining were largely in tough shape, as they were actually used by the people who made them. Comparisons have been made with embroidered samplers, including the Dutch Amager samplers.  Of course one of the reasons I was drawn to these cloths was the complete use of the space. I like my needlework to be dense - look at my Ink Circles pieces and you won't find a lot of open areas. I like the way motifs fit together.
Amager Panel chart by Needleprint:
similar motif density in a monochromatic embroidery

I decided I needed to make a cross stitch version of a Tampan cloth. It would be technically impossible and undesirable to make a direct reproduction of one for many reasons. The weaving has a different aspect ratio than cross stitch. Look at how many different line slopes there are! The cross stitch would have to be huge (we're talking a couple thousand stitches wide) to give a thread for thread reproduction.
Also, the repetition. That's a lot of big red fish. Many of these cloths include the same figures over and over, often doing a mirror image of the whole ship so it could be draped over a table/alter/coffin/? and be seen oriented correctly on both sides. Some of these cloths had to be made by the same person or school, as the designs are as identical as handwoven can get. I thought I was looking at two photos of the same cloth on this one until I started looking very closely. I took my initial layout from the twins below, but was soon scrounging other cloths for more interesting and diverse figures and motifs to substitute.

I couldn't resist all of the adorable and strange little animals that decorated the different cloths. Look at the alligator, and the little monkey things, bizarre camel birds, octopi, and godzilla. Look at the topmost picture in the post at the little flying goats/reindeer. Every inch has such interesting creatures. I suggest you Google the topic and spend a time looking at the highest res photos.
As I studied all of the images I could find (big thank you to all those universities and museums that have high resolution images of their entire collections!) I tried to make sense of what the images were. What were the people holding? Men with spears - were those the warriors? Are those ladies or just Hammer pants? Were those stringers of fish and drying herbs hanging everywhere? That must be an umbrella, and that a hut. Are those angry warriors brandishing their masculinity (a detail I chose to omit from my version?)  And little filler patterns, stars, and plants everywhere.

This is what I ended up with after months of inspired charting. I'm excited to order silks and get stitching. My big dilemma at this point is that it is large: 345 x 421 stitches, with about 62,000 x's. That is large enough that even many of my die-hard fans will take a pass on purchasing a chart. I think it would be prohibitively expensive to have a model stitcher help, given expected sales levels. I think it's going to be a fun stitch with so much variety and detail, but it's going to take me forever. So it maybe just a personal piece for now, but I love it. I know there are a lot of lovers of big red samplers out there that I can share it with someday.
The Ship of Life - original sampler design by Tracy Horner of Ink Circles
based on motifs from antique Tampan Ship Cloths (c)

26 comments:

  1. I do like your design. I think it captures the spirit on the original cloths really well!

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  2. I think you would be surprised at how many people would buy this chart. Look at some of the other companies that at selling charts that are just as intense. Beautiful job and hope you post your progress.

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  3. Wow, I look forward to seeing WIP photos!

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  4. Well done!

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  5. I would buy the chart
    Please put it out for us to buy.
    Paula Shelgren

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  6. I love it and I love the history you've provided. I would definitely purchase this chart - but I love big designs a lot anyway. Have you thought of releasing the chart before you've stitched it?

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  7. Tracy, this is beautiful beyond words. I love the history and I plan to delve into it while you delve into stitching. I would gladly buy the chart.

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  8. Tracy, this project is SO You! Fantastic!!

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  9. Tracy You need to contact me by email please If I do not answer immediately it is because I am ill

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  10. Many reproduction samplers do not have models stitched - you could release with a model

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  11. Absolutely stunning. Please chart this one for us? Please, please, please :-) (begging eyes)

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  12. I can't wait to get my hands on this and get going! I need a cross stitch break from needlepoint, as I have just finished a 17 by 12 on 18 ct, solidly stitched, 247 different stitches and pretty intense.

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  13. Wow!!! You have done an incredible job on the reproduction!!! Your design is respectful of the original yet, it has your wonderful flair to it. I agree with you. I love the dense clustering of motifes but you, my dear, manage to mingle the large and small so that it isn't just this big blog of "things." There is a rhyme and reason to it . Very very exciting!!!!

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  14. I love the design! I'd purchase a chart without having a stitched model.

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  15. Can't wait to get my hands on this. Please. please ,please chart this.

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  16. Your designs are always intriguing! Can't wait to see the next installment!

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  17. I think this is awesome. It is so different and even though it is big it would be great fun to stitch.

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  18. Wowww! I love this! I would stitch this up in a heartbeat! I hope you find a way to sell the chart...

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  19. Congratulations, you're a girl after my own heart. It's nice to see something a bit different but based on a traditional theme, and big is good. I wish you every success with this design, you deserve it.

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  20. Please release this design. I love it.

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  21. I would totally model stitch it. I think it's going to be an awesome design and the history buffs will love it!

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  22. I love this, am saving up now to buy it...

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  23. Oh my! I can see that others that love these BIG designs are excited as well. After I finished Fjord Ponies, I wondered if you would come out with another intense design. Needless to say I will be putting in my order ASAP!

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  24. I know what my next Ink Circles is gonna be! I LOVE this!!!

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  25. It is stunning. I love it.

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  26. Thanks for featuring my blog De reis naar Batik :)!

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