Posts Tagged ‘Carol Ventura’

More Tapestry Crochet Therapy

Sunday, February 20th, 2022

Tapestry crochet has helped me through some of the toughest times of my adult life. It continues to help me deal with misinformation and now the pandemic. Lies are prolonging the pandemic and making so many innocent people suffer and die! I retired from teaching at TTU last summer, but will never stop trying to open minds and expand horizons. My most recent contribution is:

Prevention Trumps Disease: Covid Hijacks Independence but Masks and Vaccines Ransom Freedom, bead tapestry crochet basket by Carol Ventura, glass beads and cotton thread, 8″ high x 7 3/4″ wide, 2021.

Prevention Trumps Disease: Covid Hijacks Independence but Masks and Vaccines Ransom Freedom attempts to rectify the confusion between masks, vaccines, and freedom. Although Covid-19 is the disease overwhelming us now, all types of preventable illnesses restrict our freedom. The healthcare system, represented by red crosses, is able to contain, treat, and eliminate many diseases, thereby restoring our freedom to walk, run, dance, eat, pray, and sing together. Red, white, and blue represent more than just the United States, as the flags of many nations include the same colors. It is disease that takes away our freedom, but vaccines and masks can restore it. Doing something for your own good and the good of the world should not have to be mandated, but in some cases it is the only way out of a dangerous and disastrous situation.

This piece is in the 2022 Craft Biennial at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts, through June 12th, 2022. Not only are the compliments the finished piece is receiving a pleasant reward, the concentration required to bead tapestry crochet such a complicated basket was meditative and the repetitive motion released endorphins. Combined, tapestry crochet is a win-win-win!

Excellence in Fiber VI Exhibit

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020

My YES NO basket is one of 52 pieces (selected from 1100 entries) included in The Excellence in Fibers VI juried exhibition. Just click on the arrow under the Vessel category in the photo box of the exhibit web page to see it. The online exhibit runs through March 28th, 2021.

Yes No bead tapestry crochet basket by Carol Ventura, glass beads and cotton thread, 8 1/2″ x 7 1/2″, 2019.

The basket is read from top to bottom:

Three rounds of Yes and three rounds of No.
Twelve Yes and Twelve No on every row.
Twenty-four up and down all around.
Twenty-four diamonds in a row.
Twelve merged hearts below.
How many times is Yes a No?”

You may interpret the message as you wish, but my intention is that the victim is saying, “No”, but the perpetrator is saying,” Yes”.

Inside look at the Yes No Basket.

How did I crochet different images on both sides of a single-walled basket? It was accomplished with four beaded threads, a white thread with white beads, a white thread with red beads, a red thread with red beads and a red thread with white beads. Carrying 3 threads made the fabric stronger and and having red and white threads with red and white beads allowed me to place red or white beads where they were needed while crocheting red or white stitches, following a graph. I used the same technique to make the White Lies Basket.

My web page includes a free video that shows how to tapestry crochet with 2 beaded threads and my Bead and Felted Tapestry crochet book has more projects using two beaded threads. I hope you’ll give bead tapestry crochet a try!

A Happy Surprise!

Thursday, September 10th, 2020

The Handweavers Guild of America’s Convergence 2020 has been postponed to 2022, including the exhibitions. So, what a happy surprise when a letter arrived informing me that my White Lies bead tapestry crochet basket had won the third place award in the Dogwood to Kudzu basketry exhibit!

A member of The Handweavers Guild of America wove the exquisite Third Place ribbon!

Very interesting, especially since the same basket had been rejected from Convergence’s Small Expressions exhibit; different judges and different criteria and different odds. It just goes to show that rejection of your work should not be taken personally, because the very same piece can achieve greatness in another venue!

White Lies, bead tapestry crochet, glass beads and cotton thread, 8 1/2″ x 8″, 2019.

This basket was inspired by the news, social media, and situations closer to home.

Let there be light.
Let there be truth.
Let there be no more white lies!