When I was a child I took an illustrated book about eyes from the library. I remember curling in a nook and reading intently about cones and light rays. When I was a teenager, I would draw eyes, perfected, ethereal eyes with perfectly shaded pupils. I drew the same eye so many times they became formulaic. At that same time I went on vacation to Providence, Rhode Island with my mom and dad and saw many blown glass Evil Eyes. Pinterest has various images of Evil Eyes.
This led me on an exploration of Shisha Mirrors, which, now that I am writing about them and finding links to share with you, I pine over (tis not the season to be purchasing art supplies for myself). But. We are talking about a quest I had in my early years, right? I learned that mirrors were used to deflect the Evil Eye and protect the wearer from harm. And what teenaged girl doesn't want to wear long flowing skirts embroidered with mirrors?
As I was creating this post, I came across a tutorial on shisha embroidery, using pennies.
hmmmm...
This is my work from yesterday. It needs something to push the eye image forward but I will put it aside for now.
We now have 17 members over at the Rockstar Boro group.
I love shisha mirror embroidery, one time at QSDS my shisha work so impressed one of my fellow classmates that she sent me a box of mirrors from India :) I have used coins as shisha, in the spirit of "use what you have available". I would love some coins from Iceland to do that with, they have great pictures on them :D
I recently added some shisha to a tie-dye quilt I made... had never done shisha embroidery before, so I searched and found a great tutorial using paillettes, which are reasonably priced and I think worked well. Let me know if you want the link, and I will send it to you!
While growing up in Chicago I had a friend from Pakistan that wore the most beautiful clothing with shisha mirrors. I was always fascinated with the embroidery and how beautiful the mirrors made the embroidery so much more. What a fun bit of art to explore! I never knew they were there to deflect the evil eye. Interesting!
It is fun and interesting to explore cultures while making things.
i've been wanting to learn to do the shisha mirror thing. gonna check it out.
ooh! I'll add shisha mirrors or pennies or on my prayer flags! http://theprayerflagproject.blogspot.com/
Jane, that seems like a perfect place to do it.
I love shisha mirrors. Back in the day when I was furnishing my first apartment, trips to Seattle's Pike Place Market were scheduled every payday. Pottery, handmade candles, and exotic fabrics came home with me. I was never able to afford the gorgeous Indian fabrics with the beautiful shisha embroidery and I have coveted them ever since!Live and learn. Have a fun filled and stitchy weekend!
Oh thanks Melly for bringing shisha into focus; I have a box of shisha from so many years ago, probably 35 or so, carried around with me. My first boro is a velvet jacket with lovely burn out pattern on the sleeves and the fabric near the shoulders just gave way so I am working on changing the look with some applique, embroidery and oh yes, now I will get that little box and add some shisha. This project is exactly what I was needing to do - thanks for the December beginnings!