Talismans Challenge Gallery

Welcome to our “Talismans Challenge" Online Gallery. These pieces were originally exhibited at San Francisco School of Needlework and Design (SNAD) in September, 2019. The exhibition, open to all and with no barrier to entry, prompted participants to consider the world of Talismans - Amulets, charms, and fetishes from around the world differ in form, mythology, and origin. Some display intricate writing or imagery and some exist as simple, raw material. Some are used in formal ceremony or passed down within a lineage and others are plucked from the earth and valued for only a short time. Yet, they all share the quality of attributed value by the desire to understand and interpret our experience through shared material language. Thanks to our friends at NEST. a number of lucky registrants received a packet of upcycled Swarovski crystals to be used in their submission. From these submissions, a group of curated works will take part in an extended showcase in New York!

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Marsha Schuld

Saskatchewan, Canada

The Sun God: Ra

Goldwork, stumpwork, beading, hand stitching on cotton velvet ground

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Rosa Iris Acuña

Alajuela, Costa Rica

Eco-Warrior

Guatemalan embroidery technique

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Shanaz Khan

New York, NY

Evil Eyes

Mirrorwork, embroidery, beading

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Susana Wurzel

Newtonville, MA

My Dilemma

Hand embroidery

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Ximena Ortiz

Los Angeles, CA

Rococo Cross

Thread painting and Crewelwork

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Marie-Renée Otis

Quebec, Canada

The Blind Talisman

beading, guipure, running stitch

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Kate Godfrey

Oakland, CA

The Birthday Scissors

My Father’s Penknife

Hand embroidery on canvas using Perle cotton, sewing thread, and Swarovski crystals.

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Kate Picher

Bishop, CA

Madonna and Child

Applique, crewel embroidery (back stitch, chain stitch, padded satin stitch, cross stitch, couching, stem stitch, french knots) with crystals.

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Jackie Frost

Gardner, MA

Journey

This piece was created with metallic threads using a variety of line and whip stitches along with pattern darning worked like long and short stitch to blend colors.

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Peggy Ichinose

Fremont, CA

Matryoshka Mommy and Me

“Silk thread surface embroidery, beading, goldwork using at least 80% of my thread, beads & fabric from rescue sources such as FabMo, JunkeeReno & Tinsel Trading Co & featuring Swarovski crystals, also rescued & repurposed”

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Margaret Timbrell

San Francisco, CA

Fist Full of Figas

Fist Full of Figas is a mixed media piece that integrates the Swarovski crystals and figa charms with embroidery floss in a friendship bracelet/macrame technique.

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Velia Antila

San Marcos, CA

Incentive

This was made as my incentive to work hard and regain movement from invasive surgery.

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Katherine Dossman

Belton, TX

Chat Rose

Machine pieced with hand dyed cotton.Stuffed with polyester.Hand embroidery on the ears, face and chest. Lace, beads and paint to finish the face and chest.Ribbon and fringe added to complete the piece.

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Tricia Soto

Redwood City, CA

Icons

Relief printing, embroidery

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Maya Trifunovic

San Francisco

Agave Bloom

Indigo thread on linen

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Sunanda Bahal

Alameda, CA

Wear AUM around your neck. Trouble ? Not a spec!

Embroidery

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Rebecca Marcus

Columbia, SC

The Dream You Want

Satin stitch, split stitch and outline stitch were used.