While My Guitar Gently Weeps

“Snip.”

That’s the sound of satisfaction, my favorite small embroidery Fiskars cutting a plush blue yarn, signifying the end of another creation. The sound and the finished piece make me smile, and I’ve finally finished one of my favorite passion projects, a new art guitar, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

A fiber art homage to The Beatles hit, and also inspired by Picasso, the guitar hints at the sadness of the song with whimsy and lightheartedness, while also a serious example of dedication, creativity, and craft. Variegations of blues and greys with a subtle sparkle are evocative and gentle. The bridge of the guitar is turned down like a frown, with a large eye for a soundhole, and a smaller eye on the headstock at the end of a drooping neck, from which hangs a crystal tear.

There are no patterns for these endeavors, only trial and error in freeform knitting and crochet, and part of the process is undoing work when it goes wrong, cutting into the fabric, pulling the thread, and starting over. The practice of knitting is about enjoying the journey, as well as the finished creation. While I love making more traditional knitted objects like hats, scarves, and blankets, it’s important to me to recognize fiber arts as fine arts, and create pieces that are meant to be hung on a wall or placed on a pedestal. These are not guitar covers, they are not functional, and are pure joy and happiness in art for art’s sake! I’ve tried my hand at fine arts like drawing and painting, but fiber arts are where I translate color, texture, shape and form.

I have also created tributes to iconic moments in guitar history, including:

- A custom Fender Telecaster guitar, with a knitted logo in vintage yarn.

- Jimi Page’s “Stairway to Heaven'' guitar, a cherry red Gibson 18-string double neck. It’s a fun contrast between one of the most iconic rock guitars in history, and what can best be described as soft rock :-)

- George Harrison’s psychedelic guitar from the Magical Mystery Tour, named “Rocky.” Just as he hand painted his guitar, I too lovingly embellished this piece, with beads, pearls for neck inlay, and applique.

- The guitar Jimi Hendrix set on fire at Monterey Pop Festival, 1967. It's a mixed media piece complete with a painted pick guard, knitted flames bound in wire, spools for volume knobs, and strung left-handed.

Music and fiber art are my passions, and happiness and creativity go hand in hand when it comes to carving out my time. I started playing violin when I was 7, and started knitting when I went to college, and also learned guitar and became a singer/songwriter. I have never given up my hobbies and have continued to pursue them ever since, and even grew into a business over the last decade, crocheting bead jewelry in gemstones, pearls, glass, and other beautiful materials from around the world. I’ve been based in Austin, TX, since 2004 where I occasionally set up a booth of my crochet jewelry, and consign at local boutiques. I am a musician, performing live in a variety of genres as well as studio recordings with multiple artists.

Art guitars are truly a joy and worth the labor of love, and are rooted in how folk art traditions evolve over time. I come from a line of knitters and crafters, I learned to knit from my mom, and it is in the nature of creativity to grow in new ways over time. Because I love all things yarn and string instruments, I call my business World On A String, like the song made famous by Frank Sinatra, “What a world, what a life, I’m in love!” I honor how skills are handed down from generations, just like objects, like scissors.

“Snip.”