I have been planning to post about the glorious work of Cal Lane for a while now…but when I saw {in my new copy of Selvedge Magazine} that she was taking part in the exhibition ‘Radical Lace and Subversive Stitching’ which is currently showing at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York I thought this the perfect opportunity [and perfect for WhipUp!] to do so!

Cal’s work first jumped out to me because of it’s delicacy and beauty…initially I was wowed as I thought she must have created the work with a fine piercing saw, cutting all these striking fretwork lace-like patterns into the steel - I was even more blown away when I found out she achieves this degree of delicacy with a industrial blow torch…working to burn out the organic patterning as she goes.

With this [sublime skill set] in mind…I so enjoyed browsing her website where her portfolio shows work ranging from Fine Art installations to more object based sculptures and pieces that have an almost jewellery-like finesse and lightness to them…the images above show Lanes ability to take an every day object and through applying her unique style and process, can turn our notions of functionality on their heads, revealing beauty and [an etirely different] form through the removal of material and the addition of pattern.

If you are in New York, the Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting exhibition runs until the 17th of June…I think it is great that a metalworker has been included in this show [I dearly wish I could see it!] and I think Cal Lanes inclusion will be a wonderful, and truly subversive, contribution to the other great work on show.

Future girl has recently started selling the pattern for her hand sewn, felt octopus. The three-page PDF includes the pattern and detailed instructions for making your own felt octopus.

Her all-white version, Octophrost, received honorable mention in Whiplash Gifts and Decorations.

Becka of Becka’s project journal sent in her link to her hints on hemming skirts