Cooler but still well above normal this week

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has developped a following for his handiwork with a needle. Armed with brightly colored thread and a quirky sense of humor, Saja takes traditional toile (fabric printed with pastoral scenes, often featuring people) and superimposes his own story line. He calls his brand of pillows and toile furniture "Historically Inaccurate Decorative Arts."

Under Saja's hand, noble ladies and gents are transformed into clowns, monsters, and strange animal hybrids. Cupid angels sprout long locks of Van Halen-esque hair, Abraham Lincoln comes a-courtin', and luscious bouquets are disrupted by menacing beetles.

 Saja explains his fascination with toile:

Of late Saja has been working with glow-in-the-dark thread, which allows a completely new scene to appear on your pillow once the lights are turned off.

(FYI - A Facebook friend posted a link to this artist's work, and I just couldn't resist sharing. Thanks for the tip!)

Arts and Culture

State of the Arts Blog

Marianne Combs

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Richard Saja takes traditional toile fabric and superimposes his own quirky sense of humor.

Embroidery that will have you in stitches

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