iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 29/01/2026

Super excited to be teaching my first workshop of 2026 online on February 7th! Hope you can join me and @craftymonkies.bsky.social www.craftymonkies.com/event-detail...

020

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 29/10/2025

I’m super excited to announce a new workshop with @craftymonkies.bsky.social: Learn thread painting with me in 2026! Grab your spot soon, as my last workshop sold out. 💥 www.craftymonkies.com/live-zoom-wo...

Poster advertising thread painting zoom workshop on February 7, 2026

030

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 30/09/2025

I’m particularly satisfied of this ink drawing I did of David Bowie. I couldn’t resist adding some copper watercolor to his forehead. This one is currently en route to his new home. 💖 #artsky #bowie

Ink drawing on paper of David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust, with a golden circle on his forehead.

130

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 07/09/2025

Bill Nighy, amirite? (He’s a delight)

Ink drawing of Bill Nighy with a quizzical expression

050

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 02/09/2025

Listening to my kid’s tv show, I misheard “heroes of the day” as “here is a bidet,” and I realized: they’re totally interchangeable. Slide one into your conversations today. 🤘 Including an image of a thread portrait I made for eye candy. #artsky

8” x 8” x 1.5” canvas artwork in a wooden floater frame. The artwork is created by first painting on raw canvas, and then stitching a drawing using a sewing machine and black cotton thread. Loose black threads are purposely visible across the canvas. This image is a thread sketch of a 1920s flapper woman, looking confidently over her shoulder, and holding a fur accessory, and wearing an extra long pearl necklace wrapped several times around her neck and back. The canvas is painted abstractly with a triangular patch of lime green and a small square of muted red-violet.

030

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 22/08/2025

I recently created this work, honouring the inimitable Kate Bush. She’s an incredible artist, pioneer, and someone I respect for doing things her own way. Do you have a favourite Kate Bush song?

Framed square portrait of Kate Bush, created from mixed media (acrylic paint and cotton thread). The canvas is framed in a natural wood floater frame, and is shown against a neutral wall.

050

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 11/08/2025

I created a little video of one of my latest artworks coming together. This, and a few more will be arriving on my website soon. As always, I’m celebrating the weirdos, sh!t disturbers and makers of good trouble.💥 #artsky #textileart #mixedmediaart #artcollecting

030

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 08/08/2025

A little video I made of my latest portrait coming together. I love rebellious subjects, particularly women. This one is based on @gayesuakyol.bsky.social Acrylic & cotton thread on canvas #textileart #chicagoartist #mixedmediaart

020

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 30/07/2025

I’m really proud of this painted and stitched portrait. The final size with frame is 13” x 13”. She’ll be coming with me to Talking Threads in Ames, IA opening Saturday 4pm at the Gallery in the Round. A Normal Venusian, pt 2., 2025 Cotton, acrylic, polyester on wood frame

Woman’s face stitched onto raw canvas. Her hair and cheeks are painted; her cheeks a lively blue-pink, and her hair and clothing aubergine, with red and teal flecks.

Closeup of stitched and painted portrait

Side angle showing canvas displayed in floater frame

040

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 29/07/2025

I made this piece on my birthday: a thread portrait of Tina Turner. This one is filled with birthday magic.

Portrait of Tina Turner singing, stitched onto raw canvas painted with orange and green

030

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 28/07/2025

Yes I follow her! I love her work.

000

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 27/07/2025

Sharing a super satisfying part of my process. 👌 This is a heat-erasable ink I use in my thread portraits. #artsky #fiberart

020

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 26/07/2025

Working in a couple new thread sketches —here’s one of Shannon from Shannon & the Clams. #artsky #quiltsky

Portrait of Shanon Shaw stitched in thread

141

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 26/07/2025

I decided to draw a little bigger today. I normally sketch on an 8” x 8” sketchbook, but I decided to use a sheet of 12” x 16” paper.

Ink drawing on white paper of a disheveled David Bowie in clown makeup and attire, smoking a cigarette with a faraway look in his eye

020

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 24/07/2025

Oh yes… she’d be totally awesome to do!

010

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 24/07/2025

Tilda! She’d be a great subject. Totally into it.

110

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 24/07/2025

Ahh all such amazing women! I actually had some reference photos of Tina Turner saved on my phone, so I think that’ll come up soon!

000

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 24/07/2025

New thread sketch: the one and only Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth. Who should I do next? Bonus points for badass women.

Thread sketch of Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth on hand-painted canvas

560

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 24/07/2025

It’s true. The name may have even been my idea.

120

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 22/07/2025

New work, new solo show The Magician debuts at my new solo show, Talking Threads, at the Gallery in the Round in Ames, IA. Opening night is Aug 2, 4-6pm My subject is the avant garde artist, Björk. My goal was to capture the playful, enigmatic spirit of one of the most singular artists of our time

Quilted portrait of the artist Björk. She is portrayed in tones of yellow-green and purple, with her hands areas by her face in a playful manner. 3D triangles emanate from her fingers

Close up of the eyes, highlighting the stitching

Close up of background and a 3D stacked triangle

090

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 20/07/2025

Stitched portrait of Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo.

Black thread portrait of man in glasses holding a microphone and wearing a pyramid hat. The portrait is stitched onto canvas, painted with a yellow triangle.

080

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 16/07/2025

Absolutely. I always need to be making something with my hands.

000

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 15/07/2025

Damn right! Everyone loved him. I talk a bit about John Brown in one of the segments. (I think that segment doesn’t air until the Fall of 2026 though…)

010

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 15/07/2025

Excited to announce that I will be a guest on Quilting Arts TV, hitting PBS stations this Fall. We shot 3 segments this morning, and I can’t wait to share my tricks with you! #quiltsky

Sarah and Susan Brubaker Knapp, host of QA TV, standing on set

Sarah with the producer and director on set, going over the flow of a segment

Sarah and Susan filming, with camera gear all around them

6351

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 30/06/2025

Week 2 of drawings of lips —now with teeth! These are a few studies of Marilyn Monroe’s lips. It’s fun to draw people wearing makeup. 😛

Graphite and charcoal drawings of Marilyn Monroe’s lips from different angles

010

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 22/06/2025

Some studies of lips I did for my facial feature drawing class. I’m normally too lazy to bring out my easel, but seeing the difference it makes will have me prioritize it in the future.

Graphite drawings of lips at different angles

150

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 20/06/2025

Just shipped these off for photography and inclusion in a little tv show I’ll be featured in next Fall. Stay tuned for more details! These are all fabric, no paint! #textileart #artsky #quiltsky

Textile portrait on canvas of a pink unenthused cat against a deep yellow background

Textile portrait on canvas of a purple German Shepherd Dog against a yellow background

Textile portrait on canvas of a green hand giving “rock on” fingers, against a black background

Portrait quilt of John Brown done all in reds

0100

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 18/06/2025

I’ve got so much new stuff coming your way. I can’t wait to share what I’m doing this July. 🤘#quiltsky #artsky

Quilted green hand giving rock on fingers, with purple nails against a black backdrop.

Side view of rock on hand, showing a purple border around a canvas frame, and details of harlequin stitching in the background

070

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 05/06/2025

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for: drawings of a pierced nose at three different angles.

Graphite and chalk drawing of a nose at three different angles

020

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 29/05/2025

Just put the finishing touches on the latest in my Textile Sketch series. Made from cotton, silk, and bamboo mounted onto a wood frame, he measures 18” x 18” x 1.5”. Textile Sketch #6: Robert Smith #thecure #artsky

Textile portrait of Robert Smith from the Cure. Made from pieced cotton fabric and lots and lots of stitching, mounted onto a wood frame.

Detail shot showing lots of stitching and small signature in the corner

040

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 29/05/2025

Drawing more and more eyes for a facial feature class I’m taking at the Palette and Chisel Academy. Soon you’ll see random drawings of noses and ears from me… so you can look forward to that.

Eyes drawn with graphite and chalk on toned beige paper

170

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 28/05/2025

I finished my version of the Royally Striped cardigan (pattern by Stephen West) on Sunday. The first time I wore it out, someone tried to buy it off my back, so I guess it turned out okay. 😛 I rarely post my knitting, though I’ve been a knitter far longer than I’ve been a quilter! #knitsky

Me wearing my Royally Striped cardigan and being a fool in my alley.

0390

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 27/05/2025

Happy 68th birthday to the one and only Siouxsie Sioux! Born May 27, 1957, she’s as iconic today as when she played with the Banshees. Rock on Siouxsie! Thanks for bringing your authenticity to the world. 🤘🔥💥

000

Io the Alien / Sarah Spencer @iothealien.com · 26/05/2025

Cool thing about being an artist #117: we’re very good at entertaining ourselves on airplanes. (A graphite drawing, and an ink & watercolor drawing of Prince from today’s flight)