Here is some of my latest work. These are my canvases. I decided this year that I would try not to buy new things but reuse, recycle and remake. These are all second hand clothes, nothing cost me more than $10 (my linen shirts cost me a buck each!) and include silk, linen and cotton. My two cardy's are polyester but have worked a treat. It is hard finding clothes that suit my body shape as a size 20 woman. However I think I managed. I must show you Savemart, our giant recycling clothes warehouse here in P-Town. Here are some of my items awaiting altering and work. Seen here are four cotton tops, two linen shirts, a polyester skirt and a cardigan. Hanging in my wardrobe is a linen dress, another cardy as well as five t-shirts. Seeing as how I am doing all this experimenting I might as well kill two birds with one stone, and create a wardrobe for myself as well. I am not that interested in designing clothes as I am in designing materials. However coming up with ideas for the finished product is fun too. All that's missing is a partridge in a pear tree!
This is one of my altered shirts which has been appliqued with various pieces of silk. The pocket has images of my screen printing on it. The top right hand corner has shibori dyed fabric.
The collar involves zillions of tiny running stitches and a shiny piece of silk velvet (well, a silk/polyester blend).
Here is a blanket dyed in eucalyptus and then I am playing around with running stitch on it's surface. The circles are both a nod to my 'influence' theme (Bronfenbrenner's ecological model of human development) and my photos of the stones on the beaches I walk.
Details of running stitch. This is a very calm process and I love that I can sew while spending time with the kids. I can do it at lectures, waiting, anywhere. Even in bed (although I lose the odd pin only for my family to find them with their feet - ow). Some of my work, like this stuff I do in isolation away from the eyes of art school. I no longer over think things, if I think an idea, I just give it a go. I have no idea where these things will end up, although there are definitely themes emerging like texture, tone-on-tone, natural materials, resourcefulness, and concepts like the systems, influence and culture.
Below, this is a box of my materials including samples and pieces of silk and wool felt, dyed and awaiting a new home on one of my garments or artworks. This is probably where I spend the most money. Silk is difficult to source in great quantities secondhand, even firsthand it retails $15-$30pm for plain silk. I am able to get it at a reduced price through school, however it still remains costly. So if you have silk that I can use, or know of a good source (which would be great) then please leave a comment. I know Asia is excellent for silk.
These are my clay heads. I love them so much. I could make 'people' anytime out of anything.
I also have my seaweed baskets drying in the garage, they are a bit stinky but already they are starting to keep their own form.
As I drove up my street yesterday, I managed to catch the following view in my rear side view mirror.
This is my interior rear view mirror. How cool is that. Like a wee artwork framed in my car.
This is one of my altered shirts which has been appliqued with various pieces of silk. The pocket has images of my screen printing on it. The top right hand corner has shibori dyed fabric.
The collar involves zillions of tiny running stitches and a shiny piece of silk velvet (well, a silk/polyester blend).
Here is a blanket dyed in eucalyptus and then I am playing around with running stitch on it's surface. The circles are both a nod to my 'influence' theme (Bronfenbrenner's ecological model of human development) and my photos of the stones on the beaches I walk.
Details of running stitch. This is a very calm process and I love that I can sew while spending time with the kids. I can do it at lectures, waiting, anywhere. Even in bed (although I lose the odd pin only for my family to find them with their feet - ow). Some of my work, like this stuff I do in isolation away from the eyes of art school. I no longer over think things, if I think an idea, I just give it a go. I have no idea where these things will end up, although there are definitely themes emerging like texture, tone-on-tone, natural materials, resourcefulness, and concepts like the systems, influence and culture.
Below, this is a box of my materials including samples and pieces of silk and wool felt, dyed and awaiting a new home on one of my garments or artworks. This is probably where I spend the most money. Silk is difficult to source in great quantities secondhand, even firsthand it retails $15-$30pm for plain silk. I am able to get it at a reduced price through school, however it still remains costly. So if you have silk that I can use, or know of a good source (which would be great) then please leave a comment. I know Asia is excellent for silk.
These are my clay heads. I love them so much. I could make 'people' anytime out of anything.
I also have my seaweed baskets drying in the garage, they are a bit stinky but already they are starting to keep their own form.
As I drove up my street yesterday, I managed to catch the following view in my rear side view mirror.
This is my interior rear view mirror. How cool is that. Like a wee artwork framed in my car.
8 comments:
You make me want to pull out the sewing machine. Ilove the recycled clothes. I'll keep my eye out for silk.
Oh my, what a post. Where to begin....well, first the clothes. What finds! I love the interesting detail on the collar. There are beautiful tones and hues in these shirts, you'll wear them pride.
The blanket: it takes a certain patience to do this kind of intricate stitching, and you have it. It's very relaxing, isn't it, to do that kind of thing. The blanket is lovely and indeed evocative of stones. I take it that it is still in progress? Please post a photo when its all done.
Now for your view...I am envious. Looking out over open water is one of the most peaceful, satisfying vistas. Indeed you are right, each frame is like a own painting in its own right.
I really enjoy the hodge-podge variety of your posts, and this glimpse of life in such a faraway place.... I'm at the other end of the world...
Regards,
Lavinia
So glad you are blogging again. I really miss your newsy illustrated posts when you are not here. The blanket is gorgeous! That stitching is so effective wending its way around pebble shapes.
Forgot to tell you, you've been tagged!
I’m tagging you for a Six Word Memoir! Hope you play!
Rules:
1. Write your own six-word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog (and include a visual illustration if you’d like).
3. Link to the person who tagged you in your post.
4. Tag five more blogs with links.
5. Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.
hey Rachelle,
i see with delight that next time we meet our wardrobes will be complementing each other! never quite sure which is the best part about r(eco)fashion...the satisfaction of something-for-virtually-nothing, the joy of undoing the dye bundle or the meditative stitching (one of my dresses has a permanent needle and pre-cut threads tucked in a pocket so I can do running stitch while waiting on meetings or lurking at the tramstop)
The collar is my fav. it is so tactile!
it's true, art school can in fact be incredibly restrictive in all their efforts to conceptualise everything. Sometimes it's the act of doing that brings inspiration and in turn bring productivity. There shouldn't be any shame in that.
First of all thank you for visiting my blog and hello. Its nice to meet you. I've just had a quick look at your blog and found these amazing stitched pieces at the tip of this post. I love hand stitching and don't do enough. Its lovely to see it on this scale.
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