Sewing Was Stitched To My Soul

Thread, fabric, patterns, pins, sharp scissors and buttons have comprised the fundamental elements of my life. My earliest memories involve something sewing related. My sister, who is 8 years older than me, was always sewing something. My Aunt Helen had the typical fabric obsessed sewing house. Piles of fabric and projects. I loved the pajamas she would make for us. The mittens she knitted for us were my favorites throughout my life. My Mom was a good sewist. She mended things and was good at fitting. She really didn't like to sew all that much but she was good at technical assistance. 

I absolutely adored her button box and was fascinated by the archival quality of the buttons. Colors, ages, shapes and leftovers from so many garments or projects. I have the significant ones in a tin box just like she kept them in. Sifting through them was a tactile experience filled with imagination and family history. I would look until I found my favorites, the huge glass one that I imagined was impressive diamond, and of course the ones that I could repeatedly ask about where they came from so I could hear the story again.

One of the stories that was told over and over was how my sister started sewing by making doll clothes. She just cut them out and hand stitched them together. It seemed like a good idea to me. 

When I had mastered good scissor cutting I set out to bring those ideas in my head to life. There were always scraps of fabric, wooden spools of extra thread and lots of trim around to use. 

We, who sew, under estimate the wonderful transferable skills that we have learned from sewing. Here is where my inner teacher kicks into gear. I recall that it was a lesson about turning a 2 dimensional media into something that would fit a 3 dimensional object. It was also a trial run in scale and proportion. My stitches were too far apart and gaped. It was a definite fundamental lesson in spatial skills, pattern drafting and construction. In other words, it was a great learning experience. It was a mess. That doll didn't care she wore it anyway. 

To be continued...

Modiste Has Been Bad, Very Bad: Color Theory Made Me Do it

I saw the picture of the fabric.  It sucked me in like a visual Tsunami pulling back out to sea. All common sense, all firm resolve, all monetary judgement just gone. What can I say? Thank goodness for monetary Christmas gifts? I didn't know my mother-in-law was such an enabler until I  thought of that check. I always suspected Marci Tilton was one you had to watch out for. Enough shock and awe. On to the good stuff.

I have a fascination with a mixture of cool icy blues and gold or earth tones. Maybe it is because my coloring doesn't allow for a lot of warm color without being asked if I need a ride to urgent care. Maybe it is living in the north and it symbolizes a tiny hope for warmth. More simply, it is my love of contrast and color. I am not normally a large print person, but I think, given the description, this can be pieced in a way to create a really interesting overall garment. The pattern changes near the selvedges. Did I mention it is a rayon knit? Think soft, drape and movement.

And then of course, that was so interesting, I had to go back and click on the next page because there could be something just waiting there even more interesting.

I have long had a love affair with the complementary color scheme. I like the visual bounce it produces in the brain. High interest. Envision it this way. Imagine you are looking at a color wheel. Look at two colors directly across from one another. It is like a visual tennis match. Your eyes won't rest on one much longer than the other. The brain likes complementary color schemes. They are interesting.

How could you expect me to resist this given that love affair? One of the reasons I loved the first Nike "Just Do It!" campaign was because of this color combination. Complementary color scheme, blue and orange and  IT IS A JAPANESE COTTON PRINT!!!!  That combination could drive me to some kind of Twelve Step Program if I really had a problem....

Now add a graphic print, little squares, squiggly lines, motifs, and a variety of shapes. It was sold before that temptress even put it up on the Internet. I am already placing them on a blouse in my brain for the most impact and small visual surprises.

I keep myself away from Internet fabric sites for just this reason. I have ordered some on line but haven't been quite satisfied when I received it. Now, reinforced with better graphics on my Ipad and confidence in Marci Tilton's level of taste, it either gave me the confidence or made me jump right into the old insanity pool to order fabric, in a shorter amount of time, than any Internet order I have ever placed.

A Season for Every Activity

These are not inspirational projects. They really aren't even good pieces of work but the idea is. Try something new or rediscover something. It changes the way you think about your other creative endeavors.

In a time long long ago I used to sew a lot and do a lot arts and crafts. I have lost track of that side of myself. Kind of  in line with that whole "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." (Ecclesiastes 3) Life has been full but things change. Change has always been my friend.

Time to get back to that compelling part of my brain. The local independent art supply store offered free art product demos during December. It is a smart idea. People walk in, an artist demonstrates products, people sit down and use the products for free to create something to take home. They then of course, like any creatively obsessed person, buy the products. What a great way to connect to those activities I enjoyed, meet nice people who are like minded, take a break from the holiday speed race and enjoy the big idea of the holiday.  

I learned a few things. Muscle memory has left the house. See that little "Joy" project. My brain would know exactly what to do then my hand would wander from its trajectory. 20 years ago I would have whipped that puppy out and it would have looked good. Fluidity of thought is maintained with practice. Keep up with new products and experiment with them. Projects are grown in layers. Try something, change it, add something. The artist reminded me of that one. When I get out of my "thinking" brain and into my "creating" brain I relax, time slows down a bit and I have to remind myself there is an end to a project. If I don't identify where my end is I can get a bit obsessed and frustrated. 

It was fun to revisit my design knowledge and color theory even if poorly executed. This was a fun way to celebrate the holidays. The practice and execution of technical skills is what communicates the essence of an idea. I realized instead of just focusing on sewing I need to focus on my creativity and the rest will come.

*****************

List of projects and products starting with "JOY" and going clockwise:
Versals - permanent fine pt marker, Twinkling Watercolors applied with water pen/brush
Pan Pastels - Pan Pastels applied with Sofft sponges/tools, mine is a really poor example of what these can do.
12" Round Canvas - covered with brush felt pens and poster pens
Paper Angel - patterned template colored with Pentel Slicci .8 gel pen - they flow and fill more consistently than any I have used
 Artist Trading Cards - misc. graphics and stickers or brush felt pens