J’adore…

I’m one of those who subscribes to the ‘Process not Product’ schools of thought.  I have always enjoyed the process of getting somewhere way more than I enjoy the goal.  At least I love the creative part of the journey and what I learn from that journey, once a piece has been finished, it largely sits around, getting dusty, or hanging in my closet waiting for that rare chance to go out into the world, rare I say because unless I’m on the road teaching, more often than not I’m in my pajamas in the studio.  Still, I have a closet full of fabulous garments, most not practical with my lifestyle, but more importantly, I have a closet full of experience, challenges, lessons, and pride.

I started over the weekend, on a basic handwoven coat.  Nothing fancy, I’ve done way more complex things, but this hand dyed handwoven fabric was busy enough and I just wanted something simple and updated.  I showed the coat in progress in my last post a couple days ago.  Last night, I finished the handwork and the coat is ready to wear.

J’adore.  I mean really.  I love love love this coat, the fit is great, it is bright and fun and looks great over pants or short skirts and tights, and I can see wearing it all fall.  I don’t usually get that psyched over something I make.  Like I would actually go out and buy this coat.  And I can assure you it wouldn’t have been cheap.

Monday I’m heading in NYC for a museum excursion with a really wonderful old friend.  I’m hoping the weather is perfect for my new coat and a kick-ass pair of boots. (Keeping in mind that I’m still hiking all over the city…)

Meanwhile…

Sometimes I just don’t know what comes over me.  Again, it isn’t about the product, (see above) and sometimes with a pair of good shears in my hand I can be dangerous…

I have my patterns stored in labeled boxes, up on top of the file cabinet, and I was putting away a stack of patterns into their proper boxes and I kept moving this felted vessel from 2012 since it was perched on top of the boxes, just collecting dust.  I despise dusting.  But it is a necessary thing, and since I can’t not dust, I can slowly make things that catch dust disappear.

😉

I attacked this vessel with my really good shears just to see what was inside.  I don’t mean inside the vessel, I mean between the felted layers of colored batts.  I squealed in delight.

I ended up cutting up the entire vessel and had this wonderful pile of raw materials to play with.

What I loved most was the symmetry formed from two adjacent strips, laid on their side.

I grabbed a mounting board and started to play.

I showed the piece to some fiber friends.  Then I came home and took it all apart (the strips are held to the mounting board with T-pins), and this morning I rearranged the pieces and remounted them.  I can see this becoming a morning creativity exercise.  Sort of like sketching but I’m arranging fiber into a visual feast.

I tried leaving negative space.

I tried adding additional elements. (The leftover piping from the coat was just laying on the table screaming to be used…)

I’m having a really good time.

Stay tuned…