Dearest Needleworkers and passionate slow-fashionistas,
I am reeling emotionally, and finding my feet practically, whilst multiple changes unfold within and around me.
I finally am fully, embodied-ly, acknowledging that my 'career' in Art. is not my main focus, and that I am dedicating my energies now to a) working in fabrics, b) selling my home and relocating to a more rural and natural location, and c) shifting my identity from Art-maker to Un-designer of clothing and accessories.
I hadn't considered what a deep emotional release would come, from effectively putting down my paintbrushes and clarifying with my special folks that I am no longer painting full-time. You can see a video I made about this for my Patreon, here.
I am planning new videos around introducing my sewing practise: the intuitive use of recycling and reconstructing natural materials into beautiful new functional, durable very special clothing items. My working tagline is 'Making Clothing Magic Again'.
I worked on some small jobs throughout the week - like the above buttons and button-loops for this glorious silk embroidered top from the 50c stall... which I completed in a 3 hour session with my brilliant Hive friends over on our Co-Creation Session - join us each Wednesday if you need some company. - the post will be update with a new link, as Shani will be hosting via Zoom.
I also worked this week on another pair of knickers, which needed to be widened:
They're quite a rigid pair, with a strong elastic, and as well as having put a wee bit of weight on in recent years, they were quite tight when I bought them. At that time, I was much more tolerant of tighter undewear, but this past decade in particular, since doing a lot of pelvic healing and suchlike - I absolutely will not have any garment cut into my lymphatic system - or any other aspect of my beautifully naturally functioning bodymindspiritcosmos!
It took me AGES to find the right colour and texture of new strip of fabric to bridge where I was cutting the sides of these knickers open.
These are two strips cut from a big silk dress (always from the 50c stall!), and which are not particularly elastic, but I wanted a lovely feeling of softness of these sides - instead of seams which can nip a little.
The process of prayer, stitching, blessings and release of any energies that wanted to come out, which had been put into these knick-knacks - this was a wonderful experience.
Maybe it is part of my intense catharsis and the huge move into needlework rather than brushwork, but I loved getting really into the details: even sewing the new seam into the silk strip side of the new form, so that it would press less into my skin.
In fact; the knickers are still a tad on the tight side - so I will probably only wear them for an hour or two at a time. Often, I don't wear knickers, anyways.
I had some fun photographing them, without affecting my modesty!
I am pleased with the outcome: now I have at least two pairs of functioning knickers!! Heheheheh!
And this is the second sewing job that I am being paid for this month! Foreigners who live in this Italian town where I'm based, have been sharing word-of-mouth about my skills - and several are asking me to make alterations to their garments. Above is the dress of a good friend, who needed new buttons and button-holes, for closing the front properly.
We salvaged two smaller buttons from another of her dresses, and I moved one of the bigger buttons up from the bottom, so overall there were 3 new button-holes needed - plus some reinforcing of the original button-holes. It is very interesting how poorly-reinforced button-holes can be - even on a relatively expensive dress like this from the Amalfi Coast. Above is my hand-sewn button-hole, which should last the lifetime of the dress. When I am professional enough to be selling garments, I will be making sure that every detail is very precise and long-lasting!
Okay, I am off to finish making humous for lunch.
