WIP: garment-dyed linen pant alteration

I really don't know why I like working with garment-dyed items so much. Perhaps it is because it is a rare activity for me. 

Last week, I altered the waist of a pair of linen summer pants. As I removed the heavy thread top-stitching, the dye penetration is obvious. You can see the undyed portion the linen fabric (that was covered by top-stitching) between the white headed pin and the waistband top-stitching.  

And below are two close-ups.

The rest of the alteration was uninteresting and uneventful... but finished. I would like to try using this type of feature on a textile project sometime. I will need to do a test swatch: stitch a pattern using heavy thread, then dye the fabric, then remove the thread and see how much of the design is obvious. If any of you try this, please let me know how it turns out!

WIP: following the rules

I have a hard time following rules for the sake of following rules. If there is a reason to follow the rules, I'll do so, but by not following the rules, I have made many wonderful creations and have learned new things.

I was reminded of this when I read the "About" section a blog I recently discovered: Judy's Quilting Studio. One of the things I most enjoy about Judy's work is her attention to the details. Adding pillowcases and a cushion cover to her quilts is so very clever. And just look at the backs of her quilts; I must learn to be more like Judy and plan the back of my quilt at the same time as I plan the front. I learn SO much from Judy.

I was also reminded to challenge the "rules" as I read Andrea Pelletier's most recent post about what the end of Human Ecology at the University of Manitoba means to her. I have always been inspired by Andrea's perspective. I learn SO much from Andrea.

Laurel's Lesson Learned: there is always more to learn (about life and about textile products) from others.

I have an "artist's cramp". I'm having difficulty figuring out what my next step in my "Lillian" project for the Her Cup Runneth Over fundraising auction will be. I really must finish this project. I'm really not procrastinating. Really. I mean it.

WIP: "Cocktail time is a state of mind" - J. Schmidt

One of my favourite times of day to work in my tiny studio is the mid to late afternoon.  CBC Radio1 hosts a "drive home" program from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm on week days. I like to listen to it, traffic and weather updates and all, and be very pleased that the drive-home traffic no longer has any impact on my life.

I enjoy the time to work on a project, catch up with the day's news, and sample some of what is going on in my city. In many ways, I think of the time as my cocktail hours. And, sometimes I'll have a glass of wine or something else fitting (and season appropriate) while I stitch and listen to "Up to Speed".

When my regular host, Ismaila Alfa (or "Smiley Alfa" as one adorable girl has called him) is away or covering for another employee, I get a sampling of other CBC employees. My favourite (so far) substitute hosts are Trevor Dineen and Joff Schmidt (there are too many options to link to Joff; you can Google him and see). 

Trevor normally does the traffic updates and is wonderfully witty, creative, and quite funny. I'm still getting to know him, but so far, I like him.

Joff normally produces CBC (and perhaps other, I have no way of knowing) shows and does the theatre reviews. We hear a lot from Joff during the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. 

Other than what he tells me and any other listener, I know nothing about the man. Saying that, whenever I hear Joff on air (which is rare, because he is a producer!), filling in for someone else, I feel like I know him. He is wonderful with words and I often find reasons to quote him. 

Recently, during a Twitter exchange, Joff suggested that "cocktail time is a state of mind" and I have tried to take that concept to heart. Life is way too short and sometimes pretty ugly to not take every opportunity to celebrate what and who is good in life. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to sit in my tiny studio in the afternoons and listen to the wheels go round and round (I digress; I'm a Lennon fan, click here for the video link). And I absolutely love it. I think about the important people in my life and am able to create some treasure while remembering them. 

I appreciate every fat quarter, jelly roll, flimsy, vintage pattern, jar of buttons, string of beads, old tie, handed "down" party dress, Snoopy pillow, hand knitted dress ( I could go on)... that enters my tiny little studio.

Life is good.

WIP: "Lillian"

In June, while on an artist's date, I began a journey with an art bra project, I call "Lillian". It is a project I will donate to the Her Cup Runneth Over fundraising auction.

"Lillian" progress so far, in mid-August

I want to create a/some lily/lilies to add to the bra and I have having a hard time deciding what to make the lily from. I could knit or crochet a lily and attach it. I could make a fabric origami lily and attach it. I could make some beaded lilies and attach them.

I start to work on something and then let it go. It doesn't turn out quite the way I had envisioned it. Time to look through my small collection of clothing artefacts. 

While looking, I rediscovered a piece of my Mom's wedding headpiece. And now I have yet another idea to start on. At least I'm making progress.

head piece from my Mom's wedding ensemble

Right now, I'll work on a pant alteration and finish the edges on some new quilt backing fabric so I can wash (preshrink) it. And, let the ideas percolate.

It is Wednesday, so I'm linking to TN&TN's WIP Wednesday Canadian textile art blogger link-up. If you're looking for ideas, inspiration, or some beauty to add to your day, please consider looking at this fine selection of posts.

WIP: good-bye U of M Human Ecology - Aug 14 update

Yesterday, Canada Post delivered (yes, my block still has hand delivery!) my postcard invitation to the University of Manitoba's "Hats Off to Human Ecology" celebration. It is lovely.

The photo on the front shows "the apartment" in the Home Economics/Human Ecology Building on the Fort Garry campus. I'm not quite old enough to have any experience with living in "the apartment", but the stories lived through my tenure in the building.

Photo: "Hats Off to Human Ecology" celebration invitation sent from the University of Manitoba

I wonder who these women are. I wonder about their career and life successes and challenges. I hope I meet one or all of these women at the celebration. Wouldn't it be wonderful to recreate this photo with these women in October?

The details about the celebration are below. I hear that there is a Facebook page for people to share information, questions, and memories about the Faculty. I'm most interested to connect with those in the Clothing and Textiles/Textile Sciences department. I'm off to find that page right now...

Photo: back of the invitation from the University of Manitoba - open to all!

WIP: heart project

Perhaps I've been spending too much time in the tiny studio. Perhaps the heat and humidity is keeping me from getting enough oxygen. I'm seeing inspiration everywhere... even in my dinner.

I LOVE Winnipeg in August
when I can find dinner daily, directly from my garden

Perhaps I need to do a heart project. A quilt? A bag? Right now, it looks like the beginning of a modern quilt.

Too many ideas; too little time.

WIP: charity art bra called Lillian

Since posting WIP: Grande Valise, I have completely changed my mind about my "art bra" charity project. I spend hours in my tiny studio, remembering the ladies I know who have been challenged with breast cancer. I mostly think about how they have grown through their illness, and how efficiently they cut through the clutter in life to become more focused in how they spend their time. I treasure my time with each of these ladies more now, than before they were diagnosed. We now have incredibly meaningful, purposeful, fulfilling, and deep conversations so very quickly. Rarely, do we talk about the weather.

Fellow TN&TN member Angela, of Princess Bubbles Creates, inspired me to create an art bra through her "Fruit Cups" post. The Her Cup Runeth Over show and auction is soliciting funds for the HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre in Kitchener, Ontario.

As I work in my tiny studio, I mostly try to channel the likes, personality, and character of my late friend Lillian Parobec-Dzwonyk into this piece. Lillian was a wonderfully generous and giving friend. She was also a fearless artist (mixed media and water colour), with paintings in the National Gallery of Canada, The Canadian Museum of History, the home of Mila Mulroney, the homes of many of my friends and family, and of course, my home.

"Lillian" - in progress; the gold voile is gone!

"Lillian" - in progress

Joining other Canadian textile artist bloggers today by posting to The Needle and Thread Network's WIP Wednesday. Hope you check-out the TN&TN site to see what others are creating.

WIP: grande valise

I'm working away on a charity project and realized a piece of embroidered voile that I've had for years would suit the project perfectly. I scanned my tiny studio and could not immediately find what I was seeking. I realized that I must get into our storage area and pull-out the "Grande Valise".

The "Grande Valise" is a particular suitcase my honey and I bought for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend some time in the south of France. When we bought it, we didn't think it was all that "grande". Suitcases look much smaller in a large store than they do when you get them on the tiny streets of old Paris and into her historic hotels. (This suitcase is so large, I can get in it and the zipper can easily be closed. I am not a huge woman, but I am mostly normally proportioned at 5'4".)

I think it was Sophie, who lovingly named our brutish North American-style suitcase "Grande Valise". She helped my honey and me as we prepared to leave her gorgeous hotel, L'Ermitage (on Montmartre in Paris) and return to Canada, by calling for our taxi. We smiled at each other, somewhat embarrassed, as we overheard Sophie speak with great exuberance about the size of our luggage. She was concerned that the taxi wouldn't have a large enough trunk to contain our suitcase.

We have fond memories of dear Sophie. In my imagination, she was a main player in the French Resistance. Her hospitality was second to none. She looked out for our safety and she was the one who (after great insistence) hauled Grande Valise up and down three flights of stairs. (Imagine how horribly impolite that made my honey feel!)

I will think of Sophie often as I work on my this piece that I call Lillian. My collection of supplies and my progress - so far - is in the photos below.

my "raw ingredients"

progress, so far

WIP: confession two

I meant to post this message a few weeks ago when I had only one two confessions. And now I have a few. My list grows.

I am humbled by my studio transgressions. I guess we are never too old to relearn a lesson.

A couple of weeks ago, my sewing machine started making some strange noises. It sounded like the motor was working too hard. This began just after I finished machine quilting my first large-ish quilt. I thought I had overburdened my machine and possibly done some damage to it.

Prepared to lose my machine for a few weeks and spend some cash, I decided to clean it (because it would be embarrassing to send a dirty machine to have it repaired). I removed the needle plate cover and was SHOCKED to discover what a sewing slob I had become. I put a paper bag over my head and muttered "Oh, Mother..." (I felt like Sylvester Jr.) "Oh, the shame of it."

I read that many of you do a complete clean of your machine at the end of every project. I have several projects on the go at once, but will take your advice in a way that fits my style.

Laurel's Lesson Learned: set a reminder to clean your tools weekly (and then clean your tools when you are reminded to do so!).


What reminded me of my "confession" post, was reading reading Nina Marie's post about setting limits. The timing of her post notice in my inbox was "a sign" (as my honey and I call it).

My honey and I have been considering making a significant change in our lives and for while, have been oscillating about whether we should or should not take the next step. And then I read Nina's post. I think in this case, we must let the opportunity pass us by. As the image in Nina's post reads: "you have to say no to a lot of good things in order to be able to say yes to a lot of great things". We'll wait for our great thing to come along.

some of my favourite - recently cleaned - reference books

WIP: jasmine & a little maintenance

I'm feeling behind schedule with my projects. I completed my July projects on time and I am working on my project due in September. I don't know exactly what I'm doing for my September project, but have several ideas. I simply need to decide which to do. Two other projects are nudging me for attention. 

Deep breath. Ah... the jasmine plant in my studio is blooming still. What a wonderful scent.

While visiting with family, I came across two wonderful textile products. They are wonderful for completely different reasons. 

This Snoopy and Woodstock stuffable nightgown pillow (circa 1970) was originally created with a plastic back (with a zipper in the back to slip a girl's “nightie” and other slumber party necessities). Not surprisingly, after 40-some years of wear, the plastic back is ripped. I really want to replace it with something more durable. Perhaps someone might use it for a few more decades.

By mistake, this tiny knit dress found its way home with me. It is beautiful. I don't know if it was purposely felted (it is very small; looks like it shrank) or if that happened in err, but the dress is intriguing. I must ask about the history of this one. I love the tiny button closure at each shoulder.

Linking to TN&TN's WIP Wednesday!