Twisted Textiles

While typing the title for this post, I accidentally typed “udderwear”…which is a completely different topic altogether. Perhaps one day I will make high-fashion garments for all the sophisticated and fashion-conscious cows out there—but not today.

This is another OBG (meaning Oldie But Goodie, not Open Bottom Girdle) from years gone by. Why, I remember as if it were yesterday…Sitting on the living room floor of my boyfriend’s apartment, sorting through piles of worn-out socks and underwear that he was planning on throwing out. Sometimes I get strange ideas and they turn out to be wonderful. This was one of those times.

Since the cotton from socks and underwear is very stretchy, especially when it’s worn, I had to use copious amounts of iron-on interfacing as a base. After cutting apart the undies to make them lay as flat as possible, I sort of “collaged” the pieces together on top of the interfacing, using the dress pattern pieces as a guide. Then I simply cut the pieces and sewed them together as I would when making a “normal” dress. I used some of the waistbands from the underwear as edging on the collar and sleeves. I also made a pocket with one of the, um, fabric pockets inside the mens underwear…which turned out very cute!

This piece is currently in the Address and Redress exhibit with two of my other works;
the Safe Release Hat
and the Dryer Sheet Dress.
This is the last week for exhibit, which is located at the Gloria Singletary Gallery in Lexington KY.

These two were a lot of fun! If they could hold hands and dance in a circle, they would definitely do so.

I found a black plastic garbage bag in the unsurmountable “jungle of art supplies” in my garage, and knew that it would be perfect for a more crisp, formal look to these handbags (I’ve been making them mainly from plastic Kroger/Walmart grocery bags). The yellow on the smaller one is from the weekly newspaper-ads that magically appear at the end of the driveway. The creamier beige on the larger purse is from plain ol’ Kroger bags. All of the bright greens and blues came from various bread and produce bags, and the red was found on a package of bagels.

The patterns and colors were inspired by an Egyptian design that I saw in a book, and there are several others that I’d like to try next! As usual, they are very sturdy and very lightweight. The carrots that we buy come in bags with a beautiful, bright orange color that I’ll have to make use of next…

The larger bag is a good size for sketchbooks and such. I will probably take the smaller one with me to the Address and Redress exhibit opening in Lexington tomorrow night.

I must have jinxed my sewing machine by discussing her performance behind her back…for she seems to have pooped out on me now. Makes an awful grinding noise and refuses to go. I got about half the free-motion done on the painting I mentioned previously, but the finished photo and explanation will have to wait a little longer :/

In the meantime, here’s a peek at one of the first “quilted paintings” I did several weeks ago. It’s cropped to show the middle part of the painting, with another third on top and below this. And I haven’t given her a name yet… that’s always such a tough job!

I’ve decided that I will no longer be “unable” to draw things from memory or purely from my imagination.

…Yes, just like that.

This painting (so far) is Procion MX fabric dye on cotton…and I’ll soon be adding the smaller details with some free-motion quilting. It’s one of the first few paintings that I’ll be doing based on dreams, memories, and short-stories that I’ve read. In a few days when I finish quilting it, I’ll be back with another photo—and will give you the longer version of the story behind the image.

*phew* It sure feels good to finally be “coloring outside the lines!”

I’ve been feeling a bit frustrated by not having a more narrow “focus” in my art. I found this quote and it brought me comfort:

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”

-The Notebooks of Lazarus Long, Robert A Heinlein

And (Yay!) here’s finally a view of the Crop Circle quilt, which is so close to being done that it makes me sick to think about it…Isn’t she a beauty?

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