TOOL + MATERIALS

NOMAD

I felt like a nomad around my thoughts, ideas and thrift materials.  This floated into my LADYFIT for the day.  In my mind, I created a composition based around the feeling of a thrift nomad in search of materials, inspiration, and connecting all of these thoughts into something to explain/define.  This could potentially be part of the next issue of LADYFITS, bringing together Spring Identity with Nomadism.  

ADRENALINE FROM THE TEXTILE SOULS OF MCQUEEN + LACROIX

I'm back to my blog, ready to work on new LADYFITS.  I've had a whirlwind of experiences in April.  Most of which were hearing from people in the community, interacting through events.  I enjoy being amongst my community to discuss how textiles can give form to our understanding of what is around us - it is a communicator and identifier.  I have so many thoughts floating around my mind.  I'm prepping with reading the McQueen book - it is paired with the Exhibition at the Met in New York.  I look towards the great textile souls of McQueen and Lacroix.  It not only gives me inspiration in the physicality of their work.  It also gives me adrenaline to push LADYFITS.  One of my most treasured compliments from April: Someone told me I was the ambassador + couturier of thrift, which I will try to hold my head up high to those standards.    

What's ahead for LADYFITS?  LOTS!  More info to come on my partnership with Goodwill of the Heartland + the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library.    

FURTHER ODE....

to Iowa.  This is part of my studio space + process.  To get started, I create compositions based on materials I might use, color schemes, and/or the overall feeling for the LADYFIT.  It begins with images and moves to combining the materials I've collected over time.

LADYFITS_ARTIFACTS

From ARTIFACTS in Iowa City, IA

This 3-piece garment composition spoke to me on many levels of resourcing it for various uses. The uses range from object inspiration_seperating pieces to create 3 definitions_object restoration_documentation.  It's amazing how this one purchase can spiderweb into many ways of interpreting it while utilizing its resources.  

It is a specimen to be explored.  I started by simply wearing the garment as a 3-piece set + documentation of the textile surface + applications.

More to come.

OBJECT INSPIRATION

A thrift store not only brings me the material resource, but also the inspiration from objects:  how they are curated on the shelf.  I'm intrigued by old Avon bottles.  You never see the same one again.  I documented the color scheme rather than the forms, blurring the details to focus on the mixture of tones.  This is a portion of my process for LADYFITS.  A thrift store allows me to explore different color schemes + patterns.  I will eventually translate these into dress. 

FAUX FLORAL

I'm continuing to explore and redefine an object's use.  Mainly focusing on the object becoming part of my dress.  

Faux florals are abundant in thrift stores.  I'm giving these objects a different function + new storyline.  It takes a great deal to break the object apart, so that it is no longer seen as a faux floral.  Rather, it is becoming an element of adornment for LADYFITS.

I purchased this faux floral based on the color scheme_____the wear______the shapes.  It has witnessed the elements, loosing a bit of it's color + picking up a new color in the process.  That is what I enjoy most, aged + worn.  I'm often drawn towards anything old rather than new.  The objects have a living quality about them.    

FAUX FLORAL PURCHASED AT GOODWILL 

COMPOSITION OF THOUGHTS

I start with a word or theme for most of my LADYFITS explanations.  Then, I compile different objects together to form the idea in my head.  It continues to evolve further and further as I explore deeper into the themes + begin to create.  This particular composition is for the theme of ARMOR, a finale/celebratory end on the themes explored during this winter season_survival_pattern of dress_levels of function_material.

DRESS PATTERN

This is my LADYFIT for the day.  I layered + draped these textile elements to my dress.  This is an act I've been doing all week_drape textiles + objects into forms of dress.  It's my way of saying goodbye to my winter black velvet dresses and an intro into the spring season.  It's also a creative exercise to compose my wear with thoughts being funneled into a certain time frame to complete. 

I ARMOR myself for the day, allowing it to only be for that time.  Tomorrow, it's on to something else.  This LADYFIT action is genuine to how I feel in the moment of dressing_the daily ritual to compose my expression by explaining things through dress.  For this day, it is to futher explore my folk dress. 

CURATING OBJECTS

I tend to curate objects in my collection to the ideas going on in my head from color schemes to textures to definitions.  

It's a warm-up to studio work.

HUNTER+THRIFT GATHERER

My hunting_materials list is made up of words to define through objects in thrift stores.  I create a list before heading out on the thrift hunt.  These words typically relate back to content for the LADYFITS issues.  My list is rarely defined into_dresses_tops_polka dots_belts.  It's loose in defining exactly what I'm looking for_opens the experience to allow the random objects to happen.  I rely on the aesthetic + information I've gathered leading up to this time.  We collect a lot over time from material objects_dress styles_images_quotes_opinions.  This is all gathered together to make the thrift hunt.  

This is the beginning of many hunting + gathering posts, showing my process to explain things through dress.  This portion of the process is important because it's the main content for defining things.  The best part is finding an object I can't define its original definition of use or purpose_the definition then becomes ADORNMENTS_OBJECT WEARS.

The next stage for this object is to resource the pieces + begin design work.  At times it is hard to narrow the path of design for the object_unlimited answers with a limited resource_no backups_no waste.  When you think of the object as being the only one (no waste), your work can only be better through this tension in design......even if there are a lot of veggie steamers in this world (as shown above).

More to come in the process of this object as I begin to break down the pieces + sketch ideas.

CURATING A BAG OF THREADS

There's a process in the journey of an object to become a resource for explaining things in LADYFITS.  

These bundles of threads started in someone's collection.  Later, donated to Goodwill and placed in a bag.  I responded to the aged look + form of the threads, taking the objects into a new definition of use_as form_as adornment_as material resource for LADYFITS.  I used these objects as a way to explain ARMOR + pattern of dress.       

PATTERN OF PROCESS_FLORAL + STRIPES

Inspiration comes at random times by random placements of objects_relating to an action that you don't plan.  This instance happens frequently in my process.  I throw pieces of fabric, recovered trims, items from the day's LADYFIT on to my chair. Something as simple as a glance begins a whole new process to LADYFITS.  It is similar to the way I hunt + gather at a Thrift Store.  

CURATING A BAG

BAG OF OBJECTS

I have a fascination with objects in bags_collection of things that others compile into a space.  It's similar to curating my own space_collection of objects form around definitions + themes I give them to explain.    

COLOR SCHEME

I responded to these bags for its color scheme_my color scheme love affair often happens in the randomness of objects in a bag that someone else compiles together with no defined reasoning.

new colors_new arrangements_new thoughts.

MATERIAL RESOURCE

Thrift store_provides the material resource similar to you going to the grocery store for a bag of chips or ingredients to a recipe.  For me.....it's a bag of trim.  My recipe of folk dress begins in notions before structure is designed + applied.  Yum.

ELMA

OBJECT STORIES

ELMA_I call this LADYFIT by this name solely on the story of the adornment.  I purchased this pin from Czech Village Antiques_the vendors are always there to attach the story to the object.  

The flower pin is from the 1930s, worn by a school teacher in Hills, IA named Elma.  This woman had an incredible story behind the pin and the wearer.  It was told through her daughter (vendor in Czech Village).  Female teachers could not marry during the term of their contract.  Elma eloped anyways and feared she would loose her job.  They thought by eloping it wouldn't be printed in the paper, a secretive way around the situation.  However, it was printed in the Des Moines Register.  Her principal found out and allowed it.  Elma was always greatful to her principal.     

Elma worked until she was 85, from school teacher to owner of a corner grocery store on Ellis Blvd. in Cedar Rapids, IA.  Later in her life, the flower pin always sat nicely in her drawer.  Elma's daughter never knew why it just sat there.  It was impressive to hear the description on the colors of pins_Elma's collection of adornments.  Teachers at that time (in a one room school house) could not wear bright colors. 

So Elma's object becomes my object of adornment_2 completely different time periods for women_2 completely different definitions of the object's use.   

FOLK ELEMENTS

TEXTILE FOLK ART_VACLAVIK

TEXTILE FOLK ART_ANTONIN VACLAVIK

Probably THE book that inspires me the most regarding this subject matter_folk dress_his personal view on cataloguing_beautiful photography of a people.  Vaclavik states that this book "is not simply a catalogue of facts about exhibits in glass cases."  He spent many years studying and helping revive this impressive art.  This book serves as a survey of materials to create the folk dress_colours + designs_techniques favored by the skillful people behind the embroidery.  

Vaclavik said it best, "This art, therefore, links the remote past with the living present; it is one of the richest and most rewarding areas of European folk achievement."  

I only came upon this book out of a random discovery_researching through the internet to find resources for LADYFITS.  I'm in the beginning stages of my process to create folk dress with thrift resource.  This undertaking will take some time to complete.  The art form of this dress, detailing takes immense amount of time.  So far, it has been a great experience to allow the fast, bustling life I'm in to slow down.....and create.  

Each time I step into the world of this book, I bow to the creators of this folk dress.  I hope that this blog, newsletter and events in Goodwill Thrift stores_all followers be given the creative stimulation that I receive throughout this process. 

   

FOLK DRESS

PROCESS WORK_LADYFITS NO.4

RETURN

Lately, I have been working heavily in studio on my LADYFITS project.  It has been a hard effort to involve this blog into my daily studio habits without interfering with my creative process.  I find it hard to pause the studio work to communicate it into this blog.  Once this becomes part of my studio habits, it will be updated often.