NO.7

This issue follows my exhibition at the National Czech + Slovak Museum.  The show took place earlier this summer.  The exhibition was based around my definition of Bohemian and the ways I embrace this aspect of my life.  I wanted to share a few of my compositions + process in issue no.7 of LADYFITS.  You can pick up a copy at Goodwill locations in Cedar Rapids + Marion stores. 

You can see one of my compositions in person on August 20th, part of the Farmers Market in downtown Cedar Rapids.  It will be part of the museum's space in Greene Square park. 

RAIN DANCE

MATERIAL ARMOR

LADYFITS issue no. 5 focuses on the material to create our ARMOR.  

(pick up your copies of no.5 at Cedar Rapids + Marion stores)

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.

RECOVERY_EMBROIDERY

EMBROIDERY_an object I tend to recover from the thrift stores to give it another chance.  I have placed the embroidery on another object of dress, utilizing both sides.  

Front of embroidery_the result of work

Back of embroidery_the process work

Equally beautiful on both sides

(Embroidery is a common theme that will continue to evolve with LADYFITS)

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.

PIN COMPOSITION

I collect pins, hoping the collection makes sense enough to create a composition or storyline on my dress.

Story through adornment_everyone has a story to go with the pin they are wearing.  

ARMOR THY SELF FOR WINTER

Curatorial Goodbye to Winter_Sweaters_MATERIAL USE

Sweaters become a skirt become a scarf become a skirt again.  This single object has changed its use definition since April 2010 (part of Sustainable fashion programming in the Cedar Rapids area_Eco Fest + Solid Waste Agency of Linn County).  I composed this skirt from a pile of sweaters that I was aesthetically drawn to.  I plan to change it again for Spring.

Curatorial Goodbye to Winter

Over the next few weeks, I'm curating LADYFITS as an homage/Goodbye to Winter.  This first composition begins to sum up the themes behind this winter season, definition through dress_ARMOR_LAYERS_PATTERN OF DRESS_MATERIAL USE.

The bottom half of the garment was once a sweater dress that became a skirt (pictured above).  It becomes a composed dress again through the layering of the top half.  I've mentioned before, this fascination with dress becomes something becomes something again_dress becomes body becomes dress.

I did manage to wear this out over the Iowa Winter season_boots + pinned up the hemline as I walked through the snow.  I wore around 5 layers with this: 2 skirts, 3 tops (layered tops not shown).

LAYERS

FOLK ELEMENTS

LADYFITS_ARMOR (WINTER SERIES)

WINTER WARRIORS_ARMOR thy self for Winter explores our daily dress for survival.  It is part of our daily ritual to dress for the day’s tasks.  We are cognitive about our choices as well as ritualistic in our dress layers.  ARMOR is our defense against the elements of weather.  It can also serve as our ARMOR of expression.  LADYFITS will explore the ARMOR themes through definition and function_in issues 3-5.

LADYBIRDS

LADYBIRDS first began with my LADYFITS partnership with Goodwill of the Heartland in issue no.2.  

This blog follows my process of inspiration - idea - resource - into the form of textile compositions that I call LADYBIRDS.  I have been fascinated by these birds in New Guinea called Birds of Paradise.  Each bird has it’s own folk and culture as their survival techniques.  These birds express themselves through their own unique dances and by creating beautiful shapes/colors with their adornment of feathers.  It is one of our basic human conditions to communicate to others through our adornments.  The garment compositions serve as our second skin.  We create our own folk through this process as our personal style.   

I wanted to create pieces that could function both as a costume and daily dress.  It is interesting to sway between these two functions because there are no true definitions to either of them.  I used exaggerated shapes in my dress composition to create a bird-like structure.  If needed, it can be broken down into my daily dress by taking away layers.  All of the materials created in this garment are from my closet of thrift resources.  Each piece I used in the LADYBIRDS flock are pieces of garments I wear outside of this context.  This is my design aesthetic funneled into a LADYBIRD folk dress that embodies my expression.    

This LADYBIRD theme will reoccur as the evolution of expression continues.   

LADYFITS_ISSUE NO.4 OUT ON STANDS

LADYFITS ISSUE NO.4 is out on stands in Goodwill thrift store locations around Cedar Rapids + Marion

Currently, I'm working on issue no. 5 to complete the winter series on ARMOR.  The layout will be heavy on image compositions_celebratory end to the winter series and a Hello to Spring.  This issue should be expected on stands in late March.

I will be updating this blog with some exciting dates coming up for events in Cedar Rapids during the month of April.  

tata,

LADYFITS_FOLK DRESS_ARMOR

FOLK ELEMENTS OF DRESS

PATTERN OF DRESS ARMOR

Inspired by a clay figurine of a woman from the Bronze Age, showing the elements of folk dress.  

PROCESS WORK_LADYFITS NO.4