January 19, 2010

mend, random, intuit.

I do not make resolutions in a yearly manner. I don't feel compelled to make a particular change on a particular day, but this year I have been thinking about words for creative exploration.

After some thought I have come up with: mend, random, intuit.

mend: I am in love with stitches that are not intentional. Or perhaps I should describe it as stitches that are purposeful without the willful intent of beauty or symmetry.

random: disparate imagery cobbled and pulled from different sources. The connections might be evident or private, you never know.

intuit: I don't want to use the word intuitive. Intuit. Intuit feels more present-tense somehow. Ituit feels embodied, trusting, internal.

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I have been exploring stitch. Hand Stitch. Slow stitch. Slow cloth. I have joined a group on facebook called Slow Cloth and am enjoying thinking the idea through. The term is akin to slow food, as it might to compared to the more ubiquitous, fast food.

Slow Cloth is intentional, takes time, energy and thought. It doesn't necassarily mean that you sew by hand, it also means you make the cloth you use, paint or dye, it can mean that you sew by machine. But more often than not it means that you engage in the path of mastery, intention and wonder of materials.


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This weekend, my Man and I went to Sri Threads here in Brooklyn. The man who owns the gallery collects Boro cloth and garments. Indigo dyed cloth-rags and tatters, for the most part that has been mended and repurposed for long term use.

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I beelined it for the rag basket. I really want scraps. I found a few gems, I didn't go overboard because the lil buggers can be expensive. Now I need to search my cloth bins for some other pieces that will go with.

Posted by Melly at January 19, 2010 9:02 AM
Comments

So glad to have found your blog. Can't wait to see your bird series as it progresses.

Posted by: yasmin at February 13, 2010 11:27 AM

Thanks for the info on the Facebook page! It will definitely be one that I will be joining. I often have people ask me why I like hand stitching when machine stitching is so much faster. I LIKE the slowness of hand stitching, the repetitiveness is also very meditative. Have a blessed week.

Posted by: Cassie Shella at January 24, 2010 9:10 PM

LOVE special scraps, we have a place here in Melbourne which has japanese fabrics, and jummy scraps. Last month I overdosed( nearly) found some delightfull shibori bits very cheap. Knowing how long it takes to tie and dye these minute treasures, having done a little myself, I shall store them for a while to gaze upon before using them...........so enjoy your stitchery, I do

Posted by: marijke owen at January 21, 2010 4:44 PM

Yummy! There's nothing better than finding a few wonderful pieces of fabric to get the creative juices flowing. I love Sri's website and only wish I could go there and pet the fabrics (let's be honest here - buy some too!) The words you have chosen are so insightful. Have a great week and I'll "see" you in class on the 4th!

Posted by: Jeannie at January 19, 2010 9:24 PM

Very nice. I cannot wait to see what you do with them . . .actually I guess I will need to be patient and wait. :D Enjoy!

Posted by: Lisa at January 19, 2010 12:06 PM

Am doing more hand stitching lately - going back to my roots in quilting, adding embrodiery & beads.
Always NICE to find GREAT items in the rag bags at the stores!!!

Posted by: Dale Anne at January 19, 2010 10:53 AM

Sometimes the most dynamic, beautifully random stitches are found on the back of the piece I'm stitching. You know?

Posted by: Deborah at January 19, 2010 10:11 AM
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