So I've been a rather busy bee. I designed one show, that's right one show, this year and I'm just now sitting down to blog about it.
If you ever have the chance, go....run, don't walk, to see a show performed by the Evanston Dance Ensemble. Those young adults are some of the most talented performers I've seen in a long time.
The show was a challenge for me artistically, professionally and designatudinally. October through March. It was 97 costumes...I had a shop of three main stitchers and two volunteers. And somehow, we made it happen without ripping our hair out by the root or killing anyone. LOL The whole piece ended up being supremely gratifying on a plethora of levels...and I made some cool fun friends. Always a bonus, I feel.
Pictures to follow.
Now? I play catch up with my life. It's wedding season....gotta get that stuff out and proud. Then I have three accessory lines to launch.
First is the
Chicago Haute Dog collection of cute dog stuff.
My client, Lisa, is a true inspiration. (if you've not checked out her blog, do. It's not only amazing artistically, it is also brilliant and hilarious:
http://mamausesneedles.blogspot.com).
Her line of baby clothes and accessories is super cute. I have the occasion to help stitch them. If you've got a flair for modern and contemporary art, then this is the line for you and your little ones. -- I'm being
super generic with the terminology, mostly because, admittedly, I know very little about contemporary art.
I'm an art fan (ok, nerd), so my knowledge of fine art ends there, really - in what I gravitate towards...rather than a specific technique. I know I tend to be lush in my design preferences. While I can appreciate the simplicity of clean lines....I'm not one to surround myself with them. Give me baroque and pre-raphaelite and art nouveau swirly goldy guilded goodness, please. Layer it and cover it with acanthus leaves....and spray it silver and crackle it. Spangle it, stud it, rhinestones and velvety lushy plushy fab-itude.
J'adore.
However, style attraction and desires aside, I do really try to learn something from all of my clients. It's not always about style. By this, I mean: I am learning to appreciate contemporary art, yes....BUT....I'm also trying to really forge forward to get greener. (Lisa's blog posting on 3/13/2012 is eye opening....about now many textiles are being....wasted....)
Thereto, I am trying not to buy new fabric for my own stuff.
At the moment, it can't be helped for a lot of custom stuff, like the wedding pieces I do, but for my business label...I strive to be a green designer. The ultimate goal for my wedding pieces is to do more altered couture. Things already built then recycled. But that means more book learnin'....as I cannot by any stretch of the imagination or terminology call myself a couturier.
Instead, I'm concentrating on one goal at a time. First. Recycle more...and take advantage of the opportunities to neither "Consume" nor "over consume". Which is hard for me. When I was a newly divorced person way back in the long long ago....my comfort was shopping for things with which to make other things....and for a time, my studio was filled to the brim with shit I never used, wore, etc.
So. Redemption beginneth. I've been helping people clear out their closets...I'm a Craigslist stalker. Regular. I am the DIY queen and it's all because I check the "free" postings four times a day.
I've got nine beautiful pieces of fleece with which to work. Though these pieces fall into the category of "not free," they are still a step in the right direction on the green front.
So now. Focus. This week, clean the shop, get it all done, make the space. Start recycling and designing with a new sense of purpose.
Design it; build it; and launch it.
