In general I love my job, I feel very lucky that I can make a modest living by selling the things I create in my workshop. My least favourite bit of my job is tidying that workshop. I have recently made over 500 brooches to be sold at Winchester Cathedral and York Christmas Markets.
My workbench was piled high with brooch debris. I needed to tidy it away to make room for my next project. I was looking forward to making something other than brooches, and I have an order of customised clothing to be getting on with. Â So as soon as I clear the workbench I can do that. So, that’s what I did, right? Well, no. I started sorting out the brooch scraps and thought, hmmm that looks interesting, and before I knew it I had made this.
Don’t know what I’ll do with it, more brooches, maybe? Which will. of course, create more scraps.
Then my eye was caught by a bag full of larger scraps. I laid them out on a piece of organza, and pinned them.
Then I stitched them to the organza and couched some yarn over the joins.
I then cut the piece into diagonal strips…..
….and then joined the strips together to make one long strip.
I then overlocked/serged the edges of the long strip.
I them formed a rectangle with the strips, zigzag stitching them together.
I realised I’d spent a bit of time on this, and fun though it was, it’ll not buy the bairn a new coat as we say in Scotland (translation : It won’t pay the bills). So I had to do something with it that I could sell. I could have made a hanging heart with it, like this one…
…but I decided to use it to customise a jacket. I’ve used it on the lapels and collar.
So, I have a nice jacket to sell, but am still no further forward with my bench clearing. I’ll give it another go, and hopefully this time I won’t get distracted….. OH LOOK! A SQUIRREL!!
constructive proCRAFTination……
16 thoughts on “constructive proCRAFTination……”
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Wonderful art and sense of humor. Creative people cant help but get distracted when the ideas flow.
love your work and your blog style – fun and inspiring :). thank you
That’s a lot of brooches!! And a lovely piece of customisation. I’ve got to get on with spinning the black soay fleece for someone – but ,oh just look at that lovely purple fibre on the shelf………
Fran I really wish you would quit doing things like this! It makes my mind run in circles thinking of all the bits and pieces of stuff I have sitting around and what I could be doing with them!! Just love your ideas and would like to sit in a corner of your workshop for a few hours!!
Keep on tidying (I am not sure I know how that works!!) lmao
Love this and I understand the way your mind works too! When I work in clay, I set out to do one thing, but I am constantly seeing all of these FACES or animals, etc., then it becomes something else. I love that you documented your process to share your thinking and so many things in the steps I like about it. Personally, I think I like the scraps almost more than anything new, because it forces creativity and innovation, and that is in every medium. I did a collage that was scraps, then with leftover scraps of the scraps and then a third just to challenge myself and see if I could make yet another – so I kind of have my own version of this, just not in fabric. Cool work, really like all that you do!
Oh Fran you are a wonder! That collar and lapels look amazing, thanks for sharing your method, your scrap bags must be a treasure trove to behold. By the way do you use all natural fibres or do you mix them up with polys etc,. Love to see all your new creations
I usually only buy garments in natural fibres to customise, but I do use all types of fabric, including manmade, to customised them with.
I just love ur work Fran !!!!keep up the beautiful brooches and other lovely things you put your talents to. I am a proud owner of one of your beautiful buttons that is on a hand bag I purchased from an Australian Artist .her name is Michele Mischkulnig .thankyou for taking the time to write a blog .
One of your many fans Aniko Perry
You are too funny, sounds like something I would do. I am in the middle of 2 paper pieced quilts but someone gave me a baggie of dresden blade christmas fabric scraps and in the middle of everything I stopped and made a table runner out of the scraps…now back to the paper piecing(not a favorite thing), but wait baking some biscotti sounds like more fun.
Love this! Would so love to “play” this way. I like the way you think and create!
That’s a great idea for the jacket. Looks lovely
Yep – my idea of ‘tidying up’ as well! Lovely!
I love the fact that no fabric gets wasted!
Just brilliant…love your work..so vibrant,colourful and innovative. Thank you for taking time to blog and show your method. Good luck with all those brooches. ..they look fantastic
fantastic! This is what is the most enjoyable and meaningful for me; not overthinking or following a plan too closely, but the spontaneity, that little spark that ignites when you see something unexpected and just run with it! Beautiful, beautiful work.
You have gained a new admirer, i’m loving your work 🙂