Reinventing Life Through Sewing Anew... 🪡✂️🧵🎨

Ooofah, and Ciao dear Needleworking Friends!!

We are existing in a state of chaotic harmony (!) - merry confusion – creative destruction in places…. The homestead continues to evolve organically and prolifically, with bouts of confidence-crisis and caffeine hangovers, between sunrise ecstasy and lush fruit harvesting….

Can I even sew anything in this context?! My mind is running wild through lists of essentials that we ‘absolutely must acquire very soon’ (but do not have the funds for), into what can/ must we harvest next from our land, then what plants and trees need saving first, today, and what the heck are we going to do about the multitude of cats next door (who think that we are their rich benevolent kin), plus what do I need to immediately eat or drink or discharge....??

(donated) dress that I removed two weird elastic strips from; thinking of moving the elastic from the front and back neckline to the sleeves, for a better fit

How does one prioritise in a sovereign space, in which there are myriad priorities and even urgencies to be tended to…??

@vincentnijman and I try to come back always to resting well, eating well, and breathing deeply, as the chaos rages all around us: we try to be accepting of our limitations in controlling our surroundings, and to look for the (infinite!!) blessings of even being in a very basic situation like this.

We may not have an electrical system, but we do have a powerbank that can run my sewing machine - and our phones and laptops! We have a relatively comfortable tent, and a floor mat in the cooler house for during the day. We have water – if not nearby, then at least within a few minutes' drive. And we have a ton of glorious harvests popping up on our land - as well as a variety of great grocery options, in the town that is about a half hour’s walk from our land.

Today we drove up to the top of the steep hills behind the wee town, and found a veritable paradise (like our land!) of beechwood and natural paths. Standing still for a moment, immersed in the dappled green light, finding big boletus mushrooms to our sides, feeling into how it will be to come here regularly and just walk and walk, explore and be cleansed by all that is in this woodland… Knowing that this bosco is up above our land, and so not much else will be imposing upon us from that direction…. This gives me the space to think anew about my sewing:

- I want to be more experimental and organic in how I create in needlework

- I want very much to let go of the transactional idea of ‘making a certain type of garment for a certain type of person’

- maybe I'd rather teach folk how to reinvent clothing, than make stuff for them....

- and I want to be much more in the sentient, non-verbal lushness of allowing the fabric to form ‘how it wants to’.

Though I really disliked most of my art school experiences (I hold two degrees from Scotland’s premier art institutions), the one aspect that I still hold dear, was this experimental, play-full, painting outside of the lines approach. How can I translate this into fabric and threads….?

Sitting quietly before I begin working?

Working (even!) more slowly?

Releasing (more!) preconceptions about what is going to appear?

Following my feeling rather than my thinking/ reasoning??

Letting go of some more of my neuroses?!

Having a specific workspace, where I can leave things out at least over the medium-term?

Yes: all of the above – and more! I need to begin with a better space to work in; one that doesn’t have other activities going on in it, and which doesn’t interact directly with the dusty floor, the cement walls, or the chaos of all the stuff going on in this small, temporary homespace.

a glass-topped table frame, currently acting as a wardrobe

Playing more is also vital: letting go of tension, through spontaneous, fun movements and expressions. Trying out even more unusual combinations and forms, even when things are quite different to what I’ve ever put together before.

and the glass for the glass table top: currently functioning as a make-do mirror!

Being sure to not keep going down any stagnant pathway; loosening things up immediately, when it begins to follow a staid or conventional mode. Looking up some new ideas, or other folks’ wilder outlets – folks like Katwise, fibre artists, costume designers, even period pieces, or very old styles, like primitive and folk art garments.

most things have to stay stuffed into plastic bags right now, to keep dust off of them

Set up a wall area with my sketches, rather than having them enclosed in notebook format. This helps enormously to get things out into the world, having them visible and in a dynamic workspace.

*an epic ladder, for fruit and nut picking - which will soon be used as a better temporary 'wardrobe', and free up the glass table for a workspace!

Most of all, I think that allowing inspiration to bubble up, rather than trying to nail it down, is a daily/ hourly practise that can help discern between natural flow rather than contrived (tight) creative output.

It will be interesting to see how this practise evolves, in this new context: in the woods and on the land, rather than in a town around people. Thinking about more practical aspects rather than frivolous or superficial fun, even. Returning to nature and frugality as inspiration - rather than having the cornucopia of infinite 50c stall treasures at hand! Starting afresh with new clientelle, or developing things online in the decentralised world. Releasing commerce altogether, and pursuing clothing as an art form. Stepping up on every level, into how this passion wishes to flourish.

Looking forward to sharing more with you all!