ReConsumerEyes: A new weekly column beginning here tomorrow.
Mission: Show well researched, solid, short and simple ways people can change their consumption habits to diminish the depth of their global footprint.
ReConsumerEyes
February 22nd 20121000 Words
February 17th 2012As I become focused on building this online journal, images pile up, stories accompany them in my head, most will never be featured. Fridays will feature an image, capturing an element of my week. This week Mend It Better arrived in my mailbox. A cute book with all sorts of creative ways to mend – gratifying to see my contribution in print. Kudos to you Kristin Roach on a book well done!
Weekly Features and Blog Development
February 6th 2012
So folks – it appears that I have jumped the gun and gotten my Freak of the Week feature up and not really running the way it will be in the near future. My apologies. Please do stay tuned as it promises to be great! You will soon find introductions to my many friends and acquaintances doing interesting creative things in their spheres. If you are a friend or acquaintance and are interested in a little feature let me know!
Freak of the Week starts in ernest Monday February 27, 2012.
ReConsumerEyes debuts the week prior, on Friday, February 24.
Work, Wear, Wedding? Coverlet
January 30th 2012
Working through the mountain of projects started. This material for a double sized coverlet or picnic blanket was sitting in an organized pile on my sewing table for longer than I would like to admit. Funny how the wait improved the outcome. Dressed up the white and natural colored denims and corduroy panels with luster of silk satin edging and rich sparkly brocade patches. All the dressing up, camouflages the original utility of the pieces where, upon inspection, one sees a former life of work and wear. Stop by my shop on Thursday night after 8pm to see all the new work from the week.
Dan Bellow – Freak of the Week
January 24th 2012
Dan Bellow is a friend and amazing potter living and working in Great Barrington, MA. He makes stunning porcelain dinnerware that is at once, sturdy, stout, utilitarian and fluid. His work feels good in your hand. For years my family has had a mis-matched brew of Salvation Army, craft show, and gifted dishes. At Alchemy Initiative’s Handmade Holiday Festival 2010 our Dan Bellow collection began. We now have matching plates (all intact – as they are robust) and a couple of the most amazing Morning Coffee mugs. (I made up that name – as I dig through the cupboard seeking my favorite.)
Last summer my girls and I stopped in for a studio visit when Dan was in full tilt production for Anthropologie. This Spring Dan will conjure up an Alchemy Initiative mug to sell for my favorite not for profit organization. He will be using clay stamps from my Dad’s pottery studio. My Dad, John ffrench, passed away two years ago and was an internationally recognized potter of note, himself. Dan and he were friends and shared a passion for literature, good humor, high-jinx and beautiful, handmade things. You can find Dan’s work at Anthropolgie shops and catalog, among other boutique galleries nationwide.
Kilt For the New Millenium
January 20th 2012
Last winter it was really cold and really snowy here in the Berkshire Hills. Being an admittedly addicted trail runner I found my bum uncomfortably cold most days. The answer was wool – a bum warmer of sorts – a simple wool wrap to keep the heat in and a pocket for my phone. It worked! People loved it and I began selling them as fast as I could conjure them up from the sweater pile.
Well that was LAST year!
I have this dear and flamboyant friend, Daniel. He owns our favorite spot for nights out called The Dream Away Lodge. The lodge is well outfitted with Crispina-Ware and so is Daniel – who I did not have to convince, would look dashing in one of my ‘Kilts’. Being the fit and handsome man that Daniel is, it seemed that even a tight-ish wool bum-wrap kilt needed belt-loops. So here they are, Kilts, with belt-loops and sturdier pockets. This little one was last night’s creation. There is Daniel’s one, another I have worn all winter and more to come. Stay tuned. Stay tuned too for more in depth coverage about The Dream Away Lodge. It sort of feels like telling the world about your favorite swimming hole, but I promise to give you the deets one day soon. In the meantime I’ll cover your butt.
Let There Be Light
January 18th 2012
My hubby and I bought the former Notre Dame church and rectory in center city Pittfield, MA a few years back. My studio, along with The Dolphin Studio printing room, the Alchemy Initiative offices, and a few other art spaces, are located in the lower level of the church. As improvement projects go, this is a big one! The rectory has been transformed into four beautiful living units (with two more coming in the next year or so). Originally designed as condominiums, we have rented three completed units and live on the third floor in the fourth finished space. It is just easier to rent apartments than to sell condos these days. Gotta feed the pig.
Our current focus is on the former Bingo Hall, now studio space. The church had replaced huge windows with metal panels to accommodate the venting of 6 giant sized smoke-eaters. Apparently, the seating chart for 400 we found, was comprised of many smokers that frequented the bingo hall.
The space is transforming as we delve into window re-replacement with insulated glass. Let there be light!
A sprinkler system, new lighting, a fresh coat of white paint, entry and door replacement are on the agenda too! I’ll keep you posted here and if you are interested, there will be studio space for rent beginning in March or April. Completely rehabbing the former church kitchen into a lovely production and teaching kitchen is part of our plan too! Stay tuned for weekly updates here.
Photographs Needed
January 17th 2012
I’ve done it again! This passed Saturday, the studio was a buzz with 15 creative ladies making truly amazing sweaters from a pile of used bits and pieces. I can tell you all about it, but – once again, I neglected to capture the event with digital imagery. Honestly, it is hard for me to step away from my role as guide to document. The kind of photography I like best happens candidly – throughout the day. It captures makers and their process – learning and creating. When I head to Eileen Fisher’s in Irvington, NY to teach Potholder Rug Weaving on Saturday lets see how I do. Hoping to have a full color, story of images to share this time next week!
Materials Shop Added
January 12th 2012
2012 bursts out of the gates with a full eight days of studio workshops on the schedule for the year. Other workshops are planned, mostly in Irvington, NY at Eileen Fisher headquarters.
Response to these classes has been overwhelmingly positive. I get notes from participants exclaiming how touched they have been by the experience. Others keep coming back and can’t seem to get enough of the process. This is all wonderful for me, to know I am empowering people to make. . . and be creative is what brings me deep contentment. Thank you to each of you who has been so moved to flourish in my process, making it your own in the mix.
In response, I have opened a second Etsy shop featuring tools, tutorials and materials introduced at my workshops. Now you can buy tools and materials that might be hard to find outside of my classes to continue down the creative path of used clothing recycling. You will find yarn, needles, finishing tools, patterns, books, and all manner of inspiration to get started or continue on in your creative recycling textile endeavors. This is a brand-new endeavor that will be fleshed out in the coming weeks so check it out and check back to see how it grows!
Facebook is a great way to connect with other workshop participants or just catch up in conversation about students’ experience learning my process.
If you would like me to send you a nice printed 2012 workshop schedule in the snail mail, email me your address.
Also note I am available for off-site, corporate, and private group sessions just drop me a line to learn more.
Your Bag
January 9th 2012In this day of excessive consumption and unprecedented global waste, plastic is found in our soil, it pollutes our oceans, and rivers. Re-Usable bags are easy to make with very little skill and in virtually no time! From an environmental standpoint, ReUseable bags are really the only way to shop, travel, organize, and accessorize. (Just ask Lucy – she organizes all her baby doll clothing into little bags we made in the studio by recycling t-shirts.)
Step 1. Prepping
Fold smooth a clean t-shirt down the middle matching shoulder seams.
Step 2. Cutting
Cut a right angle from shoulder seam straight down toward hem, turning a 90 degree corner and finishing just under the arm (this cut removes the sleeves from the body of the shirt.) Make a second 90 degree cut from the shoulder seam toward shirt hem, this time turn the opposite direction from where the sleeves were located. Finish this cut by removing the front center of the shirt – which will include the neck edge of the shirt. Discard the pieces you have cut away from the main body of the shirt.
Step 3. Positioning for Sewing (and printing in my case)
Open the center fold in shirt (soon to be bag). Pinch and hold the shirt at the center front and back (where the fold had been) and reposition the shirt so that the front and back center points become the corners of the bottom edge. This step makes the bag handles shift into position. Smooth front and back in preparation of your next step – Sewing!
Step 4. Sewing
Sew straight across the straight, bottom edge (usually the hem) of the shirt. I use my serger for this step which is durable, allows for some stretch and adds a little color. You can use a zig-zag, straight stitch even to this step by hand. Presto! A bag!
I make these for sale in my shop. They come packaged in a handmade envelope with a set of visual instructions enclosed.
