The Possible

Being in California was such a time of recharging and inspiration. One of the very best things I had the good fortune to do, was visit the Berkeley Art Museum and the ongoing and amazing interactive exhibit, The Possible. 
To call it an "exhibit" is kind of the wrong word, it's more of a learning experience facilitated by many artists, musicians and craftspeople.

Group indigo dye dip.

The weekend I was there, there were several things going on. A giant rug was being worked on by the artist (Fritz Haeg) as well as the public, there was a group indigo dye session in full swing, participatory print making area, beeswax candle making and some weaving going on. The music studio was set up and people were there making sounds and videos, the library was set up for people to peruse and use to make zines. 



I cannot describe the full extent of how I felt on my visit, because it was a full sensory experience, one that is not easily described in words. Please look at the information and videos on the BAM website. 
It was really a learning experience, a place to make and leave a mark. As pieces are created, they are moved to a growing and changing exhibition space which will house the culmination of The Possible as the weeks go on.

Print making station.

It felt so good to participate and I left feeling inspired and less scatterbrained about being very multi-diciplanary in my own work. 
I was happy to be accompanied by my creative cohort Jenne -  it was wonderful to experience this together. I got to watch her remove her cute handmade dress and give it a dip in the indigo vat. 





















We also got to visit artist and nature dyer Kristine Vejar's indigo vat after we had spoken with her about it at her booth at Stitches West (I also got to visit her dreamy store A Verb for Keeping Warm on the same day). 
Driving back to the South Bay from Berkeley that day during California's "magic hour" and sipping on our Arnold Palmers - Jenne and I were on cloud 9!

Kristine and Jenne at Stitches West.

Happy as can be at A Verb for Keeping Warm.

Sewing Lockdown - Hodgepodge Farm Residency #2

Sewing in front of the fire...

This past October, I spent about 10 days at my annual Hodgepodge Farm Residency. This year the theme was "Sewing Lockdown". 
In the 10 days, I think Cal and I left the house maybe once or twice and both times were on a sewing related errand. We spend our days drafting patterns, trying out patterns we'd been wanting to make, drinking gallons of tea and cooking fantastic meals. We ended our lockdown with a totally glamourous photo-shoot showcasing our new wardrobes. 
I totally feel so much more confident with my seaming and construction techniques now - thanks to my advisor, Cal. 

Always make a muslin for fit, even if it's hideous xmas fabric!

Before I left for my trip I spend days shopping for fabric online and quite nearly "broke the bank" on organic jersey, sweatshirt fabric and other must have goodies. I really feel like I had to walk away from my "shopping cart" several times and snap myself back to reality before I continued paring down my purchases.  I think I ended up with a good base to make loads of sweatshirts, long-sleeved tees and leggings - the staples of any wardrobe (in my opinion). 
All in all, I drafted and tested patterns for: leggings, a sweatshirt, a shift dress, a smock dress and a tee-shirt. 

Long sleeved tee and crocheted Coral Cloche hat.

Cowl neck sweatshirt.

Shift dress, leggings and tee.

Smock dress.

I also made the Painted Portrait Dress by Anna Maria Horner and got to incorporate an amazing batik print I purchased at Rhinebeck by Amity Farms Batik for the yoke. The last thing was a Wiksten Tova out of a double gauze Nani Iro print - amazing. So, 7 garments, 5 of which I drafted the pattern for - to fit ME - in 10 days... Not so bad!

Painted Portrait Dress with sheep themed batik.

Wiksten Tova in Nani Iro.

As usual, I had an amazing time with Cal and being upstate NY during the autumn and meeting her new chickens, visiting Gertie and other friends. I have to admit, my favourite chicken is now "Minky"...

Cal and I posing 70s style in our Painted Portraits...

Were we to have a band, this would be our album cover.

Minky is the creamy white one...