Fashion and Folk Art

It's been a few weeks since my last post, so let me update you one of my recent trips to the American Folk Art Museum in New York City.  What intrigued me about this exhibit was the 13 different designers who participated to make a creation inspired by artwork in the museum's collection, many dating back to 1800-1900.   Take a look at what I saw.

Koos van der Akker - gown

Michael Bastian's ensemble

Anniversary Tin- top hat & eyeglasses (one of the inspirations for Michael Bastian's ensemble)

Gary Graham -Jacquard woven coat (inspiration in the background)

closeup details from the whitework cotton quilt

Fabio Costa's outfit-inspiration is the whitework cotton quilt from 1796

threeASFOUR  dress

Friendship Star Quilt (inspiration for threeASFOUR dress)-made in 1800s by Quaker women as a sign of friendship in PA

 

Yeohlee Teng's outfit made from Brown Kraft  Paper

Redo of "My Favourite Hat"

I have always had a hard time finding hats to fit my head for one reason or another, so when I find something I like it generally gets a good wear.  Many of you who know me closely know my denim "bucket" hat.

Late last year I copied off the specs from this hat and put it aside, knowing one day I would try my hand at this hat.   Well yesterday, I finally had enough of my old hat and I took a pair of jeans and cut them up and made a new hat with slight modifications (i.e. little taller/wider crown, and wider circumference).  Instead of using a standard lining I took a nice navy/white print and lined the hat adding a solid ribbon on the inside, and a stripe ribbon on the outside.

Below are the results of a couple hours of sewing and a new hat, which can be worn on both sides.  Yes it's reversible.   I think I will make a few more, modifying the crown to give it a more rounded and possibly some shorter crowns.   My lampshade hat looks a lot more trendy now.  I also have to add in the grommets so I don't sweat out my new hat.  In the photos with 2 hats, the denim one on left is the original hat.

Grand Central Centennial Quilts

http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/event/grand-central-centennial-quilts/2145433659 — at Grand Central Terminal.

If you're in New York between now and July 6th, this is a must see exhibit.  In short, it shows the creative work of many quilt artists who participated in this challenge to use fabrics designed by "The City Quilter" to reinterpret "Grand Central" in fabric.  The City Quilter partnered with American Patchwork & Quilting to sponsor this national contest.  The photos below, by no means, do justice to the intricate work portrayed in these quilts, and only seen up close.   

Below are a few of my favorites from the exhibit.   

NUNO FELT SCARF - EXPLORING

Last week I decided I would make a scarf for myself as an experiment with all sorts of embellishments and stuff.  Taking the orange variegated merino wool and melange silk as my base I proceeded on a journey to over embellishment this new scarf.    I added a fancy ribbon trim down the middle, a smaller one on each side along with wooly locks, bits of netting and other sheer synthetic fabrics.  I left a few open areas without wool at the ends to reveal sheer windows.  I also rolled up a few rasta locks ( and added to both ends of the scarf.   Basically, you take the wool fiber and roll it between your hands to make cord.    I think it came out pretty nice, but I could have embellished it more.   I have worn it and have received lots of comments.  Most people do not realize that I make this from scratch using dyed wool "fiber" + silk fabric to get the end result.
Below are some of the steps in the process + finished results.

1- merino wool fiber added not top of a yellow-orange silk (see it peeking through)

2- adding embellishments on top of merino wool fiber

3- fun part is adding the various embellishments to the fiber

4-finished scarf