Starting today, October 10, 2006, I will not buy anything new that I cannot make or buy used. I will do this for one complete year.
I realized I didn't like wearing this sweater anymore (and yes, it's the sweater in my profile picture) but I wasn't ready to donate it because I still like the pattern. Since its previous owner had already felted it, I easily cut off the sleeves without any fraying and I now have a vest and leg warmers.
posted by Elle @ 9:58 PM
(aka Michelle)
It's hard to say where my obsession with creative reuse began. The Sundays spent thrift store shopping with grandma after church? The hours spent creating elaborate environments for Barbie with plastic wrap and shoe boxes?
In college I originally pursued an architecture degree because I wanted to renovate existing buildings. Later I switched to a fine arts program because I needed to spend more time working with my hands. Then one fateful day in art school I began experimenting with plastic bags. First because I had a closet full of them and second because I was drawn to the challenge of trying to make something of worth from something so cheap and disposable. Ever since I've been perpetually inspired to create new objects from the debris of everyday life.
After graduating, I knew I had to push myself to maintain my creative practice so I took up blogging. I use my blog to document my projects as well as hold myself accountable. If I don't have anything to blog about that means I need to get to work, either in the studio, doing research, writing, etc. Because if I'm not engaged in these activities, I start to go a little crazy...
3 Comments:
mirror mirror on the wall
wear a sweater in the fall
but when the sun warms up the sky
make the sleeves into leg warmers.
I must learn how to felt.
Nice work!
If the sweater is 100% wool (the less synthetic it is the better it will felt), just throw it in the washer in hot water on the permanent press cycle. Then dry on high heat. The heat and the agitation are what "felt" the fibers together. It will come out a bit smaller (this sweater is actually a size large) but you can cut it and it won't unravel. Unless you want to destroy my sweater...
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