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| Pandemic Solo Fashion Show |
A few weeks ago I came across a news clipping from Japan, where they had opened up an amusement park but in an attempt to reduce coronavirus risks, they also posted a sign saying: "Please scream inside your heart." To me, this seemed like a poetic encapsulation of the entire pandemic experience as well as a meditative mantra. As you get more tense and irritable during the isolation with restrictions and flat-out jerks who aren't following any health recommendations, best to scream inside your heart instead of at other people.
I took a blouse I never much wore or liked and did an all-around upcycle. My new pandemic mantra is now embroidered around the lower edge of the shirt. I top-stitched the shoulder seams using the same red embroidery thread. The gorgeous buttons are from a visit to my favorite button vendor on Portobello Road in London.
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| "please scream..." |
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| "...inside your heart." |
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| Embroidery detail |
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| Shouder detail |
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| Fashion for a fragmented reality |
Fashion postscript: I hand-stitched the pants early in the pandemic using fabric on hand (Kayla Kennington Designer Patterns, Perennial Pants Collection).
Love, love, love. I embroidered same quote from a Japanese girl, I believe, on a birthday card for my husband.
ReplyDeleteThanks! If a quote or phrase sticks in your near long enough, I say it’s worth stitching!
Deleteabsolutely fabulous
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThe outfit looks great — love the silhouette. Do you love the shirt now?
ReplyDeleteYes! I have been wearing it for three days and counting.
DeleteDoes the button vendor have a name? I might venture forth next time in London. I really love the shape of your shirt and the shape of the neckline.
ReplyDeleteNo name, but if you are walking up from the lower road, he is about halfway up on the left. He gets his stuff in France, and I have bought some artist designs for textiles from him as well. But in that large crammed area with tarps above it there are a couple of notions vendors towards the front that have intriguing stuff too.
DeleteThanks.
DeleteHi again, in case my first attempt was sent by accident. I must have hit the wrong button. I was wanting to tell you how much I've enjoyed visiting your site for the first time. I love your style and approach to life. I think I may have stumbled upon your site looking for some fabric beads I saw on pintrest, but I didn't find any here as of yet. Is this something you do? I am on the board of our local bead society and am putting together a virtual workshop on fabric beads. I'm gathering info about artists who are doing this and came across you. Please excuse, if that is an error. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi there. So good to hear that you enjoy the blog. And yes, I have worked with fabric beads - with a twist. This first post involves taking an old cherished dress from my younger days and turning it into a necklace - https://stuffyoucanthave.blogspot.com/2013/01/alchemy-from-nostalgia-to-necklace.html
DeleteThe second involved making beads and a necklace out of red flannel - http://stuffyoucanthave.blogspot.com/2013/01/red-flannel-beads.html
Enjoy!