Bow: Affected.

The green staining of the bow reminds me of other natural states of disintegration and decomposition  - I think perhaps some other organic processes could be influenced and induced within our project work. More homework required!

Goodies from the Industrial Estates

In search of some inspiration as to where to go next for Re-worked, I had a dander around an industrial estate in Dundee. It was fruitful:

I have come away with a whole host of ideas in terms of form and texture - very much excited by the De-Icer spray can as I love the way it has crumpled and creased.

Creating Clusters

I have recently been using some plastic/rubbery fabric that Sara passed on to me to use as a base for creating clusters - perhaps Sara can shed some light on what the fabric is - it feels like a shower curtain! The material has proved fantastic for this purpose as it crinkles and forms shapes that a soft fabric would not. I have always had an interest with the idea of "clusters" for Re-worked so I thought I'd try creating a few different styles using the same materials. I've combined the felt circles of different sizes with the silver coloured studs. I will take these further by now using some destructive techniques - would the material melt interestingly if branded? - and will post the results at a later date. I like the idea of combining these clusters with the cape style garment I made in the previous post - a definite contender for a final piece I think.

Nikky Bergman

Beautiful brooches that remind me of Re-worked. Love the layering with rust and clustering details.

Cape

I decided instantly that I wanted this collar to be attached to fabric in a cape-like style. Since my sewing skills aren't fantastic, to say the least, I looked at an alternative way of attaching them and happened upon the studs. These were a very quick way of transforming the pieces and adding some detail to the plain fabric. I want to add some dramatic effect to the collar so will most likely heavily embellish it with different experiments then let the marks naturally make their way down the fabric.

Golden Collar

Sewing done. Now to rust. I hope also to print onto silk with this collar.

Finding Relationships

A sister -or brother?!- piece of this ( I imagine?), wine glass bottom cover was seen in the previous post. Another rather distinctive item, I have been playing today with other relative materials, concentrating on contrasting textures and emulative form. Combining other circular pieces with this and trying to build upon the 'case'-like quality of the cover, I am still, as yet, unsure of where to move forward with this. These came as a set of four so there is plenty of scope to experiment.

Unexpected Bouts of Rust

In the Re-worked spirit, these items have taken it upon themselves to adopt some organic rusty prints. I use the word 'prints' loosely, as these are clearly only marks where the fabric has come into contact with some of my other rusted - and now dry- experiments. Still, I find them interesting additions to our project. Spontaneous little marvels.

Pin Soldiers

As with our 'found' rusties, I find these pin oddities very inspiring... They are precious individuals in a packet of hundreds of other pins. I like them lined up as a little family like this.

A Little Butterfly Bow

Today I am working my way through a back log of materials that Nicola has sent to me. I found this pretty and forgotten (?!) lace bow. I think, again, it is one of those items that should remain whole. Having come with (and I assume, having always had), this small gold safety pin attached, I don't like to part the pair, so they will stay and weather the elements on the other side of my window, together. The pin is not necessary in holding the bow in place and so I consider it to be an interesting relationship. I wonder how they will affect one another when undergoing 'change' in the same conditions.

Another Collar, in a Similar Vein

In considering with what next to 'affect' the other collars Nicola had sent me, I trawled through other bits and pieces that Nicola has sent over the course of the past few months and found these gold jump links below. I think that working with gold coloured fastenings/fasteners recently (as in the pink basque), has taken with me and I began stitching them onto the collar below. I think that it will make a lovely partner to the pearly collar once rusted up. I would like to source more of these rings for future experiments as (dependant on their ability to rust well), I believe there could be great scope to create large lace-like pattern repeats that could be printed onto soft silks. These could be beautiful organic echos of much of the found lace items we have used throughout Re-worked project.

Contents

I am delighted to see the array of items Sara has included in her final parcel for me. It is also a nice feeling to finally complete the swapping stage of Re-worked and get onto the final designs and experiments. 


Leather Lace Gloves/Soft Leather Long Gloves/Brown Punctured Suede Gloves.


These are by far my favourite items in the parcel as I think they lend themselves perfectly to Re-worked as a starting point, or canvas, for the destructive processes we have been experimenting with. I love the vintage leather combined with lace - there's a definite soft/tough clash that has been identified so many times with items in Re-worked: something I have loved with Re-worked is natural themes occurring rather than being forced. The differing lengths obviously lend themselves to different looks when worn and then there's the idea that they don't necessarily have to be worn conventionally as gloves. As Sara said the brown gloves are obviously unique with their colour which is something I think I would like to keep or perhaps highlight. I see a lot of possibilities and potential with these items.


The silk and twine, and even the found objects are all quite staple pieces of Re-worked but as the project goes on there are always more uses popping up for each item. The found objects are always fun as they are unique, meaning the results of experimentation always differ. 


The studs are very exciting as they are something I am really interested in outside of the project and see them exactly as they are: perfect embellishments. Left alone, branded, rusted and perhaps combined with the likes of the other repeat item of the felt circles. I would like to see some really heavy, growth-like embellishment with these.


The buttons and paper clips are interesting too. I would like to see the paperclips used to play with building structures, layered together. As Sara mentioned, the buttons lend themselves to branding well but, like the found objects, buttons are usually quite unique so the material of the button, shape and pattern will affect the outcome. 


The collar and bodice will, like the gloves, provide excellent canvasses for play. I love that the collar is a sort of combination between the soft vintage collars we have used before and the structured men's collars I gave to Sara. On seeing the beautiful results of Sara's play with the pink bodice and the gold coloured pins, I know the bodice will become beautiful too. There is so much possibilities I'm still unsure of which direction I will go with the bodice. It looks like a jumble of different materials at the moment so perhaps using a rusty wash to bring out certain layers before embellishing will be very effective.

The Pink Basque

The pink basque and the pins both are from Nicola's final parcel to me. I have worked with the basque as a whole garment leaving it's actual form and structure untouched but thought it might be fun to play around with ideas of wearability, comfort and contact. These gold pins are very fragile and pliable to touch but when layered and lined up they become collectively strong and sharp. Immediately upon touching the basque, I am vulnerable to (mild!) pain which is thought provoking when considering our Re-worked aim of communicating preciousness in materials - making my own experience with this garment vulnerable inspires further awareness.
Aesthetically, I love the combination of the gold and baby pink and I like that the pins target only the elastic. This was partly because, already perforated, I was able to pass the pins through the material easily, the form of the pins unaffected but also because I felt it important to embellish only certain panels or sections of the basque.
The basque is a 'statement' piece, even without embellishment, reminding me of Madonna circa 80's and more recently, Lady Gaga.

Final Parcel for Nicola

I have tried to in some ways respond to the materials Nicola had sent to me in my final parcel for experimentation and to also, act on my own instincts when happening upon materials for Reworked. Below are images of the items I have collated, beginning with a trio of vintage gloves. I have been intrigued by the idea of our deconstructed, reworked pieces interacting with the wearer and thought a most immediate way of exploring this could be through the use of preworn gloves. The notion of covering/encasing hands in another skin of sorts (in this case, leather and suede) and then breaking down or affecting this protective layer is interesting.

Leather Lace Gloves

These are rather structured, a heavier leather, whilst still remaining soft and pliable. I love the lace detailing at the wrist. I also like the fact that this pair are joined with a little gold pin.

Soft Leather Long Gloves

These move almost fluidly - especially at the wrist, where obvious wear has occurred and the leather has puckered. The contrast between this soft area and the strong stitching on the back of the hand is lovely.

Brown Punctured Suede Gloves

I was drawn to the punctured surface of these gloves and to the colour - soft and feminine but also, a nod towards our 'broader' colour scheming! 

Recycling Centre Silk

This is a beautiful, piece of abandoned silk - the ends have been pulled and in areas, it is snagged but perfectly suited to our needs! I imagine this working well in printing.

Cotton Ladies Collar

This was a pre-Nicola's parcel purchase. I found it funny that both of us should choose collars as part of our experimentations. I am intrigued to see the contrast between Nicola and my's ideas for use. Though, of course working with and most likely being led by the materials (the men's collars I am working with are starched and Nicola's is soft cotton), I look forward to seeing our different interpretations side by side.

Gold and Silver Studs

Laser Cut Wool Circles

(A repeat item)

Itty Bitty Laser Cut Wool Circles

Though I have previously sent Nicola some of these wool circles, I wanted to send more (and made some tiny versions to allow more room to be playful with scale), when I was considering possibilities for embellishment of the gloves. I wonder if Nicola will see an entirely different outcome for either?

Deconstructed Vintage Bodice

This was part of a 1950s wedding dress. I guess that with this inclusion, I am largely responding to Nicola's pink corset top. I wanted too, to include a defined item as opposed to just fabric, but also wanted   to not be too rigid in suggesting it's use - hence my liking its deconstructed, pulled apart state. 

Charity Shop Buttons

I received these at the same time as some other fastenings for Reworked a long time ago and had other plans for them. They have, however sat rather lonely. I wonder if Nicola can, through the Reworked ethos, put them to better use? Perhaps they could have potential in branding and/or embellishment.

Natural Twine

(Another repeat item - given the earlier earthy browns/beiges, this inclusion is led purely by colour)

Staples (Lots of)

Found Rusties

I found each of these on the same day in November and loved their textures and shapes. I wonder if they could be included in some experiments? We have, to date, 'catalogued' some rusty finds but haven't actively used many in our explorations into form and texture.

I have also included in this parcel, sample sheets of light weight waxed cotton as I thought Nicola might like to try some branding similar to those she tried in an earlier post - the wax might produce some interesting resist-like results? I'm sure Nicola will have other ideas too!