Today was such a beautiful day! I woke up to a cool breeze, and the rest of the day was just so lovely temperature-wise. It made me so happy to be able to be outside without breaking a sweat. The weather has been making me feel trapped either in my house, or my studio, which has been driving me crazy. I need to move around! Anyway, this morning I was sitting in my backyard at the little table right outside my studio, eating a nice breakfast I made for myself while listening to Jonathan Goldstein’s “Wire Tap.” Goliath decided to join me, and I thought it made for a nice photo. (Taken with my iPod touch using Instagram.)
In the afternoon, I had a Labor Day party to go to. And since I am my mother’s daughter, I decided a half hour before the party started, that I really wanted to make a skirt. And that’s what I did for getting my art on.
A few months ago, my local thrift store, the Social Services League, was having a fundraiser. Basically, I filled a paper grocery sack with whatever I wanted for $10. I like giving them my money when they have these deals because they help out those who need it without really having a middle-man. They have been “providing cost-effective assistance to the financially challenged of Lawrence and Douglas County Kansas since 1863.” That day I filled up my bag with various fabric things that I could repurpose into something else, and perhaps make some art quilts and wall hangings. I got quite a few pillowcases that were in good condition and had nice prints on them. Since I’m small (and short), I knew some of the pillowcases would be enough fabric to make a skirt. I used one of those today.
This was a big enough pillow case that I had left over fabric that I can use for something else. It took me about an hour and a half to make it. It would have gone even faster, but this was a pillow sham-type thing, so I had to rip out seams to be able to use the fabric. I’m happy with how it turned out, but I need to tighten the elastic. I was also happy that at the party, no one said “hey, your skirt looks like a pillowcase I used to have.” I might shorten it some more. But I’ll wear it awhile before deciding.
I took the pictures after I got home, so it was dark. I did it in my hallway, and my little old cat Shelby walked by right as I took this picture. I thought it made a nice effect. I know in both photos you can’t really see the skirt that well, but they’re cool photos, right? I took both of them with my iPod Touch. I used the Retro Camera app to take the first one, and the ScratchCam app for the second.
You can see the other posts here.
I love it! Very clever concept.
GREAT JOB on the skirt! There are so many great fabrics in some of the sets of pillowcases these days.
What a great concept! Love the spirit that grabs the idea and does it while you have the fresh idea, party notwithstanding. Goliath also looks like he is glowing from inner peace on that first photo.
I wish I would know how to make my own skirts, And you did yours fast, WOW.
I love how «get your art on» is not necessarily about painting. It is even more inspiring.
I did a recap post for days 3 and 4: http://inner-voices.net/blog/2011-09-04/get-your-art-on-days-3-4-creative-art-journaling-as-therapy/