People often ask me how I came to do fiber art. My response has always been that I made my first quilt in 1995, and within the last few years have moved to mainly fiber art. However, fiber was a part of my life long before that.
As far back as I can recall, I have been obsessed with clothes. My clothes, Barbie clothes, Cabbage Patch doll clothes. When we went to the Ben Franklin store, I liked to touch all the fabrics. I would also use scraps from my Mom and Grandma's fabrics to try and design and hand sew clothes for my dolls.
When I go to stores, I have to touch fibers. I usually can't walk past the clothing rack without mauling one piece or another to explore the texture.
I think a lot of this love of fiber probably stems from the women in my family. My great grandmother was a seamstress. My grandmother was an avid crocheter/knitter. My Mom has been making her own clothes since she was a teenager, knitting, crocheting, quilting you name it!
This past weekend I remembered something from when I was younger and I want to share it with you. My Mom and I shared a room for many years while living at my grandparents house. At some point I wanted my own room, and there was only one room in our old country house that wasn't being used. It was also an unfinished room - no drywall.
As a surprise to me, my mom took a blue calico fabric and tacked it too all of the walls like a wallpaper. I don't know how long it must have taken her, but I was so happy when she surprised me with it! I remember loving the fabric on the walls, it completely transformed the room. My bed was right next to a window, so I could hear the crickets and frogs at night (something I still love!)
I think the reason I bring this up, is that fabrics and textiles can be just as much of a memory/emotional trigger as a smell. I wouldn't change working with this medium for anything!
I can rarely get past any type of fabric in a shop or store without touching it, either, so I know what you mean. My mother and grandmother sewed, knitted and crocheted. I caught the sewing bug, but not the knitting and croching bug like a lot of people. Your post reminds me of my childhood. Thanks! Cindy
ReplyDeleteI hear ya!
ReplyDeleteand oooh what lovely photos in your post!!!
Monika
in Canada
My mom also sewed, crocheted, knitted, and crafted up a storm when I was young. I think she gave it up when her hands hurt too much and the kids were too "grown up" for her to sew for them anymore. But I remember how she made many of my fav toys, sewed us matching dresses, helped us make Christmas ornaments, etc. She never actually taught me how to do these things, but I absorbed a lot. I should thank her! And you. Jennifer
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