more samples to come check back
Where to begin….I’ve really been wanting to flex my creative muscles and just show others that I’m like to do other things besides just work in fiber and thread. Storytime Village post a call for an artist to bring their idea of a float to life budget $400.
So I wrote a plan, made a budget, timeline, and packaged it nicely in a Powerpoint. I referenced 2 previous builds. The MakeICT Magic Wheelchair where most of my job was documenting the build, sharing it on social media and keeping a timeline and tracking volunteers, i.e. I didn’t get to physically work on it much . The Big Brothers Big Sisters logo where I worked with mostly one person to build a BIG B for Riverfest Sundown Parade.
Insulation Foam is expensive over half my budget went to that. Paint and foam coat ate up most of the rest of the budget. Leaving nothing for the arch and Storytime Village wanted support art to carry on the the theme created by students. My solution for both using flats or trays to create what looked like books. I didn’t want alcoholic beverage ones and unfortunately that made it difficult to find and caused me to panic. After reassurance from the schools and help from Hurst liquor and Cash Savers, both near my home in Haysville. I acquired the near 200 flat needed for the artwork and arch to be complete. Unfortunately due to weather we were unable to use the student art.
I couldn’t have pulled this off without my volunteers and my family, who supported me every step of the way through this build. Even the best laid plans can be full of surprises and hiccups but together we made it through. I want to thank them all for their hard work, determination, and support. While the plan was to build the float over 5 weeks most of the work was done in only 2. The foam coat I’m use to was out of stock and I had a learning curve on what I used that you can see on the front of the float. Everything was light weight, I could carry the 4x12 foot sided by myself. The sides were held together with hook and loop and the arch was a modified balloon arch. This was a fun project and if the opportunity were to come up, I’d definitely do it again.
As the event was rained out, we were unable to use the float. I proposed we contact Wichita River Festival to submit to the Sundown Parade. This years parade was a “Reverse Parade” with the floats and bands set up on the sides of the street and parade-goers drove through in their cars. The float was a hit! We received Most Creative Award. I’m really proud of what we created.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy competition, especially if that competition challenges me to think outside my comfort zone. Riverfest had, what I hope is, their first annual Plein Air Competition. Plein Air is a french term for painting outdoors. I’ve been wanting to work on my thread painting but not sure what direction to take it. After some explaining and convincing, I purchased a battery operated sewing machine, found the right foot , and a new love of making 6”x6” landscapes.
Representation of Asian fashion in Wichita has been limited. We decided a fashion showcase was needed to allow people to creatively and respectively express the diversity we have in the Wichita and surrounding areas without limits. Leading up to the show, BE SEEN also hopes to share, teach, and learn from our community about AAPI related topics by tying in fashion. The BE SEEN Fashion Showcase is an opportunity for Wichita (and surrounding areas) creatives to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with style. BE SEEN
I’m currently the Botanica Artist in Residence and am half way through my term. Thanks to Open Studios for the opportunity. I’ve found a new love Plein Air Sewing. Find out more about this in a future post.
I bought a bag of fabric square a while back and this was among them. Klopman Fabrics invented the poly cotton blend fabrics we are all familiar with today. Below are some interesting facts from their website history.
In the late 1960s, American textile manufacturer Bill Klopman, in conjunction with DuPont, pioneered the development of the world’s first polyester-blended fabric for industrially washed workwear. After extensive trials, the ideal performance fabric was achieved – using a blend of 65% polyester/35% cotton, the most important blend still in use today.
Acclaimed as a huge success by the US Laundry Association, Bill Klopman then set his sights on Europe. Market research proved positive and proposals were made to several European governments to build a high-tech manufacturing plant. A site was found in Frosinone, Italy and this became our new European manufacturing base. https://www.klopman.com/history
In 1976 William A. Klopman was appointed chairman and CEO of Burlington Industries. He had joined the company when it had acquired his father’s firm in 1956, and had risen through the ranks, to president of the influential yarn and apparel-fabric divisions from 1963 to 1971, and then to president in 1974. Under Klopman’s leadership, Burlington entered the 1980s with a critical eye on its foreign operations. It gradually strengthened its financial position overseas by restructuring its French businesses and by selling its German worsted apparel fabric subsidiary. https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/burlington-industries-inc
I want to stay cool and protected while being comfortable. Those factors and others lead to my mask development.
In April 2007 I had to have all 4 wisdom teeth surgically removed because 2 were impacted and I’m basically allergic to all antibiotics except Cipro. This caused nerve damage around my mouth that makes my face sensitive to touch, hot, and cold. Basically my right bottom lip feels like pins and needles almost constantly and a mask just adds to the frustration. Working 10 hour days, in a 80 degree factory doesn’t help either. So I went to work looking for the best I could do for my face, to keep me comfortable and protected, as I’m also a cancer survivor. The following are places i found information that lead to the type of mask I developed for myself and now share with you. While having the extra layers of non-woven polypropylene are probably overkill, I’d rather go above and beyond than just do the bare minimum.
“The researchers pointed out that tightly woven fabrics, such as cotton, can act as a mechanical barrier to particles; whereas fabrics that hold a static charge, like certain types of chiffon and natural silk, can serve as an electrostatic barrier. The electrostatic effect serves to suck in and hold the tiniest particles, which might otherwise slip through holes in the cotton. This is key to how N95 masks are constructed.”
University of Chicago Research
in 2018 I spent nearly a year writing and building my traffic with the plan to launch products on my website. Somewhere along the way I got derailed. Life is odd, unpredictable, and full of curve balls. We roll with the punches and do the best we can with what we have. I vowed at some point to launch and that point kept getting push back and back and back again. July 1st I finally did it, not with the product or the way I though I would but I finally spread my wings. Thank you for taking this journey with me. I hope to bring other product and items to the table in the near future.
I started volunteering with Generation STEAM and Arts Partners in the 2018-2019 school year. I’m happy to say I enjoyed it so much I became a Teaching artist and learned quite a bit about income disparity and healthcare. These Kids are now going to distribute 500 First aid kits to their classmates and receive a mask a piece thanks to the generosity of Vanya Designs . I hope to figure out a way to get them more mask.
I also worked with North High students and an additional group of 5th graders to make garments based on the 12 standards of community. I will share more about those experiences in future post.
The world did a complete 180 and the “new norm” is not better than the “old norm”. Like everyone else I’ve been trying to navigate all of this, cope, and find new outlets or diversions. March seems like a lifetime ago, 15 weeks can have profound effect on a persons life. Hear I am ready to launch my latest obsession. #makemaskfashionable
The last 8 months have gone by in the blink of an eye. I’ve been super busy to say the least. Thanks to everyone who’s been involved, I cherish you all.
what sewing videos may come...
Back in April I was tagged in a post by Kate Van Steenhuyse. Little did I know that that post would land me where I am today:
Do you have a friend or neighbor who has been quietly working away on a creative pursuit for years but not had the chance, resources, or opportunity to really shine? Harvester Arts and Fisch Haus are teaming up once again for the Neighborhood Superstar Award. Our two organizations can provide exhibition and work space, promotional and marketing platforms, assistance and support, and a $1000 equipment purchase award. In addition, the recipient will receive a scholarship to participate in Harvester Art’s professional development program Artist INC launching this summer.
The Neighborhood Superstar program is specifically intended to benefit an individual who may not have had access or pursued these sorts of resources in the past. The award is meant to assist with realizing the creative project (of any discipline) of someone working in our local Wichita community.
You can see the full article here.
I received my fabrics today.
What a truly amazing event by Exploration Place and MakeICT. I ran a booth called Bags We All Make (BWAM) instead of SWAG bags. The Bags are zero waste and promote the event , the 2 great partners of the event and this year the message of Boomerang Bags-Wichita Chapter. We stayed incredibly busy, sewing and distributing 87 bags on day one, as a bag left the room on average every 5 minutes. We hope to continue to grow and share this event. Photo courtesy the events Facebook page.
Letizia Fuhr was an Italian fashion designer who led the accredited college Art of Dress Design in Wichita, KS. She was a bride of World War II and wrote a book about pattern making. I purchased what looks to be 2 copies of the book. While not much info is to be found online, several of her students spoke highly of her on Facebook and I've heard a few tales that paint her as an interesting woman. I will continue to pursue details of her life and her fashion school.
Estate Sale of Letizia Fuhr
This week has been a busy one Chapter 8 of the Artist Way, started Artist INC. Live, learning about Mammatus clouds, and Final Friday.
Artist INC courtesy Ryan Gates Final Friday pictures from OPENSTUDIOS for Wisdom Tree Art
ARTIST INC.
LIVE!
Playing with panoramic, on a train, in the sky, how will it influence my art.
or the randomness of lead shot
there's an art to everything
I can't put into words how my month is going but I'll share some pictures. It's barely half over. More to come...…..
Yes, my weekly post has been missing....life. I taught a class scarf dress class a few weeks ago and forgot to take pictures, but teaching it again. Below is my dress once I finished it and below that is a gallery of some of my scarf dresses.
Life is a balancing act. We have what we want to do and what we have to do. We have things that are fun to do and things that pay the bills. Why can't those things that are fun to do pay the bills, and how do we get to that? Tough questions indeed. The only solace I have is that I'm not alone in this conundrum. Good luck to us all.
Try to find the Serenity
Among all the chaos