THOSE COSTUMES ....

Here they are at last ..  many of you know that my dear Mum passed away just at the time the play was on,  for which I made these costumes ...  hence time has passed before responding to your delightful requests to see this body of work.   How Mum would  have loved to see them....actually she did see most of them on these and more photos,  the only person allowed that preview -   except for Deidre , the director,  of course -  it was fun to share that secret  through January  ..

I dont have a lot to say about them really,  it was a wonderful commission  ..  see my post before last for more  ...

I definitely intend to continue this thread of making upcycled clothes,  ideas are already brewing ,  so a new collection will be starting after the easter break ,  you saw it here first   ...   and I give thanks to all the creative spirits who whisper in my ear ...

here goes -  8 costumes   for the play  'Time's Fools -  the magic of maybe '                     at the Midland Arts Centre,  Birmingham  Feb 12-14th 2015 .....                                     (the white t-shirt under the 1st one isn't part of it -  just so it would show up )

HERE'S ONE I MADE EARLIER ....

And it came about through Carys Hedd of Wench Wear who taught & inspired me to start this upcycling fun .. ( see link below these posts)  
When she and Jade Mellor opened their fab shop Melfed in Cardigan last year, with Jade's delicious foraged foods & Carys's wonderful garments ,  (also see their Facebook page)  I won a raffle prize at their opening to spend a day on one of Carys's upcycling courses there,  turning old jerseys into a tunic dress ...   
Well I ended up finishing the garment at home,  and the skills I expanded that day came in very handy for making the costumes I wrote about on my previous post ....  

I hadn't photographed it,  but Pete was playing with my phone today ..  and here is the record of  what happened when a tibetan jacket I bought in Darjeeling nearly 30 years ago met a  jersey I have had a long time too ...   
I so recommend cutting up those clothes you no longer wear  :-)  This is so much more fun,  feels like new, and the old clothes aren't wasted .. win win.
Have a go , or ask me and I will enjoy doing it for you ....

unusual play costumes .... :-)

Its been longer than I realised since I last posted here - never mind,  I have something special to share ...
I received a delightful commission to create 8 upcycled costumes for a play that will be on in Birmingham the w/e after next ...

I have completed the costumes, but I cant reveal them  before the play,  but I can say that it has been a heart-lifting joy to make them,  and that the request was a direct result of the other clothing I have posted here before ...

I now work with a  mannequin which makes it easier to enjoy and play with the way fabric behaves ..  how it hangs,  stretches ..  puckers ...falls ..

They are all lovingly recreated from tee shirts,  dresses,  jerseys ..  items that someone somewhere had no further use for ,  and now they have new life,  which feels good ethically as well as being FUN !  and goodness (and others) knows we need to keep feeding our hearts ...

here are a couple of photos to show my 'pallette' , and some work in progress

my spirit helpers were looking over my shoulder all the time ,  as usual, in their ever unpredictable way,  and trusting the ideas that pop in -( really ? put that with this ??? )  - is part of the joy of making .  Also this work 'just happened' to come along at a challenging time, and has been the perfect counterbalance to other parts of my life ..  Oh thank you Universe I never cease to be amazed by the workings of love through our lives ...

I am all agog for that moment when I attend the play ,  and see who is wearing which item ( loose fitting - so not for me to decide ...!),  how they will look, move, seem unfamiliar, yet deeply known ...  As with exhibiting paintings I anticipate being a bit nervous ,  I never know how an exhibition will look when I go back in ...

WHY NOT COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF ?? !!

The performances are 

Friday February 20th at 19.30

Saturday February 21st at 14.30 and 19.30

Sunday February 22nd at 14.30 and 19.30

In the hexagon theatre - mac - birmingham  - in cannon hill park (opposite edgbaston cricket ground)

running time - 2hours (including an interval)

tickets: £10/6

from www.macbirmingham.co.uk or 0121 446 3232

I would so love to hear your reaction - see my email on this blog ...

blessings

Janey