State of Project Minima: Y2 Q4

The Summer Quarter for Year Two of Project Minima has been stopped in its tracks by my Mom's sudden turn of events.  Rather, by my state of coping I should say.  Nevertheless, following is my summary.

painting by Haidee Becker

I've completed 13 pieces this quarter, all from patterns except 1 skirt that was simply gathered at the waist.  Some were very complicated designs, however.  Like the Koos Spring Coat and the Koos Kaftan, wherein I used multiple pieces of fabric from my stash.  

You can see the clothes I made on my Spring Clothes page. 

March's Ms. Match

I made a whole lotta stuff lately and I couldn't decide what to wear for today.  I really like everything.  And it all goes together - probably a little too well.  In fact, I felt kind of at a loss because of it.  You know, matchy-matchy.   Maybe I made a capsule wardrobe thingy.  You know where everything coordinates.  A black straight skirt, black straight leg pants, purple t-top and multi-print top.  More about that later. 

My newly made knit top and pants

Anyway I tried to throw it off balance a bit with this reversible vest I made awhile back

+ ebay shoe/boots (I think they may be too small...)

Another view with my old refashioned purple shoes

More about the capsule after the break

State of the Project Minima: Y2-2nd Qtr.

This Fall quarter production totals 30 pieces refashioned and/or made-from scratch:  12 items of clothing, 8 pairs of shoes and 10 accessories, primarily jewelry.  The items are shown on the Clothes for Fall page, under year 2012.

painting by Sharon Yamamoto

Seems I've doubled my output from the Summer quarter (14 pieces) which was the start of my second year of Project Minima.  But there were extraneous circumstances that summer to consider.  See that report for details.

Noted trends from Project Minima Fall quarter:

• rehabbing, painting of shoes
• putting together bits and bobs for jewelry
• mending knit gloves
• buying some things:

           - new fabric (although it was drastically on sale @ $1.99/yard)
           - new patterns (they were drastically on sale online @ .99 to 3.99 ea.)
           - new color tights (also drastically on sale under $4 ea with free shipping)
           - second-hand shoes/boots:  e-bay golden boots, e-bay red & orange 
              cowboy boot shoes, thrift store pink snakeskin ankle boots

• new concepts absorbed about design and construction for refashioning clothes

Read my thoughts about that after the break...

State of Project Minima - The First Year

Yes, a year has gone by since I decided to launch Project Minima and I'm still as involved as ever.  Let's look back and see if I accomplished my original goals and what other doors have opened along the way.  hmmm.

illustration by Clare Owen.

Well, the main goal I had written on Day One was: "...everything works, everything looks good, it all fits and I like it."  I would say I have achieved that - although in ways that I had not envisioned at the time.  In terms of my starting with the clothes list, I have favored the "play with to be altered" item rather than the "give away the not wanted."  The significant refinement came for me in my second post when I decided to go on a shopping free ban for the year.  I haven't bought a single item of apparel (new or used) in all that time.  This allowed my creativity to flourish -

State of Project Minima II

artwork by Louise Tidd

6-month status report on Project Minima:    Approximately 65 pieces completed.  Joined Refashion Coop, contributing twice a month since October.  Starting Sewing Rebellion Chicago Chapter in January, to meet monthly.  Re-organized work space.  Received 2 sewing/ design books:  I Am Cute Dresses by Sato Watanabe and Design-It-Yourself Clothes by Cal Patch, pouring over them constantly. 

The State of Project Minima

Sculpture by Kiki Smith

It's been just about 4 months since I started Project Minima as a concentrated effort to reduce my consumption in the clothes industry to zero.  So far, so good.  I haven't even wanted to buy anything apparel-wise.  Once I switched consciousness and started to see my existing wardrobe of ill-fitting, unwanted stuff as potential supplies for reconstructing clothing I liked, I was off to the races! 

I started off slowly, spending a few minutes (15 or so) a day to gather, collect and sort

This Piece is on Fire

Painting by Carol Brown

Just finishing up the final touches on my husband's kimono for his birthday today.  I couldn't wait and gave it to him early, but still had to put a loop at the back for hanging it up and some belt loops.  It looks awesome on him and he loves it.

It has a traditional blue Japanese pattern, but then all of a sudden it starts shooting out these huge stylized blue flames from the bottom of the robe and the sleeves.  Too funny. I knew I had been saving that material for something special!

Evolution of the Concept

"Emergence of the Ganga on the Earth," Hindu Painting.

Had the thought, after looking at some of the "sites of inspiration" listed, that perhaps my framework might be to use only what I already have in reforming my wardrobe.  Originally I was thinking to ultimately have everything working/going together with everything else, as well as being minimal.

Now perhaps, it's more me, more reasonable to start from where I'm at - that is use what I have to get to where I want to be.  The same plan would be involved, but I would not buy anything for this year of the project, not even fabric to make something.  It would be about using

Okay, This Is It!

Polished and Cut Agate

Day 1 of Project Minima and I've already deviated from the so-called plan a bit.  That is to say, I've spent my 15-minutes + this morning, spontaneously altering a top I made awhile back.  Originally it was too big and I altered it smaller.  Well today it was a reverse procedure.

Success and I liked the colors - light gray-blues - kind of like this agate.

Prequel

Buddha with mudra of greeting, prayer & respect

Just the facts please.

I want to do this, I want to have a plan of sorts and a commitment, therefore a blog is born during my birthday month of June.

Say 15 minutes a day of working toward it, or once a week.  We'll see how it goes.  I don't want to get overwhelmed, nor jump the gun and do something too radical that I'll later regret.

Goal is recognizing my style(?): or