The Creative Process
This room, to a casual observer, would resemble a calamity hiding within a disaster. To me, it is a goldmine of materials to be molded into original creations, be it funky bags that are seen on the website www.rags2bagsbylaurel.weebly.com or the refashions that you see here on my blog.
It is truly a joy for me to enter this room and decide which of these gems will be transformed that day. Will I have a new unique outfit? Will a fabulous one of a kind bag materialize? Whenever there is a chance for me to employ this creative process, something wonderful emerges. A feeling of fulfillment, pride in accomplishment, and a great deal of learning. (For every attempt is not successful, but still leads to greater knowledge)
It is truly a joy for me to enter this room and decide which of these gems will be transformed that day. Will I have a new unique outfit? Will a fabulous one of a kind bag materialize? Whenever there is a chance for me to employ this creative process, something wonderful emerges. A feeling of fulfillment, pride in accomplishment, and a great deal of learning. (For every attempt is not successful, but still leads to greater knowledge)
How this all began .....
I was raised by an incredible mother who epitomized the present day concept of recycling before the term was ever coined. She was "just saving", in accordance with the necessities of her times and her half Scottish nature.
We did not enjoy washing out plastic bags at dishwashing time so that they could be reused, but we loved searching the wild pattern of each new quilt, exclaiming each time we recognized a patch from leftovers from one of the outfits she had sewn for us. Out grown clothes were cut down into smaller clothes for a younger sibling, or added to the rag bag for quilts, braided mats, or Barbie clothes. Anything that could be saved, was. The new wave of recycling, upcycling, and refashioning is nothing new to me. I have lived it my whole life.
I've followed in my mother's footsteps, learning to sew at a very young age. Creating clothing with my own unique style has always been a passion.
I have become an avid thrift store shopper. The thrill of the hunt, the joy of finding treasure among the junk ... it's really quite addicting.
This has lead to the reason I am starting this blog. I have begun rescuing pieces of clothing that I feel are not ready to be discarded. My new creative outlet is refashioning. No more "out with the old!" I want to share my creations with you. I hope you enjoy my ideas!
We did not enjoy washing out plastic bags at dishwashing time so that they could be reused, but we loved searching the wild pattern of each new quilt, exclaiming each time we recognized a patch from leftovers from one of the outfits she had sewn for us. Out grown clothes were cut down into smaller clothes for a younger sibling, or added to the rag bag for quilts, braided mats, or Barbie clothes. Anything that could be saved, was. The new wave of recycling, upcycling, and refashioning is nothing new to me. I have lived it my whole life.
I've followed in my mother's footsteps, learning to sew at a very young age. Creating clothing with my own unique style has always been a passion.
I have become an avid thrift store shopper. The thrill of the hunt, the joy of finding treasure among the junk ... it's really quite addicting.
This has lead to the reason I am starting this blog. I have begun rescuing pieces of clothing that I feel are not ready to be discarded. My new creative outlet is refashioning. No more "out with the old!" I want to share my creations with you. I hope you enjoy my ideas!