The language of making

A diary of making

Day 3

Just going through a large hold all bag of used denim, everybody’s old jeans. Five pairs of Craig’s jeans, expensive jeans, the ones cut from denim that gets better with age, used, lived in, worn in and worn out. Already repaired (by me) numerous times and yet when they are unrepairable, I could still not part with them.

My old pair of Levis “Patty Annes”  bought circa 2002, bought brand new from the Levis shop an expensive purchase for me back then.

So worn and tiny, kept through 7 house moves (one overseas). 

Why have I kept these in a bag for so long, was this present moment always planned?

I am glad I will get the chance to immortalise these jeans into an artwork, that will probably be stored in the attic for another 20 years no doubt.

 Slight apprehension around cutting into them, but I believe this is their next purpose or life.

I will make patchwork with them, traditional square method all denim. As the different hues, aged lines of wear, faded areas, speak of their own histories, each wrapped around someone’s skin, worn down by their repeated movements this wear reflected in each piece of denim.

The size of the squares is determined by my smallest denim offcut. Again the cutting out is a lengthy process the denim sometimes thick is tough to cut, my neck holds this tension storing it, absorbing and amassing the action.

 I like how my fingers know how to manipulate the fabric and how certain fabrics manipulate others.

 Not sure what I am doing to be honest, doubting myself (not my technical skills), just my creativity. I was told being doubtful of your practice is a good thing, as it shows a lack of arrogance.

Hmm, ..maybe I need a plan.