We are a month into this pandemic world. We hope this finds you healthy, mentally and physically and adapting to this new world. Historically in April we have been organizing Clothing Swaps, bike swaps, used book sales... and making things alongside these events. So this Earth Week is unusually quiet and calm.
In this time, even though we have been asked to stay home and isolate from others, we have, strangely (& happily- we are grateful!), found ourselves making new connections and building community. We have been working with new partners (most notably, the Textile Museum of Canada) seeking new ways to work with established partners (Building Roots- check out their communal garden project on their blog here, Appletree - launching a Tuesdays in the Park youtube channel here) and supporting the amazing work of others. This month in particular we recognize the many dedicated volunteers running and supporting organizations like the Sewing Army who are using their skills (and developing new ones) in support of front line workers. We have become a conduit for fabric to their team as well as local community makers, passing on some of our recent donations, especially a generous donation of 4 bolts of new designer fabric from Julie Snyder, the owner of Pippa Lily. Julie wanted her fabric to be used to create masks so we shared with local makers and donated the lions share to the Sewing Army. We are also grateful for a donation from local artisan/craft teacher Elaine Densmore (instagram here) and passed on some of her larger pieces as well.
For Works-in-Progress, as for all of you, it is a time to ask what we can do to help. We feel, now more than ever, we want to enable people to use what they already have to make sustainable and beautiful things.
In this newsletter:
Textile Museum mask-making workshops- now online as videos
Get in touch: we want to host more online workshops PLUS call for artists
Show & Tell: socks!
Celebration of the textile/maker community
Dates to Remember
Links
Workshops posted online
We have had two online workshops with the amazing community supporters of the Textile Museum of Canada. These were recorded and are now online.
WORKSHOP: Online Sustainable Textile Teach-in:
Re-purposing Wool Sweaters
Wednesday April 1 2020 We are very pleased with our new relationship with the Textile Museum of Canada and their amazing widespread community of makers. We were invited to be guest facilitators at our mutual first online workshop (ever) on April 1 via Zoom. This workshop was led by Works-in-Progress artist Marnie Saskin (a wool-lover and experienced upcycle artist) who lead a lively discussion as she taught us how to deconstruct a sweater and using it to create small hand sewn wool heart hand warmers.
We are very excited to use technology to bring our communities and teaching together. Strange times indeed!
You can see some of the edited videos from this workshop on our website blog.
The Textile Museum of Canada Sustainable Teach-Ins are generously supported by the Chawkers Foundation.
Protective Mask Making Workshop
Time: Apr 15, 2020
Our second workshop was invite only to museum volunteers and Building Roots. We had 8 participants and 3 hosts and lead a great and lively discussion on the lived experience and research behind mask making. The idea was to encourage low level access to making personal masks using CDC guidelines, and then to offer variations on patterns to address different needs and availability of skills and materials.
All videos edited by Works-in-Progress artist Tanya Murdoch as a HomemadeTV production you can see more videos at HomemadeTV website here or on the tmurdoch vimeo site here.
You can see Works-in-Progress Leah Sanchez sorting out fabric donations for the museum in her stylish mask and gloves at the bottom of the blog post
We already have feedback that this has enabled first time mask makers to make their own stylish and comfortable no sew masks so: mission accomplished!
Please CONTACT US if you are interested in any of the workshops below OR if you have something you would like to learn and we will work on setting it up. Workshops are FREE.
Altering and up-cycling winter clothes into Spring ready fashion: interactive workshop for teens and teen friendly humans.
Transform a bag into a toy parachute: interactive workshop for kids and kid friendly humans
Even with no sewing skills you can re-purpose old clothes temporarily or permanently into toys: Stylish Blue bear is modelling sock as hat, if you were willing to cut some holes in it, he could have a lovely skirt or scarf or with a few stitches, his own pair of socks!
Sporty Blue bear has a sock ball made from two socks. No filler. You can watch a great youtube video on how to make your own juggling balls (he adds rice but another sock works pretty well, if a little lighter.)
Or if you want to keep wearing your socks, try darning them. These holes were not saved by a stitch in time, so we had to do some serious visible mending with the thread we had on hand and an orange as a darning egg. Again, found a great tutorial online to help get started on this website "the art of Doing Stuff". Link HERE or at the bottom in our "links" section.
Celebration of the Textile/maker Community
The Sewing Army was created by Toronto fashion designer Diana Coatsworth in response to the shortage of personal protective equipment for healthcare, frontline, and essential workers during the COVID-19 crisis. The Sewing Army brings together sewers, makers & helpers across North America to sew face masks and scrub caps for organizations in need.Their website is a great resource, and their Facebook group, now 3000 strong, is very supportive and helpful to makers and volunteers of all abilities.
The Textile Museum: a natural hub for material donations- they have been repackaging and donating many of their workshop materials to the Sewing Army.
Building Roots enables people to create socially cohesive communities. With COVID-19, the group at Building Roots had to stop hosting our Do it Together Workshops BUT their market is still open. They are "working hard to provide food for the most vulnerable in our community right now, and are offering new at-home resources for children, families, and seniors in need. Building Roots is committed to maintaining the health and safety of our volunteers, workers, and the people we serve. "
Dates to Remember
March 30 report filed for our OAC grant (we are now working for free...)
April 24 arts akimbo call for submissions due
April 29 grant application deadline for Ontario Arts Council Community and Schools
