“Hands on” Art as Jewelry workshop lead by Nicky Ruxton with Ruxton Designs.

 Art as Jewelry workshop

February 2^nd the Haute Couture Societe of Stockton, a wearable arts community (www.hautecoutureca.org) hosted instructor Nicky Ruxton,  creator of Mixed-Media Industrial Artwear Jewelry for an afternoon workshop.  She brought many of her designs to show and share (some for sale too). 

Her things are very well made from fabric and felt with top stitching and added ribbon, embellishments.  We looked her line over closely and after lunch had some individual time to ask the artist questions and discuss projects.

Instructor Nicky Ruxton’s formal education came from Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD.  Her degree is in Graphic Design. She has also studied calligraphy, sculpture, painting, and 2 &3D design. Later she attended the California College of the Arts in Oakland, CA where she studied book making, typography, print making and photography.

Nicky’s jewelry really is her passion, thus “Ruxton Designs” was birthed to support this endeavor.  Her one-of-a-kind limited edition pieces integrate her interest in architecture and the arts, with an industrial aesthetic that uniquely brands her work.

She shared shared with us that morning how her work lies in the intersection of where her graphic design background and passion for mixed-media collage converge. Nicky’s work employs clean lines, simple designs, restrained colors and texture in layering. (see part one Mixed-Media Industrial Artwear - Nicky Ruxton with Ruxton Designs) http://jotraveler.blogspot.com/#!/2013/02/mixed-media-industrial-artwear-nicky.html

 

I learned more about Nicky’s art from her Bio:

“Using new and re-purposed materials combined in a fresh new ways, Nicky creates bold, edgy and strong designs with an undercurrent of thoughtful, contemporary wear-ability  Nicky’s work is Wearable Art for those with a discerning eye. It’s designed for drawing attention and making a statement without question. When she isn’t out scavenging metal findings she resides in Mountain View, CA and an ever growing collection of used treasures.”

 

 

Nicky Ruxton’s Contact information can be found: http://www.RuxtonDesigns.com

 

Nicky spoke to our class sharing her use of fabric & found objects to make jewelry. This was the focus of the four hour workshop. Nicky supplied the fabrics from FabMo

 

Check it out

 

 

Website

http://www.fabmo.org

https://www.facebook.com/FabMo

2423 Middlefield Way, Suite C, Mountain View, CA 94042

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My mom Marlene Heinz and I started working on the fabric embellished bracelets enjoying the process of mixing trims, ribbon, buttons and more.  Some of the wearable art bracelets that were started in class and finished at home are to the left:

 

 

 

 This piece started out with this wonderful ceramic leaf, and the covered buttons were added to bring out the colors in the leaf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Here it is up close:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This design  Marlene is doing a series of statement bracelets using laminated photos,  This is the first in the series, stayed turned and I'll add more photos later.

 

 UP close you can see the special trim used and the extra large snap to hold the bracelet in place on your arm.

 This piece is fun and shows off one's special interests.  In this case it highlights shoes!

 

For this fun design Marlene is doing a series of "statement" bracelets using laminated photos of shoes and words. This is the first in what will be a series so stayed turned and I'll add more photos as she completes them.

 

We have more bracelets in the works, so I will post some more photos next week.  And after Marlene made the bracelets, she decided a few rings were in order.  What do you think?  I like them!

^  Here are some rings Marlene made from buttons in her antique button collection. They are very comfortable to wear,  I already "borrowed" the navy and gold one that is second from the right.  I love it!!  Here it is on my hand to the right. --->  I'm going to see if I can get my model'esque daughter to put these on when she visits next and I'll try photographing everything again.

Nicky sold kits with unusual objects suitable for the workshop and brought many of her fabulous one of a kind designs to show.  Each attendee brought basic sewing kit items and a few of our own “found objects” and interesting fabrics to use.

 

Included in the basic sewing kit:

pins,needles, scissors, thread, ribbon, fabric, glue gun, etc.

She left us with the inspiring words: “It is a necessity to get to your creative side, embrace it.”

To learn more about Nicky Ruxton with Ruxton Designs – and her Mixed-Media Industrial Artwear  “Like” her on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RuxtonDesigns and sign up for her email newsletter.

She participates in Artists Open Houses and lists shows she will be attending in the newsletter.

See more designs by Nicky Ruxton at http://ruxtondesigns.com/

Keeping the Age Old Art of Sashiko Alive

 Marico Chigyo Japanese Sashiko Stitching

In January, kicking off the New Year, the Haute Couture Society hosted speaker Marico Chigyo who talked about Japanese Sashiko – sashiko is a form of decorative reinforcement stitching that originated in Japan.

 

Marico and her sister Toshie, her partner producing Sashiko works of art, were born in Osaka, Japan and came to the United States in 1979.  They love creating textile designs on Indigo cotton fabrics using Sashiko stitching.  Sashiko was created to stitch layers of scarce and precious fabrics together for warmth and durability.

I first saw her work at the American Craft Council Show at Fort Mason in August of 2012.  Her pieces are exquisite and her peaceful open nature endearing.

 

Marico works with indigo dyes to create beautiful fabrics.  Indigo is a potent and lasting dye which dates back to 300 AD.  The reason indigo was used to make clothing for farmers in the fields were to keep insects and snakes away.  These insects and reptiles do not like the scent of indigo. Many cultures use indigo dyed fabrics including Africa, China, Japan and other Asian countries.  Marico is very knowledgeable about the craft and speaks with such sincerity as she described the process of making Indigo.  To my surprise Indigo actually looks rather green when wet in the vat. As the air gets into the piece it oxidizes and turns blue. The more you work the fabric (beating it, slapping it, turning it) it becomes lighter.  My favorite color was very dark navy, an almost black textile.   I can see a lot of patience and perseverance is involved in every process of Sashiko.

During Marico's power point presentation she shared photos she had taken while on a visit to a studio in Japan.  Using only roots, herbs, onion skins, dogwood bark and walnuts - all natural ingredients, they dye their fabric and threads blue, deep rust, green, and most beautiful of all, deep blue. She passed around sample pieces of indigo to smell, and feel.
 Marico had brought her junior high daughter to help her with the presentation.  She helped by modeling the jackets and vests and holding up beautiful quilts, fabrics and tapestries from their home.

Marico would like to someday go through the dying process on her fabrics at her home in Mill Valley, but the stitching takes a long time to do so for now she really dyes only threads herself and stays focused on her stitching.  Harmony is important while stitching.  In fact Marico worries if her stitches get larger and inconsistent. Each garment or quilt she makes takes focus and meditation to keep her stitches even.


 

In the beginning, sashiko was valued for its strength and durability, but today it has evolved into a highly prized decorative form of art.  Many fisherman wear sashiko jackets, they are generally made by their wife to protect their husband. They meditate to infuse a positive spirit into each project to protect their husbands and keep them warm.

I love the “Green” factor, how they use the fabrics and stitching to increase warmth and to recycle whatever fabrics they possessed by patching together with a running stitch of heavy double cotton thread. The stitching itself helped to strengthen the fabric, multiple layers increased their warmth.

Marico loves handwork and follows fashion from all over the world. She gravitates towards natural buttons not plastic. She reminds us that sashiko is a good way of recycling.   I liked the way she really connects with her ancestors and the tradition of stitching.  I think she sees this craft as preserving an important part of the past and carrying on the handcraft tradition into the future.



 Marico brought 30 or so hand stitched pieces to share with our group.  Marico and her sister clearly have updated the traditional sashiko with their contemporary shapes, spirals, chevrons, and the way they use contrasting stitching on the cotton coats, vests, jackets, and accessories.

  She is an original, taking influence from Japan and other countries, yet creating her own works.
Take a look at the blue pants she is wearing in the pictures.  When one of our members asked about the patched stitching she shared that she used sashiko on her pants and the stitching on the knees was because of her long hours stitching on the fool mat on her knees (this had worn out.)  She did some sashiko on the knees to continue to wear them. She often takes apart old kimonos to remake into new projects too.


 If you order your own sashiko jacket from Marico she will stitch them while thinking of you or the person she is making it for to send a positive spirit into the jacket.  She meditates on peace, energy and heart while working on the jacket. Customers feel more centered by wearing her jackets. (Well worth the six month wait for it to be made.)

In her quilts she uses cotton batting, but no batting goes into the jackets. She “lights up” as she talks about how she gets her inspiration and explains how she starts a project.

She showed small projects that the group can make at the workshop to follow, which made me sad I could not attend. L  She also showed small projects in the books she brought that had examples of more modern ways of using Sashiko.

 

The sister duo was featured in the spring 1997 Vol. 20 No. 3 of Ornament Magazine.  Toshie and Marico Chigyo shared their Sashiko Meditation Work that included a Sculptural Headdresses.

She has been exhibiting in arts and craft shows across the country, including the Smithsonian DC, Philadelphia, ACC Show in San Francisco, Boston and New York. She also teaches Sashiko workshops at needle groups throughout the US.

Her sister Toshie is in Japan right now building a Japanese cultural center in Kyoto. It will have workshops and exhibits of textiles and handwork.  What commitment. obviously their feelings for preservation of culture run deep.

Toshie and Marico have a website with additional information: www.chigyo.org

To Learn More Why NotTravel to Japan

she has such a sweet spirit, a wonderful smile, sincerity and kind heart.  And more than a craftsman she shares openly her background in a more personal way by arranging cultural trips to Japan.  For more than 25 years she and her sister Toshie have arranged and led trips to Japan.  The trips focus on Sashiko- and traditional crafts of Japan as seen through the eyes of Toshie and Marico Chigyo.  They enjoy sharing their experiences and introducing attendees to learn more about “I.  Shoku.  Jyu”   - fabrics, clothing, the Japanese cuisine, architecture, home life and other aspects of cultural importance.   She goes twice a year  She also gives workshops on Japanese culture, cooking classes and tea ceremonies.



 
In the afternoon Marico lead a workshop where students learned the traditional hand stitching method.

-how to draw patterns onto fabric using a "Hera" (tool)    

-how to Stitch properly depending on your pattern          

-how to construct the Sankaku bukuro, napkin or center piece.

I have seen a few projects that fellow members are working on and what beauty and grace goes into these projects. 
 

I highly recommend Marico as a speaker.  Her contact information:

Marico Chigyo

chigyo.org

Yountville, CA

Fashion Wearables

info@chigyo.org.

Ladies Bus trip to Stone Mountain and Daughter

Last weekend I went on a bus trip with the Haute Couture Societe.  It is a wonderful way to spend a slightly rainy day.  Our first stop was at Stone Mountain and Daughter fabric and sewing store in Berkeley.  This store has been in business at this location for many years. They must have the largest selection of quilt fabrics I have ever seen, and they have a huge selection of knits, wools, and specialty evening fabrics.

http://www.stonemountainfabric.com/

 


Up stairs is where you will find the sale bolts, all 50%off.  I found a gray snake skin pattern knit that I will make a top in.  (of course will she you later the final project.)











My personal favorite instructor would be Sandra Betzina  My mom knows Sandra, and from the times I have met her I can tell you she is vivacious and excited about sewing.  She is the host of the Power Sewing WebTV Show and designs a full line of patterns for Vogue under the Today's Fit Tab. She has produced a skill series of 11DVDs and is the author of: More Fabric Savvy, Fast Fit and Power Sewing Step-by-Step. Her new book, The Power Sewing Toolbox: Tips & Techniques.  Sandra is also a popular speaker and hosts several week-long Sewing Retreats in San Francisco throughout the year. For more information about Sandra Betzina and Power Sewing visit www.powersweing.com.  I also loved this Sandra Bitzini Skirt with layered fabric strips in a stripe.  There was a class scheduled to teach these techniques.

  
 


  
 
 
 
 

 Upstairs is the classroom where the very best instructors teach(http://www.stonemountainfabric.com/sewing-classes.htm With over 150 classes in their catalog it was no surprise that a class was busy sewing up skirts and I loved the teachers skirt, a vogue patter that has been discontinued darn it.  She was clearly an accomplished sewer and as I listened to her teaching she was a very good teacher too.  The offer a lot of sewing classes, and bring in top notch teachers to share their expertise too.

They have a full selection of patterns, including independent company patterns.  They had one binder filled with discontinued independent patterns, now that is a find!  (Here I am sharing pattern ideas with fellow member.)











I would say this place is a quilter's paradise.  They have wonderful cotton prints for quilts. 

The cutting tables were filled with ladies grabbing pieces of their favorite fabrics.  The walls to the back of the store were filled with sewing notions.  I like that they always have things on sale.  Check out http://www.stonemountainfabric.com/special-offers.htm for special online offers.



To keep up with the store events and trends in sewing why not read their blog http://www.stonemountainfabric.com/daughters-blog.htm  You can follow along with co-owner and Daughter, Suzan Steinberg as she talkes about the store, Berkley and her favorite things to make.   I'll tell more about our bus trip tomorrow.

Jonelle