I didn’t get to my studio today. I spent the morning mailing out my Painted Hankie Scarves. Thanks to all of you who bought them, they sold out quickly.
I made almost forty scarves in all and spent the month of January painting the hankies, sewing them together, and selling and mailing them out.
What a great way to start the year.
But as much as the idea for the scarves came to me in a dream about a squiggly line, it really began about two years ago when my friend Emily came to my studio and we did Geli printing together.
It was then that I first thought of painting on the hankies, but rejected the idea for a few reasons.
One of them was that I had no idea what I would paint and I had never painted on fabric before. The other was that it seemed like the process would be too time-consuming. That I would have to spend so much time painting on the hankies, whatever I created from them would be too expensive to sell.
So it took about two years for me to unconsciously work through the idea before I came up with a way to do it. In those years, I started playing around with painting on fabric so when I decided to paint the hankies, I was comfortable using the paint. And I certainly know how to make scarves from Vintage Hankies, I’ve been doing that for years.
I know at some point I will have the urge to paint more hankies and make more scarves or maybe even a quilt from them. I love working black on white with the subtle grays that bleed through. But I can imagine working with some colors too.
Not now though.
I have learned that I don’t have to push my ideas. To trust that they will come when they are ready. So I’ll move on to something else on Monday. I already have a few thoughts about what that may be.
Maria I have been mesmerized by your painted hankie designs. They are so reminiscent of mid century hard edge abstract art which I love. Each is so unique and a work of art in itself. When the designs are combined they are truly mesmerizing (that word again!). I’ve enjoyed looking at each scarf and glad you post them.
Yes, I can see their resemblance to that kind of abstract art Lois. I have always been drawn to Franz Klines black and white paintings. I could always see the tactile joy of painting in them. Thanks for your thoughts. I hadn’t really made that association myself.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=franz+Kline++Paintings&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#imgrc=Z8EFDwaWL3JKKM%253A