The End. Or?

It is the end, I finally graduated from textile school. Three years of insanely busy times, lack of sleep, untidy home and then 2 months ago it all suddenly ended. The soft sculpture, a white textile bird, was my graduation project, I was rewarded with the highest grade.

But there was no joy. I felt totally out of place, empty inside, numb almost. After processing these feelings I understand that at one hand the change was huge. Suddenly I woke up in the morning and had no urgent to-do list awaiting. This transition took couple of weeks.

But the other cause for my grief-like state was the emotional temperature at the final exam. The appraisal committee was polite and diplomatic, but in my case also indifferent. They couldn’t fault anything, but didn’t say anything in favour, either. My topic was surprising, as they said, and perhaps that is the reason, they simply didn’t know how to react.

All this emotional turmoil made me doubt myself, feeling incompetent, imposter syndrome kicked in hard. I feel sorry for myself, a meant-to-be happy occasion turned out to have a rather devastating effect.

Today, 2 months later, my mind is clear, my house is tidy and new projects are forming.

I’m very exited about a nonprofit organisation TIA (Tee Ise Akadeemia, Do it Yourself Academy). It’s still in creation process, but with dear friends we’ve been talking about for couple of years already.

The catalyst behind TIA is a concern for continuously decreasing crafting skills. I see teenagers who can’t sew a button or make a difference between knitting and crochet. I’d go as far to call it a crisis prevention.


I started knitting very special stockings. They are called wedge stockings and the end result should look like on the right picture. First one for me!


This is a very special project. I’m set out to create 5 animal dolls. Each designed with a certain person in mind and an old sweater as an obligatory material.

These dolls will warm the hearts of 5 siblings and the sweater belonged to their long deceased mum. I’m honoured, puzzled, exicted, terrified. I so very much want this to turn out nothing but perfect!

Hedvig

Decorative doll. Leader of birds.

“Leader of birds is a big white bird, swanlike, with a beautiful maiden head. She lives on top of the Northern Rock, looks at the midnight sun and other birds feed her with sweet northern berries. All birds of prey are afraid of her.”

This is an Estonian folk tale I wanted to capture in textile. I had several ideas in my head for her and perhaps in future they take a physical form, but for now this embroidered and layered version came to be.

She clearly has a mind of her own, contradicting me along her creation process. For example I had a totally different vision for her head, but she refused it and I simply had to give in. Nevertheless, this dialogue with material taking form is fascinating!

Her body is made of linen towel, handwoven by my great-grandmother’s sister-in-laws, 3 spinsters who never stopped building their trousseaus. Her body is generously embroidered, feather-like texture is created with different fabrics. She is free-standing, 40 cm in hight.

This decorative doll is my graduation project. But my doll-making journey doesn’t stop here, already I’ve got five dolls lined up to be wrapped for Christmas.

We had our first little snow this week. Sounds romantic, but I’m not overly keen.

Hedvig

Little sewing project

Sewing pattern by Ann Wood.

Warm and sunny days are here and that has distracted me from making art and craft. Instead I’ve done some gardening and having some nice coctails on the patio.

Nevertheless, one project is finished. A crow, made of ties. Quite a challenging pattern, a lot of little details, but thoroughly explained and easy to follow.

On idle mode,

Hedvig

Crafting week

My week off from work has come to an end. I had so many plans, go to summer house and plant some seeds, finish crochet and sewing projects, finish some art projects… The truth is for the first couple of days I just ran errands, cooked and cleaned. By Friday I really felt the vacation mode, only to end it today. It’s true what they say – a proper vacation lasts at least 3 weeks.

But no more guilt over plans and reality! I had bought a bird pattern from Ann Wood and it had been waiting for it’s turn for quite some time. So I gathered my materials and got on with it!

Bird in the making. Pattern by Ann Wood.

The fabric I used is ties from drift store. On my hunting trips for material men’s shirts and ties are my favourites. Ties are often made of silk and they come in beautiful colours and patterns, perfect for small projects.

The bird ist yet to be finished, I’m stuck at lacking black paint. Just need to go and get some acrylic paint, acrylic won’t stain after it’s dried. It’s my first ever to use wire and carve a beak out of wood.

This is my crocheting project. I feel that once I get this really big motif finished, it’s just a matter of formalising. This huge circle needs to become a 50×50 cm square. So I’m figuring out the best way to give this circle corners and unite it into square. I’m open to suggestions, how would you do it?

Take care,

Hedvig