Minimalist upcycling, or getting on with a project in the woods (WIP)

Being exposed to less, almost never fails to have an inspiring effect on me or on my work.

Less?

Less distraction around, less crowded spaces to spend your time in, less options on tools to use.

In a lot of moments of my life I would like that all I want to own could be fitted one box or backpack. Imagining the space and freedom this would open up to me. Not having to keep things, not having to choose from all those fabrics (that I love, but that constantly remind me of another project I wanted to start or finish). Not having to choose between too many tools and still feel like the right ones are missing. And in the end not owning so many clothes but still feel sometimes like you have nothing to wear.

In those moments limitation becomes my inspiration.

Could be easy, if it wasn’t conflicting with another side of me. The side where I love my skill, I love to design and sew and create, and therefore I need the tools, the materials.
And in some moments, I love it to own a collection of clothes to upcycle of fabrics to choose from. I enjoy the tools that make it easier for me to get where my thoughts are bringing me.
I am glad for the sewing machine I can use at any time. And I appreciate a nice collection of clothes so I can dress up according to my mood, instead of wearing one uniform.

Over time I realized that impulsively following each of those emotions is quite contra productive. Since it made me get rid of everything in one week just to go to another flea marked on Sunday and buy the same amount of fabric and clothes and things back. I guess I have to accept both sides of me.

Recently I went through the first faze a lot, I wanted it to be clean and calm around me. This resulted in me choosing a few tools and one unfinished project (you already know it, it’s been a while: silkdress conversion) to take with me, while taking some time into nature.

In this way I didn’t have to get rid of everything at once, I can still keep the sewing machine and the fabrics, in order to have the space I needed.

To get back at the silk dress where I started this project from...

...where I will continue...

...it always starts with undoing something...as here the lace I wanted to take off the dress, to give it a less sleepweary touch...

...took a good while, to undo all the stitches, which
gave me time to appreciate the view, while doing so...

...undoing some previous mistakes...

...it was a mess...

...pinning the edges of the top to have them clean (I did cut the dress in two, previously to eventually turn it into a two piece, here I focus on the top)...

...sewing, sewing, by hand...

...I can assure you between sewing and undoing, all by hand it took me the whole day...

...made me appreciate the thought of going back to the sewing machine, the tools and fabric storage!:)

And finally, we are here, a simple silk crop top.

I might consider taking more phots in the trees in the future, I kind of like it...

Thank you to stop by and take the time to read and share my thoughts and work with me! I appreciate having you around:)
Have a lovely week!!

(all photos are taken by me)