A 26-year-old cotton object that rips when I touch it. It's just a t-shirt, right? No. It's more. It contains memories: My first years of marriage; Playing squash with my husband; Being in my 20's and feeling invincible; It's so much more than just a t-shirt. Inspired by menders near and far, I got out a needle, some light purple thread, and got to work. I want to wear this fragile cotton shirt again. Because... Because, well, I love it. It's just so soft. Think the art of Japanese Boro also known as Sashiko mending. Think slow fashion sustainable fashion re-use. When I love something, I care for it. When I love someone, I care for them. Love takes time and patience. It can be messy and slow and it is always imperfect. But it's possible. We just have to show up and try. Oh. And always have a sense of humor. For 26 years, I have only seen colors, shapes, & an artist's signature. When I told my husband about this project, he asked: "Oh, your dancer shirt?"... "My what? No, the one with cool colors and shapes." Who knew? It turns out I had never actually paid as close attention to this shirt I love as much as my husband had. Sometimes I guess we just see what we see. What's cool is that I didn't feel anything like a dancer back in the 1990's, but I definitely do today. It's now more perfect than ever. Also,
I'm grateful to my mother for teaching me how to sew. Happy Mother's Day to all!
Sarah
5/13/2019 12:12:39 pm
Oh my yes!!!!
elizabeth streeter
5/14/2019 06:08:30 pm
So lovely also that your husband knew what shirt you were talking about that he takes notice about what you do and wear
Marianne Hagge
5/14/2019 06:48:19 pm
Unravelled......Now...we,who are left behind ,like tattered and torn BORO fabric, mended and patched ,Over and over again,kept together by small stitches of leftover........( Japanese)
elizaduckie
5/15/2019 09:19:25 pm
Hopped over from your sisters blog and the link she provided, to see your’s. Such lovely sentiments. Have to say the t-shirt looks more interesting, and substantial (grounded) now that it is mended. I follow India Flint on Instagram (prophet_of_bloom) and she would very much appreciate your shirt. Comments are closed.
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Lyn Swett Miller
reframing the narrative, one day, one image at a time Let's ReFrame: By Degrees
A place where photographer Lyn Swett Miller considers wonder, joy and transformation in a complex world. Archive
September 2021
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