Though the season is over, these were part of my winter transformations. I had been volunteering at the Free Store, there I would come across scraps of wool sweaters, and they would definitely call me! Slowly I began collecting a box full of them, alpaca, wool of all kinds, angora, you name it, fine, fine, fine sweaters. Inspired by a local friend and sister of the crafts, who a couple of winters ago was walking around the island looking good on a woolen skirt of some sort. Came to find out, she had turned a wool vest into a wrap around “Kidney Warmer.” In her own words “A woman has to keep her kidneys warm.”
Her wisdom let to inspiration, and being a cold winter, i got to work, turning sweaters into kidney warmers for those awesome mothers whose kidneys need the lovin’. Our 4 year old Ceiba had to have one of course!
Here are a couple.
Girl skirts are made from the sleeves of adult sweaters, which are just the perfect size. I love the pockets!
My first venture into free form desing here. Wool lent it self quite easy to the cut and sew of these wavy designs. Here i have pieces of two lefter over swaters (black and off white). They are perfect on top of jeans, or any pair of comfortable pants.
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago at 10:09 pm. Add a comment
It was summer 2006, Brooklyn was in hot swing and everyone was coming out with their latest good looks. I had been a mom for almost two years already, and I had some stuff to bring out too! I felt so into my world of motherhood, inspired by my daughter who daily ignited me with her light. It was this inspiration that slowly took me back, and I mean way back to my Junior High School years. It was “La E.S.T. #1″ located in the outskirts of San Cristobal. A 5 o’clock in the morning minibus ride from our downtown house across our then ’small’ city. I was one of 32 young teenage girls wearing a white and red wine uniform. We were called “Grupo E”, which was meant for the “costureras” the seamstress group. Our junior HS was a technical or what in North America is known as vocational school. I was accepted into the seamstress class, and spent a delicious, adventurous, filled with sisterhood three years. I will probably revive some of my old school memories, but for the purpose of this Brooklyn story, I will say that it was thanks to my maestra Carlota, that I honed some sewing and crafty skills, though I failed her class often (due to boy trouble). I did learn how to sew underwear!
Back to ‘06. It was a hot summer, and layers were coming off honey! My girl from Crown Heights, mother of two beautiful sons and I began to hang regularly, I had been her Senior English class teaching assistant, and it was lovely to reconnect, now a mother, I was looking up to her for advise and support. I ended up at her house with her baby boy on my back many a time, rocking him to sleep while my Ceiba fell a sleep in her hammock. It was during one of these times that we got on to some creative spark, and this spark turned into ButtaFly Transformations. A line of awesome fashions that ranged from recycled clothing, vintage fabrics, and pillows. We even got hooked up with some abuelitas from Bushwick that worked in a sewing Coop, mostly Dominican abuelas, that welcomed us to their studio with children in tow, and gave us some tips as to how to get going as well as lots of grandmothering. I tell you, I was crusty, my transformations were quite rusty and awkward, but with my sister’s help and the abuelas, the sewing genes started to kick in again. And soon, we were surging, sewing, cutting, and nursing babies all at the same time. Those were some good times!
We ended up with our line out in the African Street Festival in Brooklyn that summer, children in tow still, we shared a booth with other awesome and super talented sisters, one of the young people I worked with back then, made a mural sign for our booth. I remember being so new at it all, but so inspired by the idea of making my own stuff with a collective of other sisters. Our booth turned into a hang out spot for all the kids and dads, and peeps that were enjoying the market.
Now ‘09, I’m reviving ButtaFly Transformations from a colder, northern, more natural and 100% recycled creative place. My other ButtaFly sister is holding it down in Brasil with her family, making cheese, and picking fresh eggs every morning. Shout out fam!!!
Enjoy some of my latest ButtaFly Transformations. Most of these creations are from finds at our local Free Store down the road from our place.
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago at 9:34 pm. Add a comment