Sonya Philip tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2011-09-21:/Blog//2 2012-05-12T03:50:51Z fiber art Movable Type 5.12 reuse tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.138 2012-05-07T21:05:47Z 2012-05-12T03:50:51Z Growing up in the 1980s was a paradox. It was a time of excess, but part of the brand awareness rubbed off on the recycling message, one that was drummed into my head. Living in San Francisco makes for another... Sonya Made in Slant and it made me think about my work and the idea of using the familiar and disposable in an unexpected way. The wrappers, the packaging and coffee cups, they are here and lead a life well past the point we make them "disappear" in a trash can (listen to Edward Humes talk about his book Garbology on Fresh Air to get an idea of exactly where is goes, how long it sticks around, and how much of it accumulates). The idea of reuse is hardly new - feed sacks were once made into quilts and clothing. What has seemingly shifted is our idea of worth. We want the thing hermetically sealed. It is new. Only our own. Like a present. I don't have any specific answers, just musing on awareness. ]]> book tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.137 2012-05-05T18:44:43Z 2012-05-11T17:38:11Z I got it into my head that there should be a way of physically displaying the dresses made through 100 Acts of Sewing. A project needs a book and I knew that Jen of painted fish studio was a... Sonya 100

I got it into my head that there should be a way of physically displaying the dresses made through 100 Acts of Sewing. A project needs a book and I knew that Jen of painted fish studio was a bookmaker extraordinaire. She came to visit San Francisco in February and brought book cloth samples for me to choose from. The book arrived this week. It is beautiful and impressive. I am both excited and nervous about filling the pages. Thank you Jen, it's perfect.

rings]]> closet tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.135 2012-04-23T21:41:24Z 2012-05-12T11:54:10Z Filling with my handmade dresses. I'm gearing up for Maker Faire next month, May 19th and 20th - put the dates down in your calendar!... Sonya dresses! Filling with my handmade dresses. I'm gearing up for Maker Faire next month, May 19th and 20th - put the dates down in your calendar!]]> down-time tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.134 2012-04-19T22:01:47Z 2012-05-10T03:53:10Z Slowly getting back into things after the big push for Open Studios. Doing a little cleaning, a little sewing.... Sonya urchins Slowly getting back into things after the big push for Open Studios. Doing a little cleaning, a little sewing. ]]> spring open studios tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.133 2012-04-13T00:59:02Z 2012-05-07T21:33:09Z This weekend is Spring Open Studios in the Mission. My building will have 70 artists, with other studios a short walk away.... Sonya Open Studios This weekend is Spring Open Studios in the Mission. My building will have 70 artists, with other studios a short walk away. ]]> becoming tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.132 2012-04-05T16:12:45Z 2012-05-05T19:22:38Z It seems as if I slack off leading up to Open Studios, only to have a burst of creativity and ideas at nearly the last minute. I was doing an art project involving sun prints with my son's first... Sonya sun print It seems as if I slack off leading up to Open Studios, only to have a burst of creativity and ideas at nearly the last minute. I was doing an art project involving sun prints with my son's first grade class and decided to try them out. ]]> end tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.131 2012-04-01T04:40:31Z 2012-04-23T23:03:04Z Where did March go? Hard to believe. In two weeks, it's time for Spring Open Studios in the Mission. I take down my show at Secession tomorrow and then need to take stock, decide how I want to display... Sonya inside shot Where did March go? Hard to believe. In two weeks, it's time for Spring Open Studios in the Mission. I take down my show at Secession tomorrow and then need to take stock, decide how I want to display things in the studio. ]]> acts tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.130 2012-03-15T02:13:01Z 2012-04-19T22:00:55Z I learned to sew when I was in grade school. It was difficult. There were fussy rules. I had limited success. I also had very dogmatic people around me enforcing those aforementioned fussy rules. Over the years I've causally... Sonya Pile of ten dresses I learned to sew when I was in grade school. It was difficult. There were fussy rules. I had limited success. I also had very dogmatic people around me enforcing those aforementioned fussy rules. Over the years I've causally sewn things, but always convinced that I wasn't any good. Then came knitting. But for as many scarves and sweaters I would knit, the desire to make clothes was still there. I gave serious thought to taking favorite pieces to a tailor. My friend Kristine tried to convince me to sew my own clothes. After all, I liked simple shapes. But sew? I couldn't do that. I had this block, similar to people who swear they can't draw. Fast forward to January. Kristine brought Cal Patch to her shop to teach a class on pattern making. I don't know if it has to to do with my being older and more patient, or a better understanding of garment construction due to sweater knitting, or that Cal is such an amazing teacher, or the yearning to use all the beautiful fabric at Verb. Most probably all of the above. But I made a dress. And then another. And another. Something akin to an epiphany occurred. Sewing is like a puzzle. Each step, a certain order and logic. I was figuring it out - how incredible! I felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment. If I can sew, anyone can. And should. We live in a world where such a skill isn't valued. We consume without thinking, without caring about who makes the object or the real cost.I decided to challenge myself to make one hundred dresses, I call it 100 Acts of Sewing and have created a tumblr site to document the process. I'm up to twelve and counting. ]]> cups tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.129 2012-03-05T18:12:24Z 2012-04-13T01:11:42Z The combination of living in a city and having a project like Ordinary Objects has meant I pay a lot of attention to trash. I've found coffee cups are the ubiquitous urban garbage. I wondered what I could do... Sonya knit rims The combination of living in a city and having a project like Ordinary Objects has meant I pay a lot of attention to trash. I've found coffee cups are the ubiquitous urban garbage. I wondered what I could do to highlight/transform these abandoned cups. In a departure from knitting a circle in the center, I covered them with a thin layer of gesso and knit around the rims with handspun lace weight yarn. You can see part of the process in a short film by Karl Cronin as part of his In the Studio series for Mission Loc@l.]]> sew tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.128 2012-02-24T17:29:58Z 2012-04-05T16:15:42Z The sewing continues. It's very satisfying, but I feel like I'm playing hooky. I want to develop a project around it, maybe for Maker Faire. I'll see what happens.... Sonya The sewing continues. It's very satisfying, but I feel like I'm playing hooky. I want to develop a project around it, maybe for Maker Faire. I'll see what happens.]]> remiss tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.127 2012-02-17T06:23:05Z 2012-04-01T04:53:59Z I've had a holiday of sorts. Working on various projects and sewing clothes - I never thought that would happen.... Sonya something new I've had a holiday of sorts. Working on various projects and sewing clothes - I never thought that would happen. ]]> hanging tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.126 2012-01-31T03:12:36Z 2012-03-24T01:02:33Z I spent this morning hanging my show with Eden at Secession. I'm really pleased with how it looks.... Sonya I spent this morning hanging my show with Eden at Secession. I'm really pleased with how it looks. ]]> textile sketch tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.125 2012-01-27T22:37:27Z 2012-03-05T18:38:51Z After last week's textile sketch, I thought about burning holes. I like the smell of burning paper. Burning wool on the other hand, smells awful, especially indoors. I'm kind of in love with cardboard and cut down a piece... Sonya textile sketch - Jan 27

After last week's textile sketch, I thought about burning holes. I like the smell of burning paper. Burning wool on the other hand, smells awful, especially indoors. I'm kind of in love with cardboard and cut down a piece to act as a backing. I was pleased with the simplicity of the sewn linen in between the row of holes. It wasn't until I was taking pictures, that I realized how much it looked like a cracker.

textile sketch - Jan 27
technique: burning and sewing
media: cardboard, wool felt, linen yarn

]]> after tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.124 2012-01-26T18:40:39Z 2012-03-05T18:40:11Z Sonya after]]> before tag:www.sonyaphilip.com,2012:/Blog//2.123 2012-01-25T23:25:03Z 2012-03-05T18:41:07Z Sonya before]]>