Recorded in Fabric
Made with hand-made fabric paper, abaca, and paper pulp, fabric,
and polyester stuffing
Fall 2022
This piece is a reflection of childhood nostalgia through fabric. It includes hand-made sheets of paper made from blended and cut fabric from both of my Grandma's and older sister, bound together to create pages of a book, and safely encased in a quilted cover. Each sheet of paper reminds me of a memory tied to sewing and various family members. Included in this book is the fabric of curtains made by my Grandmother, scrap fabric from my Grandfather's hand-made shirts, pieces of denim from my sister's clothing alterations, as well as fabric scraps from my own projects. When I was young, my Grandmother taught my older sister and me how to sew, I attended sewing classes with friends and learned from my sister as she designed and sewed her own clothing. I have seen sewing cultivate creativity for many women throughout my life. Each person that has been included in my journey with sewing is represented by a piece of fabric. The delicate paper is kept safe with a quilted book cover to represent comfort, love, and protection. Through this book, I hope to express the love and appreciation I have for my memories tied to fabrics, quilts, and sewing. This book can be accessed at the Rhode Island School of Design Special Collections in the Fleet Library.
Honorable Mention in the 9th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest 2023
Permanently in RISD Special Collections
Process
To make each sheet of paper, I selected specific fabrics and used a blender to shred them into fibers. Once the fabric was broken down, I combined the fibers with small amounts of homemade paper pulp to create individual sheets. After the paper was finished, I bound the book together and sewed a custom cover.