As I have been sewing since I was ten (thanks to mom!) my upcycling work doesn't take a heck of a lot of conscious thought.
Hunting and gathering skills, yes. a sense of proportion and form, yes. But analytical thinking? Not so much. Happily, it is play in the process. (I just realized in posting these photos I have made three changes while pinning.)
And meditative in the hand stitching process. I am still more cognizant to my brushwork when I am painting- painfully aware of when a stroke goes where I don't want it to go so fabric is a solace. A mental break and something that refreshes so I can go back to the challenge that is art making to me.
I know there is a HUGE war about the different between "art" and "craft". I find it somewhat ludicrous. I see art in a fine seam and exquisite craftsmanship in an oil painting. Both feed my soul. One is no better than the other.
It's like saying an engineer is more important that a plumbing. Hmmm, wait a minute. We DO say that. No disrespect to our engineers, but I can't imagine living without a plumber. Or a cute skirt.
