Found Compacts Mended with Needlepoint Lace

Experiment

Heritage

Storytelling

Sustainable

Traditional

Creating needlepoint lace inserts to repair and mend broken artefacts

Material

Fiber
Glass
Metal

Craft

Textiles

General Technique

Combining
Structural modifying
Surface modifying

Specific Technique

Found broken compacts are mended and their damage through use is highlighted with bespoke lace inserts. The shape of the applicable damage is traced onto tracing paper, then this is couched to the back of sheer fabric on an embroidery hoop.

Thread is couched onto the surface of the fabric following the outline of the motif. The outline is blanket-stitched together where the threads meet and then trimmed.

This is then blanket-stitched till there is no loose thread. The interior is filled with lace stitches, and then starched. Once dry, it is attached to the piece with adhesive to ensure it doesn’t fall out

Properties & Qualities

Application

Art Sample Making Sculpture

Colour

Brown White Pink

Sample Information

Date of creation

February 14th- May 26th 2023

Dimensions

250mm diameter circle, 5 mm depth

Weight

Approx. 5 grams

Culture & Context

The powder puff carries very unique associations. It originated as a textile object used for covert cosmetic application.

Contemporary times sees the word ‘puff’ often used as a homophobic slur. The associated soft, delicate nature is seen as weak and effeminate and one of derision of the gay community.

I am using traditional faggoting stitches in a contemporary way, in order to repair these textile artefacts; the double entendre of both ‘puff’ and ‘faggoting’ being key factors in the narrative of this installation.

The mending of both the cloth and the self, the material and the immaterial, are intrinsic to this project.

Credits

Craft Maker

Jack O’ Meara

Library Contributor

National College of Art & Design Ireland

Photographer

Jack O’ Meara

Other Materials

View random material
VIEW ALL