Interlaced Powder Puffs

Experiment

Heritage

Storytelling

Sustainable

Traditional

Experimenting with interlaced and faggoting stitches to repair and accent powder puffs

Material

Fiber
Glass

Craft

Textiles

General Technique

Combining
Structural modifying
Surface modifying

Specific Technique

Destruction of powder puffs with heat- candles, matches, lighters and soldering iron. These altered surfaces are then mended with hand darning techniques.

Experimenting with placement of beads in damaged puffs- can a bead fill a damaged space in a textile piece and add strength.

I have used the ‘faggoting’ or Cretan stitch to repair holes in the powder puffs, interlacing them to create a new, stronger surface.

I have also used detached buttonhole stitches to create lace nets that also function as a new surface, while highlighting the history of the artefact.

Properties & Qualities

Application

Art Sample Making Sculpture

Colour

Brown Pink White Beige

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

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