Yesterday it was a Retro Cushion - today it's a Zakka inspired Cushion
My favorite part is picking the right fabrics for a patchwork project. For this cushion (measurement approx. 40 x 40 cm) I have used a mix of different prints, fabrics from overseas, Japanese fabrics and fabrics from local Danish shops. Some of the fabrics are gifts from creative friends.
Sometimes I pick out the fabrics in no time, but not always. It's important for me to give my work the right expression. Most of all I don't want my work to be too nice, if you understand. That's why I love mixing expensive designer fabric with vintage fabric and thrifted embroideries.
When I look at these cushions, I can see, why I love making patchwork. Four cushions made by me, four different cushions with their own expression. When I look at this stack of cushions in different colours and prints, I feel like an artist. Then I tell myself to take it easy.
Now I ask you, is patchwork art...!? Do you look at yourself as an artist..?!
I say yes. If you are expressing some part of you through making it, then Patchwork is certainly art.
Posted by: jess | July 05, 2009 at 18:11
Ja, jo sgu da. Det ER kunst ! Jeg synes at når et menneske skaber noget med sin fantasi og sin kunnen ER det kunst. Det behøver man ikke være anerkendt kunstner for i min verden.
Og din stak af hjemmelavede puder er jo skøn. Dejlige farver, og masser af fantasi bag :-)
KH Maria.
Posted by: Maria | July 05, 2009 at 18:20
Patchwork like you make it id definitely ART! Love your style. And that Marimekko Unikko. ;-) Need to get some one.
*kiss*
Posted by: maaria | July 05, 2009 at 19:07
Absolutely! I guess technically it is a "decorative art", "folk art" or craft -- not a fine art -- since the product is for utilitarian purposes. But I would definitely not hesitate to call both of us artists.
Posted by: jen | July 05, 2009 at 19:26
Den er skøn Mette. Jeg er vild med de stoffer og farver du har sat sammen. At lege med stoffer og farver er da som en kunstner, der leger og eksperimentere med sin palet af farver :-)
Posted by: Marie-Louise | July 05, 2009 at 20:04
yes yes yes...
it's art !!
it#s art to make things, and create your own world.
for a lovly and happier place...
Posted by: stella | July 05, 2009 at 20:35
Hei!! Så fin blogg!! Jeg tenker at mange quiltere er kunst-håndrverkere.Noen er selvfølgelig kunstnere, og så alle som har glede av å kjøpe et kit, og "herme" etter andre, da er det håndarbeid tenker jeg...
Posted by: Anne Kari Holli | July 05, 2009 at 20:55
Dine puder er skønne!! Jeg ved ikke om patchwork er kunst, men det er ihvertfald ægte, autentisk og noget kvinder har lavet i generationer. Så det er vel en form for kunst.. Leg med stof - farver, former og mønstre - det bliver jeg aldrig træt af.
Posted by: Bodil | July 05, 2009 at 21:50
om det hedder patchwork eller strik eller noget andet, hvis det som hos dig og mig handler om at have en bunke materialer i hænderne, få en idé og realisere den så at det hele går op i en harmonisk enhed, så er det i min verden kunst.
kh.fra Island
Frida
Posted by: Fríða | July 05, 2009 at 23:13
absolutly art!
Anything created with love and style is art in my book
Posted by: Sue Niven | July 06, 2009 at 03:25
Selve det at lave det er måske kunst-håndværk - men din farve- og materialesammensætning synes jeg strækker sig noget ud over det forventede for patchwork (måske jeg bare er lidt ubekendt med ormådet...) og er meget kunstnerisk og 'udtrykkende' for mig. Jeg elsker de puder!
Posted by: Nina | July 06, 2009 at 08:11
The cushions are great! I love the pink/red one but they are all great. I think choosing the fabric is probably the most important part!
Posted by: Di | July 06, 2009 at 09:24
Jeg opfatter overhovedet ikke mig selv som kunstner når jeg syr patchwork (jeg har gjort det i 21 år sådan ca.) men mere som håndværker. Måske er det fordi jeg ikke er god til IKKE at følge et mønster eller blive inspireret af noget som andre har lavet. Jeg kan sagtens følge tankerne om at det kan være en kunst at finde stofferne, kombinere farver, mønstre osv. Men jeg er måske for påvirket af det som opfattes som "rigtig" patchworkkunst, nemlig art quilts, som sjældent har meget at gøre med de gamle traditionelle blokke. Den slags kan jeg slet ikke finde ud af men jeg forbinder det mere med kunst end "bare" at klippe nogle firkanter ud af forskellige stoffer (og nu taler jeg kun om det jeg selv gør!) Men på den anden side, så er det da også en kunst at kunne blive ved at sætte simple firkanter, rektangler og trekanter sammen på nye måder.
Jeg er også vild med dine nye puder. Og jeg synes det er helt i orden at du føler dig som kunstner, når du er færdig med dem!
Posted by: Jette K | July 06, 2009 at 15:23
I just love those fabric, I think my favorite is the little mushroom. What fun pillow's.
Posted by: Julie | July 06, 2009 at 16:06
Hi Mette, Of course it is art! You´ve made lovely cushions! I found nice goodies at my fleamarket around last weekend! Even buttons! Now I´m at home again.
Posted by: anne from finland | July 06, 2009 at 17:07
There is a definite line between craft and art and I think we crafters sometimes get a bit carried away when we call our products art.
In my view art is when there is only one unique item made of any give thing. And when saying that, you can even take that a step further and argue that is not even art. It is often more of a piece of artisan craft.
I am not saying that craft can never be art, but in my view it rarely is. Art is a statement, a challenge to the viewer/listener. Craft rarely does that.
Having said all that, I completely recognise the fulfilling feeling you describe. The sense of aesthetics and visual expression. I am not sure that is not the same feeling an artist experiences when a piece is completed, but I don't think the feeling is what makes the difference. It's the challenge to the on-looker that does...
Your cushions are delightfully beautiful and I would call them artisan craft! Which is a very nice place to be in too!
Posted by: Irene | July 06, 2009 at 18:49
Jeg tænker ikke på mig selv som kunstner, men som en håndværker. Af samme årsag bruger jeg heller aldrig ordet unika om mine ting, selv om jeg ikke laver flere af samme slags.
Ingen tvil om at nogen er kunstnere også inden for det tekstile område, men jeg synes, at der skal noget særligt, noget ekstra stærkt og uafrysteligt til før ting bli´r til kunst.
Uanset hvad vi kalder det, så er dine puder skønne :-)
Posted by: Hanne | July 06, 2009 at 22:07
De er i hvert fald super skønne!
Posted by: Anne Dorte | July 06, 2009 at 22:48
Thank you so much for all your interesting comments. I hope, you have enjoyed it too.
Posted by: Mette | July 07, 2009 at 08:46
De er alle så skønne og sammen vidunderlige.
God aften Mette.
Dorte :O)
Posted by: Dorte Nielsen | July 08, 2009 at 20:03
Yes yes yes. It is definitely art!
Any expression, be it on paper or made with fabrics, is art to me!
Beautiful!
annaxx
Posted by: annax | July 09, 2009 at 11:31
I don't know if it is art or not, they are great to look at!
Posted by: heleen | July 10, 2009 at 07:07
You have done a wonderful job picking out the fabrics for these cushions! I love the little mushroom fabric!
Yes patchwork is art, and you have just showed us that !
Posted by: Cheryl | July 14, 2009 at 05:20
It`s so nice cushions you have make! I like them very good!
Posted by: Cille | July 14, 2009 at 16:46
Utruleg fine puter til å bli i godt humør av!
Fortsatt god sommar! :)
Posted by: Haust | July 15, 2009 at 21:39