Quilting and Patchwork

Cyndi Lavin, Mixed Media Artist & Fabric Collector

by Mary Emma Allen on November 26th, 2006

Cyndi Lavin collects old fabrics, something I discussed in a previous post.  So I asked Cyndi what she did with these old fabrics and found she has some interesting ways to utilize them, whether in quilts or mixed media art work. 

Cyndi also writes a b5media blog about multi media art, Layers Upon Layers (www.layersuponlayers.com)  She says she’s not a traditional quilter, although she’s done traditional quilting. 

MEA:  Cyndi, would you tell us something about you, your art, and your blog?

CYNDI:  I’m a mixed media artist who mostly makes jewelry, but I also play around with all different forms of collage, from purely digital, to traditional, to experimental art quilts.  I make quite a few mixed media quilts, combining paper and fabric.  In fact, I’ve got a little tutorial on the blog about it:  http://www.layersuponlayers.com/paper-quilting/

MEA:  How/why did you start collecting old fabrics?

CYNDI: I started my fabric collecting with old pieces of lace and clothing that had interesting beadwork or buttons. I did a lot of altered clothing for myself as I was growing up, using some of these finds, and was also lucky enough to have inherited many of my grandmother’s fine couture pieces.  She was quite a fashion-plate, not a milk-and-cookies grandma.

I kept many articles of my own clothing that meant something to me, and one day woke up to find they had become vintage!  I started to disassemble clothing that I had made or embellished and reworking it into other art forms.  From there, the need developed to collect pieces I might want to use in my collage and quilt work. 

I have always been drawn to fabrics that are older.  Since many of them are extremely delicate, good solid stabilized pieces like collages are the perfect way to show them off.

MEA:  Where do you find old fabrics [for those who would like to start collecting]?

CYNDI:  Mostly at antique malls.  I live near an old mill area, where textiles were once the major industry.  Even though I usually go to antique shops rather than junk shops, I find that the fabrics are pretty reasonable around here in New England.  I also have purchased some fabrics on eBay when I needed a specific piece, but this is pretty unusual.  It will be easier on a collector who is fortunate enough to like the products of the local industry, and it will be much cheaper.

MEA:  Do you have any projects planned with these fabrics?

CYNDI:  Constantly!  There are always pieces in the works or in the sketchbook: http://www.why-not-art.com/collages-quilts.html

Thanks, Cyndi, for sharing your experiences about old fabrics.  You’ve inspired me and I’m sure other readers will glean ideas from you.

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