So what's next?

Its been a very strange past couple of months for me. For the first time in 23 years, I'm not in school. This certainly doesn't mean that life has gotten any less busy!

This month I have began working with the NC State College of Textiles again, continuing my work with EAT DesignScope and helping Nancy Powell with automotive research (including my own). I really enjoy working with EAT and our jacquard equipment. Its certainly a privilege to have access to this equipment and every time I work with it, my technical knowledge continues to grow. I am currently working with our ElTex JC4, which has not run successfully in almost 10 years. I created a weave blanket in December and the technicians got the loom running after working with it and ordering parts for a full semester. Now that I've returned, our goal is to connect all 8 fillings and to create 3- and 8-filling weave blankets. I will then create the instructions, complete with step-by-step screen shots, for future students. I also hope to weave my ATS/Kolon Competition designs.

Beyond this, I have updated my resume and created a pdf portfolio. I am currently reaching out to all the contacts who were so helpful during my thesis process to thank them and connect them to my research. Still in progress is my physical portfolio and job search.

On that note, I am available and ready to interview if any of my readers know of available positions :)

Common Seam Collective

Collective Seam is a collaboration of five of the most talented fiber, fabric, and apparel artists I have had the pleasure of knowing:

Gabrielle Duggan

Meghan Holliday

Liz Morrison

Amy Quinn

Shelley Smith

I will quote their facebook fan page a

nd website for the most accurate description of this exciting project:

In August of 2009, five fiber-minded individuals came together to think about how to design and produce textile art and apparel in new and sustainable ways. As the conversation continued, the common concepts of "slow clothing" and the value of making further interwove the individuals and the Common Seam Collective was born...

The Common Seam Collective is a community of artists, designers, and craftspeople exploring fibers and textiles and developing our work through collaboration, critique, and education. From spinning yarn to fashion design, we seek to enrich our community by cultivating an interest in both old and new technological processes use in fibers and textiles.

On Friday February 26th, 2010, the Collective debuted their first group show featuring the work of founding members.

I was fortunate enough to attend this show, and see for myself how much these girls have accomplished during their time at NC State's Colleges of Textiles and Design and beyond. I felt so proud to have been a part of the same programs as these girls, but I will let the work speak for itself.

Please check thecommonseam.com for more information and photos.

All photography by Erin Debnam, www.erindebnam.com