Special memories are so often caught up between the threads of the clothes we wear. Whether they linger in the worn texture of a favorite t-shirt or among the beads and sequins of an evening gown, certain items have associations full of meaning for us.
You can even find them imprinted into the soles of shoes. Just ask any parent who has pairs of tiny first shoes tucked away long after they ceased to serve any useful purpose. And how many of us have our wedding outfits wrapped up somewhere, never to be worn again but too special to let go?
Then there are gifts and souvenirs, such as a silk scarf from a foreign trip, maybe even a Japanese kimono or embroidered slippers. Or those handmade items that you simply can't throw away. Any knitter will know the hours of work that can go into something as simple as a pair of socks!
If, like me, you have boxes of clothes you can't bear to cut up or give away, SacredCynWear has a very clever idea for you. This fashion lover is carving out a name for herself in her selections of gorgeous clothing in Gothic, Steampunk and Rockabilly styles. It's clear she has a love affair with fabrics, textures and colors that has influenced her own clothing designs. At the same time, as a parent, she has her own stash of adorable items that are a tangible reminder of her little ones as they once were in spite of time racing on.
Small wonder, then, that Cynthia came up with the idea of scanning fabrics and even entire tutus and child-sized pairs of shoes in order to create a unique and very special lasting memory. Her how-to guide Scanography: Memories on Display reveals each step in this process. The results, whether in collages or simply as a digitally enhanced scan, are quite wonderful!
While it takes an artistic eye and some computer skills to create a piece that you can frame and hang on the wall (like the flowers above -- also scanned!), the idea is accessible to anyone who owns a scanner. Even a quick scan will preserve a little piece of the past, safe from moths, dust and age. Or, if Cynthia inspires you to take it further, you might just end up with a sensational piece of wall art that will be a talking point for years to come!
I remember another piece by that author about scanning -- lovely, creative piece -- and this one looks even better. Ah, the tale-tell look of a photograph with a black background! I was out scanning this morning myself, by the way. I don't have the ideal photography equipment for capturing very tiny decorative work, so sometimes a scanner is the best option. It's nice to know someone has managed to turn such things into real art.
ReplyDeleteOh this was a splendid article on Scanography! Great review too!
ReplyDeleteYou have such a way with words, Nicki, and have describe this art beautifully. I had seen Cynthia's original scanography lens, and this one is an excellent example of one aspect of scanography - preserving memories.
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