Fabric of life
Hello friends!
I am pretty sure we’ve talked about this before, about how childhood fascinations can stay with us for life. I just find it so interesting. And I am especially keen to see if the origin of the fascination is discoverable. Often it isn’t.
I, for example, have always been very keen on cars. I have no idea why. As a child I wanted Matchbox cars instead of dolls or other toys seen as more interesting to girls in that era. I loved my friend’s father’s car. It was a Rover, a unique car in a land of Chevs and Fords and Chryslers. I loved the shape of it, the deep green paint colour and the very fragrant leather interior. It was exotic in my world and I was a bit obsessed. I even went camping with the family once just to get a chance to ride in the car for a distance, though I was terrifically homesick the whole time I was away.
I can trace other interests back to early childhood too. My love for William Morris and Arts and Crafts seems to have roots in my love for two houses in Charlottetown. They were unusual in shape and exterior, both stucco, one pink and the other green. They were vaguely Arts and Crafts style. I loved driving by them and trying to see into the leaded glass windows. Again I have no idea why.
My guest on the podcast this week has been obsessed with fabric and sewing. As a child Dianna Coumont harvested fabric around the house to make dolls’ clothes and frequently got into trouble! As an adult she made an international business out of sewing and design. These days she’s created a home studio where she designs and sews bespoke and couture clothing for women. She calls it Valiente Couture, named for her beloved horse.
You can see Dianna in action on her YouTube channel. And you can hear my conversation with her on this week’s Listen with Sheryl MacKay episode. You’ll find that linked on my website or in any of the places you find podcasts.
All the best!
Sheryl
PS. If you have life time obsessions and theories about where they originated I’d love to hear about them!