Cassandre Midouin The Narrative Blouse Cassandre Midouin/Soft Circuit 2008

“ Narrative or a story is a construct in a format written,spoken,images,songs,poems,theater,or dance that describes a sequence of fictional or non-fictional events.” http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrative

The Narrative Blouse is a custom made interactive blouse with hand painted images which depict historical or folklore events which specifically promote Cultural empowerment, assist in debunking stereotypes , creates pathways for appreciation for diversity and create a space for dialogue and interaction between the wearer and the viewer

Works which inspired this project Tom Feelings Embroidery Leah Buckley Caribbean Folklore Art

Techniques These are the Following Techniques which I focused on: Machine Sewing - construction of the blouse Hand Embroidery satin stitch Hand Beading Hand Stitching blind stitch Hand Painting- mixing a fair amount of water into acrylic paint Soldering Surface Mount LED’s - Kate Hartman’s method putting the crimping bead on 22 gauged striped wire and placing it in helping hand .

Techniques

These are the Following Techniques which I focused on:

Machine Sewing - construction of the blouse

Hand Embroidery satin stitch

Hand Beading

Hand Stitching blind stitch

Hand Painting- mixing a fair amount of water into acrylic paint

Soldering Surface Mount LED’s - Kate Hartman’s method putting the crimping bead on 22 gauged striped wire and placing it in helping hand .

Materials Red Silk Black Silk Cotton embroidery thread Metallic embroidery thread Surface mount LED’s Crimp beads Glass beads Acrylic paint Conductive Thread Conductive Fabric

Materials

Red Silk

Black Silk

Cotton embroidery thread

Metallic embroidery thread

Surface mount LED’s

Crimp beads

Glass beads

Acrylic paint

Conductive Thread

Conductive Fabric

Circuit Diagram

Challenges Soldering Surface Mount LED’s Embroidering on silk fabric Getting the switch to work properly Time Not Enough Surface Mounts De Bugging

Challenges

Soldering Surface Mount LED’s

Embroidering on silk fabric

Getting the switch to work properly

Time

Not Enough Surface Mounts

De Bugging

Success Getting the surface mounts to light

The Narrative Blouse

Next Step Complete the garment Put in 555 timer Try to research sound devices which can be incorporated into the garment

Thank You!!!!