How a Pin Cushion Becomes a Craft Creation
A Unique Collaboration for an Elegant Pin Cushion
The fine crafts world is filled with exciting projects that combine innovation and traditional know-how. One such project emerged from a unique collaboration between felt-maker Sonya St-Gelais and toy maker Alain Laferrière, two creators with complementary talents. Together, they brought to life an idea that had long been been brewing in Sonya's mind: a pin cushion in felt and wood, combining elegance with functionality.
The idea of creating a pin cushion goes back several years for Sonya.
She explains: "I've already tried something [similar] before, but it was really ugly! I've been wanting to do this for a very long time. I think it's an object that has crossed generations. I fing it to be a beautiful product."
Here's the original horror in question:
The choice of felt and wood for this project is intentional. Felt, a traditional material, is renowned for its durability and unique texture, while wood adds a warm, natural touch to the object.
For Alain, this collaboration represents much more than just a project. It's an opportunity to explore new ideas and expand his creative horizons.
I love collaborations," he says, "it's an opportunity for a first approach, that might lead to other ideas emerging.
As a specialized artist and craftsman, Alain particularly appreciates the chance to work with collaborators from other crafts, underlining the importance of creative exchanges:
"When you're in one trade, you're limited to learning techniques that belong to your craft. When you have someone else doing something [different from what you do], or [for which] you don't have the tools or skills, it's so wonderful!"
The development of this pin cushion is only part of the project. The duo also plan to produce grey felt "rocks" for the toy catapult, which is already part of Alain's regular collection. For him, Sonya's proposal was a breath of fresh air in his daily practice:
"I was very happy [that Sonya approached me for this project]. It gives me something different to produce than my little animals".
A Fusion of Talents for an Unexpected Result
Sonya, having a clear vision of what she wanted, let Alain interpret that vision with his own artistic sensibility.
"I told Alain roughly what format I wanted, and he back with some pretty unusual things that I didn't expect... But that's what collaborations are all about! I'm going to work with what he gave me. We're going to have a very different kind of pin cushion!".
The pin cushion is designed to be not only functional, but also aesthetically pleasing. Sonya and Alain aim to offer a product that goes beyond mere expectations, an object that could even become a family heirloom.
"It's more elegant than just a lump of felt that's attached after a sewing machine" (Alain).
The Art of Precision
Making this pin cushion is a real exercise in meticulous craftsmanship. Each small piece of felt is produced individually, a task that requires patience and accuracy. Sonya emphasizes the importance of attention to detail:
"As with the collaboration with Isabelle [Kapasakis]*, this project pushes me to work on a smaller scale. Small work is more intimate work.
It's not simply a matter of cutting a large piece of felt into smaller ones. Each element must be carefully selected to ensure the strength and durability of the final product.
"There can't be any silk in these pieces - it would be too fragile. It's like voodoo dolls, it has to be sturdy" (Sonya). (Editor's note: Does Sonya make voodoo dolls of her colleagues at l'Empreinte? If so, we're sure these dolls are filled with kindness).
All in all, this felt and wood pin cushion project is a perfect example of what can be accomplished throught collaboration between passionate creator. It's a fusion of techniques and ideas, where each participant brings their own expertise to creat an object that is both beautiful and practical. For Sonya and Alain, this is just a beginning as they are eager to explore even more projects together, always with the aim of pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the world of fine crafts.
Discover all the collaborative projects in this special 50th anniversary collection
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