Anne McDonald / Pink Tulle Dress

Retired Curator Anne McDonald hand sewed a whispy tulle skirt addition to her Tartan olive colour test sample.

Tartan Mind Mend: Tell us about your re-imagined Tartan piece and what inspired you.

Anne McDonald: My goals were:
- No waste.
- Use only what I had in my cupboard.
- Be patient, focussed and have fun.
- Create something that would make someone happy in these surreal times and feel like a ballerina or a fairytale princess.

I chose a Tartan khaki slip.
I added a whisper of pink tulle, using an end-of-roll piece of tulle that had been in my cupboard for years, waiting for just the right moment.
The Khaki Silk had a sense of the serious and purposeful. Adding the pink tulle would give it another life. Make something silky and frivolous - and add a little craziness
I used threads from my mother-in-law's old sewing tin.
I hand stitched the tulle, remembering old skills.
I created a side slit in the slip, to free it up and make it easier to dance.
The project focussed me and slowed me down. It made me feel calm and creative.
I hope I have created something that someone will want enough, to buy it and by so doing, help someone with mental health issues. I hope they’ll also think about how and why it was made.

TMM: What creative pursuits, little rituals, or things to look forward to, helped you to keep going during lockdown?
AM: I have a little morning ritual which focusses me for the day. It involves about half an hour of gentle stretching / yoga exercises, breakfast and a walk for about an hour, then a coffee. After that, I am ready to start the rest of the day. Then I have weekly zoom art and French classes which gave my week structure and motivation and something to look forward to. The rest flows around that.

TMM: How do you approach sustainability and issues of waste in your own life?
AM: I recycle my waste. I walk wherever I can. I pass on clothing that’s in good wearable condition, that I no longer need, to a charity to be used again. I try to buy only what I need. My husband and I often find discarded items on the street and give them another life. We both love to make something new out of something old. I plan my food shopping and try never to waste food. I look after things to give them as long a life as possible. Fix things rather than throw them away. For example, I have had my Magimix food processor since the early seventies - it recently had a little on/off problem, which my husband has fixed. That makes me feel so good!

TMM: When the world opens back up, what is the first thing you would love to do?
AM: Get on a plane and fly to France. But obviously that’s not possible …. Just a family visit will make me happy.

100% Organic Silk Slip
100% Polyester Tulle
Gentle Handwash or Dry Clean (P)
Sample is size 1/S

Due to the handmade nature of this item any imperfections are considered intentional and are unique characteristics of this one of a kind piece. Over time changes may occur. Handle with care. No exchanges or refunds are available for Tartan Mind Mend charity auction items.