Tory Bauer / Day Turner Magic Carpet

Creative consultant and artist, Tory Bauer transformed her organic cotton slip dress sample over and over again.

Tartan Mind Mend: Tell us about your re-imagined Tartan piece and what inspired you.
TB: When my Tartan white cotton slip arrived, I initially decided to reconstruct it with vintage flags that we had at home (flags are so powerful as a representation of symbolism throughout history) laced with radically hopeful words made from fluro cloth tape. I then sewed an imperfect tartan inspired square pattern over the top with the help of my beautiful friend Paige from The Dusty Shack. Just like life, nothing about this piece is perfect. The size is wonky, the hand stitching made from remnants of the slip is random, the tape doesn’t stick perfectly, I didn’t measure anything, nor draw anything, nor plan anything – it was all driven by curiosity.

My reimagined tartan dress then naturally took on a life of its own. One evening, I cut my dress in half because I was curious about what it could be if it wasn’t a dress. Just like the world we create; it was unpredictable but exhilarating.

From a dress, it was reincarnated into a cape, a forcefield of joyful words when you need an extra spark to your day. From a cape, it then it turned into something to stowaway under when you need a moment to hide from the world but be serenaded by a positive forcefield and know one day it’s all going to be ok. It then became a comfort blanket, for those days when you just need a little extra nurturing. Now it’s a Technicolour Magic Carpet Ride – ready to take you to wherever you need to go…. In fact, it can be anything you imagine it to be. That’s what I love about it. I hope the person that inherits it – turns it into something else.

My friends have this saying when someone is having a challenging day, to make it a “day turner”. Just by doing something a little more playful or laughing together or reimagining a problem. So, this piece is a homage to that – A Day Turner Technicolour Magic Carpet Ride.

TMM: Tell us about what you do that defines being a creative to you.
TB: The way we eat. Talk. Wear clothes. Problem solve. Cook. Our friendships. Deal with hardships. How we spend our time. Everyone is creative. You just need to put your creative sunglasses across everything and suddenly the world looks different and the narrative changes.

TMM: As a creative consultant what is the simplest piece of advice you give to individuals to make their life more creative?
TB: Just by shifting your lens across things, this can have a positive impact on your life and wellbeing.

TMM: And the simplest piece of advice you give to companies?
TB: Embrace creative problem solving. Just because it’s the way you have always done something, doesn’t mean it’s always right.

TMM: What creative pursuits, little rituals, or things to look forward to, helped you to keep going during lockdown?
TB: Having the space between. Slowing down. The world kept spinning, but we hopped off for a while.

TMM: When the world opens back up, what is the first thing you would love to do?
TB: Long carb filled lunches with friends, stained tablecloths, endless laughter, philosophical conversations, forgetting time, and loud music. The lightness with the depth.

Organic Cotton, Vintage Flags, ClothTape
98cm x 85cm

Due to the handmade/second hand 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.

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