nothing is static

on The Creative Act and dying a Cou Cou Intimates dress at home

While reading The Creative Act, a startlingly empty book, with words spaced out a little too far to fill the pages, I came across what the book was filled with: a simply stated, widely known truth–and yet, it struck me at just the right moment.

Nothing is static.

Back to the book for just a moment–though it has some interesting and encouraging concepts, it’s nothing that hasn’t been said before. I also disagree with lines such as “Art can’t be irresponsible.” This book seems like it was made for someone who doesn’t read and wants a nice smart looking book to set on their coffee table. Okay, moving on.

The line stood out to me because I read it at precisely the right moment, when I felt very stuck in multiple areas of my life. It reminded me of the ever-changing element of our universe, and instantly allowed me to unpin myself from my burdens. Our thoughts really have such power over our reality.

I bought a Cou Cou Intimates white slip dress on Depop the other day for thirty dollars (they retail for ninety). Since I already have their white slip dress, I figured I might try dying it.

Whether you hate your job, or you’re in an unhealthy relationship, or a health problem is weighing on you like a wet blanket, there’s some peace in remembering that things are constantly in flux. Life grows and moves with you

.I bought the dye from Michaels (I originally wanted to use beets but apparently it doesn’t last and might turn orange/brown). This morning, I hand washed the dress while heating up some water on the stove. Then I mixed in half the dye packet, dipped the dress and a matching scrunchie in, and stirred for ten minutes. I wasn’t too scientific about it as I was open to different results–I only wanted a more orangey pink. I felt like dying the dress was a recycling of sorts–giving a piece new life. After rinsing it out, I let it sit in a dye fixative for another twenty minutes, washed it well, and hung it up to dry. It was darker than I’d originally been going for, but had turned out better than I’d imagined. Creation of any form has been fueling my lust for life lately.

I am perhaps meshing two blog posts into one, but I hope you get it. I didn’t need an identical dress to what I already owned, even if it was for a good price. But I can’t even express how excited I got at the idea of changing it; so many opportunities opened up. It’s hard, I think, to forget the amount of choices we have when we’re stuck in our routines. I thought about dying it with lavender, onion skins, beets. Using cyanotype. I considered doing yellow or purple. Once I made the decision, it happened easily; once you make up your mind, things tend to fall into line.

I’ll be giving Rick Rubin’s book a solid 3.5 stars for pointing out the obvious, even if his spaced out words made my mind read it in a staccato fashion, and it only reminded me of what I already knew. Forgive me for being a hater, I’m naturally suspicious of books that proclaim knowledge around the creation of art, especially with any superiority (I’m an Aquarius sun btw). As for the dress, which is still hanging up, slightly damp, I cannot wait to wear it my next off day. Eee!

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