My whole collection got wrecked by a burst pipe in my studio last month

I was working on a set of linen blend dresses for a small show, and the pipe above my storage area broke at like 3 AM. I came in the next morning and everything was soaked, the fabric was ruined, and the dyes had run. I had to throw out about $800 worth of material and half-finished pieces. I'm trying to see it as a chance to start fresh, but man, it's a huge setback. Has anyone else had to rebuild their work after a total disaster like that?

4 comments

4 Comments

angela_knight32mo ago

Starting fresh is just a nice way to say you lost everything. That's not a chance, it's a total loss.

corablack2mo ago

I used to agree with @angela_knight3, but losing my house showed me a fresh start can be a real gift.

kelly6382mo ago

Yeah, I saw something like what @angela_knight3 said, but it missed the point.

avery_flores171mo agoMost Upvoted

Threw out a bunch of stuff after my basement flooded last summer, not as bad as what you're dealing with but close enough. I saved a few scraps from the ruined pieces and used them as pattern weights or mock-ups for my next project. It helped me not feel like I totally wasted my time on the originals. Also, I made a point to buy materials from a local thrift store for the rebuild instead of going all out on new expensive stuff. Kept my costs way down and turned it into a creative challenge. Sometimes the best pieces come from when you're forced to work with less.