Transfering an image onto hand painted cashmere.
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I find so much delight in the natural world that I'm compelled to share this joy through my art. I'm overwhelmed by the miracle in which a seed, soil, water and sunlight grow into the succulent nourishment of a vegetable; by the exuberance of trees which provide shade, shelter and food; the play of sunlight on water, or as it glows through a single leaf. I visit gardens and woodlands to experience these joys. In my studio, photos that I've taken help me relive these experiences as I translate them into fiber by dyeing the colors and building the shapes that captivated me. My hope is that people will connect with my art through their own experiences and will gain new insights that enhance their future experiences in the natural world.
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I'm drawn to wool felting because of the transformation the wool makes during felting from a soft, flat fabric into a sturdy three-dimensional shape. The warmth and softness of the fibers, along with a sensation of liveliness, are comforting to me as I create, and to people who experience my finished work.
As I make, I am continually learning about the nature of my materials: reclaimed knitted wool fabrics, wool yarns and fabric dyes, and how they behave. I use their natural tendencies to achieve the effects I'm seeking. I construct each one of a kind piece before felting it, creating a unified whole that seems to have grown together.
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While designing, I imagine the changes that will happen in texture, color, shape and size during felting. I layer different wool types, most often merino wool and cashmere, using their varied responses to felting, along with several fabric dyeing techniques, to create dimension and to imply the sources of my inspiration. I’ve made a conscious choice to limit the techniques I use in order to master each one, adding techniques only when the need arises. This year I’ve been exploring the dimensional possibilities of shibori dyeing. As the reclaimed garments I use become scarce, I’m beginning to explore discharge dyeing, or removing color from the fabric.
I make functional art to celebrate self-reliance, along with the joy of creating and using individually handmade articles. Through my work, I honor the millions of women who came before me, most notably my mother and grandmother, who passed down their handwork skills and the tradition of creating beautiful functional items essential to their daily lives. |
Checking the progress of the felting of a hat.
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