Philosophy

The natural world has been a part of my life since I could follow my forester father into the woods. with his guidance I grew up loving the Eastern forests and their flora and fauna learning the names of the plants, the birds, their songs and a love of the landscape. I seek to capture the essential elements and feelings of nature in my designs. It is my hope that my handcrafted pieces will give people a desire to look more closely at nature and gain a new appreciation for each small thing.

I have been involved in designing with environmental impact in mind since the early 1990s. Slow and thoughtful design, use of existing materials repurposed, or use of natural materials, especially wool are hallmarks of my work, whether the pieces are tapestries, quilts, accessories or clothing. With the rise of the local fiber movement, following on the heels of the local food movement, my attention has now turned to using fiber from local sources, mostly in the form of local wool and natural dyes.

My art is as much about the process of creating as it is about the final product.  I weave tapestries and embroider by hand; both of which are intricate processes, which is why most of my works are small.  I often mix the pieces; so that a tapestry may have a quilted piece incorporated into it, or may be mounted onto a quilt.  The cloth for the quilts usually comes from pieces leftover from sewing projects.  My tapestries are often mounted on canvases that I paint to enhance the beauty of the small woven pieces.  The process of handling the fibers and seeing the art emerge is what brings me joy and keeps me producing in this time consuming manner.

My art-to-wear is as much about the process of creating as it is about the final product.  The process of finding a great piece of old fabric from a suit or coat and seeing a new piece of clothing emerge is what brings me joy and keeps me producing these one of a kind pieces.  I cut up the coats or suits and then using hand-drafted patterns, I cut the pattern pieces out of various fabrics which are a mix of recycled fabrics and new fabrics that replace worn out pieces.  I often use an old outdated coat and restyle it to give it a new life through dye, and embellishment with ribbon, appliques, or hand stitching.  These designs allow me freedom to create in three dimensions with various fabrics and shapes.  Always unique, and eye catching, these pieces of clothing are like wearing art every day.

I hope this blog inspires you to explore new places. Feel free to leave a comment or follow me on social media!