About my work
After 35 years as an educator, I have entered a new phase in my life in which I can pursue my life long interest in art and color. My mother, Lucille Griffin, was an artist who fostered my interest in drawing and painting at an early age. Her paintings and handmade cards continue to inspire me.
I am drawn to felting, nuno-felting and dyeing as I am inspired and fascinated with the endless possibilities of textures and color combinations that can be created when silk and other luxury fibers interact with dyes. When working, I feel as an alchemist who arranges elements whose inherent properties take over to create color, light and texture far more beautiful than I could have ever imagined or created. It's truly magical!
Each item in my collection is an original that cannot be exactly duplicated. It would literally be impossible to do so given the variables of fabric, added fibers, ambient and water temperatures, dye lot and embellishments used. My collection includes nuno-felted pieces, as well as work that is created solely with merino wool or silk. The process I use to create nuno-felted pieces is to overlay superfine wool fibers on natural fabric, such as silk, linen, and scrim, and through the use of water, a mild soap and pressure, a fabric is created. Embellishments such as silk threads, silk ribbons, merino yarn, vintage lace and silk pieces may be added for texture, sheen and color.
My pieces are hand-dyed using fiber reactive, acid or natural botanical dyes. I utilize Shibori resist techniques to create interesting patterns. Minimally, I use a four stage process: initial base dye color, shibori resist techniques (stitch, block or pleat and bind), then discharge and a final over-dye of accent color(s). All pieces are hand washable in cold water with PH neutral soap and should be dried by rolling in a towel and laying flat to dry.
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I had often expressed regret in the past at not starting my fiber art work years earlier. I have now come to the understanding that all unfolds as it should. I now have the time to pursue my art without the encumbrance of work. What a blessing!
I am drawn to felting, nuno-felting and dyeing as I am inspired and fascinated with the endless possibilities of textures and color combinations that can be created when silk and other luxury fibers interact with dyes. When working, I feel as an alchemist who arranges elements whose inherent properties take over to create color, light and texture far more beautiful than I could have ever imagined or created. It's truly magical!
Each item in my collection is an original that cannot be exactly duplicated. It would literally be impossible to do so given the variables of fabric, added fibers, ambient and water temperatures, dye lot and embellishments used. My collection includes nuno-felted pieces, as well as work that is created solely with merino wool or silk. The process I use to create nuno-felted pieces is to overlay superfine wool fibers on natural fabric, such as silk, linen, and scrim, and through the use of water, a mild soap and pressure, a fabric is created. Embellishments such as silk threads, silk ribbons, merino yarn, vintage lace and silk pieces may be added for texture, sheen and color.
My pieces are hand-dyed using fiber reactive, acid or natural botanical dyes. I utilize Shibori resist techniques to create interesting patterns. Minimally, I use a four stage process: initial base dye color, shibori resist techniques (stitch, block or pleat and bind), then discharge and a final over-dye of accent color(s). All pieces are hand washable in cold water with PH neutral soap and should be dried by rolling in a towel and laying flat to dry.
.
I had often expressed regret in the past at not starting my fiber art work years earlier. I have now come to the understanding that all unfolds as it should. I now have the time to pursue my art without the encumbrance of work. What a blessing!