handmade and unique

Tapestry is both an old and a new artform, practiced for thousands of years, going in and out of favor, and currently enjoying a glimmer of a resurgence as weavers discover the thrill of weft-faced textiles and the potential for abstract as well as representational art pieces. 

tapestry weaving

Typically worked from the bottom up, tapestry requires both a foundation and a vision. But even with the best laid plan, something new always occurs, and the daily anticipation of what will result is a part of the excitement experienced each day in the studio. 

from creative play to woven art

Tapestry is a medium that is tactile and responsive, with the potential for transparency, perspective, texture, and meaning. Staying grounded in a sense of play stretches the capacity in both technique and artistic vision. And when reality falls short of the vision, pushing past the frustration to sink into the process brings both surprise and reward. 

​Fascinated by process and materials, I have enjoyed working with a variety of mediums through the years, starting with some curious early childhood efforts with chalk, paper mâché, and, well ... sticks.

​These days I work with yarn, paint, and wax -- not necessarily at the same time -- and know that each one meets a need in my psyche for texture, tactility, and movement.

Here is where I have landed.
​For now.

​At 8 years old I was in a Girl Scout troop learning embroidery in the home of a community member.  There was a large contraption hidden under a blanket. We knew it was a loom--formidable and magical--but we never got to touch it, or even see it, much less watch it in action. Nonetheless, the image of the blanketed mystery stayed with me until one morning, years later, I awoke from a semi-dream state and thought, "Hmmm. Weaving . . . "

It starts with color play, music and scenery.

A section of a sampler, utilizing different techniques for shapes and blending.