You started weaving a few years ago and have quickly garnered widespread success. You were a Martha Stewart American Made 2014 Crafts Finalist and have run workshops for DesignLoveFest and Megan Morton’s The School! What is the secret of your success?
I think I am very lucky to tell you the truth. I began weaving at a time when others were interested in it too. I have been able to share my passion with so many other people and bring them into the "weaving cult". I am a strong advocate of community building and I think this has really been the secret of my success. Having a real love of people, weaving and learning, being open and honest and sharing my work and encouraging others to do the same.
Your whimsical weaves are what dreams are made oF, and are ever evolving. Looking back from when you first started weaving up until now, can you tell us about your
design journey in relation to experimenting With colour, texture, etc?
I began weaving with what I had around the house and then moved on to fibres that were predominately sourced on the merit of colour - lots of acrylic and man made blends in eye-popping hues. I would use these machine spun fibres to create very rigid designs and push them into my vision.
Then I happened upon hand spun and hand dyed yarns. They just felt like love! Knowing that someone had lovingly spent time to create these fibres made them so much more special. Using them, i would allow them to dictate the direction of the piece. Listen to the fibres and put my ego to the side, and try not to have expectations of how a piece will eventuate.
I am more relaxed now and embrace mistakes and I am able to turn them into features. I try something new on every piece that I complete and so I am always learning.
"I am a strong advocate of community building and I think this has really
been the secret of MY Success."
049//SITTING DOWN WITH