For as long as I can remember I have always enjoyed working with fabrics. I made my own clothes in my teens and saved my pocket money to buy Liberty print fabrics. I have spun, dyed and woven wool for 30 years, specialising in felt for the last 20 years and have been an active member of the International Feltmakers Association. I am passionate about wool and it's amazing properties. I have been inspired by nature and the uses of felt all over the world. Felt offers so many opportunities, it can be a lightweight material suitable for fine scarves or it can be a hardwearing material that can be sculpted and formed into sculptures, shoes and even a home.

For the last two years I have focused more on colour, form and patterns in nature. I use the fibres as I would a paint palette and design and embed printed fabrics and yarns. Using hand stitching, I work into the surface. More recently I have been exploring 3D and enjoy the challenge of extending the boundaries. A further selection of my work can be seen on my website www.inspirationalfibres.co.uk

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Dispersal

Finnish wool

Inspiration: 'Seeds' study

            Genesis 1

            A two sided wall hanging 1m x 1.5m

            Merino wool, silk and organza, felted

            and top stitched.

            Inspiration: 'Seeds' study

Pod 1

1m x 0.5m

Blended fibres in natural colours with yarns and cords embedded to form relief.

Inspiration: 'Seed' study

The challenge was to explore size in 3D

            Pod II

            0.5m x 0.3m

            Blended fibres worked with a resist

            to form layers when felted.

            Embroidered detail

            Inspiration: 'Seed' study

 

Vessel

Merino wool.

An exploration of layers cut back to form

relief.

Embroidered details.

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