I am a textile artist and tutor who is passionate about reusing and remaking. In 1996 during a very trying time in my life I went to a workshop where we were taken to the local op shops and with the things we found there we had to do something. We cut up and we stitched. Raw edges encouraged, big uneven stitches allowed. And I felt as if had come home. Shortly after that I went to an eco dye workshop. I have flown with it ever since.

 

Over time I discovered what an abundance of materials there is to work with in second-hand outlets. I developed an eye for good quality clothing, wool blankets, and fabrics.  There were other workshops I attended and some years later I started to conduct workshops myself as well as sell my works. What I made were wall pieces of hand-stitched eco-dyed wool blanket and added silk embellished with found objects. Later on, I started to make garments out of my dyed material and remaking dyed preworn clothing. Often I would find beautiful woolen, linen, silk, and cotton clothing in op shops. All that was wrong with them was that they were outdated.  I re-purposed those with added scraps of collected materials and other cut-up pieces of clothing.

 

There is something about pre-used cloth that touches my heart. It is softer than new material. Some of the energy of previous 

owners seem to be embedded in the fabric

 

I am passionate about reusing as we live in such a wasteful society. The working conditions under which clothing is mass produced are often appalling. Therefore I am an advocate of using what already has been produced and give it a longer life. Making do, remaking and recycling gives clothing and other things like furniture and garden features etc a uniqueness which is hard to beat.

 

My work sewing, stitching, and dyeing is my life. My sources for eco-dyeing I find on my daily walks in the form of sea weed from the beach. Eucalyptus leaves as windfall in the town parks, walnut husks out of friends gardens and maple leaves, blackberry and rose leaves, and dahlia flowers out of my own garden. Elderberries and Native Cherry from along the highway. Onion skins and teas from the kitchen. I have a great setup outside to work and simmer my dye pots. Inside I have got my home studio, where I sew, design, and stitch.

 

At present, my sales outlet is at Linda Cafe.

Linda is an old mining town about 12 km East of Queenstown (TAS) There is so much history in that area of mining pioneering and convicts.

In Linda is a huge ruin of the Linda Pub, which did a roaring trade in its heydays.

Next to the ruin is now Linda Cafe, which does lovely meals, and sells art and all sorts of interesting must-haves.

I also sell my work at occasional artisan markets, from my home studio, and at events, such as textile forums and basketry gatherings.

 

 

My area of residence is on the beautiful NW Coast of Tasmania

Over time I have conducted numerous workshops in Tasmania and interstate. I have taught at textile forums and a

natural dye symposium. I have participated in joined exhibitions and have had solo exhibitions.

 

Workshops I have available are:

 

Cutting with Courage - remaking of discarded and outdated clothing

Stitch Stitch Creative Embroidery - exploring the joys of free-hand stitching

Find Collect Dye Stitch-retreat style workshop. Collecting dye plants, dyeing, and stitching 

From Sketch to Stitch - do a quick sketch and learn how to turn it into a embroidery using your own unique design

Wrapping Cloths (Furoshiki) - Hand stitching and applique.

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