inspiration comes in many forms. an inner or outer lit landscape, a poem that confirms or shifts my perspective, resonant words, symbols or energy felt deeply in this & other dimensions. wherever the muse appears, the use of natural dyes and textiles to create art is a joy making process for me. over the years i have been making textile art in the form of wall hangings and in the process, i have accumulated an abundance of beautiful natural dyed fabric remnants too small to incorporate into my sewn work but too precious to let go. living a natural lifestyle and walking gently on our environment is important to me and minimizing waste by utilizing the small pieces of fabrics and turning them into a collage completes the circle of my sustainable art practice. within the collage work, i find great freedom to experiment with shapes and sizes that sewing does not readily allow and a floodgate of new possibilities open up. i love both processes, clean closed seams and raw cut exposed edges, both metaphors for life… switching back and forth stimulates my creative center evermore.

dispel

natural dyed flax linen, french linen thread, mixed media paper, glue

14 h x 11 w - matted 9.5 h x 7.5 w window (set in ultra thin black aluminum frame)

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Spell Against Sorrow

Who will take away
Carry away sorrow,
Bear away grief.

Stream wash away
Float away sorrow,
Flow away, bear away
Wear away sorrow,
Carry away grief.

Mists hide away
Shroud my sorrow,
Cover the mountains,
Overcloud remembrance,
Hide away grief.

Earth take away
Make away sorrow,
Bury the lark's bones
Under the turf.
Bury my grief.

Black crow tear away
Rend away sorrow,
Talon and beak
Pluck out the heart
And the nerves of pain,
Tear away grief.

Sun take away
Melt away sorrow,
Dew lies grey,
Rain hangs on the grass,
Sun dry tears.

Sleep take away
Make away sorrow,
Take away the time,
Fade away place,
Carry me away

From the world of my sorrow.

Song sigh away
Breathe away sorrow,
Words tell away,
Spell away sorrow,
Charm away grief.

Kathleen Raine from The Collected Poems, Golgoonza Press, 2001

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the beauty of natural dyed textiles is in the variation of colors and natural imperfections that occur during the dyeing process. the perfection of imperfection, akin to the ‘wabi-sabi’ principle is very much a part of my textile art which makes it wholly unique, one-of-a-kind and of nature.

note: please hang collage away from direct exposure to sunlight or harsh artificial light as well as direct heat source or moisture rich area to prevent premature fading and degradation of the naturally dyed textile.