About My Work

The most important aspect of my work is the development of my personal creative process, not  the finished product. I work biographically. My work is inspired by my everyday life, the mundane, as well as the adventures of an ordinary life. Because my themes and concepts change from day to day-moment to moment, I try to remain very flexible in my approach. It is always the process that inspires me and fires my imagination; the finished product is often far from my thoughts. There is a fabulous transformative process in feltmaking; combining fabrics and fibres with great alchemy into a pleasing finished piece. It is a very physical, hands-on process. 

I love to explore and stretch the boundaries of feltmaking because, for me, so much is learnt by playing. Exploring the relationships between shape, form and texture, as well as the interplay of light in the fabrics and textures. I enjoy immensely the design freedom that felt making gives me.  I’m especially drawn to creative, imaginative sampling, as it gives me a process that is both unique and full of challenges. This informs my work in the most wonderful way.

I learn so much about myself making felt. Feltmaking is an ancient textile art with a long and fascinating history, and now a fabulous contemporary art form. It is a very versatile medium that has many practical and modern applications – the possibilities are endlessly intriguing. It is a simple art that requires only wool, a little soap and water and lots of enthusiasm and creativity – plus dare I say good biceps and stamina. Whilst it is quite simple to learn, mastering the medium can become quite the journey!

Felt continues to inspire me with its simultaneous simplicity and complexity. Sometimes making felt requires a lot of thought, and sometimes very little thought at all. As a medium, it has an ability to be Zen and an ability to be quite complicated. It depends greatly on my mood and personal space as to which element I decide to bring forward in my work. As you can imagine, felting is full of surprises. It is an amazing alchemical process, as well as a beautiful, simple, combining of materials. It expresses so much by itself, just by being felt. 

Working primarily in one medium has enabled me to develop a unique skill set. Feltmaking is my passion. I love it, I dream about felt, I lose myself in it and I find myself in it. For me it is creative, vibrant, fun, and challenging. It is a very simple process, yet its applications can be as complex as I desire.

I am inspired from within my inner landscape in combination with the never-ending inspiration of colours, textures and patterns in the outer world. I try to represent the beauty I see and feel within me and around me to create unique pieces. Inspiration comes from my environment, my travels and life experience.

I produce my textile works simply to create something that gives me joy and enables me to express myself on the deepest level I can. I am at my happiest and most content when I am making. I particularly enjoy encouraging others to explore their individual creativity. I am convinced that we all are incredibly artistic and creative – we just need to believe that we are and practice!

When I look at others’ art, I admire beauty, good design and technique, and I look for work that inspires me, work that makes me feel. I admire work that someone has put their heart and soul into. 

I am continuously refining my skills and learning from many other talented fibre artists who so generously share their wealth of knowledge with me. Feltmaking has a lovely social dynamic – there is a network of feltmakers in Brisbane, the rest of Australia and indeed the whole world over. Each year there are specialist felting courses in Australia and overseas, which I try to attend as a participant or now as a tutor. Felting is very much a craft that is passed on from person to person and this element of feltmaking is one of its joys. 

Originally, I was taught felt making by my friend, Gabrielle, we made many things together and experimented, and from there, many other teachers and friends have added to my knowledge base along the way. It is wonderful to be able to now pass this skill on through my teaching and workshops, which have been supported by my professional teaching background and textile studies.

Teaching feltmaking has given me opportunities to learn with my students. I am always humbled by the creativity of people attending my workshops. I teach a lot of experimental sampling workshops which create learning on steroids! 12 people in a class all experimenting with materials, is the most fulfilling experience. I learn SO much and go away amazed and inspired and itching to make my own work. At the end of a sampling workshop, when we examine each other’s samples, we are all in awe of the creative process and the remarkable qualities and versatility of handmade felt.
Finding your own way as an artist is never easy. I have been fortunate to work and learn with some amazing artists. I have also been very inspired by the course The Artists Way by Julia Cameron. Her book is such a gem and a huge help for all artists struggling to find their way.

During my career, I have worked on many different commissioned pieces, including felted artworks, costumes, garments, fashion accessories and giftware. I have also created bespoke collections for fashion designers and I have felted artwork held in private collections worldwide. Each of these experiences have added to my journey as a feltmaker. 

• Featured artist with Expertise Events, travelling with a teaching studio to the Craft and Quilt Fairs in each state in Australia
• Teaching for Needlework Cruises, international needlework conferences and retreats
• Teaching feltmaking at a variety of events and retreats worldwide
• Working as assistant editor and then co-editor of Australian Felt Magazine
• Writing for many art/craft related magazines, with multiple articles published in Australian and international publications
• Published work  in the international feltmaking book, The Worldwide Colours of Felt
• Life member of the International Feltmakers Association (IFA) 
• IFA Regional Co-ordinator for Australia, New Zealand and Asia