As a creator of fine art textiles, I have built a reputation for caring for my clients, students, staff and the earth, to the best of my ability. At the end of the day, it just feels good to try to work this way.
I am active in making my footprint on the earth as minimal as possible. The studio is solar-powered, both for water heating and all electricity and we have our own water source on the property where I live and work. I recycle studio waste where possible, and while I am still working on minimising plastic use, I carefully recycle the plastics that I do use. I struggle with this , as we all do. It is not easy living consciously in this world. Scraps are recycled and made into other items or composted.
I value the materials I have and use recycled materials where possible in my pieces. I am an avid – though sometimes obsessed – second hand shopper and love to re-purpose materials and equipment! Looking around the studio, it makes me happy that my sewing machines, my steam press, my iron, and all the cupboards, chairs and shelves are second hand. Much of my paper stocks are recycled. Much of my stash is gifted from others, which has resulted in a lovely melange of treasures, including alpaca fibre donated by local farmers. This all adds to the charm of the space and the richness of the work that I am able to create.
I endeavour to work with mostly natural materials and am constantly looking for items that are natural alternatives. For example, using shellac as a stiffener instead of acrylic based stiffeners, using natural cellophane instead of plastic bags and beeswax coatings instead of acrylics. I am experimenting with natural glues and paints and trying to change to a more natural process for dyeing fabrics. Synthetic dyes are used, but I exhaust my pots of dye so that I do not put chemicals into the land where I live. I am working towards a more sustainable natural dye practice – a work in progress as I use up the synthetic dye materials I already have and do not replace them.
Thank you for supporting my work and appreciating the lengths I go to be more sustainable. I promise to strive to do my best, with the skills and resources available to me. I like to make works that are slowly created pieces that will be well-loved heirlooms that stand the test of time.
