designing for the human form
changing the wearer's emotions
Butterfly inspired gown with a caterpillar inspired cape speaks of metamorphosis.
Shibori bindings applied during the felting stage create surface design spikes.
No Way Back created using double faced nuno felt and shibori felt techniques.
Sea Crone BEST IN SHOW at Garbled Guise, 2024. Indianapolis Art Center. Modeled by Sarah Minkel, photographed by David Johnston
Sea Crone back
Sea Crone Headpiece
Promoting female leadership, Ant Queen is a collaboration with Janine Lacey, a British felt maker from France. This 5-piece ensemble is featured in the December issue of Felt Matters magazine, 2022. Modeled by Raleigh Trawick, photography by David Johnston.
Ant Queen was a collaboration with Janine Lacey who lives in France. She designed the headpiece and consulted over the garments
Ant Queen represents female leadership.
One of three elements that destroy life when fueled by Climate Change. Wildfire is a three piece ensemble of floor-length skirt, a open-front jacket and the bird inspired headpiece. Best In Show award at the Uncommon Threads Fashion Show 2022, St. Charles
Wildfire is the hottest of three Climate Sisters. Her enflamed and singed feathers float with every movement. You can see she was once beautiful by the sparkly bead embroidery and once bright colors. The bird headpiece, with it's angry face, signifies natures emotions in the aftermath.
Destructive and seductive, Earthquake moves mountains with the flick of her hand. Nuno felt full-length gown, stone piled headpiece and elbow length gloves. BEST IN SHOW at TEXTURE exhibit, Gainesville Fine Arts 2021
She rumbles and roars as she enters, Earthquake is a three piece ensemble. The gown with cascading felt stones, a rock-piled headpiece and elbow length gloves. Modeled by Shannon Borg, photographed by Alan Niles.
She flows with every movement. Tsunami is a three piece ensemble of a sleeveless, full length gown, the bell sleeve shrug and a wave headpiece. Nuno Felt silks and wool, with bead embroidery.
Water is life itself. Tsunami is as powerful as she is beautiful. Modeled by Shannon Borg, photographed by Alan Niles.
Nuno felt caftan with three types of wool locks. Moth Secret is a four piece ensemble designed for the stage.
Often the victim of mistaken identity, for her beautiful cousin the butterfly, Moth Secret is four piece ensemble. The caftan, a full length gown, the head piece and three finger insect like gloves. Modeled by Shannon Borg, photographed by Alan Niles.
Dream Sequence is a continuation of "me too" study of faces. They are missing facial features because something has been taken away from victims of abuse. The crows along the hemline represent societal heckling. This surreal design of Dream Sequence is a two piece ensemble.
Mosaic Surreal Nuno Felt design "me too" created for wearable art shows. Modeled by Nicki Lynn Gordon, photographed by Alan Niles.
The mission of Dragon Skin, a 5-piece ensemble, is to promote female empowerment. It's wearer emits the power to slay a dragon...and to fashion the spoils. Her warrior spirit has a message: "you are stronger than you even know" photography by Alan Niles, modeled by Shannon Borg Won a PEER AWARD at Port Townsend Wearable Art Show, 2019
Dragon Skin, a 5-piece ensemble, designed to empower women and girls
Techniques include: double-faced nuno felt with entrapment of inclusions, hand-painted with dye and bead embroidered
Dragon Skin ensemble consists of five nuns-felted; seamless garments.
Exploring scales as a protective surface, the dragon coat was born. Won "Excellence in Technique" award, 19th Annual ArtWear. Created using double-faced Nuno felt techniques, with inclusions, and hand-painted silks.
Designed for the runway, Dragon Skin dress coat was created using double faced nuno felt with inclusions, hand painted. Photo by Alan Niles, modeled by Shannon Borg
Octo-Woman featured in the 2019 Pt Townsend Wearable Art Show. Hand-painted silk, double-faced nuno felt, bead embellished. Photo by Alan Niles, modeled by Shannon Borg
Hand painted silk Habotai nuno felted onto a dress length coat
Underwater photography of the waters in the Pacific Northwest inspired this nuno felt art coat. Designed using hand-dyed silk chiffon, merino wool, silk fabrics, and bead embroidery. Hand made shell clay buttons adorn this piece.
Created as a window dressing for Ragfinery, "Dream Sequence" is a compilation of reused silks, mosaic nuno felt, embellished with surface design techniques.
The Ravens Cloak frees the wearer to soar to other worldly realms. Inspired by visits to ancient cave paintings in Southern France, where shaman are believed to have performed rituals, communing with spirits. This cloak featured in "Spirits Taking Form" exhibition, Island Museum of Arts, SJI; "Convergence" 2017 in Victoria B.C.; as well as the 21st Juried Art Exhibition, Schack Art Center, Everett, WA
Inspired by ancient cave paintings in Southern France, the Raven's Cloak was used by Shaman to transcend spirit realms.
Silks and fine merino wool merged, using mosaic and nuno felt techniques.
Gun Metal and Sarletoni are champion suri alpaca herdsires. Select pieces of their shorn fleeces, nuno felt with silk and fine merino wool. (front view)
Pronking herd of alpaca, blending all their natural colors across the field. (back view)
Misty Dawn -- light and airy as an early morning mist; infused with the finest details. Tiny pearls embroider the silk tambourine ribbon fringes. Hand-spun golden fibers adorn the edges of Misty Dawn. The swirls of wind are wisps of super fine merino wool that have been wet-felted to silk chiffon in a process called nuno felt. Photographed by Kathleen Ballard, Modeled by J.D. Twist
Hatched from the maker's dream, Golden Wings showcases colors of the moon in all its shimmering phases--from deep, autumnal bronze to sweet champagne. Shiny habotai silk, super fine merino fibers and hand spun art yarn become one, through an organic, handmade process known as nuno felting. Swarovski crystals embellish felt strips between silk feathers. (See other photo of wings extended) Photographed by Kathleen Ballard, Modeled by J.D. Twist
Back View (see photo of front for detailed description). Photographed by Kathleen Ballard, Modeled by J.D. Twist
Inspired by the myth of Rhiannon, Mystic Spirit bears the likeness of three birds in its detailing. Silk fibers highlight every line of superfine merino for added luster. Photographed by Kathleen Ballard, modeled by J.D. Twist.
Back View (see front photo for detailed description) Photographed by Kathleen Ballard, modeled by J.D. Twist.
Night's Myth shawl was designed with a base of black silk chiffon, layered with tiny wisps of super fine black merino wool, embellished with silvery habotai silk. Golden shafts of light shine through the sheer areas of silk to create an ethereal presence. Hand spun art yarn adorns the edges as fringe. Photographed by Kathleen Ballard, modeled by J. D. Twist.