Rag Weaving

   As a weaver I specialize in rag weaving, utilizing the materials I have at hand.  Shibori scraps, dyed table linen scraps, wool, and handspun dyed yarns all make their way into my cloth.  Creating rag cloth is a creative process, and I want that element of innovation in my product.  No two pieces of cloth are ever the same.  On occasion I have an apprentice helping me with weaving.  If you are interested please contact me.

Examples of rag woven items:

• Silk Tussah Woven Pillows
• Wool Woven Pillows
• Rag Woven Scarves
• Rag Woven Cases
• Rag Woven Potholders

Hand Dyeing

    At Appalachian Piecework I am experimenting with different types of dyeing.  Natural dyeing is one that I find great satisfaction in.  The fact that I can dye the wood fibers alongside the cloth excites me.  The wood element adds so much, for many wood fibers contain dye.  When I am working with hickory bark, a beautiful strong yellow is created.  The black walnut hull contains juglone, a brown pigment which is a perfect dye for cloth, and a great stain for woodenware.  The experiments are endless.  In my products many of the textiles are naturally dyed.  I also work with a number of different fiber reactive dyes.  I'm learning about dyeing yardage for interior products such as bed and table linens.

You can view more of my baskets
in the GALLERY.

Basketry

Harvested in rural Randolph, Hampshire and Tucker Counties of West Virginia, hand-split oak and the bark of fire cherry, striped maple, hickory and pine create beautiful baskets.

In the springtime, I harvest tree bark for many of my baskets. The layer between the wood and the inner bark becomes slippery and you can peel the bark away from the wood. Many of my baskets are constructed from the inner bark of the hickory tree. When harvesting hickory bark I shave the outer bark with a drawknife to expose the inner bark. I then peel it away from the wood.

I also use honeysuckle and split white oak, which you can see in the basket at left.

Shibori

  Shibori is an inventive art of patterning textiles by creating 3-dimensional resists.  I create resists by stitching, clamping, pole-wrapping, binding, and knotting.  Here at Appalachian Piecework I have yardage as well as quilts, pillows, and scarves made from shibori dyed textiles.

Examples of shibori dyed textiles:

• Arashi Dyed Scarves
• Bomaki Dyed Scarves
• Shibori Dyed Tablerunner
• Out the Door (Quilt)