Artist Statement

I design and sew coats and shawls from animal fibers gathered on our Virginia farm.  Beautiful fiber begins with healthy, happy animals.  My Tunis sheep and Angora goats move to fresh grass every few days, regenerating healthy soils and sequestering carbon.  Tunis wool has a soft downy feel which I combine with the Angora’s mohair resulting in a soft, lustrous fiber that I needle-felt into a fabric that is airy, breathable and warm with a soft glow.  My designs have an architectural aesthetic that takes advantage of the structure of the felt and have a modern vibe while paying homage to classic designs by Dior and Balenciaga.  The natural colors of my goats and sheep result in fabric which is creamy white highlighted by grey or light brown, and can be bright with the color of organic dyes from the earth such as marigold from the garden, madder, osage orange, or indigo.  

As a shepherdess and fiber artist, I honor the gift of the sheep and goats by making beautiful, hand-crafted coats and shawls sewn with organic cotton thread and adorned with vintage buttons. My coats are thoughtfully designed, made to last a lifetime, bring joy to the wearer and are good for the earth.  Textiles are a part of our lives and identity, and I take pride in allowing people to connect with the natural beauty of the Virginia countryside and the ancient heritage of wool and mohair through my garments.

Artist Bio

The natural world has been a part of my life since I could follow my forester father into the woods. I grew up loving the Eastern forests and their flora and fauna. I learned to appreciate the quiet of the forest broken by birdsong, and the four seasons that brought changes seen through the wildflowers, the trees and the fruits of the forest. This early immersion in nature has colored both my art and my design.

In college I studied mechanical design, working as a manufacturing engineer on an automated printer manufacturing line. I returned to school at the beginning of the rise of globalization to study design methodology, earning a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. My interests turned to sustainable design and design for reuse and recycling.

After leaving academics in 2000, I learned to weave tapestries. I wove pieces inspired by nature, both seen on our farm and in the ocean, a world introduced to me by my husband. After leaving our farm in Virginia, I purchased a fabric store on Bainbridge Island. I expanded my knowledge of textiles and various sewing techniques, and was able to significantly improve my knowledge of quilting, garment sewing techniques, and garment design and pattern making.

Now, driven by my love of nature and animals and the desire to produce regeneratively grown, locally made fabric and garments, I am raising goats and sheep on our Virginia farm. These animals give us the fiber to make felted fabric that can be used to produce artfully designed and sewn outer wear that will make a unique fashion statement.