patti barker

Two-piece ensemble, Dream Sequence was created for wearable art shows.

Mosaic Surreal Nuno Felt design created for wearable art shows.

The first of a 3-piece ensemble, created for wearable art shows.

The first of a 3-piece ensemble created for wearable art shows.

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

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.

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

The snakeskin poncho inspired while viewing ancient cave art at Les Combarelles, in the Dordogne region of Southern France. Created using silk gauze, merino wool and silk fibers with painters tape resist methods. Photo by John Sinclair, modeled by Lori Ann David

This one-of-a-kind cloak was created using three different kinds of sheer silk that were hand dyed. They were fused together using mosaic nuno felt techniques. Honorable Mention Award, 2017 Wearable Expressions, Palos Verdes Art Center.

Inspired by colorful cathedral windows, I enjoy creating something warm and soft, inspired by something hard and cold. "Excellence in Fiber" award winner, Fiber Art Now 2017

Tortoise Shell Cloak is a mosaic nuno felt dress coat, created as part of a simulated animal skin series. "Excellence In Fibers V," Fiber Art Now Magazine & Muskegon Museum of Art. Photo by John Sinclair, modeled by Lori Ann David

Note the large, Jackie-O style collar and the hand made clay buttons.

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.

Hand-painted silk gauze, cut into pieces and pieced back together with black merino wool. Shown here with a black boa scarf.

Inspired by ancient cave paintings in Southern France, the Raven's Cloak was used by Shaman to transcend spirit realms.

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

Light and airy, this shawl was created using hand-dyed silk gauze and shredded pre-felt shapes.

Tunic created with hand-dyed pieces of various silks, pieced together with mosaic Nuno felt techniques. Shown here with the Tortoise Shell Cloak.

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

Light and airy, this shawl is just what you need for a cool Summer eve. Hand-dyed peacock blue spirals of fine merino wool encircle sheer silk gauze.

Shiny Habotai silk, nuno felt with hand-dyed superfine merino wool. Shown here with a silver circular vest.

Created as a window dressing for Ragfinery, "Dream Sequence" is a compilation of reused silks, mosaic nuno felt, embellished with surface design techniques.

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)

Silver Mist inspired by the the cool damp feeling of thick fog. Several silks and fine merino wool merged with mosaic nuno felt techniques.

Nuno felt silks and fine merino wool, with handspun art yarn.
(skirt view)

Springtime crocuses and purity inspired Nuno felt tunic. (top view, shown w/flower necklace)

Silks and fine merino wool blended as mosaics and felted into one beautiful piece of wearable art.

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.

Luxury and uniqueness in one original piece. Felted with shades of blue hand-painted silk chiffon, edged with Wensleydale locks

Only the finest flair will do…Bourgeois is one-of-a-kind. She was created using silk chiffon, merino wool, wool locks, yarn and silk fibers. It buttons up the front with hand made flower-shaped clay buttons.

note button detail at side hemline
(see full photo for full description)

Stone Windows is sheer textural delight. Hand dyed silk chiffon base felted with merino wool, embellished with Wensleydale locks and silk fibers.