designing for the human form
changing the wearer's emotions
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.
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
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.
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.
Tunic created with hand-dyed pieces of various silks, pieced together with mosaic Nuno felt techniques. Shown here with the Tortoise Shell Cloak.
Hand-painted silk gauze, cut into pieces and pieced back together with black merino wool. Shown here with a black boa scarf. Featured in Kaleidascope, an online exhibition of the International Felt Makers Association.
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.
Light and airy, this shawl was created using hand-dyed silk gauze and shredded pre-felt shapes.
Shiny Habotai silk, nuno felt with hand-dyed superfine merino wool. Shown here with a silver circular vest.
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)
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.