My fiber artwork is designed from a combination of hand-dyed silks, layering and free-motion and bobbin machine embroidery. Painterly effects are created by thousands of stitches. Texture is achieved by determining the movement of the fabric under the needle. Layers of threads and yarns provide rich color and depth. The union of color, texture and image results in strikingly unusual stitched paintings.

As the first step in a multi-step process, I utilize traditional and innovative silk-painting techniques to apply silk dyes to different weaves of pure silk. The dyes are steam-set to ensure colorfastness.

Using my 30 year-old non-computerized sewing machine as a drawing tool, I blend and mix colors by layering threads and yarns. The way I move the fabric and adjust the stitch width allows me to create different types of stitches and effects, and enables me to truly draw and paint using the sewing machine as a somewhat noisy paintbrush. Typically, I do not draw on the fabric other than with the thread. I have a photo next to me as a reference as I work.

Some pieces incorporate collage and felting techniques in addition to dyed silks and layering. I incorporate small pieces of different weaves and hues of pure silk to "paint" the image. Each shade of color in the collage is produced by a different piece of fabric. Using a needle felting technique, I assemble the work without the use of adhesives.

The imagery in my work is inspired by local gardens, including my own, the gardens of friends, and favorite parks in and near Munich, Germany.

The fiber artwork is stretched, matted with rag matboard and framed. Most pieces are framed with aluminum sectional moulding in a somewhat neutral metal color called Old World Pewter. The artwork is framed behind glass to protect it. Very large pieces have UV acrylic glazing rather than glass. Artwork is also available matted, but unframed.

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