What Inspires Me?
Some of the most amazing discoveries are completely accidental. I do my design work in a computer software package that I taught myself how to use and I am much better with a sewing machine than I am with this software. While working on a design that included strong thorn-like shapes, I accidentally hit a […]
Early on in my career I was asked to create a set of stoles for the director of the Lutheran Deaconess Association. The interesting twist was that they wanted to solicit design ideas from their members. When all the ideas had been gathered, I sat down with the client and we worked out how to […]
I am occasionally asked to create a stole based on artwork produced by someone else. The challenge here is to adapt that artwork to the unique canvas of a stole, which is only five inches wide on both sides of a gap that varies with the body of the wearer. My usual approach is to […]
I was approached by the pastor of a new Disciples of Christ church to create a banner that would capture their identity. The church itself grew out of a mission to provide for people in need by running a thrift store that raised funds and donated clothing to their neighbors. They were immensely proud of […]
Stained glass windows offer lots of design inspiration, and using those design lines as the basis for textile art can highlight those windows and bring a renewed appreciation for the original art. Stoles referencing those designs have also been commissioned as going away gifts for departing clergy to remind them of their time at that […]
While sometimes the goal is to create something inspired by a logo that goes beyond the source material, sometimes what’s needed is a faithful replica of the original artwork that can be used as part of an organizational identity. These two pieces are examples of banners that did that quite successfully. It can be hard […]
While at a conference in Des Moines, a friend and I visited the DeMoines Art Center where I saw this painting by Sol LeWitt. I was taken with the dynamic beauty of this piece and I remembered it for years after. One of the struggles of this work is that so much time is spent […]
Sometimes I like to challenge myself to convey a significant theme in as simple and streamlined way as I possibly can. These three nails accented by radiant purple silk dupioni are the very essence of Good Friday and an elegant complement to other Lenten parament designs.
I am often asked to create banners based on church logos. The challenge is to interpret and expand upon the original design rather than just reproduce it. The banner for St. Martin’s Church was based on the cross etched into the brickwork on the side of the church building. To emphasize the diversity of the […]
Jim Hodges is an artist working in a variety of media. When I saw an exhibit of his work at the Contemporary Art Museum in St. Louis I was particulary captivated by his huge curtains comprised of silk flower petals hand stitched together. When a favorite client asked for something special for Easter, I thought […]
