There is a soft spot in my soul for old and worn items, especially textiles. I find great pleasure in recycling abandoned articles of clothing into new works of art. I have a special kinship with old woolens, particularly old sweaters, which I turn into felted wool through a fulling process of repeated agitation in hot, soapy water. The resulting wool felt is thick, luxurious, and available in all the rich colors which seem to find their way to me via thrift stores, yard sales and caring friends.
My household motto, passed down from my grandmother, through my mother, and now from me to my daughter, is
waste not, want not. I find it very difficult to throw anything away because I can imagine a potential use for almost any object. My studio overflows with
stuff waiting, ever so patiently, to be used. It can be overwhelming at times to have so much in the way of raw materials. I actually work best when I have a limited amount of materials to work with. Nonetheless, when I handle my many vintage textiles - velvet, silk, lace, wool - often incorporating found objects, metals, jewels, and antique buttons into the creative process, I am quite happily in my element.
The making becomes a meditation and I become lost in the process.
The outcome runs the gamut from small art quilts, to penny rugs, garlands, ornaments, flags, purses, pincushions, scarves, cuffs, small samples of sewn folk art, dolls, and so on. I never know what direction I’ll head for . . . it’s a mystery.
Artist's statement: I'd like to set dreams free - yours or mine. I'd like to create things which are so meaningful they may just break my heart, or speak to your soul. Through my work, I hope to know us both better ..... to become closer to my core truth, to meet you (and you, and you), to learn about and honor this earth we all share.
I like it when my work speaks as well as when it listens.
Location: Redding, Connecticut, USA
Online shop: Wicked Waif Fiber
Blogs:
mornacrites-moore
mornacrites-moore (tumblr)
Social Media: LinkedIn
Memberships:
SAQA - Studio Art Quilt Associates
Languages spoken: English
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FLYING GEESE - recycled wool sweaters and vintage buttons, 16” x 16.5” |
Tags: "recycled sweaters" "felted wool" "vintage textiles" "buttons" "flags" "dolls" "little quilts" "penny rugs" "make do" "wicked waif"
