textile art Archives - MobiSpirit MobiSpirit Mon, 18 Apr 2022 09:21:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Zoe Gilbertson Explores Color and Geometry Through Hand Stitching https://mobispirit.com/zoe-gilbertson-explores-color-and-geometry-through-hand-stitching/ Mon, 25 Apr 2022 08:56:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=25702 There’s something undeniably satisfying about intricate needlework, and if this needlework happens to be gratifying in terms of color choices—all the better. “The act of hand stitching is still very traditional and loaded with meaning,” says textile artist Zoe Gilbertson. Situated at a crossroad between traditional pastimes and modern artwork, her embroidery work is well […]

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There’s something undeniably satisfying about intricate needlework, and if this needlework happens to be gratifying in terms of color choices—all the better. “The act of hand stitching is still very traditional and loaded with meaning,” says textile artist Zoe Gilbertson. Situated at a crossroad between traditional pastimes and modern artwork, her embroidery work is well balanced: an exploration of geometry and color.

“Visually I want to create something modern and relevant to contemporary art today and the digital references are formed through the design of the artwork,” relayed Gilbertson in an interview with Venison Magazine. Indeed, her color composition might remind you of a digital, pixelized modern artwork.

Her work includes color studies of gradients moving through shades and single color studies and exploration of fades, gradients, and geometry. Seen from a distance, you might not realize the intricate stitching that goes into each piece.

“Sometimes I plan out a work in advance digitally and intricately,” explains Gilbertson. Other times, she’ll “stitch straight onto the canvas with only a vague plan in mind.” Her materials are also a mix of the traditional and the more contemporary and include wool, spraypaint, and tapestry canvas.

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Why Not Add a Woven Wall Hanging to Your Home? https://mobispirit.com/why-not-add-a-woven-wall-hanging-to-your-home/ Sun, 03 May 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=24751 Now, more than ever, we’re looking for some comfort, and if that comfort comes in the literal form of a woven wall hanging, all the better (we’ve never been keen on metaphorical comfort anyhow). Maryanne Moodie’s breaths comfort and chic into the living room. Inspired by the intricacies of vintage textiles, traditional costuming, and modern […]

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Now, more than ever, we’re looking for some comfort, and if that comfort comes in the literal form of a woven wall hanging, all the better (we’ve never been keen on metaphorical comfort anyhow). Maryanne Moodie’s breaths comfort and chic into the living room.

Inspired by the intricacies of vintage textiles, traditional costuming, and modern art, as well as the natural world, her work is both sophisticated and organic. But what really stands out is her unexpected color combinations, making the overall design pack a punch.

Working between Melbourne and Brooklyn, NY, Moodie divides her time between designing and creating woven wall hangings, developing weaving kits, and teaching sold-out workshops across the world. “Weaving is something that I am passionate about and get great pleasure from, and so I am able to use my expertise in education to share this passion with others,” she shared in an interview with Diary of a Smart Chick. “The love and inspiration and energy that I get from my students is the most important part in moving this craft forward and creating newness.”

Her work has also gained a cult following of sorts, amassing more than 120k followers on Instagram, and featured in publications like New York MagazineAnthology, and O Magazine. Thankfully, you can also purchase her woven pieces on Etsy. Moodie also offers DIY kits so you can weave a wall hanging yourself (God knows you have the time).

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Creeping on up that huge loom.

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Studio scenes #weaving

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This Textile Artist is an Improv Quilter https://mobispirit.com/this-textile-artist-is-an-improv-quilter/ Mon, 20 Apr 2020 11:53:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=24469 Like most textile artists, Cindy Grisdela comes from a long line of women who have expressed themselves using a needle and thread. “Creating with various forms of fabric and thread has been a part of my life since I was a child,” she explains in her bio. But curiously enough, Grisdela is the first quilter […]

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Like most textile artists, Cindy Grisdela comes from a long line of women who have expressed themselves using a needle and thread. “Creating with various forms of fabric and thread has been a part of my life since I was a child,” she explains in her bio.

But curiously enough, Grisdela is the first quilter in her family. She’s also the first to treat her hobby as a full-time job, showcasing her quilts in fine art and fine craft shows nationwide.

Based in Reston, VA, Grisdela finds inspiration for her contemporary wall quilts from the view of nature outside her window. “Pebbles on the path or currents in water might become part of the texture I stitch into each piece,” she writes poetically. “Color combinations in bird feathers or flowering plants might slip into the palette I use to start my next design.”

The process itself relies on intuition, a technique she learned through trial and error and which she compares to jazz music, with both forms of art relying on improvisation. “Putting colors together intuitively, I like to use fabric the way a painter might use paint to create graphic compositions that engage the viewer from a distance, yet invite a closer look,” explains Grisdela.

The end result, though colorful and sometimes chaotic, has a rhythm of its own, reminding of the organic movement and patterns found outdoors. Take a look for yourself.

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Meghan Shimek’s Obsession With Weaving Turned Into Her Life’s Work https://mobispirit.com/meghan-shimeks-obsession-with-weaving-turned-into-her-lifes-work/ Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:04:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=23894 With a background in history and nutrition, Meghan Shimek’s creative journey was a surprising one. Born and raised in Michigan, and currently based in Oakland, California, Shimek took to weaving in 2013 while visiting her family back at home. “I took a scarf weaving class and was completely hooked,” she recalled in an interview with […]

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With a background in history and nutrition, Meghan Shimek’s creative journey was a surprising one. Born and raised in Michigan, and currently based in Oakland, California, Shimek took to weaving in 2013 while visiting her family back at home.

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Installing this morning at @atmysphere_co 💕

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“I took a scarf weaving class and was completely hooked,” she recalled in an interview with The Project for Women. “Ever since I have been taking as many weaving classes as I can and reading books and trying out different techniques.”

What began as a simple way to pass the time would soon blossom into her life’s work. Now, with little over 60k followers on Instagram, Shimek exhibits her work worldwide and teaches her learned techniques through weaving workshops.

Over the years, Shimek has become recognized for her massive woven wall hangings. Exploring the fibers’ organic movement, Shimek’s weaving style allows the fibers to fall into an indeterminate pattern that reveals the beauty and vulnerability of her materials. Amongst her acquired techniques are tapestry and Navajo weaving, rigid heddle, and floor loom weaving.

“I wasn’t an artist before I started weaving and honestly felt pretty intimidated to jump in and meet all these people who have been working in these fields for years,” she admits. But she shouldn’t have been intimidated. “The weaving community especially has been amazing,” says Shimek. “All these wonderful people sharing their work and explaining techniques, it really resonates with me.”

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Hiné Mizushima Takes Needle Felting to the Next Level https://mobispirit.com/hine-mizushima-takes-needle-felting-to-the-next-level/ Thu, 02 Apr 2020 12:31:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=23875 Though playful in nature, Hiné Mizushima’s needle felted creations aren’t meant to be played with. Exhibited in galleries in the US, Australia, and Japan, and featured in books and magazines, as well as commissioned for campaigns and publications, they’re better described as soft sculptures than toys. Born in Japan, Mizushima majored in Japanese traditional painting before […]

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Though playful in nature, Hiné Mizushima’s needle felted creations aren’t meant to be played with. Exhibited in galleries in the US, Australia, and Japan, and featured in books and magazines, as well as commissioned for campaigns and publications, they’re better described as soft sculptures than toys.

Born in Japan, Mizushima majored in Japanese traditional painting before working as a designer and Illustrator in Tokyo. But after some moving around, she found she was much more drawn to craft than art. Now based in Vancouver, Canada, she describes herself as a slow crafter, with her work including needle felting, miniature collage making, and stop-motion animation videos.

As part of her work, Mizushima has been commissioned to make music videos for the band They Might Be Giants, and has made miniature collages for several book covers in Japan.

“It takes a long time to make a needle-felted piece,” she remarked in an interview with Frankie, “especially for me (I’m a slow crafter). It has also crippled me! (Seriously, I have been having a problem in my shoulder and arm for months!)”

“My work is a bit retro, twisted, fun, colorful, nerdy, and cute (but in questionable taste),” she adds. “Luckily I usually make what I want. And I hope my work can make people smile!”

Indeed, if her work doesn’t make you smile, we regret to say that nothing will.

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Emily Yeadon Creates Faux Taxidermy Out of Fabric https://mobispirit.com/emily-yeadon-creates-faux-taxidermy-out-of-fabric/ Wed, 01 Apr 2020 17:02:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=23854 Growing up in the countryside in a rural hamlet, deep in the North of England, textile artist Emily Yeadon was surrounded by open fields and ancient woodlands, with the Yorkshire Dale mountains towering above the horizon. So it comes as no surprise that her art is very much inspired by her childhood landscapes. “My work […]

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Growing up in the countryside in a rural hamlet, deep in the North of England, textile artist Emily Yeadon was surrounded by open fields and ancient woodlands, with the Yorkshire Dale mountains towering above the horizon. So it comes as no surprise that her art is very much inspired by her childhood landscapes.

“My work is heavily influenced by a particular museum that I discovered at the age of eleven while I was studying at a performing arts boarding school in Tring, UK,” she admitted in an interview with Enchanted Living Magazine. “The Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum is famous for holding one of the finest collections of stuffed mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects, and this amazing collection of animals is what triggered my obsession with taxidermy.”

And so, fueled by her childhood memories, she took to fabric, thread, and paint, creating an unbelievable realistic collection of faux taxidermy, that consists of insects and other small creatures. While taxidermy still greatly inspires her work, her creative process requires a different set of tools and thankfully, no animals are harmed in the process.

“One evening, I randomly decided to dust off my old sewing machine and rekindled my love for textiles,” she recalled. “I gradually began to incorporate fabrics and machine and hand embroidery into my wire creations at the very end of 2017.” Her progress on that front alone is remarkable.

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Textile Artist Plays Around With Color, Fabric, and Texture https://mobispirit.com/textile-artist-plays-around-with-color-fabric-and-texture/ Mon, 30 Mar 2020 14:27:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=23797 Lorena Marañon’s quilts are much more than simple blankets, they’re works of improvisational art. Based in Los Angeles, her work continuously challenges the dividing lines between art and craft, with her pieces intentionally raw, emphasizing details like uneven seams, raw edges and exposed thread ends. According to Marañon, her creative process relies on intuition and […]

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Lorena Marañon’s quilts are much more than simple blankets, they’re works of improvisational art. Based in Los Angeles, her work continuously challenges the dividing lines between art and craft, with her pieces intentionally raw, emphasizing details like uneven seams, raw edges and exposed thread ends.

According to Marañon, her creative process relies on intuition and spontaneity, using geometric shapes and techniques that include repetition. The result is an abstract landscape where the hand of the artist is present, drawing attention to the texture and weight of the materials being used.

“I love exploring all sorts of possible outcomes by simply playing around with color, fabric, print, and texture,” Marañon shared with Brown Paper Bag. “I am inspired most when I’m working, and ideas come in a frenzied rush and I just have to try new ways to lay out shapes, or new ways to mix mediums,” she adds. According to her, experimentation and fun fuel her quilted projects.

“I began quilting late 2013 when working for a fabric manufacturer,” she recalled. “I’d done many digital quilt designs there and understood the basic steps and terminology, and I thought that was enough to start on a project on my own. I dove right into a king-sized quilt using that experience.”

The rest was history.

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Taking it out of wip today 🔸

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finishing one and beginning another

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"Unrequited Quilt", 33×23", 2016

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Cat Rabbit Makes Nostaltic Plush Toys For Adults https://mobispirit.com/cat-rabbit-makes-nostaltic-plush-toys-for-adults/ Mon, 30 Mar 2020 12:07:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=23789 Textile artist Cat Rabbit first took to plush toys as a way to pass the time. “I first started making little plush toys for friends when I was studying at university,” she explained in an interview with AG Gallery. But what began as a simple hobby would soon blossom into a career. “My interest in […]

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Textile artist Cat Rabbit first took to plush toys as a way to pass the time. “I first started making little plush toys for friends when I was studying at university,” she explained in an interview with AG Gallery. But what began as a simple hobby would soon blossom into a career. “My interest in textiles grew from there and I began experimenting with embroidery and 3D felt techniques,” she says.

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A romantic outtake 🌹

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Based in Melbourne, her work includes illustrating books for children and collaborating with her creative friend, Isobel Knowles, under the name Soft Stories. But it’s her plush toys, or rather, soft sculptures, that really made a splash. All completely hand sewn, her pieces are made without using a pattern, so that each one is a stand-alone work.

As such, her work—though undeniably playful— isn’t meant to be played with, but rather, admired from a safe distance. “I like my work to engage a wide audience, so there are elements that appeal to young children and also an older generation,” says Rabbit. “My main objective when creating new work for exhibition is to incite feelings of comfort, joy and nostalgia – when I make a piece that encapsulates all of these elements, I am satisfied with the work!”

Her whimsical characters include a croissant-headed creature and anthropomorphized mushrooms. “I like to devise new characters all the time!” says Rabbit. “I get an idea in my head or sketch something out and am not satisfied until I work it up into a 3D character.”

Take a look at some of her work in the gallery below.

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🥐( ◠‿◠ )🥐

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These Objects’ Uniqueness Lies in Their Simplicity https://mobispirit.com/these-objects-uniqueness-lies-in-their-simplicity/ Sun, 08 Mar 2020 13:28:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=22829 There’s an irony to Jessica Dance’s textile art. Created after everyday objects (anything from sneakers and smartphones to ketchup bottles and coffee mugs), they’re meant to hint at the excess and overproduction in our fast-paced, immediate society; “the irony being each knitted or embroidered piece that I make has taken hours/days/weeks to create,” remarked Dance […]

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There’s an irony to Jessica Dance’s textile art. Created after everyday objects (anything from sneakers and smartphones to ketchup bottles and coffee mugs), they’re meant to hint at the excess and overproduction in our fast-paced, immediate society; “the irony being each knitted or embroidered piece that I make has taken hours/days/weeks to create,” remarked Dance in an interview with Lifestyle Tails.

An interior designer and model maker, Dance specializes in crafting models and props used in advertising campaigns, editorial commissions, window displays, and art installations. Her selected clients include brands like Christian Louboutin, Google, Mulberry, and Selfridges, making her seemingly ordinary objects a novelty that’s high on demand.

“I’m often inspired by very ‘normal’ everyday items, items that portray the luxury of choice and comfort in the western world,” she remarks. “I always aim for my work to be graphical, with a playful edge,” she adds. Her day to day includes sculpting, knitting or stitching.

According to Dance, knitting and embroidery are typically perceived as “feminine crafts”. However, she aims to take gender out of the equation when it comes to her work itself. “I always strive to produce a carefully considered design, with a strong concept, using quality materials,” she stressed.

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Building Up or Peeling Away: Dorris Vooijs’ Unique Art https://mobispirit.com/building-up-or-peeling-away-dorris-vooijs-unique-art/ Sat, 29 Feb 2020 07:23:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=22310 Dorris Vooijs likes to mix things up. Her artwork is an altogether unique crossbreed between painting, collage making, drawing, textile art, and digital art and it can’t be contained or defined properly. A mix of traditional and modern techniques, it relies on anything from acrylic and oil paints to spray paint, textiles, and Photoshop. Having studied […]

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Dorris Vooijs likes to mix things up. Her artwork is an altogether unique crossbreed between painting, collage making, drawing, textile art, and digital art and it can’t be contained or defined properly. A mix of traditional and modern techniques, it relies on anything from acrylic and oil paints to spray paint, textiles, and Photoshop.

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#sketching #illustration #dorrisvooijs

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Having studied Fine Arts at ArtEZ University in Arnhem and later obtained a BFA in Drawing and Art History, Vooijs’ art is built upon a solid foundation, an experimentation with shape and form. “I like to see what happens when you cross digital stuff and layer that with traditional methods,” she explains on her website. “Building up and peeling pieces away or scratching my way back to the surface, until I feel that it might be time to step back and leave it alone.”

Though her pieces vary, the process is fairly straight forward and usually begins with an image found on the internet or in magazines. Often, these images become the physical basis for Vooijs’ work. Using digital sketches, prints, markers, spray paint, thread, and ink, she transforms the original images so that they reflect her life and her aesthetics.

“Some pieces took so long I almost gave up,” she relayed in an interview with Jung Katz. “Actually, I did repaint a lot of my work… sometimes it’s just the quickest fix and besides that, it’s budget-friendly. I also often work on a couple of pieces simultaneously.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKZM4Avh_DR/
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#illustration

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#dorrisvooijs #FH

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ersion="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> textile art Archives - MobiSpirit MobiSpirit Mon, 18 Apr 2022 09:21:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Zoe Gilbertson Explores Color and Geometry Through Hand Stitching https://mobispirit.com/zoe-gilbertson-explores-color-and-geometry-through-hand-stitching/ Mon, 25 Apr 2022 08:56:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=25702 There’s something undeniably satisfying about intricate needlework, and if this needlework happens to be gratifying in terms of color choices—all the better. “The act of hand stitching is still very traditional and loaded with meaning,” says textile artist Zoe Gilbertson. Situated at a crossroad between traditional pastimes and modern artwork, her embroidery work is well […]

The post Zoe Gilbertson Explores Color and Geometry Through Hand Stitching appeared first on MobiSpirit.

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There’s something undeniably satisfying about intricate needlework, and if this needlework happens to be gratifying in terms of color choices—all the better. “The act of hand stitching is still very traditional and loaded with meaning,” says textile artist Zoe Gilbertson. Situated at a crossroad between traditional pastimes and modern artwork, her embroidery work is well balanced: an exploration of geometry and color.

“Visually I want to create something modern and relevant to contemporary art today and the digital references are formed through the design of the artwork,” relayed Gilbertson in an interview with Venison Magazine. Indeed, her color composition might remind you of a digital, pixelized modern artwork.

Her work includes color studies of gradients moving through shades and single color studies and exploration of fades, gradients, and geometry. Seen from a distance, you might not realize the intricate stitching that goes into each piece.

“Sometimes I plan out a work in advance digitally and intricately,” explains Gilbertson. Other times, she’ll “stitch straight onto the canvas with only a vague plan in mind.” Her materials are also a mix of the traditional and the more contemporary and include wool, spraypaint, and tapestry canvas.

The post Zoe Gilbertson Explores Color and Geometry Through Hand Stitching appeared first on MobiSpirit.

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Why Not Add a Woven Wall Hanging to Your Home? https://mobispirit.com/why-not-add-a-woven-wall-hanging-to-your-home/ Sun, 03 May 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=24751 Now, more than ever, we’re looking for some comfort, and if that comfort comes in the literal form of a woven wall hanging, all the better (we’ve never been keen on metaphorical comfort anyhow). Maryanne Moodie’s breaths comfort and chic into the living room. Inspired by the intricacies of vintage textiles, traditional costuming, and modern […]

The post Why Not Add a Woven Wall Hanging to Your Home? appeared first on MobiSpirit.

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Now, more than ever, we’re looking for some comfort, and if that comfort comes in the literal form of a woven wall hanging, all the better (we’ve never been keen on metaphorical comfort anyhow). Maryanne Moodie’s breaths comfort and chic into the living room.

Inspired by the intricacies of vintage textiles, traditional costuming, and modern art, as well as the natural world, her work is both sophisticated and organic. But what really stands out is her unexpected color combinations, making the overall design pack a punch.

Working between Melbourne and Brooklyn, NY, Moodie divides her time between designing and creating woven wall hangings, developing weaving kits, and teaching sold-out workshops across the world. “Weaving is something that I am passionate about and get great pleasure from, and so I am able to use my expertise in education to share this passion with others,” she shared in an interview with Diary of a Smart Chick. “The love and inspiration and energy that I get from my students is the most important part in moving this craft forward and creating newness.”

Her work has also gained a cult following of sorts, amassing more than 120k followers on Instagram, and featured in publications like New York MagazineAnthology, and O Magazine. Thankfully, you can also purchase her woven pieces on Etsy. Moodie also offers DIY kits so you can weave a wall hanging yourself (God knows you have the time).

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Creeping on up that huge loom.

A post shared by Maryanne Moodie (@maryannemoodie) on

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Studio scenes #weaving

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This Textile Artist is an Improv Quilter https://mobispirit.com/this-textile-artist-is-an-improv-quilter/ Mon, 20 Apr 2020 11:53:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=24469 Like most textile artists, Cindy Grisdela comes from a long line of women who have expressed themselves using a needle and thread. “Creating with various forms of fabric and thread has been a part of my life since I was a child,” she explains in her bio. But curiously enough, Grisdela is the first quilter […]

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Like most textile artists, Cindy Grisdela comes from a long line of women who have expressed themselves using a needle and thread. “Creating with various forms of fabric and thread has been a part of my life since I was a child,” she explains in her bio.

But curiously enough, Grisdela is the first quilter in her family. She’s also the first to treat her hobby as a full-time job, showcasing her quilts in fine art and fine craft shows nationwide.

Based in Reston, VA, Grisdela finds inspiration for her contemporary wall quilts from the view of nature outside her window. “Pebbles on the path or currents in water might become part of the texture I stitch into each piece,” she writes poetically. “Color combinations in bird feathers or flowering plants might slip into the palette I use to start my next design.”

The process itself relies on intuition, a technique she learned through trial and error and which she compares to jazz music, with both forms of art relying on improvisation. “Putting colors together intuitively, I like to use fabric the way a painter might use paint to create graphic compositions that engage the viewer from a distance, yet invite a closer look,” explains Grisdela.

The end result, though colorful and sometimes chaotic, has a rhythm of its own, reminding of the organic movement and patterns found outdoors. Take a look for yourself.

The post This Textile Artist is an Improv Quilter appeared first on MobiSpirit.

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Meghan Shimek’s Obsession With Weaving Turned Into Her Life’s Work https://mobispirit.com/meghan-shimeks-obsession-with-weaving-turned-into-her-lifes-work/ Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:04:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=23894 With a background in history and nutrition, Meghan Shimek’s creative journey was a surprising one. Born and raised in Michigan, and currently based in Oakland, California, Shimek took to weaving in 2013 while visiting her family back at home. “I took a scarf weaving class and was completely hooked,” she recalled in an interview with […]

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With a background in history and nutrition, Meghan Shimek’s creative journey was a surprising one. Born and raised in Michigan, and currently based in Oakland, California, Shimek took to weaving in 2013 while visiting her family back at home.

View this post on Instagram

Installing this morning at @atmysphere_co 💕

A post shared by meghan shimek (@meghanshimek) on

“I took a scarf weaving class and was completely hooked,” she recalled in an interview with The Project for Women. “Ever since I have been taking as many weaving classes as I can and reading books and trying out different techniques.”

What began as a simple way to pass the time would soon blossom into her life’s work. Now, with little over 60k followers on Instagram, Shimek exhibits her work worldwide and teaches her learned techniques through weaving workshops.

Over the years, Shimek has become recognized for her massive woven wall hangings. Exploring the fibers’ organic movement, Shimek’s weaving style allows the fibers to fall into an indeterminate pattern that reveals the beauty and vulnerability of her materials. Amongst her acquired techniques are tapestry and Navajo weaving, rigid heddle, and floor loom weaving.

“I wasn’t an artist before I started weaving and honestly felt pretty intimidated to jump in and meet all these people who have been working in these fields for years,” she admits. But she shouldn’t have been intimidated. “The weaving community especially has been amazing,” says Shimek. “All these wonderful people sharing their work and explaining techniques, it really resonates with me.”

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Hiné Mizushima Takes Needle Felting to the Next Level https://mobispirit.com/hine-mizushima-takes-needle-felting-to-the-next-level/ Thu, 02 Apr 2020 12:31:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=23875 Though playful in nature, Hiné Mizushima’s needle felted creations aren’t meant to be played with. Exhibited in galleries in the US, Australia, and Japan, and featured in books and magazines, as well as commissioned for campaigns and publications, they’re better described as soft sculptures than toys. Born in Japan, Mizushima majored in Japanese traditional painting before […]

The post Hiné Mizushima Takes Needle Felting to the Next Level appeared first on MobiSpirit.

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Though playful in nature, Hiné Mizushima’s needle felted creations aren’t meant to be played with. Exhibited in galleries in the US, Australia, and Japan, and featured in books and magazines, as well as commissioned for campaigns and publications, they’re better described as soft sculptures than toys.

Born in Japan, Mizushima majored in Japanese traditional painting before working as a designer and Illustrator in Tokyo. But after some moving around, she found she was much more drawn to craft than art. Now based in Vancouver, Canada, she describes herself as a slow crafter, with her work including needle felting, miniature collage making, and stop-motion animation videos.

As part of her work, Mizushima has been commissioned to make music videos for the band They Might Be Giants, and has made miniature collages for several book covers in Japan.

“It takes a long time to make a needle-felted piece,” she remarked in an interview with Frankie, “especially for me (I’m a slow crafter). It has also crippled me! (Seriously, I have been having a problem in my shoulder and arm for months!)”

“My work is a bit retro, twisted, fun, colorful, nerdy, and cute (but in questionable taste),” she adds. “Luckily I usually make what I want. And I hope my work can make people smile!”

Indeed, if her work doesn’t make you smile, we regret to say that nothing will.

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Emily Yeadon Creates Faux Taxidermy Out of Fabric https://mobispirit.com/emily-yeadon-creates-faux-taxidermy-out-of-fabric/ Wed, 01 Apr 2020 17:02:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=23854 Growing up in the countryside in a rural hamlet, deep in the North of England, textile artist Emily Yeadon was surrounded by open fields and ancient woodlands, with the Yorkshire Dale mountains towering above the horizon. So it comes as no surprise that her art is very much inspired by her childhood landscapes. “My work […]

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Growing up in the countryside in a rural hamlet, deep in the North of England, textile artist Emily Yeadon was surrounded by open fields and ancient woodlands, with the Yorkshire Dale mountains towering above the horizon. So it comes as no surprise that her art is very much inspired by her childhood landscapes.

“My work is heavily influenced by a particular museum that I discovered at the age of eleven while I was studying at a performing arts boarding school in Tring, UK,” she admitted in an interview with Enchanted Living Magazine. “The Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum is famous for holding one of the finest collections of stuffed mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects, and this amazing collection of animals is what triggered my obsession with taxidermy.”

And so, fueled by her childhood memories, she took to fabric, thread, and paint, creating an unbelievable realistic collection of faux taxidermy, that consists of insects and other small creatures. While taxidermy still greatly inspires her work, her creative process requires a different set of tools and thankfully, no animals are harmed in the process.

“One evening, I randomly decided to dust off my old sewing machine and rekindled my love for textiles,” she recalled. “I gradually began to incorporate fabrics and machine and hand embroidery into my wire creations at the very end of 2017.” Her progress on that front alone is remarkable.

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Textile Artist Plays Around With Color, Fabric, and Texture https://mobispirit.com/textile-artist-plays-around-with-color-fabric-and-texture/ Mon, 30 Mar 2020 14:27:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=23797 Lorena Marañon’s quilts are much more than simple blankets, they’re works of improvisational art. Based in Los Angeles, her work continuously challenges the dividing lines between art and craft, with her pieces intentionally raw, emphasizing details like uneven seams, raw edges and exposed thread ends. According to Marañon, her creative process relies on intuition and […]

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Lorena Marañon’s quilts are much more than simple blankets, they’re works of improvisational art. Based in Los Angeles, her work continuously challenges the dividing lines between art and craft, with her pieces intentionally raw, emphasizing details like uneven seams, raw edges and exposed thread ends.

According to Marañon, her creative process relies on intuition and spontaneity, using geometric shapes and techniques that include repetition. The result is an abstract landscape where the hand of the artist is present, drawing attention to the texture and weight of the materials being used.

“I love exploring all sorts of possible outcomes by simply playing around with color, fabric, print, and texture,” Marañon shared with Brown Paper Bag. “I am inspired most when I’m working, and ideas come in a frenzied rush and I just have to try new ways to lay out shapes, or new ways to mix mediums,” she adds. According to her, experimentation and fun fuel her quilted projects.

“I began quilting late 2013 when working for a fabric manufacturer,” she recalled. “I’d done many digital quilt designs there and understood the basic steps and terminology, and I thought that was enough to start on a project on my own. I dove right into a king-sized quilt using that experience.”

The rest was history.

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Taking it out of wip today 🔸

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finishing one and beginning another

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"Unrequited Quilt", 33×23", 2016

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Cat Rabbit Makes Nostaltic Plush Toys For Adults https://mobispirit.com/cat-rabbit-makes-nostaltic-plush-toys-for-adults/ Mon, 30 Mar 2020 12:07:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=23789 Textile artist Cat Rabbit first took to plush toys as a way to pass the time. “I first started making little plush toys for friends when I was studying at university,” she explained in an interview with AG Gallery. But what began as a simple hobby would soon blossom into a career. “My interest in […]

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Textile artist Cat Rabbit first took to plush toys as a way to pass the time. “I first started making little plush toys for friends when I was studying at university,” she explained in an interview with AG Gallery. But what began as a simple hobby would soon blossom into a career. “My interest in textiles grew from there and I began experimenting with embroidery and 3D felt techniques,” she says.

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A romantic outtake 🌹

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Based in Melbourne, her work includes illustrating books for children and collaborating with her creative friend, Isobel Knowles, under the name Soft Stories. But it’s her plush toys, or rather, soft sculptures, that really made a splash. All completely hand sewn, her pieces are made without using a pattern, so that each one is a stand-alone work.

As such, her work—though undeniably playful— isn’t meant to be played with, but rather, admired from a safe distance. “I like my work to engage a wide audience, so there are elements that appeal to young children and also an older generation,” says Rabbit. “My main objective when creating new work for exhibition is to incite feelings of comfort, joy and nostalgia – when I make a piece that encapsulates all of these elements, I am satisfied with the work!”

Her whimsical characters include a croissant-headed creature and anthropomorphized mushrooms. “I like to devise new characters all the time!” says Rabbit. “I get an idea in my head or sketch something out and am not satisfied until I work it up into a 3D character.”

Take a look at some of her work in the gallery below.

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🥐( ◠‿◠ )🥐

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These Objects’ Uniqueness Lies in Their Simplicity https://mobispirit.com/these-objects-uniqueness-lies-in-their-simplicity/ Sun, 08 Mar 2020 13:28:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=22829 There’s an irony to Jessica Dance’s textile art. Created after everyday objects (anything from sneakers and smartphones to ketchup bottles and coffee mugs), they’re meant to hint at the excess and overproduction in our fast-paced, immediate society; “the irony being each knitted or embroidered piece that I make has taken hours/days/weeks to create,” remarked Dance […]

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There’s an irony to Jessica Dance’s textile art. Created after everyday objects (anything from sneakers and smartphones to ketchup bottles and coffee mugs), they’re meant to hint at the excess and overproduction in our fast-paced, immediate society; “the irony being each knitted or embroidered piece that I make has taken hours/days/weeks to create,” remarked Dance in an interview with Lifestyle Tails.

An interior designer and model maker, Dance specializes in crafting models and props used in advertising campaigns, editorial commissions, window displays, and art installations. Her selected clients include brands like Christian Louboutin, Google, Mulberry, and Selfridges, making her seemingly ordinary objects a novelty that’s high on demand.

“I’m often inspired by very ‘normal’ everyday items, items that portray the luxury of choice and comfort in the western world,” she remarks. “I always aim for my work to be graphical, with a playful edge,” she adds. Her day to day includes sculpting, knitting or stitching.

According to Dance, knitting and embroidery are typically perceived as “feminine crafts”. However, she aims to take gender out of the equation when it comes to her work itself. “I always strive to produce a carefully considered design, with a strong concept, using quality materials,” she stressed.

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Building Up or Peeling Away: Dorris Vooijs’ Unique Art https://mobispirit.com/building-up-or-peeling-away-dorris-vooijs-unique-art/ Sat, 29 Feb 2020 07:23:00 +0000 https://mobispirit.com/?p=22310 Dorris Vooijs likes to mix things up. Her artwork is an altogether unique crossbreed between painting, collage making, drawing, textile art, and digital art and it can’t be contained or defined properly. A mix of traditional and modern techniques, it relies on anything from acrylic and oil paints to spray paint, textiles, and Photoshop. Having studied […]

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Dorris Vooijs likes to mix things up. Her artwork is an altogether unique crossbreed between painting, collage making, drawing, textile art, and digital art and it can’t be contained or defined properly. A mix of traditional and modern techniques, it relies on anything from acrylic and oil paints to spray paint, textiles, and Photoshop.

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#sketching #illustration #dorrisvooijs

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Having studied Fine Arts at ArtEZ University in Arnhem and later obtained a BFA in Drawing and Art History, Vooijs’ art is built upon a solid foundation, an experimentation with shape and form. “I like to see what happens when you cross digital stuff and layer that with traditional methods,” she explains on her website. “Building up and peeling pieces away or scratching my way back to the surface, until I feel that it might be time to step back and leave it alone.”

Though her pieces vary, the process is fairly straight forward and usually begins with an image found on the internet or in magazines. Often, these images become the physical basis for Vooijs’ work. Using digital sketches, prints, markers, spray paint, thread, and ink, she transforms the original images so that they reflect her life and her aesthetics.

“Some pieces took so long I almost gave up,” she relayed in an interview with Jung Katz. “Actually, I did repaint a lot of my work… sometimes it’s just the quickest fix and besides that, it’s budget-friendly. I also often work on a couple of pieces simultaneously.”

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#illustration

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#dorrisvooijs #FH

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