Artist : Dana Barnes

Dana Barnes is already well known and respected as a fashion designer but her new line of felted objects is clearly her best yet. Barnes recently unveiled her Souled Objects line in a show entitled  Unspun at Ralph Pucci International, Gallery Nine, in late 2012.

 I had been hearing rumors and seeing little 'coming soon' images of her work for months. Yet, every time I hit the website, there was no data. At some point I gave up looking, so despondent.

And then, there it was, one day while reading my friend Lari's blog, images. Finally, images.

The work is gorgeous. Fat, knubby, natural fibers that twist and turn and lie beautifully on the floor. She clearly has a love of felt and natural fibers.

What really surprised me, though, was the story behind their creation. She made these felted pieces as a solution to complaints from downstairs neighbors about her daughters' loud footsteps on the wood floors.

What a gem of a solution for everyone, especially the kids. Can you imagine growing up with that? How cool they must think their mom is. If only mine thought the same.

You can see her pieces at her website, Souled Objects. Pour yourself a cup of tea before you sit down as it's a bit of a slow stroll through the work (I'm guessing that was on purpose). Read a wonderful article about the work in the New York Times here.

New post on Fibershed over at Handful of Salt

I've got a new article about the Bay Area Fibershed project over at Handful of Salt. Head on over and check it out here.

Founder Rebecca Burgess wears an indigo dyed tunic hand knit by Heidi Iverson
using Sally Fox cotton. Image by Paige Green Photography.

Learn more about the Fibershed project here. Update: Thank you Ronnie for the links to these amazing podcasts on the project here and here.

Artist : Paula Leen

I came across Paula Leen's work a few years ago in one of my numerous design mags I'm addicted to. It was her converted barn in Friesland, Netherlands that first caught my eye. 

Vogue Living article, Nov/Dec 2008.

But once I realized all that amazing fiber art throughout her home was hers, I knew I needed to dig up more on her. What is it about you Netherlanders these days? I'm just loving the work coming out of your country!

She is one of those rare people who breathes, eats, and lives her art every day. Her pieces are the most beautiful functional artworks I've come across.

Her wool is sourced locally and back in 2008 when I read the interview, she had hopes of raising sheep herself.

She makes throws, wall hangings, rugs, lampshades, cushions, etc. You name a home product and she's made an amazing interpretation of it.

Read an interview with Paula here, see her website here and buy her work here. I have no idea how much her wares cost but I suspect it's a pretty penny ... and it's worth it!

Artisan : Mariem Besbes

I suppose I have to create a new category when talking about the textile designer, Mariem Besbes. While flipping through an old Marie Claire Maison from 2007, I rediscovered her work. I think I bought the magazine because of the amazing images and now three years later, here I was working with what I think is her wool gauze. She weaves the most incredibly beautiful fabric and the colors offered are stunningly rich. 

Image from Rue de L ......

According to her website, the openwork weaving, originally called Peplos in Greek, was originally worn as a seamless garment. She decided to learn the ancient art, bringing in her own style and sense of color. And all of those incredible colors are ground by her own hands.

Image from Rue de L .....

A weaver in Tunisia, Mariem learned her grandfather had made this cloth before turning to silk weaving in 1910. She decided to go back to her family roots. I have no idea if the wool gauze I'm using in my new series is the same, I hope so. I would love to see those other colors in person, I bet they're even more beautiful. See her website here for more detailed photos. You can find her cloth easily in Europe, not so easily here in the States.