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Plain or fancy, I believe textiles have tremendous power to help people connect by sharing their stories. Folks want to touch fabric, even when they think they shouldn't. Whether it's an art quilt or mixed media vessel, a functional bag or garment -- people want to touch. Touch triggers powerful emotions and memories. The hand may stop short of the piece on the wall. But really, how hard is it to imagine energy traveling through the hand into the brain, connecting with the memory of the satin edge on a baby blanket, then hooking up with shared cultural references and universal stories that transcend time? Anyway, that's the way I see it.
Sometimes, textiles get people to pause long enough to express admiration, ask a question, or otherwise engage in some dialog. Those connections may be fleeting, but can be powerful nonetheless. When textiles inspire people to celebrate or reflect on or just share bits of their own stories, this is a good thing. Stories help us make sense of the world and our place in it. The textiles attached to those stories may represent a specific face or place. Or they may be as abstract as triangles of fabric that represent flying geese. They may not represents anything, but invoke a mood that triggers a connection. Fun stuff.
In my own work, I choose textile techniques and materials to help me tell stories about relationships and connections -- between people, through time, about place. In the time I spend working on a piece, I'm reflecting on what I think I want to say, even if nobody ever actually hears that. Very often, I begin with a technique, followed by a "what if," and try to keep paying attention as the story evolves through the work.
Stitching is very important to me. And while the sewing machine is an important tool (I wouldn't want to give up any of my three), I truly love to stitch by hand. Stitching by hand helps me claim the time I need for reflection, even when I don't know how much I need to reflect.
You can learn more about how I use stitching, surface design and other techniques by following the links below. I'd love to hear how you use textile techniques to share your own story. Please visit my blog Two Red Threads or drop by on Facebook to join in a conversation about fiber art.
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