I use a variety of techniques in an effort to create pieces that are tactile and invoke in the wearer a sense of personal attachment.” “In designing, making and living I see a strong relevance for the smallest things within the larger context the seed that becomes a plant, the jewelry on the wearer, our planet within the universe. The walls and pages of my sketchbook are covered with myriad images of my world from nano-photography of plant life to the expansiveness of the Grand Canyon. “My studio often resembles a laboratory with trays of specimens lined in rows. I inspect the world in great detail and have always collected shells, seedpods, stones and interesting organic elements. “My work is both organic and architectural, and is created from the visual fragments of a life collecting images. Erica’s work is inspired by observation and collection in nature. Every garment is handcrafted from start to finish - starting with selecting yarns and designing, then moving on to knitting, sewing seams, felting, blocking finished pieces, (or not blocking, just leaving deliciously crumpled & deconstructed).Įrica Stankwytch Bailey is both a maker of contemporary, handmade sterling silver jewelry and a teacher of metal smithing and jewelry fabrication. The subtlety of each piece belies unique textures, remarkable fibers and sculptural shapes. My pieces are understated, natural fiber creations. I find peace and joy in that space, quietly crossing barriers between fashion, craft, perhaps art. Cursing my mistakes or sobbing while unraveling hours of work has morphed into intrigue as an opportunity is offered by a dropped stitch, a random dye lot, a perceived mishap.Īn altered avenue of exploration presents itself, and I practice heeding the whispers that pull me on a new path. Knitting became increasingly intuitive when I began to pursue “perfection” in the craft. Architect Tadao Ando describes it as ‘underplayed and modest, the kind of quiet, undeclared beauty that waits patiently to be discovered.’ Every garment is handcrafted from start to finished, in small batch, artisanal production.” “My vision is founded in the Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic. The Perfect Gift: Wabi Sabi Pullover/Cropped Pull, $325/$240.The works of these 12 featured artists represent some of the highest-quality handmade crafts that could be offered as gifts this Christmas, with prices ranging from under $10 to breathtaking centerpiece furniture priced in the thousands. While the Guild and its precursor organizations honor the skills and traditions of mountain handmade, it also embraces traditional works exemplified by a Tamassee, South Carolina, leatherworker who fled Communism and brought his third-generation knowledge with him. This 12 Crafters for Christmas collection offers a wide variety of crafts from notecards or purses to metalwork and functional furniture. “The makers featured here carry their own craft story while furthering the legacy of handmade,” says Deborah Schillo, librarian and archivist of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Their modern work echoes the “joy in the handmade” that imbued the products of generations of mountain crafters, no matter whether the item was fundamentally utilitarian or a flight of fancy. These 12 Crafters for Christmas represent “time-honored traditions and a legacy of handcraft” native to the people of the southern Appalachians, as celebrated through their membership in the Southern Highland Craft Guild.
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