FANfare Blog

Perez’s sketchbooks are where her creative magic begins—a space for experimenting with dyes, acrylic inks, and intricate textile techniques like shibori and monoprinting. These pages are the foundation of her richly textured fabrics and complex patterns, offering us a glimpse into the alchemical process that transforms her ideas into art.
The challenge lay in finding a way to bring a Wind Phone to Burning Man, adapting it to the environment while integrating it with her work in fibers.
Eliza Day-Green’s artistry goes beyond simple categorization. As the fifth featured artist in Fiber Art Now’s ongoing series, her work spans a vibrant spectrum. From wearable art to sculpting with natural fibers, her creative journey is one of constant experimentation and innovation.
“My stitching is a reflection of the calmness, tranquility, and contentedness that I feel when sitting at the sewing machine and creating. Sewing is my meditation, and the art emerges from this experience.”
We're continuing our exploration of the sketchbook practices of different artists. In this post, join us as we interview Elise Vazelakis. Vazelakis uses recycled materials—like Amazon Prime envelopes—in her creations, and she is a juried member of California Fibers.
Jacqueline Rueff started her artistic journey as a sculptor, making a variety of art dolls and elaborate wall sculptures called Woodland Spirits. Over time, she decided she needed to find something else to feed her creative spirit, something that wouldn’t tax her body so much. On a whim, she took a three-hour course on broom making . . . and she fell in love.
At the heart of the creative process for the three artists featured here lies a simple yet powerful tool: the sketchbook. Through their stories, they reveal how their sketchbooks serve as repositories of ideas and catalysts for their work.
In the bustling corridors of Coupeville, Washington, Middle School, amidst the chaos of academics and extracurricular activities, lies a haven of tranquility and creativity—the Knitting Club.
A unique blend of art and community engagement was hosted at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences in Charleston, West Virginia. Art After Dark is a vibrant event with live music and art demonstrations by local artists. Offering free access to the Juliet Art Museum at the Center, it allows community members to immerse themselves in creativity.
“Turns out, the fleece was really nice and readily accepted by hand-spinners, who seemed to love it.” This “new” fleece proved to be of excellent quality, and after brainstorming some ideas, Kentucky Wool Works was born.
Looking around the gallery, it was exciting to see the newly created works by 37 extraordinary textile artists. Each piece was exquisitely crafted and conveyed profound messages on current topics such as war, the climate emergency, plastics in our oceans, freedom of religion, and the relentless search for respite from misinformation and digital connectivity in the 21st century.
In a society that often emphasizes individualism and consumption, Threaded Together’s Create + Connect initiative stands as a beacon of community-building and empowerment. By providing a space for people to interact with materials, realize their agency, and celebrate their interconnection, the organization is contributing to the resilience of the community, one Wednesday night at a time.

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