I have chosen to work with silk because to me it is the most luxurious and beautiful natural fibre there is. It is light and sensuous to feel, and when wrapped around you is comforting and somehow undemanding. Its wonderful lustre is understated, yet exudes luxury. There is no fabric like it. It is also tough…in fact it is one of the strongest natural fibres. It is used for the most glamorous of royal gowns, and it is used for parachutes!
I use silk dyes in preference to organic dyes. I prefer the versatility and durability of the wonderful vibrant colours. I use only red, blue, yellow, and a little bit of black. I mix and blend these colours, working to get just the right tones and hues I am looking for. The process I use has nine steps – and it is only when I have completed the final step that I will be able to judge whether the result is what I intended. I sometimes dye an item three or four times before getting the result I require. Currently I do my work out in the garden where I am surrounded by trees and birds, and the whole experience is exhilirating for me.
I avoid mass production, preferring to dye each item individually. This enables me to attain the special effect I am wanting. I do repeat particularly popular colour combination, however no two scarves are identical. Each item is unique and different in its shade or tone or pattern. I dye each item using my creativity, and not scientifically; so I would not be able to reproduce exactly the same colours anyway!
I approach my work as an artist with a blank canvas – seeking inspiration from my surroundings.
