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Artist's Statement My work reflects my love for textiles, especially silks. My intention is to bring dynamic beauty, artfulness and functionality to simple designs. I explore the interplay and relationship of colors, textures and shapes in each one-of-a-kind reversible garment. I gather fine silk from around the world, including silk cloques, jacquards, dupionis, cut silk velvets, and crepe de chines. The silk is stretched over large frames to create the canvas. I hand-draw and hand-dye the silk with French silk dyes, utilizing numerous brushes in a similar manner as watercolor technique on paper. I often layer colors and strokes to produce new shades and rich depth. Using a steam chamber, I set the dyes which renders the silk colorfast. The silk is then hand washed and ironed prior to being cut and sewn. Often I will mix the dyed fabrics (raw silk, jacquards, cut velvets) to create a multi-textured, lush and sophisticated work. It is my hope that each person wearing my pieces will experience the joy of this process. Heather Laurie
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