As a textile artist, my medium is wool, the vibrant dance of colours, and the warmth created by my rugs. But with creation comes responsibility, and for me, that means weaving sustainability into every aspect of my rug-making practice.
Cradle to Cradle Design
The journey for me, begins at the end. Planning for these functional art pieces to eventually breakdown for recycling or composting, and allowing the rug to gracefully return to the earth from which it came sees me designing my rugs with disassembly in mind. How will it contribute to the world in it's eventual decay? Will it become a Frankenstein's monster that leaves behind some odd cocktail of materials to never return to the earth? I promise it won't because every aspect of it's creation is considered and intentioned. When a rug finally reaches the end of its lifespan, it can be composted, allowing the rug to quietly return to the earth. From Sheep to Studio: Sourcing with Conscience My wool is sourced from local thrifts, friend's shrunken sweaters, and blankets that are past their useful lives. These are all machine washed and cleaned using phosphate free soaps, and admittedly, they are dried using heat - but just enough to tighten the weave to the perfect weight. I try to find the colours that work best for what I have in mind. Currently, I am looking for green, red, and I usually need yellow. But I do tap into the vibrant hues offered by nature itself. I sometimes try to dye the perfect shade. Plants, flowers, wood, and even kitchen scraps become my colour palette, each infusing the wool with unique, organic tones. This not only minimizes environmental impact but also creates rugs with an inherent authenticity and depth that synthetic dyes simply cannot match.
Waste Not, Want Not: Minimizing and Repurposing
Amazingly, my creative process generates almost no waste. I purchase used burlap and sisal coffee sacks, which are washed by hand using non-detergent soaps and rubbed gently with wax when warm to provide a softer hand during construction. Smaller off cuts of burlap are reused into compact works, used for friends or incorporated into larger rugs.
Similarly, no wool 'noodles' are too small to use for dots of colour here or there. Occasionally I compost a handful of threads, but even leftover dye baths are used to create smaller, experimental pieces, ensuring nothing goes to waste and I have grades of colour value.
Sustainable Steps, Lasting Impact
By making thoughtful choices throughout the entire rug-making process, I believe I can create beautiful, functional pieces that tread lightly on our planet, and even bring a splash of joy underfoot for lifetimes. This commitment to sustainability isn't just a trend; it's an integral part of my artistic expression. It's about honouring the materials, respecting the environment, and leaving a legacy that goes beyond the beauty of the rug itself.
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