Based in my garden room studio, just above the Vale of Evesham, I create a range of unique, naturally hand dyed and eco printed silk scarves, using fresh plant materials gathered from my garden and natural plant extracts responsibly sourced from the wild. The relatively unpredictable nature of the process is always exciting, as the leaves give up their pigments and tannins to the silk and the final contact print is revealed.
Drawing on the diverse beauty of the natural world, I also create a range of nuno felted scarves and wraps, and wet felted original, textile wall art, 3d vessels and small, giftable items, like my individually hand crafted felt bookmarks. I love texture and colour and the hands-on approach to my craft, manipulating fibres and fabrics into something beautiful. Adding hand and free motion embroidery to some of my work, a closer inspection reveals the depth, texture and rich tones created through my use of wool, silks and other effect fibres.
I love to share my skills and to encourage others to explore their creativity too. In response to this, I teach needle felting picture workshops in my local area and have developed a small range of needle felting picture kits designed to do at home.
I have always been a naturally creative soul. I am pretty much self-taught, experimenting as I go and loving the tactile nature of my work. Every piece that I design and create, is inspired by my love of nature. Mostly, I am here at home, surrounded by lush green fields, gently undulating hills and woodland filled with wildlife. Occasionally, my love of the coast interrupts this rural idyll, and I am filled with an overwhelming desire to be by the sea in Cornwall. The colours of the ancient landscape and ever-changing light, reflected in the sea, feed into my work for a spell and creating something with a strong coastal narrative helps to satisfy my longing, for a little while at least!
You can find me, most days, on social media, where I might be showing you my latest hand-crafted pieces or sharing some of my making processes, interspersed with photos from my daily dog walks, documenting my love of nature, helping you to understand what I see and how it transfers to my textile art. Connecting with customers is important to me and I am always happy to chat! Locally, you can find a small selection of my work at The Court Barn Museum in Chipping Campden and at a number of local events throughout the year.
In the meantime, you can find more of my work in my online shop:
https://thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk/shop/louise-hancox-textile-artist/