Do the twist
In today’s world of fibre art, it can be difficult to create a piece that sets you apart from the rest, but Ashley shares how she found her unique and abstract style.
Hello, who are you?
Hi! My name is Ashley! I have been married for nine years and have three kids – ages seven, five, and two. I have lived in Florida for most of my life. I like plants,,I Love Lucy, and the beach. I have stayed home with our kids since my eldest was born. I studied graphic design and dance in college. After college, I moved to Turkey to join a creative arts ministry team. My first experience with fibre was knitting a scarf while I stayed in a small village in an attempt to learn Turkish. I remember being so relieved to have something to keep my hands busy while I desperately tried to understand the conversations around me. I didn't want the knitting to end and as a result, I have a very long scarf! I didn't expect to come back to fibre years later, but I am thrilled to have discovered the joy of tying knots again.
How long does a piece typically take to make?
It depends on a few factors – size, the type of knots, how many times I decide to restart a section, and the number of layers. I usually only work after my kids are in bed, so an average piece can take a couple of weeks.
Do you plan a piece before you start, or do you just go with the flow?
Sometimes I have a vague idea of how I want to start, but almost always I just wing it. Sometimes there are parts of the branch I want to leave visible, so I will work around those. Overall, going with the flow is how I roll!
I love the abstract twists and turns in your wall hangings. What inspires this?
I really worked to find my own style. There are so many macramé makers online now so I try very hard not to make anything that has been done over and over by others. Last fall we were preparing for the very slow moving Hurricane Dorian to hit us (thankfully it never did). As we prepared, I was also working on a small piece. I added a four-strand braid and was playing around with it to try to make it more interesting than a braid just hanging there. I discovered that because I braid so tightly the rope naturally curls. I turned it horizontally and attached it to the opposite side of the piece. The effect reminded me of the swirling winds and waves of a hurricane. I added a bunch more braids and the end result was unexpectedly beautiful and sculptural! Since then I have played with braids going in different directions, tried using multiple colours, and added multiple layers of braids.
How long have you been a macramé maker?
I made my first piece in 2017 (it was a true masterpiece too). I created inconsistently for about a year, and then started steadily producing work.
What is your favourite thing about fibre art?
The repetitive, sometimes mindless nature of tying knot after knot is what hooked me. Since I usually work after a long day of kid wrangling, being able to just sit and have my hands occupied is calming. I also love the creative process – the ups and downs, the problem solving, the utter joy when something unexpectedly beautiful is created, and even having to untie a million knots. It's truly why I keep making work – not to sell (although it's thrilling when something does sell), but because the process is so addictive.
How would you describe your creative style?
Colourful, bold, and unique. Full of movement, happiness, and hope.
What are you working on at the moment?
I'm starting to explore ‘sculpting’ with fibre. I'm working on making multiple sculptures that I hope to arrange together on my wall, a bit like an installation piece. I'm also continuing to make smaller wall hangings that I can price a bit cheaper than my larger pieces. I am currently drawn to bright, bold colours that you don't see as often, so I have been mostly working with colour.
What puts you in the mood to create?
Having good momentum and knowing that I can build a piece any way I want is very motivating. Sometimes I'm not in the mood and I just start anyway. Once I start, my mood usually changes. Being able to enjoy a lovely colour while I work is also inspiring and invigorating!
What is your creative space like?
My creative space is scattered all over our house! We live in a two-bedroom townhouse, so I have a little corner of our bedroom set aside for my supplies. My cord lives in a desk my dad made years ago and for a long time I worked with my pieces hanging off a nail in the wall. I recently splurged on a $13 rack to work on so I'm not confined to that one nail. It's on wheels so I wheel it all over and it's been a delight! Sadly, our house doesn't get much natural light so when I need to photograph a piece, I hang it on the small wall by our front door. I open the door to take the picture in good light and hope my two-year-old doesn't try to escape at the same time!
Follow along with Ashley on Instagram – @thesundayskye
Location: Jacksonville, United States
