Creative reflection
Kate’s connection to fibre art started at a young age, visiting her Oma’s wool shop. She tells us about her small business, Moonwake Fiber, that she runs today.
Hello, who are you?
Hi I’m Kate, and I live in Canada on gorgeous Vancouver Island. I love creating things with my hands and I am especially fond of old world skills. I enjoy taking a bit of a homesteading approach to my life in general. I grow a large garden every year, preserve the abundance and also forage for wild mushrooms and other edibles. I make soaps and other personal care products and have studied phytotherapy (herbal medicine) in college. I’ve been addicted to fibre arts for some time now, and photography is my other big creative outlet.
What do you enjoy about fibre art?
I’m a very hands on person, so I really enjoy the tactile experience of working with fibre. I like to be able to manipulate my medium with my hands and frankly, I like that it’s clean. And when I am not happy with something, I can just take it apart and redo it.
But on a deeper level, what I love about working with fibres is that it’s not just a creative process in the now, but a way of reaching into the past, and connecting with women throughout history and across cultures. Women who have spent their lives making clothing, linens, basketry, and tapestries. I love this connection!
Is there a meaning or story behind your business name?
Moonwake means a reflection of moonlight on a body of water. I chose this name because it felt feminine and creative. And probably because I always feel at peace and strengthened by the moon. I also chose it as a bit of a challenge for myself. I tend to feel that ‘women’s work’ is weak and unimportant or silly. I’ve worked mostly in male dominated industries, and the feeling of or needing to be less feminine and more masculine has been strong. So Moonwake is a reminder that being feminine is not silly or weak. And really, I feel most myself and beautiful when I can express it.
When did you start fibre art?
In 2015 I took a weaving class by a local weaver Lucy Poskitt. Since then, I have continued weaving but also dabbled in embroidery and punch needle, and played with a variety of fibre-based sculptures. But really, my journey with fibre started as a child. My Oma owned a wool shop for 36 years and just recently closed it at age 87 (go Oma!). She taught me to knit in my teens and has contributed with wool and knowledge to most of my projects.
Kate’s Oma at her wool shop.
What inspires your pieces?
Nature. I often think of different plants, ecosystems or weather patterns when putting together my colours. It helps me from getting distracted from the infinite possibilities in front of me. And as for the shapes of my pieces, I gravitate towards round, organic shapes. Size is also a factor for me. I like artwork that takes up space and helps to add style and flavour to a room.
What type of fibre do you enjoy working with most?
I love natural fibres and work mostly with cotton as the core of my pieces, along with yarns such as sheep’s wool, alpaca, silk and mohair.
What’s your creative space like?
I have a cute little sunroom with gorgeous natural light that I work in. When I am not in there, I’m outside on a blanket under the orchard trees.
What does the average day look like for you?
I have a small gardening business, so I spend my weekdays working in people’s gardens and then after work and on weekends I spend time creating. But my day actually starts and ends with caring for my two large and loveable pigs, Sue and Rosie. They are each over 1,000lbs (453kgs), and the most precious beasts you could ever meet.
How long does a piece usually take to make?
This of course depends on the piece I am working on. The smaller pieces I can usually finish in a day if it’s the weekend and I have all my materials. Larger pieces can take a couple of weeks to design, create and then put the finishing touches on. One area that people tend to forget about or not include because it’s not really ‘making’, is the photography, write ups and marketing of the art itself. And as other makers will know, this takes quite a bit of effort and time!
What are you working on at the moment?
I currently have two pieces on the go. Both are wall hangings and quite a bit larger and a bit different from my current pieces. On the business side though, I am looking into carrying a line of products that I will hand dye with traditional insect and botanical dyes.
Follow along with Kate on Instagram – @moonwake.fiber
Location: Vancouver Island, Canada
