Weaving in Washington
Fibre artist Camille tells us what’s been inspiring her creations lately, and how she spends her days in the Pacific Northwest.
Hello, who are you?
Hey! My name is Camille and I live in the Pacific Northwest in Washington state. I love living here and yes, I do genuinely like when it rains, I have a mountain tattoo, and I drink way too much coffee. I’ve always known I would be an artist deep down but getting to this point has been challenging. I am really inspired by other female artists and makers who have navigated their way to owning their own small business. Making art for a living is my ultimate goal and I’m determined to make it happen!
Tell us about your creative journey. When did you start weaving?
I think I first started weaving in January of this year, but was first playing around with yarn back in November of 2019. I set out to make a bunch of pompom ornaments for our Christmas tree and I did. I made a tonne and then quickly decided I never wanted to make another pompom again because my hands hurt so bad from the scissors! I had already gone down the yarn rabbit hole online and once I saw people using looms to weave, I went for it and bought my own. I taught myself the basics by watching YouTube videos and following established fibre artists on Instagram.
What’s been your inspiration lately?
I’m always inspired by colour and texture. Lately I’ve been enjoying making pieces that are fluffy enough to run your fingers through. I tend to make things that are more bold and geometric, although I love neutral organic pieces too!
Talk us through your creative process. Do you plan your pieces before you begin?
I don’t plan my wall hangings beforehand in terms of drawing a sketch or anything like that. I keep it all in my head and just visualise the finished piece. If I get too hung up on making them look exactly like they “should”, then I usually end up disliking it. I always pick out what fibres I’m going to use first, and quickly! I like trusting my initial gut reaction. The last few weeks I’ve been lucky enough to have a steady stream of commissions, so I always have an idea of what colours my customer wants and the general design and size they are looking for.
What’s your creative space like?
I was recently able to transform our upstairs loft room into a small art space, which I’ve been loving! I’m able to keep my mess of yarns, packaging and weaving tools up there and out of reach of my two cats. If I’m not upstairs, I’m usually weaving in the living room or out on the deck! I would say I’m messy in an organised way – not just with art but in all aspects of my life.
What do you enjoy most about fibre art?
This might sound funny but I’ve just become so obsessed with yarn and how soft and fluffy it is! Weaving is like taking a bunch of rainbow-coloured clouds and making a painting out of them. Being able to create something with my hands and physically hold it afterwards is also incredibly satisfying.
What does the average day look like for you?
I’m out of work due to Covid-19, so I’ve been really trying to take advantage of all this extra time I have by putting it into this craft. I am a very leisurely person though – there is no denying that! I always have a homemade iced coffee (below) in the morning and this is when I take and edit photos, check the news and my Instagram page, and package up any shipments waiting to go out. The afternoon is when I start working on commissions and usually don’t stop until 8 or 9pm. I just started spinning my own yarn and have given myself time to experiment with that as well.
Camille’s Iced Golden Milk Latte || 1 serve
Just mix all ingredients over ice and enjoy!
2 shots of espresso (or 1/4 cup strong coffee)
1 cup almond milk
1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
3/4 tsp ground turmeric
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground ginger
Pinch ground black pepper
Pinch ground cardamom
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
Follow along with Camille on Instagram – @therustypalm
Location: Olympia, Washington
