Aimee has a vertical operation. With ten sheep and one guard llama, she shears the sheep, dyes and spins the wool and then uses it for her weaving projects. She says her process is driven by the seasons where she spends spring and summer dyeing the freshly cut fleece and spins in the fall and winter. Having said that, Aimee says working with her hands every day is critical to her healthy creative process.  And please note: Aimee’s sheep wear coats. That little fact gives a little more insight into Aimee’s style of refined, nuanced, sophisticated style of weaving.

2917blog

Aimee is a professional fiber artist who sells her work at the Textile Center, Weavers Guild of Minnesota (WGM) and at regional art shows in southern Minnesota as well as on Etsy. (Look for Fiber Fusion online). She has a degree in Broad Area Art with an emphasis in Fiber Art from UW-River Falls. Aimee teaches at the Textile Center and WGM and is an active community member at both places.

When Aimee considers a piece she first decides what will be the end purpose for the piece such as for personal use or for a show. She looks to the marketplace for trend information about colors that are in vogue and what types of fiber to spin and weave.

2799blog

Aimee likes the process of discovering what’s next while she weaves. She likes the flexible structure of shadow weave. She enjoys the color transitions and watching the pattern emerge as the piece advances through the loom. Managing the color changes and length of color variation are two reasons why dyeing and spinning her own fiber are so important to her. It’s about controlling the materials that go into her work.

2983blog