Princess YellowBelly Designs loves, loves, LOVES finding fabric art and artists who are unique, amazing, and oh-so-special. The art we especially love to find is when an artist has tried several different mediums, like quilting and crochet, for example, and has found some way to combine the two into an amazing new style – something you can’t find in any pattern book.
Here at PYB we do it with quilts, we start with quilting patterns, add in some applique, include embroidery techniques, buttons, etc. But recently we’ve shared people who do it with crochet, clothing, and – now – weaving!
And, really, wow. What weaving. We’ve found someone who not only loves bright colors, but combines a truly staggering number of different artforms and influences. And, while it may not be humanly possible to become proficient at each and every type of fabric art – our new unique artist may very well have at least tried just about every way to apply art to piece of thread or fabric.
So, without any further ado, please help us welcome a truly amazing, unique fabric artist:
Nancy Lattier Hinsey
What inspired you to start weaving?
In 1974 I visited Salem, MA and took a docent-led tour. The main room in one house featured a 6’ wide loom. I’d never seen a loom before and was fascinated. I decided then that one day I would own a loom and know how to weave.
Where Do You Find Inspiration for Your Ideas?
I’ve lived alone since 2015, for the first time in my life. This has led to an explosion of creativity and revealed the true artistic soul inside me – one that can finally express herself in any way she chooses! At age 73, I feel like I am finally living my “true life.” Even dinner becomes an artistic expression and the consumption of a meal a gift to myself!
Many ideas appear in my dreams!
My Fall and Winter plans include new experiments with Fabric Layering and Manipulation, Shibori dyeing, new Overshot weaving patterns and fibers, and a promise to myself to learn to “COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES.”
Nancy Lattier Hinsey
I was an Escrow Officer in So. Calif and lost my job in 2007 when the R.E. & Mortgage Loan-stoked recession hit. I’d always wanted to learn to weave, so I bought a loom and enlisted 2 weaver friends to mentor me.
2 years later, I lost my home.
But I had my small but unencumbered home in Baja, Mexico, on the shores of the Sea of Cortez, so I packed myself, my looms (2 now) and the 2 cats and headed south in 2009.
I’m the only weaver around and as such I generate a lot of interest. I sell to people here, Americans and Canadians, who (used to) visit my home studio, opened an Etsy shop 2 years ago to showcase my wares and promote/sell on Facebook. And, until Covid, I participated in 4 – 6 Art Shows in San Felipe per season. 90% of the gringos leave by June 1st, before Summer hits with high temps and humidity!
I feel like I am finally living the artistic life I was destined to live, but kept circumventing due to career and job pressures. Every day is now devoted to creation, expression, experimentation and presentation of Wearable and Practical Art:
- Rugs
- Scarves
- Boho bags
What Motivates You to Create Fabric Art?
I am motivated by Curiosity and Boredom. A compelling combination that has led me to explore many aspects of life and creative expression.
I’m mostly self-taught and have created in, or at the very least experimented with, numerous art forms including:
- Cut paper
- Quilling
- Calligraphy
- Illumination
- Beading
- Crochet
- Knitting
- Macramé
- Oil painting
- Candle making
- Pen and ink
- Shibori and tie-dye
- And silk screening.
My silk screened “Jelly Bean Bags” found their way to Ronald Reagan’s desk.
Yes – she said Ronald Reagan’s desk! Email if you’d like to hear more!
MY PRACTICAL AND WEARABLE ART:
- Woven Rugs – Wool and Rag
- Table Runners
- Scarves – Saori style and traditional patterns – (Saori is an organic Japanese weaving style of flowing consciousness)
- Purses
- Fabric
- Boho Bags
- Hat Bands
- Clothing – pants, caps, blouses
I believe my multi-media “work” represents a respectful combination of Arts and Crafts.
Why did you start making Boho bags?
I began weaving Boho Bags in 2013. At the time, I was weaving Rag Rugs from fabric strips, and had lots of fabric people had donated for my use in weaving these. (I tear or cut the material into 1 ½” strips for weaving.)
One day I noticed a stack of fabrics that looked so great together I decided to do a patchwork piece of fabric and Boho Bags were born!
While I love the colors, textures and patterns available to me through weaving, the fabric manipulation satisfied a craving for a more immediate tactile experience. I re-acquainted myself with my sewing machine (an antique Singer) and started to sew; the old Singer only lasted a couple of months.
I put out a request for a machine on my local Facebook page and was gifted a Kenmore that has become my work horse! I was also given a programmable Pfaff with all the bells and whistles, but I still do all the basics with the Kenmore.
The Boho Bags are one-of-a-kind and wildly popular. Several clients have bought numerous bags.
Did you start with a standard pattern or design, or was this all your own creation?
I started with a simple woven rectangle 15” wide and 30” long, resulting in a 14 X 14 bag when stitched. I keep it simple, though I do experiment with various closures, over flaps and straps. I recently found a woman in WA who now weaves custom-order straps in specific color combos, for specific purses.
And I’m always on the prowl for fobs, focals, lace, trims, beads, sequins, fringe and anything sparkly to add to the bags.
I follow many people on Pinterest and occasionally see a purse style that grabs me. Otherwise, I feel the purpose of the bags I create is to evoke a visceral reaction to the color and texture, and this size fits the bill to express that.
Practicality is important but secondary.
Each bag, whether fabric or woven, has interior pockets. Most feature outside pockets as well. Some fabric bags are constructed with a flat bottom and sides, creating a more voluminous tote. Some have pockets on the sides as well, perfect for sun and reading glasses. People LOVE pockets! And always one pocket slot that fits the phone!
What is your process; design, prep, work, completion, etc.?
I don’t do a lot of planning!! It all starts with the visual for me.
I browse fabrics, either on hand or on-line. Sometimes I wake up with a certain color or trio of colors dancing in my head. The search begins. I pull out anything that fits the bill, without stopping to evaluate. I often end up with a large stack of fabrics on my dining room table aka Work Space. (Fortunately I live alone!) I work on a “base” piece out of muslin, (my palette), and affix my fabric designs to that. And finally, each purse is fully lined with at least one interior pocket.
I fall under the category of Obsessive-Compulsive I’m sure! Which works fine for me.
I work on the new purse till I’m either stumped or bored. But since I always have at least three projects going at once…. I go on to the next one and keep the creative juices flowing. I call it Multi-Tasking. And it makes for a very full, exciting and productive day/week/month/year! The weaving process though requires a Zen focus – when I’m weaving, I weave.
Is there anything you can tell our readers about how to integrate two very different fabric art styles into one finished piece?
I don’t really do much of this. I have used some of my woven fabrics as over flaps on the fabric Bohos, but otherwise I prefer similar fabric textures on a bag.
How long does each finished bag or scarf take to complete?
THE most often asked question at shows!
Especially with my woven rugs. Most of my wool rugs are 2 ft. X 3 ft. And depending on the intricacy of the pattern, each rug takes an average of 12 hours to weave. Add to that the preparatory steps of winding a warp, threading and dressing the loom, and then the final process of tying and twisting fringe and in some cases, wet finishing. I weave a special wool rug I call a “Kaleidoscope Rug,” woven with the remnants of the many colors of wool left over from previously woven rugs.
I weave most of my wool rugs in the “Indian Saddle Blanket” style with the color scheme the only pre-determined element. I weave in a “stream of consciousness” fashion, changing colors when it feels right to do so. This makes each rug an adventure and suprise for me!
The Boho Bags vary from 6 to 10 hours, and the woven rugs can take as many as 20 hours total!
How many have you made in all (or a rough estimate)?
In my 13 years of weaving:
- Wool rugs – probably 80…..all but 3 have found homes.
- Rag Rugs – 40. Woven Bags – 60.
- Fabric Bohos – 60.
I also weave Table Runners (10), and Scarves (100). The woven scarves are very popular as Christmas gifts! Last year alone I had orders for 20 of them. It was a very busy 3 months for me!
I’m currently exploring Fabric Layering and Manipulation including Appliques and Reverse appliques, various forms of stitching, embroidery and “slow stitch” ala Alabama Chanin. I do have four stitched Hat Bands (Head Bands) available. These are done in the reverse applique method with floss stitching and embroidery. And of course, the fabric bags make the perfect base for exploring these techniques.
Also, I’ve recently begun a love affair with African print fabrics. Oh, what dynamic colors and bold geometry!! I’ve sold a few pair of African style pants in these prints as well as the retro Newsboy Caps.
And, next up will be a Japanese Hapi Jacket in a wildly colorful African print. The perfect pairing of cultures.
And, in a commitment to forward movement and further expanding my ability to “think outside the box” and “paint outside the lines,” I’ve begun daily entries into a new Artist’s Sketch Book.
I love the bold look of a black Sharpie, so that’s my first line of expression on the page. Then, I embellish with watercolors – also a new endeavor. I share each day’s sketches on Facebook. So many people enjoy sharing in the process of discovery. I am finding that sketching from “real life” enhances my perception and attention to details, shading and shape.
Who knows where this may lead? Also a new adventure for me.
I hear you’ve won quite a few contests, can you tell us more about that?
My dear friend and weaving mentor, Suzanne, bought one of my first woven wool rugs. It was a unique design in the “Indian Saddle Blanket” style which features alternating blocks of color and solid stripes of varying depths. This one was black, red, white and turquoise. She entered it in the annual Riverside County Fair & Expo and shocked the heck outta me when she told me the rug had won “Best of Weaving” and “Best Woven Rug” divisions!
Plus I received a small check and two blue ribbons!
In 2013 I created the First Annual South Campos ART TOUR.
This is a unique celebration of the colorful local art I enjoy so much. It consists of 8 local artists, visitors purchase a ticket and drive to their home/studio to see demo, view and purchase original art, then enjoy events like Lunch, Raffle and Silent Auction at Community Center, proceeds to local middle school ART AND ESL programs, which we established and staff.
Do you display at fairs or events?
I participated in approx. 6 Art Shows/Sales per Season (Oct – May) here in San Felipe, where there is a large community of retired Americans and Canadians. Those are on hold till it becomes safe to be in crowds again!
I have also just made arrangements with a friend/customer who is opening a Tourist Gift Shop in Poncha Springs, CO to provide some of my woven pieces for sale there.
SALES: Most of my sales are made in-person at local San Felipe Art Shows and to visitors to my home studio (PRE COVID). I certainly miss those visits with coffee and convo!
My Etsy shop serves as a tableau for all of my current inventory. The Covid virus has hit San Felipe hard, and mask and in-home precautions are still in effect. Thus, on-line sales, mostly through Facebook, are especially important to this solo artist living on a sand dune in Mexico!
What’s the best place for our readers to find and/or contact you?
How-to Recommend Another Unique Artist
Being able to showcase unique artists like Nancy is one of the best parts of being Princess YellowBelly Designs. We love discovering new artists, learning about their techniques, and getting to experience their amazing works of art. If you know of someone – or are someone – who practices a unique form of fabric art, please use the form below to let us know!
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