Works by fiber artist Carole Presberg

Above, a shepherdess in the Scottish Highlands spinning on a spindle,
her collie at her feet. From a painting by Landseer.

TEDDY BEAR by Anne Denault
wearing SUNSET SWEATER by Carole Presberg

Left, CONNECTED ISLANDS detail, a collaboration: Weaving by Eva Fleg Lambert; Felt by Carole L. Presberg.

I have been a fiber artist for over 30 years, and was a sheep farmer for 25 years. I work in a variety of media and techniques (felting, knitting, weaving, etc.) Among the materials I use might be handmade felt, handspun yarn, leather from clothing found at yard sales and flea markets, antique fur given to me by friends, contributions from nature, buttons and beads, and waxed cordage.

I am heavily influenced by Northern cultures: Sami, trans-Siberian, and the northern Native Americans and Canadians. Elements of the Scottish and the Scandinavian can also be seen in my work, as well as some Tibetan, Mongolian, and other northern Asian and Steppe cultures. Why I am attracted to cold climate peoples I'm not sure. I suppose it's because they bundle up in the material I like to work with best: felt, wool, leather, and skins.

I am passionate about fiber and texture is very important to me. The material drives my work. I use material for my inspiration, so, for example, if I have a beautiful old piece of leather, a really earthy-looking piece of felt, some incredible handspun yarn, I will build a piece around it. In the same way a squirrel skull, a beautiful bead, or a lovely spiral branch may inspire me and be incorporated into one of my pieces.

I also work in collaboration with other people either using their work in mine or sending them my work to use in theirs. I enjoy collaborating, and you will see some examples of collaborations on this web page.

Over the last few years my main focus has been small bags/pouches/vessels. I am mostly into making felt these days, so most of the bags here are of handmade felt. Most of my bags are too small to carry as a "handbag", but really too big to wear around the neck. They are meant to either wear at the waist (with the strap tucked into or around a belt) or to hang on the wall as you would a piece of art. In my house, they hold things like knitting needles, glasses, spindles, jewelry, etc.

See the THISTLE WOOLWORKS shop on Etsy


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THESE ARE THE WEB PAGES WE MAINTAIN

LINKS TO OTHER FIBER- AND TEXTILE-RELATED WEBSITES

RIVERWALK BEAD SHOP AND GALLERY in Amesbury, Massachusetts where some of my bags are for sale. They also have other artists' works for sale and, of course, a large selection of beads.

DEB'S RECYCLED SEWING PATTERNS, your source for vintage, discontinued, antique, recycled or gently used, and modern sewing patterns from the 50's to the present, offered for sale at reasonable prices.

NEW ENGLAND FELTING SUPPLY, your source for felting materials. Chris White, a feltmaker herself, runs this shop in Easthampton, Massachusetts, where you can find hundreds of different types and colors of wool and fiber, hand-dyed silks for nuno felting, needle felting supplies, many colors of prefelt fabric, solar pool wrap, felting magazines and more.

MAINE THREAD COMPANY. I use waxed cord from Maine Thread Company for my straps and fringes. They have a large variety of colors and weights of cord, cording supplies and tools, prompt, courteous service, and very reasonable prices.

CHINOOK JEWELRY Besides finished jewelry, Chinook has beautiful ceramic pendants that I have bought to use as focals for some of my bags, and some very unusual porcelain flower beads.

These web pages are copyright ©2011 and maintained by webmeistress Carole Presberg
with technical help from webwizard David Presberg
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
If you are interested in using ANY material on this website, you MUST first ask for permission.