Denise Doerksen
Vintage Walt Disney handkerchief hand-felted into 100% wool.
13″ x 17″
$275

Artist Statement:
Several years ago my grandmother passed away and I went to Minnesota to say goodbye and to look at her collection of vintage handkerchiefs and scarves. I knew she had an enormous stash of beautiful cotton and silk scarves that begged to be reclaimed and put to artistic use. This particular scarf was not like all of the others; it was well worn. I felt it could be memorialized into some textile art design. If you remember the Mickey Mouse club then perhaps you will smile as I did when I saw this scarf. Here I present to you all the characters carefully felted it into this art piece as they were depicted in the 1950’s.

Artist Bio:
My love of textiles likely began with the macrame belt I made at summer camp. Nothing was better for me than getting hooked on making funky things to wear from natural fibres in the northern woods of Minnesota. Fortunately it was the 70’s and I got the chance to take a lot of sewing and art classes, where I could make hippy clothing for myself and learn to weave on an enormous floor loom. Over the years I have continuously picked up more skills, adding spinning and knitting to my repertoire. As I have done so I have become aware of the necessity of working with sustainable fibres in an eco-friendly way. So, I source out and gather into my studio yarns and fibres that are not synthetic or processed in a way that is harmful to the earth and the people who work with them. I also scoop up materials from thrift stores and textile industry waste ends to add to the mix and make my studio overbrimming with the fantastic textures, smells, and colours of linen, organic cotton, silk, wool, alpaca, mohair, and more!

The natural environment of the lakes and forests of Minnesota, the vast prairies and open skies of Saskatchewan, and the mountains and coastlines of British Columbia are my inspiration for beauty-making in an ethical and sustainable way. I seek to find materials for my designs that haven’t come too far to get to my studio and have done good to the people and places that they have come from to be in my studio and in my handiwork.

Find the Artist Online:
Instagram: @den.ease_textile_arts
Website: www.den-ease.ca
Facebook: DenEase.Textile.Arts