beautiful things made with hand and heart beside the sea
I'm Liza of Tamarix Textiles, I design, hand make
and sell gorgeous, original, unique and useful
textile pieces here in my North Devon studio.
I am inspired by living at that ever-present,
ever-changing edge of land meeting sea; the rich
diversity and contrast of landscape and coast-scape.
This edge, its layers, patterns, shapes and colours
help stimulate my work, alongside my love of the
patterns, colours & textures of fabrics from other
cultures. I also try hard to re-purpose and up-cycle
fabrics giving them a new lease of life & honouring
their provenance. I love to combine layers, colours
and diverse stitch methods to create useful textile
pieces: bags, purses, jewellery, buttons, accessories,
seasonal decorations etc.
By-the-way, 'Tamarix', from the Tamaricaceae family, is a hardy flowering shrub that thrives in coastal air, on the edge of land and sea. Some tamarix excrete a sweet 'honeydew', gathered and used as a sweetener for thousands of years.
Let's get gathering!
Thanks for visiting my website. Please get in touch if you would like to enquire about my work, potential commissions, collaborations or teaching/workshop opportunities.
I am interested in all textile processes & have experience in weaving, dying, felting etc. Currently I am exploring the fascinating Japanese techniques of 'sashiko' & 'boro'. I love experimenting with these ethical, sustainable and very meditative processes. My husband says it's like watching me drawing with a needle and thread, rather than a pencil or brush. Recently I was lucky to be able to travel to Japan to learn about the traditional resist dyeing technique of 'shibori'. Fabric is folded, bound, stitched or clamped before dyeing, normally with indigo. The result is the most intricate, complex & beautiful patterns within a rich indigo blue. Sublime!
As well as bags, purses and containers of many designs and sizes I am more than happy to undertake individual commissions and discuss ideas for collaborations.
As well a design graduate from Exeter College of art & Design, I am as also an experienced teacher of many years within the art, craft & design sector. I am available to run and teach a range of design, textile or craft based workshops.